Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

" T ell me, Your Grace, exactly how long do you intend to keep aimlessly staring at the lady?"

Gabriel's aunt's voice held a playful yet knowing tone as she sidled up beside him, her gaze mirroring his towards the enchanting figure across the ballroom.

Dressed in the most ethereal dress he'd ever seen on a woman, Evelina exuded an elegance that seemed to captivate not only Gabriel's eyes but his very soul.

Her attire, a delicate confection of lace and silk, draped her form like moonlight, accentuating her grace and beauty even more.

He loved looking at her.

She was like the finest of wines, a temptation he could not resist. He wondered how he hadn't paid attention to detail just how stunning the woman truly was.

The more his eyes lingered on her, the more his mind replayed the dance they shared earlier, the memory still fresh and vivid in his thoughts. The memory of her in his arms, the intoxicating closeness they shared on the dance floor, stirred a tempest of emotions within him.

Longing, desire, and a yearning for something he couldn't quite name tugged at his heart, clouding his mind.

"I do not know what you mean."

With a gruff tone, he replied. His head not turning an inch in the Countess's direction, a fleeting attempt to feign ignorance evident in his demeanor.

However, Clara's knowing smile pierced through his facade, from the corner of his eyes, he felt her teasing gaze, unraveling his pretense effortlessly.

Despite knowing it was a bad idea, he turned to attempt to hold her gaze. But it only took a couple of seconds in this battle of wills.

While the Countess met his eyes with playful persistence, a hint of amusement danced in her hers, causing the duke to avert his gaze, a faint red coloring his ears at being caught in his silent admiration.

The furrow of his brows betrayed his annoyance at being so transparent to the woman, her ability to decipher his thoughts a skill that never failed to irk him.

Acknowledging the futility of denying her insight into his emotions, Gabriel chose to remain silent, his unspoken words drowned by her quiet triumph.

Her victorious giggle filled the air as she playfully urged him, "Just go ask her for another dance, won't you?"

Just the thought of another dance with this beautiful woman had Gabriel's hands twitching. He would have loved to hold her close once more.

What am I even thinking?

Despite the allure of the suggestion, he hesitated, his inner turmoil reflected in his eyes as he shook his head in disagreement, finally mustering the words, "There is no need for that."

From the corner of his eye once more, he noticed his aunt's playful pout as she teasingly remarked, "Oh, but that first dance was quite the spectacle, dear nephew. My parties haven't seen such entertainment in ages."

Her words dripped with amusement, clearly fishing a reaction from him. Refusing to take the bait however, Gabriel maintained his composure, clicking his tongue disapprovingly at her relish for stirring up gossip.

Chuckling, she continued, "An unexpected pair, you and Miss Balfour , I will tell you that." She let out a dramatic sigh, putting a hand on her chest, "Yet, your chemistry on the dance floor was simply… mesmerizing."

Her words highlighted the attention it had garnered. Gabriel had barely noticed the eyes they had pulled until Evelina scurried away from the floor the moment he let her go, leaving him to walk off on his own.

Turning to Gabriel with wide eyes, the Countess made her request theatrically, "Oh, just one more dance, dear nephew? It would surely be the talk of the town, the highlight of the week!"

Gabriel's head snapped to her at last, his tone heavy with annoyance as he growled, "I am not your entertainment, nor that of your guests. If you crave a show so desperately, you should have arranged for one."

After a brief pause, his voice dripped venom as he added, "Perhaps you could have saved on the scones and hired a jester instead."

The Countess's boisterous laughter in response grated on his nerves even more, but he maintained his composure as she grinned mischievously and quipped, "Everyone knows my parties for the second-best thing – the food, Your Grace."

Her playful demeanor contrasted with his seriousness. Feigning mock horror in her expression, Clara teasingly asked, "How else do you expect me to uphold my reputation?"

Gabriel shook his head, his gaze fixed on Evelina across the yard, his eyes drawn to her like magnets, a subtle tension evident in his furrowed brows.

Unwilling to give up, the Countess nudged him teasingly, wiggling her eyebrows at him.

Gabriel turned towards her sharply. "Aunt Clara, we are in public—do mind your manners," he admonished. His words carried a hint of reprimand, a reminder to maintain decorum.

Her laughter bubbled forth. "Oh, dear nephew, where's your sense of humor?" She gestured to unfamiliar faces nearby, ironically. "We're only among friends."

Gabriel eyed her in disbelief and disapproval, yet he held his tongue. His gaze remained fixed on Evelina—there was no need to hide it anymore as it was.

"Actually, Miss Balfour does look quite good with the Earl of Oakwood," the Countess added airily. "Don't you think?"

Gabriel's jaw clenched at her words, anger rising within him as he watched the scene unfolding a few feet away.

Evelina, visibly uncomfortable, stood beside her father, her unease palpable as he gestured with his hands while engaging her in conversation with the Earl.

Feeling overwhelmed with frustration and a desire to hurry over and free her from the torment, Gabriel watched as the Earl laughed and advanced towards her, unconsciously balling his fists as he fought the urge to intervene.

The sight of another man encroaching on her space ignited a fierce protectiveness within him, a nearly primal instinct to shield her from discomfort and unwanted attention. He focused on controlling his breathing, a battle to maintain his composure.

"Considering how good they look together, and how taken the Earl seems to be with Miss Balfour, it won't be a surprise if the two tie the knot soon," the Countess remarked, pulling him from his thoughts. Then she heaved a weary sigh. "After all, the whole ton is aware of the Viscount's debt—it would be quite understandable if he married off his daughters quickly."

Unable to contain his exasperation any longer, Gabriel snapped back at his aunt, his voice edged with irritation. "And what is your purpose in sharing such unnecessary information with me? What tactless commentary!"

As a few curious glances turned in their direction, he realized that his voice was louder than he had intended. brought a flush of discomfort and annoyance to his tips of his ears. His heart was racing as he cleared his throat and subtly adjusted his stance, trying to regain his composure.

It was difficult to register and handle the feelings he was experiencing. For as long as he could remember, he'd always excelled in keeping a cool head. Yet, the strong, overwhelming effect Evelina had on him unsettled his usual composed demeanor, a both intriguing and disconcerting phenomenon.

"My apologies. I did not mean to cause a scene," he muttered to his aunt, his gaze shifting to her briefly.

Despite his regret for his outburst, the victorious and mischievous glint in the Countess's eyes irked him, fueling his annoyance further.

"Oh, it is completely fine, Your Grace. I am no stranger to your mild tantrums." She grinned up at him.

Gabriel raised an eyebrow at her choice of words but said nothing. He'd done enough already.

"You know, Your Grace, I only brought it up because I thought you'd need to start looking for another tutor for dear Eliza."

The world seemed to come to a halt. Gabriel heard faint ringing in his ears, and his expression shifted as her words registered.

He considered how his daughter was faring with Evelina, taking note once again of her newfound happiness. His chest tightened as he realized that he had never seen Eliza so content before.

His gaze flickered with uncertainty as it returned to Evelina once more. Would there ever be another tutor capable of forming such a profound bond with Eliza? Would there ever be another tutor capable of putting a smile on his daughter's face?

Most importantly, could Eliza handle letting go of Evelina? It was very unlikely that she and Evelina would keep in contact after that. It might even be deemed improper.

Amid these reflections, a heavy weight settled on his chest. In this case, it wasn't just Eliza who would suffer a loss—he wasn't sure he would be able to manage the loss of his joyous daughter. And knowing that Evelina would never step foot in Dunmore House again…

His chest felt heavier as he stared at her longingly, already feeling the disconnect. Denial clouded his mind as he struggled to understand the depth of his emotions. He was unable to explain the attachment he felt to this woman.

"On that note, perhaps it's time for you as well to join the trend. Perhaps it's time for you to remarry, Your Grace."

The Countess's words cut through his turbulent thoughts, at last. Though her tone was light, there was a subtle seriousness—a reminder of his familial duty. Of what was expected from a duke.

Gabriel tensed up at her words, another wave of annoyance washing over him. His eyes narrowed on her.

His aunt had long since stopped pestering him about the issue of getting remarried. He'd made his intentions clear multiple times. What made her feel she could revisit the topic all of a sudden?

Despite his visible discomfort, however, the Countess pressed on, her demeanor unyielding.

"You have been a bachelor for way too long now. It's the logical thing to do." She nodded her head confidently. "And you need an heir." there was a brief pause before she continued, her voice firm nevertheless.

With his heavy gaze fixed on hers, the tension between them crackled in the air. It felt as though the weight of tradition hung over the conversation.

As the Countess's words lingered in the air, Gabriel's glare intensified, serving as a silent warning. However, she paid no attention and continued.

"You would not need to worry about hiring another tutor if you got yourself a wife—your wife could take on that role if needed." She gave him a small smile, before she added in an annoyingly casual tone, "What Eliza has always needed is a mother figure, Your Grace. It is not right for you to continue denying her that."

Her words though masking behind a light tone were sharp enough to nearly feel like a physical blow.

"I believe I told you a long time ago that this is not a topic for discussion," Gabriel growled, his tone laced with a steely resolve that brooked no argument.

The Countess, undeterred by his firm stance, shook her head. "But, Your Grace?—"

"Lady Claymont, it is not up for discussion," Gabriel insisted, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper as he faced her.

The Countess pressed on hurriedly, trying to sway him with gentle persuasion, her voice soft but insistent. "Gabriel, you must consider the future of the estate, of your line," she urged softly.

"I do not care about having an heir. I've made that clear once before," he said in a low, controlled tone. Each syllable emphasizing his unwavering stance. "Let this be the last time you make me repeat myself."

He paused, letting the gravity of his words settle between them before delivering the final blow to her expectations.

"I will never marry again," he declared, his eyes locked on hers, daring her to challenge him.

The Countess's calculating gaze shifted from him to Evelina across the garden and back again. Finally, she nodded at him, though her smile didn't reach her eyes. "‘If that's how it is, then that's how it'll be.'"

At that moment, Gabriel felt the gravity of his words settle on his shoulders like a heavy cloak. As he watched Evelina converse with the Earl of Oakwood, a sense of helplessness washed over him.

The implications of his decision hit him in the face.

He knew he should not interfere in Evelina's life if he wanted to avoid potential entanglements with her. Despite how much he wanted to chase away the man speaking to her, her path was much different from his.

The Earl eventually excused himself, leaving her with her father. In the following moments, however, her eyes sought him out in the crowd, and a surge of emotions rushed through him.

His heart rate quickened with anticipation the moment their gazes met. He felt a strange excitement just to have her focus on him instead of another man. But soon after, reality crashed down upon him, the weight of his convictions pressing heavily on his spirit.

I cannot keep her away from everyone else. She can't have eyes only for me.

As the sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, with a heavy heart and a sense of resignation, Gabriel turned away, the defeat evident in his every step as he left the party.