Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

" I must admit, your offer is intriguing, Lord Harrington. However, I am a cautious man, and trust is not easily earned in my world. Convince me further, gentlemen. Why should I choose to do business with you?"

As Gabriel abruptly ended the conversation with a desperate gentleman, across the room, a hushed conversation ensued, whispers about his shrewd business acumen circulating among the gathered elite.

Amid the grandeur of his gentlemen's club, the Duke was sorely discontented. While he tried to engage in discussions with reputable businessmen, groups of lords approached him intermittently, their intentions veiled behind polite smiles and calculated words.

He let out a sigh as he caught another band of gentlemen approaching him right as Lord Harrington and his entourage sidled away.

"Good evening, Your Grace. What a pleasure to see you here this evening," a man he recognized as the Earl of Cedaron greeted, his tone deferential yet tinged with excitement. "We almost assumed you were purposely avoiding our gatherings."

Gabriel acknowledged them with a curt nod. "Gentlemen, what brings you to my corner of the room this evening? I trust it's more than mere pleasantries."

Another lord, emboldened by the Duke's directness, spoke up. "Your Grace, we know your time is precious, so we shall cut to the chase. We have heard of your recent successes in the textile industry, and we believe there may be an opportunity for a mutually beneficial partnership."

A subtle smirk played on Gabriel's lips as he considered their bold proposition. "Ah, the textile industry, a realm ripe with potential, indeed. But tell me, My Lords, what exactly do you bring to the table that would entice me to consider such a venture?"

Sensing the challenge in his words, the men exchanged nervous glances before one of them spoke up. "Your Grace, we have access to exclusive trade routes and connections that could greatly benefit your endeavors. Together, we could dominate the market."

"As you did with the spice market, Lord Cedaron?" He leaned closer with a wicked smile. "Tell me, how many boxes were lost in your ‘exclusive' trade routes?"

Gasps rippled through the group, and Gabriel couldn't deny the pleasure that filled him upon seeing the defeat on their faces.

"A pleasure as always, Your Grace."

He watched them leave, feeling their annoying presence slither away with them.

He sat tall and resolute, his keen eyes scanning the room as he navigated the intricate web of business dealings.

At last, a familiar business partner arrived, and he rose from his seat to shake his hand.

"Ah, Lord Bashwire, a pleasure. I trust our previous discussions have borne fruit." His voice, smooth and commanding, cut through the din as he immediately dived into negotiations with the man.

The sun began its descent, casting long shadows on the cobblestone streets by the time Gabriel had concluded his business affairs in the bustling city.

With a sense of purpose, he made his way back to the estate, his mind still sharp from the day's negotiations.

Upon his arrival, the front doors of Dunmore House swung open, revealing the opulent interior, bathed in the warm candlelight.

"Welcome back, Your Grace," the butler greeted with a bow, his voice echoing in the spacious foyer. "Your presence has been sorely missed."

Gabriel acknowledged him with a nod, his gaze sweeping over the familiar surroundings. Just as he removed his coat, he heard a small voice call out behind him.

"Father, you've returned earlier than expected. Did your business dealings go smoothly today?"

Gabriel's heart skipped a beat as he turned to see Eliza approaching him with a curious expression. She walked up to him with purposeful steps, but she hesitated slightly as she reached him.

It gladdened him how she had become more at ease in his presence. Gone were the days when she would hide in her room to avoid him.

She greeted him with a warm smile whenever she saw him now and sought him out to spend time with him. Every moment felt like a test, and he could only do his best to make her feel more comfortable around him.

"Good evening, dearest." He held out his arms with a welcoming smile, his heart soaring as she rushed into the hug.

He held her tight, before releasing her and giving her a warm smile.

"Indeed, Eliza. The negotiations were fruitful, and I am pleased with the outcome. But enough about my business. How did you spend your day?"

Eliza's eyes sparkled with excitement as she recounted her activities, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "I had a delightful afternoon with Miss Balfour, as always. We talked and engaged in a bit of embroidery! It was a pleasant diversion from our usual routine." A teasing grin spread across her face. "I think I quite like sewing, Father. I might consider taking up a career as a modiste!"

"All right." Gabriel raised an eyebrow as he chuckled. "Let's not make any hasty decisions."

Eliza giggled as she shared more about her day, and he listened attentively, his interest piqued by her animated storytelling. He couldn't keep the smile off his face, marveling at how open she'd become.

"It warms my heart to hear of your enjoyment, Eliza. Your happiness is of utmost importance to me. You know this, right?"

Eliza's cheeks flushed as she smiled warmly. "Yes, Father. Thank you."

Gabriel patted her hand gently. "It's quite late, you should retire to your room now." His eyes darted around, and he felt a low thumping in his chest as he asked, "Tell me, where is your tutor? Is she gone already?"

"I am not sure, Father."

After sending his daughter off to bed, Gabriel made his way to the library, where today's lesson had taken place. His mind raced with questions as his legs carried him down the hall.

Evelina had likely gone home already. There was no reason for him to go searching, yet he found himself hoping to see her.

Right as he turned the corner, and approached the library door, a figure emerged from the room, and to his surprise and delight, it was her, her presence casting a sudden intensity in the air.

Their eyes met, and a familiar wave of emotion surged through Gabriel, reminiscent of the unspoken connection they had shared at the recent party.

He felt his body immediately rocked with the thought of taking a step closer, wanting to have her in his arms again, to be able to smell her enticing scent, and feel strands from the tips of her soft hair on his arm wrapped around her waist.

Evelina appeared slightly flustered in his presence, her greeting stumbling out."Good evening, Your Grace. I-I hadn't been expecting to meet you here," Her voice wavered slightly, her eyes avoiding his intense gaze.

Gabriel pressed his tongue against the corner of his cheek as he shifted on his feet. A realization took note; he did not like that she seemed uncomfortable in his presence.

A small silence ensued as he struggled with the unexpected yet pleasant encounter as well. Then he attempted to ease the tension, calculating his words as he spoke.

"Miss Balfour , I had not been expecting to find you still roaming about the house. Eliza's lessons have concluded for the evening, have they not? What business have you been carrying on about in the library all this while?"

Evelina's expression shifted in surprise, and a small frown, accompanied by hint of defensiveness settled into her features. "Your Grace, I was merely reviewing Eliza's work before departing."

She paused before she added, "I assure you, I neither touched anything nor overstepped any boundaries."

Gabriel's eyes widened in a slight panic. "I had only meant—I-I did not mean…" His words grew difficult as her eyes narrowed further in upset at him.

He took a steadying breath before finding his words at last. "My apologies. I was not implying any wrongdoing on your part. Your dedication to Eliza's education is commendable, as always." A small, genuine smile curved his lips as he added, "As a matter of fact, I have sought you out today to acknowledge your impressive work."

"Oh…" Different emotions flashed across Evelina's face at his words, from surprise to suspicion to curiosity. "I suppose… Well, thank you, Your Grace. She makes it easy—Eliza is a lovely girl."

Her lips curled into a radiant smile, accentuated by the soft glow of the candlelight.

A serene hush enveloped them. Lost in the moment, Gabriel found himself spellbound by her ethereal beauty. Their eyes met, and he couldn't have uttered a word even if he wanted to.

In that instant, he noticed a subtle shift in her demeanor. Her eyes flickered with uncertainty, confusion, and a touch of shyness.

Seeming to sense the shift in the atmosphere, Evelina cleared her throat, pulling him out of his trance. Her eyes flicked to the darkening sky beyond the large window opposite them, a subtle signal of her impending departure.

I don't want you to leave…

"Eliza shows remarkable progress in her studies. It is indeed truly a pleasure to witness her growth," she remarked, before letting out a soft chuckle. "The hour is late. I believe I will get to see more of the said growth tomorr?—"

Seizing the opportunity to prolong their conversation, Gabriel spoke with a sincerity that surprised even himself, "I find myself eager to hear your insight. Would you join me in my study, to discuss her progress?"

Evelina's eyes widened slightly, surprise and a tinge of something more profound flickering in them. "Your Grace, I would be… quite pleased to continue this discussion. Your interest in her education is truly heartwarming."

And so the two found themselves in the quiet intimacy of his study, amidst the scent of old books and flickering candlelight.

"Have a seat," Gabriel urged softly, a rare warmth in his voice.

Evelina, with a delicate grace, settled into the chair, her gaze meeting his with a tinge of curiosity. "Thank you, Your Grace."

Gabriel observed her, noting the shift in her demeanor. A hint of discomfort tugged at his heart again.

"I understand you might be hesitant to speak with me about this. Nevertheless, I feel I must ask." He swallowed past the lump in his throat. "I wish to know how to foster a stronger relationship with my daughter. You, for example, have done such a wonderful job with her in so little time."

He tried to keep the saltiness out of his voice as he added, "But you won't always be here. I shall have to step up and fill the void that your absence would leave."

Evelina lightly raised an eyebrow at this, but she did not interject. She seemed to sense that he had more to say, so she stayed quiet.

Gabriel's entire body rejected the idea of asking for help but he pushed on, "Tell me how to handle her. I believe with your aid, I would be able to make up for all the lost years." A shadow of melancholy crossed his features. "She is the light of my life, but I fear I have failed her in many ways. Help me, please."

It felt good to voice the emotions he'd been suppressing for so long.

The room fell silent. He struggled to meet Evelina's gaze, unsure if he could bear seeing the expression on her face. He certainly did not want pity or justification for his previous actions. Nor did he feel he'd be comfortable with her being overjoyed at this development.

Worry that he'd made the situation awkward overwhelmed him. The silence in the room was such that one could hear a pin drop.

"Well, better have it done late than never, I suppose."

Gabriel looked up in surprise to see the mischievous, proud expression on her face. Her tone was almost scolding, and he couldn't help the tiny chuckle that escaped his lips.

What a woman.

"Would there ever be a moment where you would address me politely and kindly, Miss Balfour?" A smile curved his lips despite the chastisement.

With a raised eyebrow, Evelina tutted at him. "Whatever were you expecting, Your Grace? A pat on the back for wanting to be a better father, at long last?"

Another laugh escaped his lips, and he leaned back and shook his head at her brazenness. Perhaps he should be upset, warn her against speaking so bluntly, yet he could not. A lazy smile split his features as he watched her, mesmerized.

There was a sparkle of mischief in her light eyes as she sat. A stray strand of dark brown hair fell over her twinkling eyes, stopping him from getting a full view of her expression. He wanted to reach out, cup her face in his hands, and tuck that strand behind her ear.

But he couldn't.

Evelina's words drew him out of his trance. "Nevertheless, it's been great watching you try with Eliza these days. You are quite a caring father, Your Grace. She adores you, that much is clear." She smiled and clasped her hands together. "I will do it. I would be honored to help you foster a stronger relationship with her."

The air was light and warm as they shared a smile, a comfortable silence settling over them.

The comfort faded and Gabriel felt his heart beat pick up as Evelina's expression changed suddenly just as his did.

However, the moment was cut short quite quickly as Evelina got up from her seat, avoiding his gaze as she straightened up awkwardly.

"Tomorrow, whenever you would be available, we may discuss how we shall go about everything. For now, however, I shall head home, as?—"

Gabriel got up quickly as well, wanting her to stay her longer. "Your demeanor has changed quite suddenly." He walked over to her, and a low chuckle escaped his lips. "Do not tell me you are expecting a grand gesture or a thank you? I was doing my best not to deem you overly hedonistic, Miss Balfour. I fear you are making it difficult."

Evelina raised an eyebrow, mischief flickering in her eyes. "Pardon? Perhaps this is an attempt to prevent me from seeing your vulnerable in this moment. I shall be sympathetic, Your Grace."

Gabriel shook his head in response. Then, he reached out to her, his hands drawn to the strand across her smirking cheeks. As though it was an everyday occurrence, his fingers brushed her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

"There is truly no woman like you, Miss Balfour." He gave her a warm smile.

The silence that followed was deafening. Only when he saw the shock in Evelina's eyes did Gabriel realize what he had done. He withdrew his hand, shocked at his own actions as well.

His eyes locked onto hers, and he watched as a mix of emotions crossed her face. Eventually, her soft cheeks flushed a rosy hue, and she averted her gaze.

Gabriel felt a rush of pleasure at the sight of her blush, a sensation that stirred something deep within him. He longed to feel her eyes on him. He longed to make her blush even harder.

Before he could come to terms with those thoughts, however, Evelina turned around sharply. "I… I must take my leave," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

She lightly raised her skirts and rushed towards the door, the sound of her hurried footsteps echoing in the room.

As the door closed behind her, Gabriel stood rooted to the spot, the weight of his words and the implications of his action settling heavily upon him.

At that moment, he recognized the depth of his feelings—a realization that thrilled and terrified him in equal measure.

He was falling in love with her.