He could have laughed; it was so obvious to him now. By ignoring Selina and giving her short answers, he had clearly ignited some manner of curiosity that she was now compelled to pursue. Indeed, she was behaving like a different woman entirely… more like the young ladies he was used to flirting with in his unrulier years.
Evelyn was right, and I did not listen.
He was not sure he liked that feeling, considering what he had done to try and prove to her that he did not need any assistance. As it turned out, with someone like Selina, hehadrequired that knowledgeable advice.
Although he could not say that he regretted dancing with Evelyn. Whatever the pretense for it, he had enjoyed his dance with her very much. Truly, it did not seem like there was anything that Evelyn couldnotdo, whether it was dancing, playing cards, regaling someone with knowledge about birds, or reading people in detail.
I suppose she cannot pick up a toad,he mused with a sad smile.
“It is pleasant,” he said, remembering that he had not yet replied to Selina.
She peered up at him, her long, dark eyelashes fluttering in a sultry manner. “You have fascinating eyes, Your Grace. Has anyone told you that they are slightly different shades of blue?”
“Evelyn did, last night,” he answered.
“Of course she did. Silly me.” Selina laughed, but it was an odd, strangled sound. “I suppose no eyes are exactly the same color. Why, if you were to look into mine, they would likely be different. A fleck of something in one that is not in the other.”
He understood it perfectly well as an invitation for him to gaze into her eyes, but he ignored it, sticking to Evelyn’s advice.
“Most assuredly,” he replied, his gaze fixed on the path ahead.
It was not just Evelyn’s advice that made him reluctant, however, for he was never comfortable when it came to talking about his eyes. He had learned how to adjust his vision over the years, and wore spectacles to help when no one was around, but he did not want anyone to figure out that he was mostly blind in his left eye. He could see light and shadow, but it was like seeing things through a slick of oil, all of the details cloudy and blurred.
Selina made a little noise of irritation, yet her eyes glittered with something like excitement. “You should look for yourself,” sheurged, moving in front of him so he had no choice but to stop. “Are they different from each other?”
She looked up at him and, with a frown, he dutifully assessed the color of her eyes. They were striking, such a dark shade of brown that they appeared almost black. Paired with her pale skin and dark hair, it was no wonder she had such an ethereal beauty that drew every gentleman’s attention. It was a commanding beauty, though not quite as special as he had first thought, now that he was looking at her more closely.
“They seem to be the same color,” he said coolly, as he stepped around her and pressed on.
A pleased smile graced his lips as he heard her hurry after him, appearing at his side once more, her arm discreetly slipping through his so she might walk even closer to him. Her chaperone probably should have coughed or intervened at that, but Hugo could hear her speaking to Evelyn.
Indeed, whatever Evelyn had to say was surely more interesting.
Are her eyes slightly different to each other?he found himself wondering as the path began to circle back toward the manor.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Goodness, I should have worn better boots.
Evelyn grimaced as she hobbled up the porch steps of the manor and into the cool shade of the entrance hall. When Selina had pulled her to the side earlier to ask her to join an afternoon promenade, she had expected a short, easy wander through the gardens; she had not thought they would be traipsing through the woodland.
It had been beautiful, her eyes eagerly darting this way and that, spotting the large variety of birds and creatures that existed within that peaceful world. But she wished she had been more suitably attired for the occasion.
This dress is quite ruined,she lamented, staring down at the muddied hem.
She chewed her lip in consternation, wondering if she ought to find the laundry and ask if anyone could help, or whether sheshould keep the dress hidden until she could return to London. She did not want to impose on anyone, but nor did she have many other dresses with her, not for the daytime at least.
Deciding that she would be bold and go to the laundry, she had just reached one of the hallways that branched off from the entrance hall, when she felt something catch her hand and a blur went by her.
A moment later, she was being dragged down the hallway and through a door, into the nearest room. It appeared to be a study of some kind with pristine views across the lawns, but it was not at all where she was supposed to be.
“What are you doing?” she gasped, staring up into the lively blue eyes of Hugo.
She pulled her hand free of his and staggered backward, her other hand flying to her chest in a vain attempt to ease her thundering heart. Had he taken leave of his senses, pulling her into an empty room? Did he want to cause a scandal? True, she had escaped any mention of herself in the scandal sheets after the toad incident, but she might not be so lucky a second time.
“Apologies for the abruptness,” he said with a smile, “but I had to speak with you alone.”
“Whatever for?” she croaked, as her heart fluttered to a somewhat different rhythm, one that left her breathless.
