AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTERELEVEN
Evie searchedher mind to understand what she’d said that had such an effect on Evan. He’d gone cold. That was the only way to describe his current treatment. Arctic.
He helped her into her chair but he was back to the man she’d first met in the kitchen. The one who’d yelled at her.
What had she said? But then she realized. He’d asked her to court and she’d asked him to understand. He thought she was going to reject him.
Perhaps she should.
Now was her chance. She’d been telling herself that she didn’t wish to be a duchess. It that were really true, she could take his coldness and use it to put some distance between them.
But inwardly, her heart broke a bit.
She liked the duke. Evan. Actually, she more than liked him. Her heart gave the strangest lurch. Was she…was she falling in love?
It couldn’t be true. It had been such a short time and she’d spent most of that time denying that he was the right man at all.
But as she glanced over at him, she took studied his profile. Her heart turned over, thumping wildly in her chest.
Inadvertently, her fingers spread out on his biceps, her other fingers wrapping about his arm too. She had to say something. A word or a phrase that let him know she hadn’t been rejecting him. She’d just been attempting to explain her hesitation. But what to say?
Should she confess her feelings? That seemed dangerous. Tell him how much she’d enjoyed his company?
Or, for once, she could seek out his company. “Tomorrow there is supposed to be a shopping trip in town. I was wondering if you’d like to attend.”
His face didn’t change. “I’ve a great deal of work tomorrow. I’m not certain I’ll be able to get away.”
She gave a nod to hide her cringe. “Evan,” she whispered, glancing over her shoulder at her mother and his aunt, just behind them.
“Lady Evelyn,” he replied.
“I…” She drew in a deep breath. “I’d like to accept your—”
“No need.” He cut her off before she could say more. And then he was helping her into her chair.
Much of the meal passed in silence, the irritation of the duke rolling off him in waves. Everyone around them felt it.
She could be thankful that no one paid her a bit of attention. But for once, that was a small consolation. She’d rather have their eyes on her while she basked in Evan’s warmth. While she didn’t mind his temper, his silence filled her with dread.
She leaned over during the soup course, attempting to catch his eye. “Your Grace.”
“Yes.” He looked at her, his eyes glacial.
She really ought to have thought through what she wanted to say next. “You look very handsome tonight as well.”
His brows drew together and then he leaned closer. “You don’t have to do that.”
“What?” she asked, surprise making her eyes wide.
“I know your mother has encouraged you to accept my attention. But you don’t need to pretend any longer. I’ll leave you alone.”
Her heart ached as she looked at him. She couldn’t very well say her mother hadn’t anything to do with their relationship thus far. She did. “My mother is not why I’m sitting here.”
“Why are you then?”
She drew in a breath. How much could she say at dinner?
But before she got any more words out, Lord Rangeley interrupted. “I heard there was some flooding in your northern lands,” he called out to the duke.
