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Chapter 20
Evie left the room, tears burning at the back of her eyes. What had just happened? She had never felt so powerless, so alone and troubled in her entire life. She loved balls, loved dancing, and indulged in the compliments of the gentlemen. The moment she’d gotten married, however, everything changed.
She had danced three dances after Stanhope, and every lord she danced with made it his duty to proposition a tryst or throw lewd comments her way. Now that she was married, it seemed that they considered her an available female to prey on.
Wasn’t it supposed to be the other way around? Wasn’t she supposed to be under the protection of her husband? She pressed the backs of her wrists against her eyes, and tears soaked her gloves. Oh, what had become of her life?
Evie rested her head against the wall, feeling defeated and weary. She heard the ballroom doors open and close and fast-approaching footsteps in her direction. She instantly pushed away from the wall and straightened. She needed to get back to the ball. God forbid it could be one of her eager ‘suitors’ interpreting her defection from the ballroom as an assent to his lurid proposition.
She turned and almost ran into the wall of a man’s chest. She started with a squeak and jumped back. Firm, masculine hands grabbed her by the arms and held fast. Evie was about to scream when she raised her head and saw worried ice-blue eyes searching her face.Gabriel.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his gaze still running over her in concern.
“Yes, I’m—yes.” She smiled weakly and relaxed in his hold.
“You don’t look all right.” He frowned down at her. “Did something happen? Did somebody upset you? Were you hurt?”
Evie took a deep breath and looked away. What was she supposed to say?No, nobody physically hurt me, but I got propositioned by every lord in the room for a lurid tryst in the garden? Did one even speak of such things with one’s husband?
“I am all right.” Evie finally looked up into her husband’s eyes. “Truly. I just needed some air.”
Gabriel’s grip on her gentled, and he started running his thumbs over her upper arms in a comforting gesture.
“Good,” he said. Then he made a step toward her and cuddled her close to his heart.
Evie laid her head against his chest and snaked her arms around his waist. She heard his strong, sure heartbeat, and the world righted itself. She was in his arms, which meant everything was safe again.
He caressed her back in light soothing motions, holding her tight in his embrace. Evie felt his kiss on her hair. Then he placed his cheek over the top of her head.
“Where have you been?” she asked, her voice muffled against his waistcoat.
“What do you mean?” His voice held a note of confusion.
“I didn’t see you while I was on the dancefloor.”
“I was watching you,” he said against her hair, and his voice rumbled through every nerve in her body, making her shiver.
“You were? From where?”
Gabriel eased her away and looked down at her. “From the shadows. I am not much of a dancer, and I tried to hide away from the incessant questions of ladies and gentlemen. They seem quite curious at the idea of the notorious rake marrying the diamond of theton.” He grinned at her, and Evie couldn’t help but smile in response.
“Are you sure nothing is bothering you?” Gabriel asked with a frown and swept a lock of hair away from her face. “You look troubled. And you never look troubled, not in all the years I’ve known you.”
Evie’s heart swelled at the idea that he’d been watching her from the shadows all through the years they’d known each other. It was probably not true. He hadn’t really noticed her much in prior years, but just the thought made her all warm inside.
“Let’s go,” he said and extended his arm to her.
“Where?”
“To dance,” he answered with a grin.
“Didn’t you just say you didn’t like to dance?” Evie raised a brow at him.
“I did. And I do not,” he said as he took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. He turned toward the ballroom as he continued. “But what I’ve realized today is that I enjoy watching you dance with other gentlemen even less.”
Evie let out something between a snort and a laugh, and Gabriel raised his brow at her.
“Apologies.” She covered her mouth with her hand as she chuckled again.
