Page 23 of The Duke's Accidental Wallflower
Before she could respond, both men hurried away, leaving Minerva staring at their retreating backs in disbelief.
Evan slid smoothly into the vacant chair, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he watched her struggle to maintain her composure. “They looked positively thrilled to be excused.”
Minerva shot him a glare, but the retort she wanted to hurl at him refused to come. She was too tired for this. Too tired to muster the usual irritation he so easily provoked. Instead, she picked up her teacup and took a long, deliberate sip.
“They were perfectly fine company, Your Grace,” she said, her voice clipped.
“Fine?” Evan raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair, his relaxed posture the complete opposite of her rigid one. “They were duller than a foggy London morning.”
Her fingers tightened around the teacup, but she kept her face neutral. “Not every conversation needs to be an adventure.”
“Ah,” he said, tilting his head, “but wouldn’t you rather it be?”
Minerva opened her mouth to respond, but he leaned forward suddenly, cutting her off. “Tell me, Minerva,” he said, his voice lower, “do I make you nervous?”
She nearly choked on her tea. Her pulse quickened, and despite her best efforts, the odd flutter in her stomach returned.Nervous?No, it was something else. Anxiety, perhaps. His presence was too unpredictable, too overwhelming.
“You make meannoyed,” she corrected sharply, setting the teacup down with more force than necessary.
Evan chuckled, his eyes never leaving hers. “Interesting. Because if I did not know better, I would say you are... flustered.”
Minerva stiffened, her chin lifting slightly as she stared him down. “I assure you, Your Grace, the only thing flustering me is the disruption You have caused at my garden party.”
Evan smirked, clearly enjoying the game. “If you insist.”
For a moment, the two of them sat in silence, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. Minerva could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, and she cursed herself for letting him get under her skin. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her lose her composure. Not again.
“I did not invite you,” she said suddenly, her voice cold and steady.
“No, you did not.” He grinned, unbothered by her directness. “But I came anyway.”
Minerva inhaled sharply, the flicker of frustration building in her chest. “You had no right?—”
“I have every right,” Evan interrupted smoothly, leaning in closer, his gaze intent on hers. “As much right as any of the other guests you invited today.”
Minerva stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. He was too close, too confident, too...him.She could feel his presence, the way it stirred something inside her she desperately wanted to ignore.
Finally, she exhaled slowly, “You are like a thorn in my side, Your Grace,” she said, her voice sharp. “Persistent, impossible to dislodge, and irritating.”
“And yet,” he said, his smile widening, “here I am.”
Minerva’s gaze narrowed as she set her teacup down with a soft clink. “Thank you so much for shooing away the only two men who seemed remotely interested in me.”
Evan’s smirk deepened, clearly unbothered by her sarcasm. He leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his chest. “I thought I was saving you. Surely you can do much better than that pair of dullards.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “You think incorrectly, Your Grace. They were perfectly decent company.”
“Decent?” Evan raised an eyebrow, his expression one of mock disbelief. “You deserve far more than decent. And, if I may say so, your company was wasted on them.”
Minerva huffed, turning her head to avoid his piercing gaze. “I was not asking for your assessment.”
“I am simply looking out for you,” he teased, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Tell me, Minerva, do you really prefer the company of those two over—well, let’s say—someone more... intriguing?”
She shot him a sharp look. “And what makes you thinkYou areintriguing?”
Evan chuckled softly. “Oh, you wound me, my lady. But I suppose you wouldn’t admit it, even if you did find me intriguing.” He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “I have a feeling you find me more interesting than you care to admit.”
Minerva opened her mouth to retort, a sharp reply forming on her lips, when a soft, lilting voice interrupted the tension between her and Evan.
