Page 39 of The Duke's Accidental Wallflower
He noticed.
As Lord Gillies reached for his teacup, his gaze slid toward the flowers. There was a slight pause, barely perceptible, but Minerva caught it. His smile stiffened ever so slightly as he set his teacup back down, his fingers curling around the saucer just a little too tightly.
“Those are quite... lovely,” he remarked, his tone carefully measured, though there was no mistaking the undertone of irritation beneath his words.
As soon as Lord Gillies made his comment, Chastity, who had been lingering near the door with Samantha, exchanged a mischievous glance with her friend. Minerva barely had time to prepare before Chastity’s voice rang out, full of false innocence.
“Oh, those flowers?” Chastity began, her eyes twinkling. “They arrived just before you, Lord Gillies. Very impressive, aren’t they? You wouldn’t believe the audacity of the sender.”
Samantha stifled a laugh, her hand fluttering up to cover her mouth as she added, “Yes, quite the grand gesture, I would say. I do not think we’ve ever seen anything quite so... extravagant.”
Minerva shot them both a warning look, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Chastity, Samantha,” she said, trying to maintain composure, “perhaps you two could excuse yourselves for a moment?”
Chastity’s grin widened. “Of course, Minerva. We wouldn’t want to intrude on such an...importantvisit.” She emphasized the word with a teasing lilt before slipping her arm through Samantha’s and leading her toward the door. “We’ll just be in the garden if you need us.”
Samantha gave Minerva a sympathetic smile before following Chastity out, her quiet giggles trailing behind them as they disappeared into the hallway.
Minerva let out a small breath as they left the room, though her nerves were far from settled. She turned back to Lord Gillies, who had been watching the exchange with a polite, if slightly strained, smile.
“I trust You have had a pleasant morning, Lady Minerva,” Lord Gillies began, offering a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. His tone was as measured as ever, not a note out of place.
“Quite,” she replied, mirroring his smile. “And yourself?”
“Oh, very much so. I spent a portion of it overseeing the estate improvements. It is rather dull work, but necessary.” He paused, eyes flickering toward the extravagant bouquet of flowers sitting on the side table. His gaze lingered just a moment too long. “I see someone has already brightened your day.”
Minerva followed his gaze to the bouquet, the vivid blue flowers a perfect match for her eyes. The note tucked between them, bearing Evan’s infuriatingly teasing words, suddenly seemed to radiate tension in the room. “Yes, a rather unexpected gift,” she said, keeping her tone light, though her fingers tightened slightly on the armrest of her chair.
“From a gentleman caller, I assume?” Lord Gillies’s voice was casual, but there was an unmistakable undercurrent of displeasure beneath his words.
Minerva glanced at him, studying his face. His smile was still in place, but his fingers had gone rigid on the arm of his chair. “Not a caller, exactly. Merely an acquaintance.”
Lord Gillies raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “An acquaintance with quite a... grand gesture.”
Minerva resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “I suppose some men enjoy making a show of things.”
He chuckled, though the sound was more forced than genuine. “Indeed. Some are more inclined toward spectacle than substance.”
She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. “And some prefer to keep things simple, I assume?”
“Simple, but meaningful,” Lord Gillies agreed. “I believe in actions that speak to a person’s character, not just their ability to impress.” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze now fixed on her. “It is one of the reasons I admire you, Lady Minerva. You are not one to be swayed by superficial gestures.”
Minerva nodded, though the compliment felt oddly rehearsed. “I have always valued sincerity above... grand displays.”
“Precisely,” he said, clearly pleased with her response. “That is why I wished to speak with you today, Lady Minerva. You are a woman of great poise and intelligence, and I find myself increasingly drawn to those qualities.”
Minerva’s smile tightened. “That is... kind of you to say, Lord Gillies.”
“I mean it,” he continued, oblivious to the subtle shift in her demeanor. “It is rare to find someone who values the same things, who understands the importance of duty and respectability.”
Minerva nodded, though something about his words left her feeling hollow. “Respectability is certainly important.”
“Quite,” he agreed. “And that is why I wished to ask if I might call on you more formally in the coming days.”
Minerva blinked. She had expected this—had even prepared herself for it. But now, sitting here, listening to his carefully chosen words, she felt... nothing. No thrill of excitement, no anticipation. Just the dull, nagging sensation that something was missing.
Before she could respond, Lord Gillies glanced at the flowers again, his smile faltering ever so slightly. “Though I must admit,” he said, his tone a bit stiffer, “I had not expected to encounter... competition.”
Minerva’s brow furrowed. “Competition?”
