Page 34 of The Duke's Accidental Wallflower
Cherie’s eyes sparkled with approval, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. “That is the spirit! Now, let’s get out there and find you a proper suitor.”
Minerva forced a smile, but inside, her nerves were still in knots. She had promised to make an effort, but the thought of mingling with the eligible men in the ballroom filled her with dread. She was tired of false smiles and shallow conversations. She wanted something more—something real.
But tonight, she would have to settle for trying.
As they made their way out of the dressing area and into the grand ballroom, Minerva couldn’t help but scan the crowd, searching for Evan’s familiar figure.I will avoid him, she promised herself. No matter what it takes.
Chastity had already disappeared into the crowd, her laughter floating back to them as she joined a group of young lords. Minerva’s heart tightened. She was having a good time. That is what matters.
But tonight, Minerva realized, she would have to take care of herself too.
Minerva stepped into the room, her hand gripping Cherie’s arm for a moment of reassurance. But before she could even take in the scene fully, her eyes locked onto him—Evan. He was standing near the far side of the room, surrounded by a small group of ladies, all of them hanging onto his every word.
The moment he saw her, a slow, deliberate smile tugged at his lips. His eyes gleamed with a mischievous glint as he winked at her, as though they shared some unspoken secret.
Minerva’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to look away, her spine stiffening as she squared her shoulders.I will not let him get under my skin.
Instead, she turned her attention back to the ballroom, determined to follow her plan—a foolproof plan, she reminded herself. She would avoid him, mingle with other guests, and enjoy the evening on her own terms.
Cherie squeezed her arm gently. “Remember, Minerva, be charming. Let them see who you are.”
Minerva nodded, offering her friend a tight smile. She made her way across the room, her gaze skimming over the crowd as she sought out a group of acquaintances. She would engage in conversation, maybe even charm a potential suitor or two, and avoid Evan entirely. It was simple.
Or so she thought.
No matter where she moved in the room, she found herself always within eyesight of him. He never approached her directly, never stepped into her personal space. Instead, he remained with different groups, speaking with various guests, flashing that easy smile of his as he talked to the ladies who flocked to his side.
She tried to ignore it, but she couldn’t help but notice every time he laughed with another woman or caught her eye across the room. Every time, her stomach twisted in the most irritating way.
He was doing this on purpose, she thought, her irritation growing by the minute. Of course he is. But then again, why should he be? He had plenty of people vying for his attention—why would he waste his time with her?
Fourteen
Minerva stood with Lord Danbury in the grand ballroom, her fan lightly tapping against her palm as she tried to focus on their conversation. The evening had been filled with the typical flow of pleasantries and well-worn anecdotes, much like this one, as the young lord regaled her with a humorous tale of his hunting dog chasing a pheasant into the dining hall.
She smiled politely, nodding in all the right places, but her attention was fractured, slipping away from the present as her gaze wandered through the crowded room. The ballroom was bathed in the warm glow of chandeliers, the sound of music and laughter filling the air, but Minerva found herself struggling to enjoy any of it.
“Oh, and then—can you imagine—the poor maid screamed loud enough to shake the rafters when she saw the bird!” Lord Danbury finished with a chuckle.
Minerva laughed lightly, though her amusement did not reach her eyes. “Quite the spectacle, I am sure.”
Before Lord Danbury could continue, Lady Fitzhugh, an older matron known for her sharp tongue, cut in with a hearty laugh of her own. “Well, Lord Danbury, you certainly know how to liven up a room! If only we had a pheasant to chase throughthisballroom—it might add a touch of excitement to this rather routine affair.”
“Indeed, Lady Fitzhugh,” Lord Danbury replied with a good-natured smile, “though I fear the hostess might not take too kindly to that.”
Minerva caught a glance of Evan from the corner of her eye. There he was again, as if by design, never approaching her directly but always within view. He stood in conversation with a group of gentlemen near the far end of the room, his back to her now, but even without his face in view, she could recognize his confident stance.
Her fan paused mid-tap as she tried to take a breath to calm her annoyance.
“Lady Minerva, are you feeling quite well?” Lady Amelia Townsend, one of her companions, asked, her tone polite but with an undercurrent of curiosity.
Minerva blinked, quickly pulling her attention back to the conversation. “Oh, yes. Quite well, thank you.” She forced a smile, hoping to dispel any suspicion.
“You do seem rather distracted,” Lord Danbury observed, though his tone was gentle, not accusatory. “I do hope I haven’t bored you with my tales of country antics.”
“Not at all,” Minerva replied, shaking her head. “Your stories are delightful, my lord. I have simply... I think the heat of the room has gotten to me a bit.”
Lady Fitzhugh gave a knowing look and leaned in conspiratorially. “Ah, my dear, it is not the heat of the room that is gotten to you. I daresay I have noticed you glancing across the ballroom a time or two.”
