Page 43 of Winning Her Duke

*

Later that evening, Gia was still excited as she took her seat next to Lydia in their carriage.

“I know you’re still cross with me for tricking you into coming to London, but at least I never forced you to sing in front of a large group of people.” Her father nodded sagely as the carriage set off for the Barnett home where they were to be entertained that evening.

The mid-April evening was damp and chilly, and Gia had hoped it would dissuade Lydia from wanting to leave the warmth of the drawing room, but alas they were on their way.

As much as she disliked balls, at least one had the ability to move about as one pleased. They weren’t expected to sit still for long lengths of time.

“I believe, father, the reason you’ve refrained from having me sing is more out of mercy for you and your friends since you know I can’t sing.”

He leaned over from where he sat in the rear-facing bench and patted her knee.

“I’m afraid you were given my singing voice rather than your dear mother’s. Such a tragedy for her gift to have been lost. Instead, I have a child who sounds like a goose being plucked for stew when she sings.”

“Papa,” she feigned insult, though he wasn’t wrong.

“Indeed,” Lydia said in defense. “Everyone knows they do not pluck a goose while it’s still alive.”

“Thank you, Lydia,” Gia offered flatly. Some defense that had been.

She didn’t see Hale when they arrived, so she assumed he had thought the musicale the limit of their friendship. She couldn’t blame him.

The music started up and she was forced to take her seat and be quiet. And sit still.

Quiet and stillness were not things she did exceedingly well. Many a governess had lost her temper when it came to the challenge of getting Gia to sit still for any length of time.

As an adult it should have been easier, but it wasn’t. Now she could almost feel each second of her life drifting away. She was aging. Her life was passing by. And she would never get this time back. Time spent in agonizing stillness.

She might as well be dead for the life was being sucked from her with each note. Not that the nervous young lady singing was bad. In fact, she had a pleasant voice, but not pleasant enough to keep Gia from wanting to escape the room.

“Stop fidgeting,” Lydia whispered.

“Was I?” Gia truly thought she’d been hiding her unrest well enough. Hopefully, Lydia was the only one who’d noticed.

She turned to look over her shoulder to ensure no one was watching her and locked gazes with the large man standing in the back of the room.

Hale.

He should have looked severe. His size and wash of tartan across his chest. But then he winked.

Instantly, she felt the peace his presence seemed to inspire, and she felt her face light up in a smile.

He smiled back. Not a grin or a smirk, but an actual smile offered just for her. She turned back to the front of the room when Lydia nudged her, but as she did, Gia realized this was no longer just a friendship.

Her heart was in danger.

*

Hale felt her gaze like a jolt of lightning and his body responded in a way that was most inconvenient while in a room filled with other people watching a musicale.

For the first time since coming to London, he wished for a kilt to hide his reaction.

“Dear God, the girl is in love with you,” Julian whispered louder than he should have.

There was so much wrong with the man’s statement.

Firstly, and most importantly, she wasn’t a girl. She was most definitely a woman. Secondly, she wasn’t in love with Hale. She was smart, and he’d warned her of the dangers in getting attached to him.