PAIN OF REJECTION (3)

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CHAPTER 22

The Countess's face drained of all color as her anxiety became evident. She quickly made an excuse to leave her peers.

Evelina, noticing her mother's odd behavior, couldn't let her leave without knowing what was wrong. She hurried over and grabbed the Countess's hand. «Mother,» she said.

«Not now, Evelina. The ball must continue. I have a few things to attend to. Prince Laith is here and is currently looking for you, I might add.»

The Countess gave a faint smile as she made another attempt to leave, but Evelina stopped her once more.

«What now?» The Countess appeared agitated, and Evelina could tell.

Evelina took a step back. «I only wanted to say that... I would like to go home as well. The night is getting late, and I am truly exhausted, Mother,» Evelina pleaded.

«This won't do,» the countess let out a sigh and turned to Evelina, looking weary. «The matter I have to attend to involves someone very dear to me. I need to be there for them; otherwise, things could go very wrong. So, I implore you to engage in at least simple talk with the Prince tonight. Then, perhaps he can bring you home if Sylvester is not here yet with a coach.»

«Mother!» Evelina shouted.

«What? Oh good, the Prince is here. Your Highness?» Breanna's face lit up at once, and Evelina could immediately tell her mother was being serious.

«Why, Countess, we meet again. I overheard your little altercation and was forced to step in. Hello, Evelina,» Prince Laith said, stepping in front of her.

«Your Grace,» Evelina said, trying to force a smile.

«Well, since I believe you are in capable hands now, I beg to take my leave,» the Countess said, then smiled at Evelina.

As Evelina watched her mother leave along with her footman, she struggled with the flip-flop that had just happened in her stomach. Her mother's smile had been a clear warning not to mess things up with the Prince.

But she didn't wish to engage with him right now. She wasn't in the mood for it. And the Duke...he was still ingrained in her thoughts.

«A lovely evening to you, Evelina. Honestly, I must say, of all the beauties clustered here tonight, you are indeed the most dazzling,» Laith commented, and Evelina managed a smile.

«Thank you, Your Grace.»

«Uh, simply Laith will do. Just like the last time? Remember?» Evelina noticed the subtle glint in his earthy brown eyes as he spoke. Obviously, he had shortly relived the memory of their shared dance that day.

«Your Grace does flatter me with compliments every time we cross paths, but I cannot do that last part you require of me,» Evelina said.

«What? My name? Which is more important to you, Evelina? The person or the title?» Laith smiled charmingly, in a way that should cause any girl's heart to melt, but not hers. «A dance, please, most stunning Evelina?» Laith asked, stretching out his hand, but she couldn't possibly do that.

«I beg to decline, Your Highness. My legs are a bit exhausted from dancing too much already.»

«Hm,» the Prince sighed. «How tired are they that you cannot afford to spare your Prince even one dance?» He purred sexily.

But Evelina wasn't about to be cajoled by cheap flattery. She was determined to steal away to her home at once. «You did ask me barely a minute ago which was more important between your title and you as a person, Your Grace. Should I then return the question to you: which is more important, imposing your status on me to demand that I dance with you, or letting me be for now, as I am truly fed up with dancing tonight?»

«Fair point,» Prince Laith muttered with a smile, but Evelina was not fooled by that. No man appreciated being turned down from a dance, especially not a Prince like him. «You know, my mother, your Queen, spoke highly of you as a consequence of your dining with her. It impressed me that she considered you 'so full of yourself', which, of course, wasn't lost on me on our very first encounter, Evelina.»

Listening to the Prince make reference to his mother already told her she wouldn't like the direction his next talk was going to take.

«Do you...is there a reason why my letter of engagement has been left decaying at your door?»

«My...Your Grace?»

«You are exceptional, Evelina, and not only beautiful. Is it...do you think I am unintelligent to make a good husband to you?»

Evelina scowled at this. «I beg your pardon. I have never considered you a fool, Your Highness.»

«Then why?»

«Why what?» Evelina asked, feigning ignorance.

«Why do you hesitate to give me a chance?»

«A chance? Your...Your Grace...I...I...Oh look, my best friend seems to be in search of me.»

«Your best friend? Where? Who's your best friend?» Laith darted his eyes around.

«I'm over here, Priscilla. Right over here!» Evelina shouted, waving her hand, and then she was gone like the wind. She had managed to escape the Prince and was outside the ball hastily, almost as if she had flown.

As the night chill settled on her bones, she hurriedly scoured the lawn for where the carriages were parked. Catching sight of one carriage on its way onto the roads, she immediately ran for it, desperately shouting for it to «Wait.»

The coach slowed as soon as she got to it.

«Thank you.» She doubled over to catch her breath before looking back up at the man on the coach box. «To Longdale! Are you...do you, by any chance, hope to get to Longdale?»

The man looked apprehensive and shocked at the same time. But when he opened his mouth, he started to say, «Miss, I am afraid that my coach is not headed in that direction. It is headed for-»

«It doesn't matter,» Evelina said promptly. «As long as you are willing to take me. Anywhere is fine. I can get off anywhere as long as it's not this ball.»

A flicker of hesitance strained the man's face, but Evelina was hell-bent on not taking no for an answer.

«Thank you for your kindness, sir,» she quickly said and hurried for the door. «Please carry on now.»

The instant Evelina settled herself inside her seat, the carriage started on its way.

«Hello, Evelina.»

The sound of that sweetly accented baritone, sounding so close to her, caused her stomach to knot.

This novel is exclusive to Web Novel, please contact me through the chapter comments if you find that all or any part of this publication is being uploaded elsewhere (on another site). Thank you.