“Uh..” Simon struggled, much to Harriet’s disappointment.
“I thought I had practiced enough. Heavens, I was hoping that it would wor?—”
“It was perfectly fine, Harriet,” Simon replied, cutting her off halfway.
He did not want to acknowledge justhoweffective it had been. But surely, if she looked at him like that, he would have no other choice but to melt.
They did not speak much for the remainder of the ride. Simon was too busy fighting the urge to sneak glances in her direction, and she seemed to be practicing her ‘loving gaze’ by herself.
But now, it was time to go inside.
As they made their way into the ballroom together, Simon was acutely aware of the glances and whispers that followed them. The ton had noticed their entrance, and the curiosity and speculation were palpable. But the opinions of society mattered little to Simon. What concerned him more was Harriet’s reaction to the attention.
To his surprise, she seemed more composed than he had anticipated, her posture perfect, her head held high.
He was about to comment on how well she was taking all the attention when Harriet gasped loudly — her attention drawn to the sight of her sisters, Esther and Frances, who were already mingling with the other guests.
“Oh, this is lovely,” she clapped her hands together in excitement, and quickly excused herself to join them, leaving Simon to follow at a short distance. He watched as she approached her sisters, noting the way her entire demeanor seemed to shift. With them, she was carefree, her laughter light and infectious as they embraced and exchanged greetings. It was as if the weight of the evening had lifted from her shoulders.
Could it be possible for her to be like that in front of him as well?
As Simon approached the trio, he greeted Harriet’s sisters with a polite nod. “Lady Esther, Lady Frances,” he said, his tone formal but not unfriendly. “It’s good to see you both.”
Esther smiled warmly at him, while Frances offered a more reserved but still polite response. “And you as well, Your Grace,” Esther replied. “I’m glad you could join us tonight.”
“Simon, I’d like to introduce you to Christopher and Phillip,” Harriet said, gesturing to two gentlemen who had joined them.
Christopher, tall and fair with an easy smile, and Phillip, slightly shorter but with sharp features, both bowed respectfully to Simon.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Christopher said with a respectful nod.
“Likewise,” Phillip added, his tone more playful. “We have scarcely gotten a chance to do so. Harriet has told us about your busy schedule.”
Simon raised an eyebrow at that, but there was no malice in Phillip’s words, only a hint of mischief. Simon responded with a polite nod. “I’m sure she has,” he replied, his tone neutral.
Harriet laughed softly, the sound easing some of the tension in Simon’s chest. For a moment, he allowed himself to simply observe her, noting the way she seemed to come alive in the company of her sisters and their companions. It was a side of her he hadn’t seen often, and it made him wonder just how much of her true self she kept hidden when she was with him.
“I shall leave you to catch up,” Harriet said. “Come and find me please, when you are done.”
And then — she did it. She gave him that look again. The ‘look of love’. Simon felt himself unable to look away, feeling as though the moment felt too intimate to be shared in public.
She had finally figured out a way to disarm him.
And quite strongly, at that.
As Harriet left, Simon noticed the two men stare at each other and exchange a knowing glance.
Great.Simon thought to himself.Other people had begun to notice, too.
The rest of the night passed by in a flash. While Simon made sure to engage in conversation with different people around the room, he was never too far from Harriet.
It was a strange feeling — this — a weird possessiveness. There was no doubt that she looked ethereal tonight, and that many eyes were wandering over in her direction.
He wanted to remain close by — to fight off any problem that might spring up, or teach a lesson to anyone whose gaze lingered for longer than it ought to.
As the night passed, Simon noticed that Harriet had a change in her demeanor.
The light in her eyes dimmed slightly, and the carefree laughter that had filled the air moments ago faded. She grew quieter, her gaze frequently drifting toward the entrance of the ballroom as if she were searching for someone or something.
