“They’re coming, and you wouldn’t stop talking!” She retorted, her voice shaky as she tried to regain her composure.
“You are the most—” he started, his voice rising with his shock, but the words caught in his throat as a loud rustling broke through the air.
The man glanced over his shoulder, the sound of gasps and footsteps growing louder, echoing through the dense foliage. He took a deep breath, seeming to attempt to steady himself.
Cecilia’s hands remained clenched into fists at her sides, her cheeks still flushed. The shadows of the trees seemed to loom closer, as if eavesdropping on their heated exchange.
Laughter echoed again, much closer now, slicing through the tension. T he strange man gave her a narrow-eyed glance but turned on his heel and dashed into the shadows. , The weight of their argument hung heavily in the air, leaving Cecilia breathless and stunned even as the urgency of their situation pull her back to reality.
She pressed herself against the rough bark of a nearby tree, her heart pounding in her chest as the voices faded into the distance. She finally managed to take a shaky breath . Adrenaline coursed through her veins, but it quickly morphed into a cold dread as reality set in.
“Where are they ?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She had completely forgotten about her brother and Evangeline, and the fog of her brain having finally cleared, she realized they had been the ones so close just moments ago.
Frantically, she scanned the dimly lit surroundings, her eyes darting between the shadows, the rustle of leaves and the crunch of twigs underfoot heightening her anxiety.
Pushing off the tree, she moved cautiously, her footsteps muffled by the thick underbrush. Every sound seemed amplified, and she felt the weight of the silence pressing down on her.
Had Nathaniel fled when they heard the approaching voices? He must have Relief washed over her, and she took off in the direction her brother had taken, turning at the corner as she headed back into the ballroom.
The night’s cold reminded her of it’s presence and she shivered as she made her way up the stairs, grateful for the warmth that surrounded her as soon as she stepped through the doors.
However, her smile was short-lived as she came face-to-face with her elder brother only after a few steps inside.
“Where do you think you’re going, Cecilia? Trying to sneak back in as though nothing happened? Where have you been?!” Tristan hissed at her, his eyes narrowing as she walked guiltily to his side.
The sconces on the walls flickered , casting an unsteady glow on their tense faces. Cecilia felt her heart begin to pound once again.
‘As though nothing happened’, does he know?
There’s no way he would know, yes? How would he know?
“Nothing happened, brother,” she responded timidly, “I needed air, the ballroom was becoming a bit suffocating.
“Air, you say? And what if you ended up finding more than just that outside? Cecilia, how many times do I have to explain the dangers of being unchaperoned as a single lady?” he pressed, his voice low but filled with urgency.
His eyes narrowed with concern, “Are you all right? You did not cross paths with anyone, did you?”
He does not know. Of course he doesn’t.
Cecilia drew in a deep breath, letting out a sigh of relief inwardly. “No, brother, I did not wander far past the doors,” the lie rolled off her tongue easily given the circumstances.
Tristan scoffed, “Well, if you wanted my attention so badly, congratulations, you’ve gotten it. D o you even realize how reckless you were?”
Cecilia struggled with a steadying breath, and did not utter a word. The chatter and laughter of the ballroom faded into the background, the atmosphere thickening as the voices of her thoughts tripled.
Tristan ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. “You don’t get it, do you? There are consequences to your actions! You could have put yourself in danger!”
He took a step forward, his tone softening slightly. “Sister, I’m but trying to look out for you. You can’t just run off like that. What if something happened?”
Nothing the Earl spoke registered in Cecilia’s mind. She nodded aimlessly, whilst sending a glare that could have burned a hole through her other brother’s back as he chatted animatedly with a group of friends, completely oblivious to her turmoil.
She clenched her fists, still reeling from the audacity of what had just happened.
Why did you have to go outside, Nate?
Why do I get scolded for doing my best to look out for you?
She muttered under her breath, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. It was all Nathaniel’s fault that she had followed him, only to end up giving her first kiss to an infuriating stranger.
