“I thought I might find you here.”
Eden’s breath caught as Gabriel’s deep voice drifted toward her through the gentle night air. Turning slowly, she found him standing at the terrace entrance, silhouetted against the soft glow from inside. A bittersweet pang tightened her chest, the sight of him framed in golden light stirring both awe and an aching sense of loss. He looked like a dream conjured from her loneliest nights. Almost close enough to touch, yet infinitely out of reach. His black hair was tousled lightly, emerald eyes bright beneath dark lashes.
“Gabriel,” she greeted softly, striving for composure. “Are you enjoying your party?”
He stepped forward, closing the distance between them effortlessly. “It is lovely, though truthfully, somewhat overwhelming.”
Eden smiled softly. “You always preferred solitude over-crowded rooms.”
He nodded slowly, moving to lean against the balustrade beside her, gazing thoughtfully out over the gardens. “Indeed. I find crowds can rarely match the charm of quiet contemplation.”
A soft breeze stirred the scent of roses between them, weaving through the hush like a fragile thread, amplifying the unspoken yearning that neither dared to voice. Eden’s fingers brushed against Gabriel’s hand where it rested on the balustrade, a fleeting touch that sent a jolt through her, like a spark reigniting embers long buried. A rush of memory and longing surged forth unbidden, stirring something raw and intimate within her. She pulled back quickly, cheeks warming, heart thundering with the weight of all she dared not say.
Words hovered unspoken on Eden’s lips. A confession she dared not voice. She longed to tell him how no suitor had ever measured against the boy who had once carried her from a fall. How no smile stirred her heart as his did. But the weight of duty sealed the words inside her.
Eden traced the edge of the balustrade with her fingertip, the cool stone grounding her even as her heart fluttered wildly. Gabriel shifted closer, his sleeve brushing hers and sending a shiver up her spine, though neither spoke. Eden stole a glance at his profile, noting the shadow of stubble along his jaw and the weary set of his broad shoulders.
“You seem troubled,” she murmured gently.
Gabriel turned toward her slightly, eyes meeting hers. The intensity within them took her breath away. Yet it was the emotion behind that gaze that truly unnerved her. Was it regret she saw? Affection? Or perhaps a restraint that mirrored her own? The questions tangled in her chest, tightening the space between heartbeats.
“Returning here has stirred memories. Some fond, others less so.”
“I am sorry,” Eden whispered softly, aching for the sadness she glimpsed in his eyes.
His smile was gentle, reassuring. “Do not be. It is not all unpleasant. Some of these memories bring unexpected comfort.”
Their gazes locked, holding for a moment longer than propriety dictated. Her pulse raced, warmth spreading through her at his nearness. She forced herself to look away, reminding herself firmly of the boundaries that must exist between them.
“Your brother has mentioned several suitors,” Gabriel ventured carefully, his voice strained. “Do you favor any of them?”
Eden laughed softly, shaking her head. “Not particularly. I find most gentlemen lack... substance. Still, my family has their opinions.”
Gabriel chuckled quietly. “High standards, Lady Eden?”
“Realistic ones,” she retorted gently, casting him a playful glance. “Not every woman seeks empty charm and idle flattery.”
“Indeed,” Gabriel replied softly, voice thickening slightly. “I suppose some prefer truth and genuine feeling.”
Eden’s heart stumbled. She opened her mouth to reply when a sudden movement in the doorway caught her attention.
Thomas stood there, his expression unreadable. “Gabriel, a word?”
Gabriel straightened slowly, offering her an apologetic glance before following Thomas back inside.
Eden lingered on the terrace, heart heavy with confusion and longing. Her mind drifted back to a blissful afternoon years ago when she and Gabriel had raced across the meadow behind Thornton Hall, their laughter blending with the whisper of the wind. She fell, scraping her knee, and he rushed back, lifting her gently into his arms despite her protests.
She remembered the way he had looked at her then—protective, tender—and how something had shifted quietly in her heart. That single glance had felt like a promise, stirring an emotion both exhilarating and terrifying. It was the first moment she realized she loved him, though she had buried that truth deep within herself, afraid of what it might mean, of how it changed everything that had once seemed so innocent. Now, as she stood beneath the indifferent stars, Eden wondered whether that boy still lived within the man who had returned, or whether time and distance had forged an impenetrable wall between them.
She tilted her head back to gaze at the stars scattered across the velvet sky, seeking answers among their distant light. The cool night air thickened around her, carrying the sharp scent of blooming roses and damp earth. Shadows crept along the terrace stones, stretching and merging as if the night itself conspired to cloak her in uncertainty.
A chill brushed across her bare shoulders, and Eden hugged herself, feeling the weight of solitude settle deeper into her soul. She had felt something real, something powerful between herself and Gabriel. Yet now, alone under the soft moonlight, she questioned her heart’s wisdom.
She straightened, determinedly smoothing her gown and lifting her chin proudly, even as a treacherous flicker of hope rose unbidden within her. She knew too well how dangerous hope could be. How it could blind and wound, promising dreams that reality was rarely kind enough to grant. Gabriel was dangerous to her peace of mind, perhaps even her heart. She would guard herself carefully, maintaining the boundaries that duty and familial loyalty demanded.
She steeled herself by recalling Gabriel’s years abroad—the dangers, the scandals whispered among the ton, the way he had abandoned her, and reminded herself that any entanglement could not only endanger her heart but also risk her reputation.
Gabriel was not for her. She would continue to entertain Mr. Price’s suit. Eden would honor her family.
