Chapter 19 #2
“Hyde Park,” she clarified, smiling at the thought. “Do you remember? The first time I saw you was there. Or rather, when Sir Whiskerton hissed at you as if you were his sworn enemy,” she added with a soft laugh.
The memory briefly replayed in his mind because his lips curved faintly. However, he quickly masked it. “I remember.”
“They say Hyde Park is always crowded at this hour. We might run into my family, or perhaps Hyacinth or the twins.” She tilted her head, her eyes hopeful.
Percival stiffened slightly, a frown creasing his brow. “Crowds are… not to my taste.”
Her smile didn’t falter. Instead, she made a daring move. She slipped her hand into his. Her warm fingers curled around his and squeezed slightly.
Percival froze. His eyes dropped to her hand holding his, as though he had never seen anything like it. Her touch felt like a soft demand, sweet yet impossible to resist.
“Please,” she whispered, tilting her chin up. Her brown eyes shone with quiet mischief and something deeper.
Their gazes held. A current passed between them, the kind that made Percival’s pulse thunder.
At last, with a grunt that sounded more like surrender than agreement, he muttered, “Very well.”
Aurelia beamed again before releasing him, and his hand instantly grew cold.
They walked side by side beneath the long row of trees, Percival secretly admiring the way she chatted lightly with the birds and stray animals.
“Oh, how I have missed coming to the park,” she cooed.
Percival stole a glance at her. There was something about the joy on her face that made him want to bring her to the park more often.
The late sun beat down on them, and they continued to walk until something ahead stopped them short.
Aurelia’s eyes widened, and her breath hitched. Ahead, familiar figures were walking along the path.
Her lashes fluttered with instant recognition.
Lady and Lord Scovell. They stood with rigid backs, and just beside them stood the twins. Louis looked even taller now, his boyish grin fixed on his face as he chatted with Nora, whose eyes were as bright as the sun.
Aurelia couldn’t explain the joy that filled her heart. It had been a few months since she had last seen them, but those months had felt like a decade.
Without hesitating, she held out her arms and called, “Nora! Louis!”
Before she could stop herself, she gathered her skirts and ran forward, too thrilled to care for decorum.
Nora was the first to turn around. The moment she spotted her sister, her brows flew up, and a smile spread across her face.
“Aurelia!” she squealed.
She raised her arms, ready to pull her sister in a fierce embrace. But Louis beat her to it, dashing forward with a playful grin and colliding with Aurelia. It made her laugh so hard that her cheeks hurt.
“Oh my goodness!” Aurelia wrapped her arms around the twins, her eyes welling with tears.
Behind them, Lord and Lady Scovell exchanged looks. Their brows creased at their daughter’s exuberance.
“Aurelia,” Lady Scovell said sharply.
Aurelia looked up to see the frowns on her parents’ faces. “Mama…?” she called softly.
“You are a duchess, now.” Lady Scovell shook her head. “Such behavior is—”
“—unbecoming,” Lord Scovell finished, his voice firm. “Have you no shame?”
Aurelia’s blood ran cold. She let go of her siblings, her lashes fluttering with a mixture of confusion and despair. She hadn’t expected her parents to greet her with such coldness.
Before she could apologize, a deeper voice cut through the air. “You should be careful how you address a duchess.”
Her gaze snapped toward Percival. His sharp tone made her parents freeze. It wasn’t cruel, but the sheer authority in it seemed to unsettle them.
The twins glanced nervously at one another, while Lady Scovell’s lips pressed together in a thin line.
“I will not tolerate any form of disrespect toward a lady of higher ranking than you.” Percival came to a stop, his hands folded behind him.
The warmth in the atmosphere had evaporated. Aurelia’s smile dimmed but was not entirely gone. Her eyes searched her parents’ faces, their awkwardness and fear plain.
“My apologies, we did not mean—” Lady Scovell tried to speak.
“I do not care.” Percival tilted his head slightly. “I simply hope you’ll heed my warning,” he finished firmly.
Lord Scovell chuckled awkwardly. “Understood, Your Grace.” Then, he looked at his wife. “How about we give His Grace some peace and quiet? We have caused enough trouble.”
His words made Aurelia’s chest tighten. She was so sad and disappointed, and she didn’t exactly know who to blame. The twins shuffled their feet, and she hated to see them looking so dejected. Louis had a deep frown on his face, his dislike for Percival visibly growing.
“Yes, alright.” Lady Scovell managed a smile.
Before they departed, she managed to slip in an invitation, looking back at Aurelia.
“Come for dinner soon,” she said, breathless with hope.
They gave quick nods before leaving.
Aurelia could only smile weakly when the twins waved to her. Her heart was filled with sadness. She had been pleased to see her family again, but their reunion had not been the sweet one she had hoped for. If only she had behaved better, perhaps she would be chattering away with her siblings.
As she stood, she could feel Percival’s gaze on her, dark and unreadable.
“Let’s go,” he eventually muttered, before turning around and walking away.
Left with no choice, Aurelia followed after him as the shadows stretched around them.