Chapter 13

"I'd be delighted," Amelia replied, her relief palpable. Damien's timing was nothing short of miraculous. Ethan Collins moved to intervene but stopped short upon recognizing the man. "Mr. Taylor, I should mention... she isn't much of a dancer. I'd hate for her to inconvenience you." Damien ignored him, his gaze fixed on Amelia. "Do you dance?" "A little," she admitted. "Though I'm certainly no expert." In truth, Amelia could dance quite well. But years ago, Sabrina had convinced her that "only loose women dance," and that Ethan would despise it, so she had suppressed that part of herself. A faint smile touched Damien's lips. "That makes two of us. I'm hardly a professional." Ethan frowned deeply. He knew for a fact Amelia was practically a novice. Her attempt to impress Damien was bound to end in humiliation. Feeling a need to warn her, he reached for her arm, but Amelia swiftly stepped behind Damien, using him as a shield. Clearing his throat, Ethan tried again. "Amelia, your ankle is still recovering from that sprain. Perhaps you should sit this one out?" Amelia saw right through him. She offered Damien a soft, genuine smile. "Mr. Taylor, this is my first time at such an event. Would you mind giving me a tour?" Ethan's face darkened instantly. She was really going through with it. He could only wait for the inevitable embarrassment. Damien offered his arm. "Shall we?" After a moment's hesitation, Amelia placed her hand on his forearm. His touch was firm and reassuring. From Ethan's angle, Damien's body had blocked the subtlety of the gesture. All he saw was Amelia willingly taking Damien's arm, and a sharp, unwelcome pang of possessiveness tightened in his chest. Just then, Sabrina glided over. She stared after the retreating pair, her face a mask of confusion and seething envy. How did that country bumpkin get so lucky? "Ethan, did my sister say she was leaving?" Sabrina asked innocently. "She has no intention of leaving," Ethan snapped, his annoyance clear. "She's now playing the part of Damien Taylor's date for the evening." Sabrina gasped dramatically. "Oh, no. She's so impulsive and has no experience with high society. If she offends Mr. Taylor... the consequences for our family could be disastrous." "I'm well aware!" Ethan retorted. "But what could I do? Mr. Taylor asked her personally. I even warned him she couldn't dance, but she pretended otherwise." "If it were me, I would have politely declined," Sabrina said with feigned earnestness. "Men like Damien Taylor... being near them is like walking a tightrope. But then again, I suppose I understand her desperation. Most people would grasp at any straw to climb the social ladder." Internally, she scoffed at her own words. Given the chance, she would have leaped at it without a second thought. Ethan's scowl deepened, a bitter taste in his mouth. "Ambition is one thing, but you need the skill to match. He's only interested in her looks. What good is a beautiful vase if it's empty on the inside?" Sabrina clenched her fists. What she envied most was Amelia's face. For years, she had bought Amelia garish, cheap makeup and tacky clothes to make her look ridiculous. But tonight, Amelia wore no makeup, her jet-black hair cascading freely over her shoulders. The simple, elegant red gown hugged her figure perfectly. She wasn't even trying, yet she effortlessly became the center of attention. Damien was a rare sight at social functions. Many wanted to curry favor with him, but few dared approach. He was known for being aloof, inscrutable, and utterly dismissive of sycophants. Yet, even though no one approached, every eye in the room seemed drawn to him. Walking arm-in-arm with him, Amelia could feel her palm growing damp with nervous sweat. Damien noticed immediately. "Just breathe," he murmured gently. "Attend a few more of these, and it will feel like second nature." Amelia managed a tight smile. Standing next to a man who commanded such intense scrutiny felt like being on a stage under a blinding spotlight. Calm was a distant concept. Just then, Sabrina appeared beside them again, her voice dripping with false concern. "Amelia! There you are. Ethan was just looking for you— Oh!" She feigned surprise at seeing Damien, her performance perfectly calculated.