Blushing came naturally to Grace. Her face turned red at the slightest physical exertion, when she was in pain, or when she was angry. Unfortunately, her blushing tended to express what she was thinking even when she decided to keep her mouth shut, and that's exactly what happened when Mr. Echelon-Arnost insinuated that she was paying too close attention to him.
Her mouth opened to insist that he wasn't distracting, but—wasn't he? He was a gentleman, and he treated her nicely, and being in his presence felt... easy. (Easier, at least, than being with Mr. Rosier or any of the other gentleman she'd spent time around this Season.)
But Merlin, was it that easy to see it? Did he think of her as some silly girl who smiled too much and never shut up? Oh, she was never going to be able to look him in the eyes again!
Except she did, and she was sure the embarrassment was visible on her face because she was doing a terrible job of hiding it. "No, I—" She cut herself off, knowing she would only say something stupid, and then decided on the only thing she could think of. "I think I see my brother up ahead. I would hate for him to think I'd run off," she said.
Her mouth opened to insist that he wasn't distracting, but—wasn't he? He was a gentleman, and he treated her nicely, and being in his presence felt... easy. (Easier, at least, than being with Mr. Rosier or any of the other gentleman she'd spent time around this Season.)
But Merlin, was it that easy to see it? Did he think of her as some silly girl who smiled too much and never shut up? Oh, she was never going to be able to look him in the eyes again!
Except she did, and she was sure the embarrassment was visible on her face because she was doing a terrible job of hiding it. "No, I—" She cut herself off, knowing she would only say something stupid, and then decided on the only thing she could think of. "I think I see my brother up ahead. I would hate for him to think I'd run off," she said.
