She had noticed him right behind her from his shadow looming over her. She only had a few seconds to calm her quickening breaths and steady her heartbeat.
Yet, Lydia managed to do just that.
Turning to face him, she kept her expression as calm and cold as ever. Despite her body tensing as she raised her eyes to meet his, it did not waver.
The last time she had seen Damian was at a ball she had reluctantly attended two years ago. Their last face-to-face encounter must have been a decade ago. Lydia now knew better why her childhood "friend" had become fodder for society gossip.
His chestnut hair was carefully groomed, with some strands still falling onto his forehead. The intense gaze in his slightly narrowed green eyes, along with the navy ceremonial attire that fit him perfectly, accentuated his physique, drawing attention to Damian with just his presence.
Lydia made an effort to appear unaware of this fact as she looked only at his face.
Standing directly in front of her, blocking her view completely, Damian's face briefly showed a hint of dissatisfaction before swiftly disappearing. He was so accustomed to attention and admiration that he must have considered it his due.
"It really is you. I thought I might be mistaken from afar, but now I see I was right. I am delighted to see you, Miss Lockhart."
Damian, not one to give up, was now looking at Lydia with one of his most charming smiles. Lydia had to suppress the urge to swallow.
"I am delighted to see you too, but I am afraid I must leave soon. If you'll excuse me."
Damian had stepped closer to her, blocking her path, so Lydia had no choice but to stop. At least in the midst of other guests at the ball, she couldn't push past him.
Damian seemed pleased with what he saw as excitement and nervousness seeped through her gaze.
"Do you really have to leave so soon?"
"Unfortunately..."
"Then please allow me to drive you home in my carriage."
Lydia immediately averted her gaze from the surprised expressions of those around her who had also heard this offer. Even though she was certain that Damian, not content with a foreign princess, would provide new gossip for society, she had never thought she would be the victim herself.
In Damian's list of flirts, the juxtaposition of the name of the princess known for her beauty with that of Lydia, known for her ugliness, must have been a perfect fit for the twisted and inferior tastes of society.
Gathering all her composure, Lydia moved before Damian could summon thefootman to convey the message to his carriage.
"I suppose I can stay a little longer."
Seeming to have successfully ignored Lydia's cold demeanor in his triumph, Damian approved with a pleasant and intimate tone.
"I am very pleased that our friendship still holds a place for you. I hope you will not refuse my offer of a dance in this state."
Lydia's only desire was to run away without looking back from the hall full of people watching her closely and whispering incessantly, and especially from Damian. But if she did, she would need a valid excuse to never be seen at another ball again.
However, there was no such excuse at royal balls.
So Lydia had to accept his offer. With a nod, she placed her hand in Damian's. Despite the gloves, there was a strong and firm side to Damian's grip that did not match the gentle tone of the music playing in the background.
As they made their way through the other guests and couples to the center of the dance floor, Lydia made sure not to look around. Otherwise, she might lose all her courage and resolve. The whispers were already too distracting.
She breathed a sigh of relief as the music resumed after a short pause.
But she was mistaken; her toughest test was just beginning.