Willette Burmingham glanced left and right, searching for a way to avoid coming face to face with the man blocking her pathway. Of all the people she could have encountered on the London street, why, oh, why would it have to be Rafael Williams? His dark brown hair was just as she remembered—thick and with enough curl to make it look slightly unruly—and his glistening brown eyes were just as friendly as the first night she’d met him.
That had been three months ago, when she’d sung at a party for her dear friend Nora Knight. It had been the largest crowd she’d ever sung in front of, and she’d been so nervous she hadn’t been able to eat or drink anything beforehand.
Rafael had been sitting in the front row with the Knight family because he was a close friend of Nora’s brother, Michael, the Duke of Turnbill.
The way Rafael had looked at her, smiling and nodding as if he understood her nervousness, had touched her deep inside. It had felt as if he was silently encouraging her, and she’d momentarily closed her eyes and pretended he was the only person in the room. The only one she was singing for.
She’d performed flawlessly that night, and afterwards, he’d escorted her from the music room, obtained something for her to drink and eat, and they had spent the rest of the evening visiting and laughing with Nora, her beau, Geoffrey, and others. It had been the best night of Willette’s life.
More than once, she’d fantasised about seeing Rafael again, but not like this. Not on the worst day of her life. Not when she was sniffling, struggling to hold back tears.
Her most cherished dream—that of becoming an opera singer—had turned into a nightmare not more than a few moments ago.
‘Miss Burmingham,’ Rafael repeated, stepping closer. ‘Whatever is the matter?’
The shine had left his eyes. His brows were drawn downward with concern, and that made her feel even worse. Blinking at the tears that threatened to start falling all over again, she shook her head. ‘Mr Williams,’ she managed to say. ‘I apologise. The sunlight is so bright it’s made my eyes water.’
His expression said he didn’t believe her, and a thick lump formed in her throat. She’d never wanted to run away from someone so badly in her life.
Not even Mr Barr, who she had just run away from, right after letting him know exactly what she thought of his suggestion.
‘Please, then,’ Rafael said softly, ‘allow me to offer you a ride. Get you out of the sun.’
‘Oh, no, that’s not necessary.’
‘I believe it is.’
With a pretence of brushing aside the ringlets of hair dangling from her temples, Willette quickly wiped at the moisture on her lashes. ‘My cousin’s home would be too far out of your way.’
‘Since I’m not expected anywhere, nowhere is out of my way.’ Leaning closer, he lowered his voice to almost a whisper. ‘You can trust me, Willette, with whatever it is, you can trust me.’
Even though she was still trembling and angry due to Mr Barr’s unconscionable behaviour, the tenderness in Rafael’s voice brought forth a bout of tears that were impossible to stop.
‘There, now,’ he whispered kindly, while gently taking a hold of her elbow.
His touch, the tenderness in his voice, were more than her broken heart could take.
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