Elain swallowed hard as she forced her back to straighten, praying she could push the vile feeling back into the depths of her stomach through sheer will.
Don't forget the etiquette taught by the governess.
"Apologies for my… crude words, milord," she said more calmly now, offering the man a curt bow. "I was startled."
His eyes narrowed at her, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
What kind of look was that? Was he mocking her for being courteous?
She wanted to ask, but decided against it. They were no longer alone in a cottage or a secluded alley. They were at the first ball of Halcyon, for the gods' sake and in the Greyfords' mansion at that. It was no time to be unruly.
Who was he, anyway? Why did they have to run into each other again?
Well, when she saw him in the alley of Lilymist, she realized it wouldn't be impossible to see him again if he were a member of high society. But she had thought the chances of crossing paths in a ball this large were slim, especially when she was the kind of person who blended into the ballroom walls.
It must have been coincidence and her sheer misfortune, that she happened to feel nauseous and leave the dance floor at the exact moment this man was doing whatever business he had in this part of the mansion.
What kind of luck was that? The Greyfords' estate was so vast it might as well be a palace, and yet he couldn't find a more suitable place to loiter? Unbelievable.
While she was silently fuming, he spoke.
"You look unwell. If you feel nauseous, I'm sure the gardener won't mind a bit of a mess in the garden soil."
"I appreciate the suggestion. The gardener might not, but the owners of the estate surely will," she replied, remembering Lark Greyford's earlier remark about his family not being fond of mess.
"You don't know that. Perhaps they can be forgiving in special circumstances."
From the first time they met, Elain had been aware of the man's good looks, but tonight he looked even more dashing in his black vest with a high collar and a silver chain pin, paired with a black shirt embroidered with intricate gold threadwork. His dark pants were tailored to fit his long legs, and his sleek shoes were clearly of the finest quality. His hair was combed back, though a few short locks fell over his forehead.
He certainly didn't look like an average upper-class man, which meant she had even more reason to keep her behavior in check.
Deciding she must leave, Elain was about to excuse herself when the man suddenly leaned forward.
"What are you—"
She clamped her mouth shut and froze when he crouched slightly, leaning his head closer to hers until it was only a couple of inches away.
Before she could step back, he withdrew from her personal space, straightening as if nothing had happened while she was left wide-eyed, utterly shocked and flustered by his unexpected move.
"Wraith's Nectar can be a bit strong for people who are not used to drinking wine. Why did you take a glass when there were other refreshments available?" he asked, one eyebrow raised.
So he leaned closer to catch the scent of what she had eaten or drunk? He immediately knew what she had consumed and even which kind of wine. He certainly had keen senses.
She had drunk wine before, of course. She just hadn't expected this glass to be different from those she had tasted.
"Or perhaps your eyesight is too poor to distinguish wine from lemonade. It must be because you don't eat enough nutritious food."
And here he was again with his cheeky remarks. She glared at him.
"Did you consume something with honey?" he asked, tilting his head as he watched her with keen interest. "When you eat honey before drinking Wraith's Nectar, it becomes a lot more bitter."
It made sense. Indeed, the last thing she had eaten before taking a sip of that wine was a slice of apple dipped in honey.
"The information is quite helpful, but you could have just asked me instead of sniffing it off me. You cannot go around sniffing people like that," she said sharply.
"Why not?" he gave her an innocent look, as if he were truly clueless.
Elain's eyes sharpened. She was still fighting the nausea, and she doubted talking to this man would benefit her in any way. If anything, it would only rile her up. Instead of wasting her time explaining what she meant, when he was clearly toying with her, she offered him a bow.
"I wish to head back inside now. May Halcyon bring you great joy."
She took a step forward, but the man immediately moved in front of her, blocking her way.
She stiffened, looking up at him in question, only to find his wicked gaze fixed on her. It reminded her of what had happened back in the alley of Lilymist a few days ago.
She inhaled his familiar scent, and somehow it brought a soothing effect to her airway, easing some of the tension from the nausea she was feeling.
But despite how pleasant his scent was, Elain knew better than to stay too close to a stranger, especially a man with a questionable character. And who knew which wealthy family he came from?
One word from him about their encounters, especially about the pleasure house in Lilymist,and she could be ruined. And with his playful nature, she could only imagine how far he might twist the truth for his own amusement.
"You are always eager to leave me whenever we meet. Do I frighten you?"
She took a step back, and he glanced at the distance between them. He tilted his head, no longer smiling.
She was anxious, annoyed, and on top of that, nauseous. So she couldn't help but snap, "It is not appropriate for a lady to be alone with a man. Unless you were born yesterday, it is impossible not to know such a fact."
"Aren't you Miss Prim and Proper," he mused. "No one usually comes to this part of the mansion, so you don't have to worry about rumors. Besides, I am not the kind to act indecently around women."
Not the kind to act indecently around women? Elain would have scoffed if she weren't biting her tongue, both to fight the nausea and to stop herself from hurling improper words at him.
"Now, open your mouth," he ordered.
Her forehead creased, unsure if she had heard him right. "What—"
The moment she parted her lips, his fingers flicked something into her mouth. It happened so fast she didn't even see it properly.
Her eyes widened, flabbergasted. Fearing it was something harmful, she was about to spit it out when he spoke.
"It's dried apricot. It can help with nausea."