Oh no. Why couldn’t he stop being charming? This was the last thing she needed – Merlin, she needed no encouragement at all to keep thinking these foolish thoughts. He was charming and concerned about her and his eyes had crinkled around the edges to prove it, and Callista desperately wanted to see him smile again, or throw caution to the wind completely and kiss him.
Which was madness in any case, especially to an almost stranger, especially when she was as good as sober, especially in a crowded ballroom. So something really was wrong with her – her eyes had widened slightly purely at the thought. Foolish, reckless, unwise love would be her downfall, that was the warning that lived in her head. “No, I –” could ruin my whole life over you in a flash, Callista considered, and instead said, wildly, “– I think I’m going to be sick. Please forgive me, Mr. Harper,” she stammered – it was not entirely a lie – and scrambled up from her chair as quickly as if it were on fire. She had to go home right now.
Which was madness in any case, especially to an almost stranger, especially when she was as good as sober, especially in a crowded ballroom. So something really was wrong with her – her eyes had widened slightly purely at the thought. Foolish, reckless, unwise love would be her downfall, that was the warning that lived in her head. “No, I –” could ruin my whole life over you in a flash, Callista considered, and instead said, wildly, “– I think I’m going to be sick. Please forgive me, Mr. Harper,” she stammered – it was not entirely a lie – and scrambled up from her chair as quickly as if it were on fire. She had to go home right now.
