Esmeralda raised a confused brow at his words. A scoff nearly tore from her throat, but she held it in. Golden, on the other hand, did not hesitate to walk around, his presence commanding, even though he had dismissed himself as a mere bodyguard.
He carefully pulled the chair out for her, and when Esmeralda stepped forth and sat, he pushed it in and returned to his initial position, his eyes on her.
"Thank you," she said, her eyes on Golden, making it known her words were for the bodyguard and not the man seated opposite her.
Alistair scoffed at the little exchange and rolled his eyes. "The thank you should be for me, darling. If I hadn't ordered it, you would not be seated."
Esmeralda once again almost scoffed but restrained herself. She wished to say more but remembered he was the duke's son, not just some random blind date.
"I am Esmeralda. I am certain your mother already told you that," Esmeralda spoke, sounding as politely as she could manage.
"Oh no, she didn't." Alistair shook his head. "She wanted it to be very much of a surprise." He rolled his eyes at the end, the remark drenched in sarcasm.
Esmeralda sighed inaudibly, wondering if this man was capable of making anything easy.
"Well, I'm Alistair Fitzgerald, son of Grand Duke Patrick Fitzgerald," he said. "You are beautiful, anyway. I knew I could trust my mother." He chuckled, and Esmeralda forced a smile.
Alistair picked up the single menu on the table, scanning it, while Esmeralda's eyes subconsciously trailed up to the golden-eyed man behind her date.
Golden's eyes were already on her—intense, heated. She quickly looked down at the table, praying she wouldn't blush, but it was of no use. She could feel the warmth creeping up from her neck.
Alistair, having caught the subtle exchange, asked, "Is the presence of my bodyguard disturbing you?" One might have believed him considerate, were it not for his next words: "Apologies, but he cannot leave my side."
Esmeralda didn't restrain herself this time; she rolled her eyes and replied, "The presence of your bodyguard does not bother me. Instead, it makes me feel safe." The words had left her lips before she fully realized.
Esmeralda did not look at Golden to notice his eyes had widened slightly, a faint blush colouring his ears.
Alistair scoffed and passed her the menu. "Pick something," he ordered.
Esmeralda scanned the menu while Alistair rang the bell. As he spoke to the waitress who entered after the bell's chime, her eyes found Golden again. This time, he wasn't looking at her but out the window. She noticed how the tailcoat he wore hugged his form. He was muscular, she observed—and for the first time, she thought someone looked far too good in the plain attire of a bodyguard.
Esmeralda gulped. She had never been so drawn to a man before. It was usually mere infatuation, fleeting and fanciful, but she knew with Golden, it was more. Much more. As she internally mused while admiring him, he caught her gaze. A small smirk played on his lips while she blushed and looked away.
What was with that smirk?! she screamed inwardly.
Their order arrived after a few minutes.
"So, did you complete your education?" Alistair asked, mouth half-filled with food.
"Yes. I did complete my education, Sir Alistair." She wasn't sure how else to address the son of a duke.
"It's Your Grace to you, Esmeralda," Alistair corrected, looking up with a tight smile. "Unless we get married, of course, then you may change the title." He finished with a smug grin. "What about your family?"
"My father is doing well." She would not reveal that her mother had passed, but she hoped he would take the hint. Fortunately, Alistair didn't ask further about her family.
He asked about everything else he deemed necessary, and Esmeralda answered what she could. After their meal, he gave his verdict.
"I like you, Esmeralda. You're not like every other girl I know, even though you threw yourself at me."
Esmeralda blinked, baffled by the final part of his statement. "Pardon? I do not know of what you speak."
"What? Aren't you the one who asked Mother to set up the date? Anyway, I shall look past that since I like you."
Esmeralda opened her mouth, but only a scoff escaped. She had already resolved to have nothing further to do with this pompous, spoiled, overgrown man.
Not when he believed every woman was desperate for his attention.
And not when she was undeniably drawn to his bodyguard.
It was a definitive no for her.
"Our date is ended," he suddenly announced, leaning back in his chair. He drew a pocket watch from his trousers and stared at it. "I have another date at the hour of five, so you need to leave."
Esmeralda stared at him, deadpan. If his earlier remark had been offensive, this was outright disrespectful.
Blatantly disrespectful.
"Escort the fair lady out, Golden," Alistair commanded, oblivious to Esmeralda's growing fury or the impropriety of his words.
Esmeralda wanted nothing more than to be gone from that space. Before Golden could even approach, she had already risen from her chair. He outstretched his hand, and she took it without hesitation, her eyes locked with his. A far better gentleman than the one who had claimed the title.
Golden led her to the door, then let go of her hand to open it, stepping out before she followed. He remained behind her as they descended the spiral staircase to the main entrance of the restaurant.
"Do you have a coach?"
Esmeralda almost jumped at the sound of his voice. It was the first time she had heard him speak that day.
"No," she responded over her shoulder. "No, I do not," she added once they had fully stepped out of the restaurant.
Golden nodded. "We shall have to find you a local carriage, then. Let us hope one passes soon," he said, leading her to the roadside.
Esmeralda felt safe and secure beside him, and it wasn't just his height.
Calling for a coach did not take long. A small carriage approached, one of the few in Eldengale not drawn by a horse, guided instead by a skilled coachman. She gave him her address, and he nodded in understanding. Before she stepped inside, she turned once more to Golden, who took her hand and pressed a chaste kiss to it.
"You look stunning in your red dress, Esmeralda," he whispered, and a storm of butterflies took flight within her.
She found no words to reply, only entered the carriage a red-blushing mess.
The date might have been with Alistair, but the true highlight of her day had been his bodyguard.