Page 4 of House of Thorns
Olivia smiled. Poor Lady Blair. Her son was well-known as a notorious rake. Not for the first time, she wondered how such a lovely woman could produce such a son. “Perhaps another time, my lady,” she demurred.
“Yes, yes, my dear.” Lady Blair sighed, then smiled. “Perhaps he can join us in Glasgow for your event. What was it called? Ah yes,An Enchanted Summer Evening. When will the tickets be sold?”
The question elicited a small rush of excitement. One more payment to the Theater Royale and then, finally, Glasgow would hear her father’s music:An Enchanted Summer Evening, songs by Oliver Mackenzie. There would be no ‘Mad Printer’ comments after that. Glasgow would stand in awe, and since she’d be the only publisher to print the music, she’d finally free the shop from debt.
“Soon, my lady,” Olivia promised.
“Pray tell, you’re not encouraging this foolish venture, Lady Blair?” a testy voice rasped from behind.
Lady Blair rose swiftly to her feet. “Your Grace,” she murmured, her eyes locked over Olivia’s shoulder.
Olivia turned as a craggy-faced man with salt-and-pepper hair joined them, tall and distinguished in his green plaid kilt. Judging from his black brows drawn into a scowl and the way his jaw jutted, he was greatly displeased.
Olivia dropped a quick curtsey and began backing away.
The man’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Olivia,” he grated, his lips barely opening as if speaking through clenched teeth.
Olivia blinked. He knew her name? She’d never met him in her life. He was obviously wealthy, a noble of repute. The smallest of the rings glittering on his knobby fingers stood testament to his wealth. Never had she seen so large a sapphire. No doubt, he mistook her for someone else.
“My lord,” she murmured, inching away.
“Olivia,” he said again.
Bobbing again, Olivia cast a puzzled glance at Lady Blair for guidance, but to her shock, Lady Blair appeared almost stricken. A meadowlark landed in the lilacs behind her, its chirp unnaturally loud in the silence that had fallen over the tent.
“Olivia,” the stern man repeated.
With growing consternation, Olivia faced the man again. His eyes, so very green and so very cold, narrowed as she frowned. “My lord?”
When he didn’t answer, Lady Blair cleared her throat. “My dear Olivia, may I introduce His Grace, the Duke of Lennox.”
Lennox. Olivia stared into the man’s eyes for a full five seconds before recognition struck.
Lennox.TheDuke of Lennox.
Lord save her.
He was her grandfather.
