Page 26 of My Secret Duke
She moved toward him, not realizing she meant to strike him until he caught her wrist in a firm grip. His eyes blazed into hers.
“Ruin your life? You invited me here. Seven o’clock at the archery targets. A rematch.”
She stared up at him, trying to make sense of it. “I didn’t…” she croaked. “Yousent a note tome.” Or at least Prince Nikolai did.
It was Ivo’s turn to stare.
“Didn’t you?” she whispered in confusion. As soon as she’d seen him, she had immediately jumped to the conclusion that this was Ivo’s doing. But if it had been he who sent the note, he wouldn’t lie about it. And he wouldhave boldly signed his own name. No, reckless he might be, but this was not the sort of underhanded thing Ivo would do.
Ivo drew in a breath. He was still holding her wrist, but now his fingers had slipped down to her hand. Their fingers interlaced as if it was natural for them to do so.
“I sent no note. I was surprised when you changed your mind and wanted to meet me, after you had made it clear to me earlier that you weren’t interested. I respected your wishes.” She went to object, but he cut her short. “Yes, I know I haven’t always respected them. You called me thoughtless, and I am, but to accuse me of ruining your life? Olivia, I won’t do that.”
Olivia tried to order her thoughts. There was complete sincerity in his face and in his voice. She believed him. But if he hadn’t sent the note, and neither had she, then who had? “I don’t understand why someone would try to bring us together.” She looked about her as if expecting the culprit to step out of the shrubs and declare themselves.
“A joke from one of your sisters?”
That was a possibility, she supposed, but it seemed too malicious, too spiteful.
Ivo said in a low voice, “Whoever did this, I’m glad they did.”
Olivia lost track of her thoughts. “You’reglad?”
“I want to talk to you. Every time I try to talk, we argue or are interrupted.” He gave her an intense, searching look, awareness in those green depths. “I do not agree with your motives when it comes to the prince, but I will accept your choices. I understand, Olivia. I just don’t…” He lifted her hand and to her surprise brushed his lips across her knuckles. His voice deepened when he spoke. “I don’t like it.”
Olivia found it difficult to breathe. The light was fading, and the world had gone still apart from the birds calling softly as they settled for the night. “Why? Why don’t you like it?”
“Because he iswrongfor you. He’ll make you miserable. So miserable that all the furs and diamonds in the world will not remedy it. I know you, Olivia.”
“These days, I hardly know myself,” she whispered.
“You need someone who can make you smile when you have the megrims. Someone who understands you can’t be sensible all the time. The prince is…” He paused, his shoulders straightening, his face taking on a familiar, haughty expression.
Laughter bubbled up inside her, along with a connection to him she struggled to resist. He made her feel as if she was caught in a tidal rip, being dragged in his direction despite all of her resolutions. “Don’t,” she said sharply.
“Why not?” His mouth twitched up into a wry smile. “You used to find my impressions amusing.”
“Yes, but now I need to be sensible and serious. I need to think of a future that will benefit my whole family.”
“Rather than one that will make you happy?” His eyes searched hers. “Do you know, you hurt me when you rejected my offer of marriage.”
She was softening toward him, and she must not. “Ivo, please—”
“No, let me say it.” He shifted awkwardly, and she realized he was feeling uncomfortable. “Afterward, I was hurt, and I wanted to hurt you too. Childish, but there it is.” Why hadn’t he spoken like this to her the day of his proposal? Honestly and frankly. “But I do understandwhy you think Prince Nikolai is the right choice. You see happiness as a small price to pay for all the good his wealth and prestige will bring to you. You have five sisters. I understand, I really do. I have only two sisters, and I find the expense of supporting them and keeping them in bonnets keeps me awake most nights.”
He had made her laugh despite herself.
His voice became serious again. “But you cannot live your life for your sisters, Olivia. It would be such a waste.”
That hurt. There was a hollow ache in her chest, and she found herself wrestling with the longing to throw herself into his arms, and that would never do. “Nikolai might have hidden depths,” she managed in a voice that tried to be indifferent.
“Ask Leopold. If anyone knows about the prince’s hidden depths, then it is his stallion.”
This time, she shook her head and covered her face with her hands. “Olivia,” he murmured, the wretch, and drew her into his arms.
She could feel the steady beat of his heart and smell the vanilla scent of his pomade. She felt dizzy. He lifted her chin and gazed down at her, and she felt helpless to resist him. The pull of him was drawing her inexorably closer. How did he do this to her? What was it about him that meant that all her good intentions could be overturned in a moment?
He cupped her cheek in his palm, and his warm breath touched her lips. “I want to kiss you,” he said, his voice deep with longing. “Will you let me?”
