Page 46 of My Secret Duke
She was making a joke of it, but Ivo knew her too well to miss the distress in her blue eyes. “You’re well rid of him,” he said roughly. “If he needs his mother’s permission to call upon someone—”
“Ivo, I know you are trying to make me feel better, but I understand. I do. I am not an acceptable prospect for many of these people. The Ashtons are scandal-ridden, and we are in debt. I’m not sure my dowry will attract the likes of Lord Hollingsworth or if I evenhavea dowry. I haven’t discussed it with Gabriel or Grandmama. I suppose I should, in case—”
He had been eyeing her curiously as she gabbled, but now he broke in. “Have you had many gentleman callers?”
“No one I am desperate to marry, if that’s what you mean. One or two rakes who think I am easy pickings.” Her smile turned into a grimace. “Grandmama sent them off with fleas in their ears. I’ve had some widowers whobelieve I’d make the perfect stepmother for their children, but I think they are probably as desperate as I am. There has been no one I am inclined to marry.”
“The prince…”
“No, he has not proposed, nor will he. That is over.”
He waited a beat. “You are very matter-of-fact about it all.”
“I have learned to be. I know I must marry, and to someone who can help my sisters when they are out, but I am prepared to wait until the right man comes along.”
Ivo felt a wave of feeling crash over him. He wasn’t sure what it was. Hope? The desire to take her in his arms and crush her to him was definitely there, but perhaps he was just feeling protective. “You know,” he said quietly, “you can always seek me out if you need some company.”
Her face brightened. “You mean chat like we used to?” She hesitated. “I didn’t think you wanted to be friends anymore.”
“I didn’t think you did!”
They smiled at each other. Olivia seemed to collect herself, and glanced about. “I should go back to Grandmama.” Then, as she went to rise, “Are you still wagering on everything and anything? I haven’t heard of any of your antics recently.”
“That’s because there haven’t been any. I am busy with the club, and when I’m not there, I am squiring my mother and sisters about.”
“Don’t you miss it?” She was watching him curiously.
“I miss the dares I made with you.”
She dropped her gaze and then flashed him a look from under her lashes. “What dare would you make with me? If you could?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to suggest anotherbilliards match, but then his gaze caught the gangly figure of Lord Hollingsworth not far away. He hesitated, but only for a moment. “I dare you to drop your handkerchief in front of Hollingsworth. If he picks it up and returns it to you, then you win. If he picks it up but doesn’t return it, then I win.”
“Why wouldn’t he return it? It seems rather childish…”
“That’s half the fun of a dare, Olivia.”
She thought about it and then smiled. “Very well. What will I win?”
“The knowledge that you are a beautiful young woman and irresistible even to a mother’s boy like Hollingsworth.”
That made her laugh. “And what will you win?”
“I have already won,” he said gallantly. “I have my friend back again.”
She seemed too surprised to answer, and then her face softened. “Thank you,” she whispered before she turned away.
Ivo sat and watched as she made her way toward the Hollingsworths. She cunningly let her handkerchief flutter just as she passed them, and the young man immediately retrieved it. But instead of returning it, he gave a sneaky glance about him, and when no one seemed to have noticed, he tucked it into the breast pocket of his jacket.
Ivo smothered a snort of laughter. Olivia had taken several more steps, and now she turned and looked across the room at him. Ivo mimed what Hollingsworth had done, and saw her eyebrows rise. Then she grinned at him in a manner he had not seen for months, and continued on her way.
Chapter Twenty-One
Olivia discovered that everything felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her. It was puzzling because she still had the same old problems to beset her. Although she was invited everywhere, she was not flooded with suitors—her only actual proposals had come from a harassed-looking gentleman with seven children and a dead wife, and an ancient gentleman without two pennies to rub together. She had no desire to play mother, having already done that with her sisters, nor did she want to be nurse to the old man.
She was having more fun than she would have believed possible after the scandals that had sent her scurrying back to Grantham. If it wasn’t for the niggling anxiety of making a suitable marriage, she would have been perfectly content, and sure that the right partner would come along soon.
In the meantime, Ivo was her friend again. Who would have thought having him once more in her life would make her so happy? And yet it did.
