Page 6 of My Secret Duke
Was he disappointed? Was he angry? His face was blank, but a moment before, she thought she had seen a shadow in his green eyes. The idea gave her an odd, sour little thrill, before she tamped that down too. Maybe she had been mistaken though, because he was instantly himself again. He even gave a shrug, as if none of it mattered, bowing his farewells, saying the right things. If she had not seen that shadow, she might have believed her refusal meant absolutely nothing to him.
After the door closed, Olivia allowed herself to feel disappointed. Had he really meant to ask for her hand? She was already beginning to wonder if it had all been some silly joke on his part—another of his endless wagers.
“Olivia?”
Justina had come to find her, and now her sister hurried to take her hand, giving it a sympathetic squeeze. Olivia swallowed back the emotion that threatened to spill out in tears, and smiled instead.
“I’m perfectly all right,” she said in the carefree manner she had been practicing. “Are we going to Hampstead Heath or not?”
But when she opened the sitting room door, they were confronted with their grandmother. There was an ominous silence. Olivia opened her mouth to say something,she wasn’t sure what, because it was obvious the dowager knew exactly who had been with her.
“It wasn’t anything—” Justina began.
“I didn’t—” Olivia said.
“I don’t want to hear any more excuses.” Their grandmother’s voice was icy. “This is the second occasion you have compromised yourself with the Duke of Northam. Humber says he proposed to you.”
The two girls glared at Humber, who was lurking in the background.
“Is it your intention to marry him? A man with as little wisdom as he has money. I grant you he is a handsome specimen, but if he’s anything like his father, then you are in for a miserable time of it, my girl. I thought you had better sense.”
“If Humber had listened a little longer, he would have known my intention,” Olivia said bitterly.
“Don’t blame Humber for your own bad behavior,” was the cold response. “He was worried you were going to follow your brother’s example and elope. Do you enjoy being talked about every time you enter a room? Is that the sort of man you want to marry? Someone who will make you a laughingstock with his antics?” Then, the words that struck Olivia to her very soul. “Have you already forgotten what it is like to be poor and ignored and neglected?”
Olivia’s throat ached, and her voice was thick with tears. “No, Grandmama, I have not forgotten, and it is not my intention to marry Northam.”
Her grandmother stared at her a moment more and then nodded decisively. “Start packing. We are returning to Grantham forthwith.”
Miserably, Olivia and Justina trailed after her. They were going back to the country, back to exile, and who knew if they would ever see London again.
Chapter Two
Ivo had walked to Ashton House, and now he walked home. His family owned a town house in the same exclusive area of London, so it wasn’t far, but he took his time. He found he had a great deal to think about, and none of it filled him with joy.
The memory of Lady Olivia Ashton as she had been a moment ago was lodged in his head. Petite, with unfashionable curves, dark hair arranged simply, and the shadows under her glorious blue eyes. She was suffering from the scandal he had caused, and although Ivo had shrugged it off as he did most of his risky adventures, Olivia could not. It was unfair perhaps, but that was the way in which the society they inhabited worked. Rules were very different for gentlemen, and far more censorious for ladies.
She had been angry with him. More than that, she had been disappointed.
Ivo could not remember the last time he had caused someone to be quite that upset. He tried not to hurt anyone when it came to his wagers. They were harmless enough and useful when it came to diverting attention from his other activities. If anyone was hurt, then it was usually himself. Races and cards and japes with his friends and peers. This matter with Olivia was different, and he should have known he needed to tread carefully.
He had been carried away.
From the moment he had seen Olivia at the ball at Ashton House, he had been intrigued, fascinated, and,yes, very tempted. Ivo never pursued respectable young ladies, but something about the sulky curve of Olivia’s mouth and the fearless gleam in her eyes would not let him forget her. She had become important to him, and when he was with her, he felt as if he might be something more than the debt-ridden, scandalous Duke of Northam.
Unfortunately, it seemed he had not changed all that much. He had damaged her reputation, she was correct in that, but he had wanted to rectify matters. He had been prepared to give up his freedom and marry her.
Surely, for coming to her rescue like he had with that wretched kitten, he should expect her gratitude. One of those genuine smiles she used to give him. There had been none of that. Instead, she had refused him, but not before asking him to change his life for her benefit.
Have you never considered employing more sober habits?
He shook his head, barely noticing the grand town houses he was passing. Viciously, he kicked aside a pebble. Was it so rash and foolish of him to expect her to accept his generous offer?
Ivo was a duke with an estate in Kent, but the family finances had been declining for years. Olivia was the daughter of a duke, but illegitimate, and her family was also in a financial bother. It wasn’t as if Ivo was marrying her for her money, for God’s sake! His mother would probably be horrified, but he didn’t care about that. He had a right to marry the lady of his choosing, and now that the nonsense with Annette was cleared up, he chose Lady Olivia Ashton.
He had thought… dash it, he hadknownshe felt as strongly about him as he did about her. He recognized those looks she sent him. It really would have been amatch of two halves of a whole. She was adventurous and audacious, with a spirit almost as daring as his own. They would have had a marvelous time together.
To be rebuffed was not what he had expected. Ivo was the youngest child and only son. He was indulged, and although his mother and two sisters tut-tutted at his “foolish antics,” as they called them, they did not censure him. No one ever had. No one ever stayed cross with him for long. He could “charm the birds out of the trees,” they told him fondly.
