Page 61 of My Secret Duke
“I wonder if Gabriel misses it,” she mused. “It was part of his life for so long. A simpler life than being a duke, I suspect.”
Charles agreed. “I think he has more than enough to do at Grantham, and now he is happily married, he naturally wants to be with his wife rather than adding up gaming debts.”
“Is Mr. Hart here? He was supposed to attend tonight.”
She had learned from Gabriel that Freddie was on some assignment. His fighting days were over, but although Charles had offered him a place at Cadieux’s, as a stopgap, he had refused it.
“Freddie Hart is a law unto himself,” Charles replied with a grin. “He has something highly secretive in the offing.”
After Charles, Olivia danced with Harold Fitzsimmons, recently affianced to Lady Annette. Roberta had been allowed to attend tonight, just as Justina had attended Olivia’s coming-out, and it was a surprise to see her dancing with the prince. Olivia could see her sister’s mouth moving as she chattered on, while the prince wore a bemused expression, as if he didn’t quite know what to do with her. At one point, he even smiled, before he assumed that politely blank look, as if she had shocked him. Olivia was relieved when their dance finished without incident.
Viscount Carey came to claim Olivia for another dance, effusive in his flattery with everything from Olivia’s beauty to the supper selection. “The dowager duchess is a woman of refinement and taste,” he added with one of his big smiles. “You are lucky to have her watching over you and your family.”
Olivia supposed he was right, but sometimes she wished there was a little less watching and attention to detail on the dowager’s part.
Viscount Carey bowed as the music came to a stop, and asked if he could call upon her tomorrow. Olivia floundered, trying to find a reason to say no, aware of her grandmother’s eyes fixed on her from across the room. “Thank you,” she said at last. “I’ll be sure to tell Grandmama.”
He smiled, raised her hand to his lips, and left her feeling unsettled and anxious.
“May I?”
She turned to find Ivo holding out his hand, his green eyes reading her face and—she was certain—seeing everything. She felt herself relax as she slipped her gloved hand into his, although there was that tingle in her fingers at the contact, and that familiar warmth in her belly.
“No ill effects from this morning?”
His quiet murmur in her ear brought goose bumps to her skin. He was as handsome as ever in his formal evening wear, his face freshly shaven, although he was yet to return to his Brutus hairstyle—she was secretly glad about that. She liked his hair a little long. Apart from the hint of shadows under his green eyes, she would never have guessed he had been up before dawn this morning.
“Ill effects?” She wondered if he meant their kisses. Just remembering them caused her blood to heat up a notch.
His mouth kicked up in a smile as if he’d read her mind. Olivia turned away so that he couldn’t see her blush. “No ill effects at all,” she said airily.
“So, do you want to do it again?”
This time when she turned to him, her confusion must have been evident.
He laughed softly. “I meant race me on Arrow.”
Of course he had meant that. She schooled her features. “No, but thank you.”
He squeezed her fingers in his. “I am teasing, Olivia. As exciting as this morning was, I am happy to wait until you recover before our next dare.”
The idea of them indulging in another challenge was exciting, yes, but…Marry Ivo, Roberta had said. Why did those two words seem to be lodged in her head? As far as she knew, he didn’t want her as his wife. The only time he had proposed to her was to “fix” a scandal he had created.Hardly a wild and desperate declaration of love. And yet when she remembered the park this morning and their passionate kisses, the heat between them, it couldn’t be denied that their relationship had grown beyond friendship.
Miss Fenwick was here somewhere. She and Ivo had danced earlier, and Olivia had tried not to watch, but she couldn’t seem to help it. The idea that he might marry Miss Fenwick felt real. It could happen. Any chance of one night in Ivo’s arms was already slipping through her fingers, and suddenly, she couldn’t bear it. Ivo arched his eyebrows. “Whatisthe matter? You look quite green.”
She blurted it out. “Grandmama has found another suitor for me. Viscount Carey.”
Ivo’s eyes narrowed. “Has she now?”
“She won’t stop, I know she won’t, and if I tell her I don’t want to marry the viscount, she will only find someone else.”
“Indeed.” His gaze was watchful. “Why don’t you want to marry Viscount Carey? He’s a pleasant enough fellow, and he’s seen everywhere. His wife would live a life of dissipation.”
“Why don’t you marry him then?” Olivia said sourly. “I’m just tired of being trotted out and shown off in the hope that someone with the right amount of yearly income will ignore all my faults and offer for me.”
He leaned into her again, his warm breath making her want to shiver. Her skin felt so sensitive. She could feel the heat of his hands through their gloves. “I didn’t realize you felt so strongly about it.”
Perhaps this was the moment for honesty and boldness. She needed him to understand her feelings. She needed to encourage him to agree to her challenge.
