Page 71 of My Secret Duke
The first opportunity Olivia had to speak with Ivo was the supper dance the next evening. They had a house full of guests, and Olivia was charged with seeing that the food on the tables did not run out. She couldn’t imagine an army demolishing what was laid upon the groaning tables, but she did her duty until she was able to slip away. She had not seen Ivo since their night at the Longhursts’, and while she was looking forward to it, she was also dreading the awkwardness of it.
What did you say to a man who had lain with you and pleasured you? A man you had fallen in love with, seemingly against your will and your better judgment?
She discovered, when Ivo came to ask her to dance, that you made polite chitchat.
“Your mother must be pleased,” Ivo said, looking about at the crowd.
“They’re probably only here in case there’s another scandal.”
He laughed, but he was watching her, his green eyes mapping her features. He was thinking of their night together, and Olivia looked away, aware that her cheeks had heated and were probably bright red.
“Olivia,” he whispered, “there’s no need to be embarrassed. Not with me. I think you are perfect.”
It was sweet. She looked back, and this time, she met his gaze. He looked as if he wanted to kiss her, and at the same time hold her fast in his arms, safe from the world. Her hand trembled in his, but instead of saying the things she wanted to, she blurted out, “Is it time for another dare?”
He frowned, and there was a moment of silence as they continued to dance. Perhaps he wasn’t going to answer. A glance across the room showed Justina and Roberta staring at her meaningfully, as if willing her to speak the words that were burning the tip of her tongue.
I love you, Ivo.
“Ivo…”
“Olivia,” he began, “there is something I want to ask you. Not a dare, exactly, but it could be if you prefer. Although you may consider it far too colossal to be considered a… Well.” He laughed awkwardly. By now, the music had stopped, and they were standing in the middle of the room staring at one another.
“What is it?” she asked. Excitement burst like fireworks inside her. Was he going to declare himself? It felt as if he was.Please, please, let it be so.
His throat moved as he swallowed. “I know you said you could not consider me as a suitor, and I respect that. I understand. But lately, I have felt as if you might have changed your… That is, although you said no that time, I want to ask you again because I…”
As his words tailed off, she almost groaned aloud with frustration.
The words burst out of her. “Ivo, you’re right. I did say no, but things were very different then. Now I… I think I…”
He must have read something in her face, becausehis own lit up, and he leaned down as if he might kiss her, right here in the midst of the guests, with her family’s eyes upon them. “I love you,” he whispered. “So much, Olivia. I dare you to marry me.”
It was a marvelous moment and typically Ivo. To ask her here and now. Her lips trembled as she smiled, her eyes filling with emotion. She wanted to scream “Yes,” but it seemed worthy of more than that. She needed to choose her words.
But before she could speak, there was a scuffle at the door. Distracted, Ivo turned his head to look in the direction of the sounds, which were getting louder.
Olivia followed his gaze. She saw Humber, an expression on his face she hadn’t seen since the night the prince’s horse went missing. Behind him were several men in uniform. One of them was Freddie Hart.
Humber raised his voice above the music. “Gentlemen. This is inexcusable. If you would wait outside, I will fetch His Grace, and you can discuss the matter with—”
He was ignored. One of the soldiers brushed rudely past him, and Freddie followed. The music, which had been about to start again, came to a discordant stop, and everyone had turned to stare.
“We are here for the Duke of Northam,” the soldier said in ringing tones. “Apologies if this is inconvenient, but we are on official business.”
Beside her, Ivo had frozen. His gaze was on the uninvited guests, and he looked as shocked as everyone else. He had been holding her hand, and now his grip tightened almost to the point of pain before he abruptly released her.
“Ivo?” she breathed.
Gabriel was insisting in a gruff voice, “What isgoing on here? Freddie?”
Freddie bowed to the assembled guests, a regretful expression on his face. “Apologies, Your Grace,” he said to his friend in a strangely formal manner. “I have been seconded to the Customs Office, and I am here at the behest of Lieutenant Harrison.” He nodded to the officer beside him. “He and his men are revenue officers stationed in Kent.”
Something unspoken passed between the two men. They had known each other since childhood, and Gabriel trusted Freddie with his life. But that didn’t explain what was going on.
Lieutenant Harrison spoke up, loud and determined. “We are here to take Northam in for questioning.”
Somewhere among the guests, Ivo’s mother cried out, while there were gasps of surprise and demands to know what was happening. Olivia’s head swung back to Ivo. “What is happening? Ivo?”
