Page 49 of Who Wants to Marry a Duke
“Which I knew you would be,” he countered, “there appears to be no point to arguing with you on the subject.”
“You know me better than I thought.”
Her minxish smile reminded him that he’d spent half of last night in an agony of unfulfilled desire. Combined with the time he’d spent worrying over the threat to her from some unknown villain, he’d had no sleep at all.
With a glance around to make sure no one was near, he lowered his head to kiss her. Just to reassure her, of course. That was all.
But before he could, his damned brother strolled up the path toward them. “I take it that you’re discussing our plan with Olivia? Has she agreed to go along with it?”
“Yes,” she told Grey. “Provided that Thorn can coax Lady Gwyn into being my chaperone, and that he can acquire everything I need to set up my second laboratory.”
“I’ve already sent someone to London to invite Joshua here and to inform Gwyn that Thorn is on his way there,” Grey said. “And fortunately, I kept that list you gave me of what was needed in your laboratory. Thorn will have that to refer to when he starts overseeing the purchase of the materials. So, by tomorrow or the next day, you should be able to leave.”
“And what if Mama gets wind of this sudden change in plans? What if she happens to run into me in London or hears of it from someone local?”
“Is she still in London?” Grey asked. “Surely, she’s returned to the country by now.”
Olivia’s face brightened. “That’s true. I forgot it’s not really the Season. Mama came into London only to join us all at Lady Gwyn’s ball.”
“What’s more,” Grey said, “I can’t imagine who would tell your stepmother that you’ve left Carymont for London. Everyone around here, including my servants, will be informed you went home to Surrey, so why should they mention anything to Lady Norley?”
“Good point,” she said. “I do hope you’re right.”
So did Thorn. Because if the baroness caught him with Olivia again, he knew exactly what she’d do. And this time he might be tempted to sweeten his offer of marriage to Olivia so that she’d actually accept it.
No good would come of that. Olivia had certain expectations about marriage, and one of them was that it meant a great deal more than just a civil union. She seemed to want love and all that it entailed. And he simply couldn’t offer her that.
Olivia had expected to miss Thorn during the day and night they were apart. But Beatrice and Grey had kept her so busy with preparations and packing for the trip that she’d had no chance to even think about him.
Not until she was on the road with the maid they’d sent with her did she realize that the carriage seemed much less cheery without him. And without her friends, too, of course. She amused herself by going over her notebooks and the journal articles in preparation for what she’d be doing once shedidhave a laboratory to do it in. But she was relieved when they reached London in record time. She only hoped that after all the trouble Grey’s family was taking to protect her she would finally be able to confirm or rule out arsenic poisoning.
Fortunately, she’d already been to Lady Gwyn’s town house for the ball last week and had felt wholly welcome. Still, the house her parents generally rented for the Season was in a less fashionable—and less expensive—part of London, so it was quite a change to be in Mayfair. She felt decidedly out of her element in the neighborhood, with its elegant facades and costly carriages, although she knew better than to show it.
As soon as the footman helped her down from Grey’s carriage, however, Lady Gwyn was at her side, greeting her with a broad smile. “I’m so glad you’re here at last, Miss Norley.”
“Please call me Olivia. Everyone does.”
“Well then, since everyone calls me Gwyn, you should, too. It sounds as if we’ll be spending a great deal of time together.”
“It does, indeed.”
“But I had to deduce that on my own. When Thorn told me of your arrival, he failed to explain the reason for your visit. I had to wrestle it out of my husband.”
“Oh, dear,” Olivia said. “I hope I didn’t cause any strife between you.”
“Don’t worry yourself over that for one moment. Joshua enjoys having me wrestle things out of him. And he would confirm that if he were here.” She tucked Olivia’s hand in the crook of her arm and led her up the steps. “But he isn’t, of course, because he’s on his way to Carymont to help Grey find the man who blew up your laboratory, isn’t he?”
“Oh, yes, and I’m sure—”
“He’ll put everything to rights, trust me,” Gwyn went on, as if Olivia hadn’t spoken. “Though you must have been in a terror the whole time it was happening!”
“Well, it was rather—”
“I cannot believe that Thorn and Grey took such a chance in the first place.” She shook her head. “They should have asked Joshua to join them from the beginning. You’ve met my husband, right?”
“Yes. He seemed very—”
“But of course you met him. At the ball here last week. I don’t know where my mind is.”
