Page 76 of Death of a Courtesan
Olivia offered him a wry smile. ‘Could they not?’
‘Ah, I think I understand you. Women were quick to condemn you because they were jealous of your beauty. Men were equally censorious because you hurt their collective pride by refuting their advances.’
Olivia lifted a shoulder. ‘Perhaps. All I can tell you is that Jake chipped away at my defences and eventually managed to convince me that there were still a few enlightened gentlemen in this world who were worth taking a risk on. He has never given me reason to regret that decision.’
‘And made you doubly unpopular with the rest of your sex because you snapped up one of the most eligible aristocrats on the marriage mart,’ Riley suggested with a smile. ‘Be that as it may, I can’t fault my friend’s choice. You are Jake were destined to be together. I recall thinking so when I first made your acquaintance. I was young at the time and such matters bored me rigid. Even so, it seemed obvious.’
A teasing smile flirted with Olivia’s lips. ‘I would say the same about you and Amelia, but for the fact that you would accuse me of matchmaking.’
Riley laughed. ‘I get quite enough of that from my mother. It’s bad enough that I am married to a career which most of my family disapprove of and which occupies the majority of my time. Much as I regret disappointing them, I am perfectly content with my solitary existence.’
‘Far be it from me to side with your family but—‘
‘But you are about to anyway,’ Riley said, forcing a smile. Olivia was one of the few people with whom he would tolerate having this conversation. ‘Go ahead then. Do your worst.’
‘I gather from my recent discourse with Martha that your nephew really is sickly,’ she said in a serious tone. ‘I think she had resisted telling you just how ill he actually is for fear of adding to the pressure you live with. Even so, facts must be faced. Like it or not, in all probability it will be left to you to sire the next marquess.’
Riley nodded. ‘I don’t especially like it but I do accept that I cannot avoid my responsibilities indefinitely. It’s just that the more pressure my family bring to bear, the harder I fight against it. It’s in my nature.’ Riley smiled and spread his hands. ‘I can’t seem to help myself. And, if you want to know the truth, the prospect of being tied to one woman for the rest of my life scares me rigid.’
Olivia dealt him a sympathetic look. ‘Even Amelia?’
‘I have already told you,’ he replied, more acerbically than he had intended, ‘Amelia has made her feelings on the subject plainly apparent.’
‘That is what Jake thought about me.’
Riley was saved from making further excuses when the lady herself joined them.
‘Your husband is too good for me, Olivia,’ she said with a careless little shrug that drew Riley’s attention to her slender bare shoulder and the creamy skin of herdécolletage.‘In all the years that I have known you, I don’t think I have ever come out on the winning side when playing cards against him. I declare, I shall be bankrupt if I keep sitting down at the same table as him.’
‘He likes to win at everything he does,’ Olivia replied. ‘As do all men, in my experience.’
‘I feel duty bound to defend my sex,’ Riley said with a smile. ‘I did not win this evening. I hope that makes you feel a little more kindly disposed towards us mere men.’
‘Now you have left me with something of a quandary on my hands,’ Amelia said playfully. ‘If I say that you have never felt the need to prove your masculinity, it implies that Jake has, since it was his proficiency as a card player that promoted my complaint. But, of course, Jake has nothing to prove either.’ Amelia placed one hand on a delicate hip and pouted at Riley. ‘We shall just have to conclude that you two are the exception to the rule.’
Olivia smiled. ‘Aren’t they just,’ she said, fixing Riley with a significant look.
Riley wiped imaginary perspiration from his brow. ‘A narrow escape.’
‘Excuse me,’ Olivia said, glancing across the room and noticing one of her other guests attempting to attract her attention.
‘I have not had an opportunity to ask you how the investigation is going,’ Amelia said into the ensuing silence.
Riley noticed the changes in her at once. When Olivia had been with them, her tone had been light, flirtatious almost. But now that they were alone, she seemed remote. Riley didn’t know how to interpret her signals and was discomposed by the frankness of Olivia’s discourse. Clearly she had noticed his interest in Amelia and wanted to encourage it. Did she do so with that lady’s knowledge and consent?
‘Hang the investigation!’ he said passionately. ‘I would much rather talk about you. How have you been?’
‘You only saw me the other day.’ Amelia looked surprised by his uncharacteristic outburst. But not nearly as surprised as Riley himself was by having allowed his emotions temporary freedom.
‘Even so. How have you been occupying your time?’
‘Your niece is a constant visitor.’
‘I hope she isn’t making a nuisance of herself.’
‘How could she possibly do that? She’s a delight—and, I might add, a very diligent pupil. She is a natural harpist, and if she perseveres she will be more proficient than I am.’
‘Praise indeed.’ Riley raised a brow. ‘And she will persevere. She always does if something interests her.’
