Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Seated on the floor in front of the looking glass in the oversized chambers that Lady Charlotte had insisted she occupy, Olivia barely recognized herself.
Ten days! Was she mad? Olivia knew better than to allow herself to be pursued by Warren.
She had absolutely no willpower when it came to the man, proven by the wicked and soul-awakening touches they had shared.
Yet, it was exactly those intimate moments when the rest of the world melted away that prompted her to brazenly seek out more time with the man she desperately needed to be near.
Allowing herself one day for each year she’d missed by his side should be more than enough time to prove to both herself and to Warren that they were not suited for marriage.
Glaring at her own image, with one eyebrow arched in defiance, Olivia mumbled, “I shall succeed.” And like most days, Warren’s deep baritone voice floated through her mind. “Not this time.”
Olivia let out a sigh and stood. Is ten days long enough to banish the man and his voice from my thoughts? It had to be, for if she agreed to any trial that lasted longer, she wasn’t certain she’d be able to distance herself.
She rolled to the balls of her feet at the light scratch against her door.
Ian was no doubt checking to see if she was awake.
Prepared to go to battle with him, a war she’d neatly avoided the night before, she crossed the room and opened the door.
However rather than coming face-to-face with her overprotective friend, she found Lady Charlotte was waiting in the hall.
“A good morn to you, my lady,” Olivia greeted her and stood back to allow Lady Charlotte entrance.
The snap of Lady Charlotte’s skirts as she strode past did not bode well for Olivia.
Head bowed, Olivia closed the door and stood with her hands tightly clasped in front of her.
It wouldn’t be the first time she was dismissed from a household, but for the first time, Olivia wanted to remain in the employ of this household.
Lady Charlotte paced in a circle in front of her before breaking the horrid silence. “Well? Are you going to inform me of what transpired in the wee hours, or are you going to make me guess?”
The tips of Lady Charlotte’s shoes were all Olivia dared to view. “I visited Lord Guernsey with the intent of putting a stop to all this nonsense about courtship and marriage.”
Lady Charlotte tapped the tips of her toes. Olivia swallowed and continued to wait. Up. Down. Up. Down. Unable to bear the silence, she added, “Except Lord Guernsey persuaded me to grant him ten days.”
“Hmm.” Lady Charlotte resumed her pacing. “I suppose that shall be enough time.”
The tension in Olivia’s shoulders eased, and she lifted her head to find Lady Charlotte staring out the window. The countess’s normal cheery disposition had been replaced with a seriousness that had Olivia frowning, and she closed the distance between them.
She looked out the window, searching for what had captured Lady Charlotte’s attention. Aside from the gardeners, there was no one about. “Enough time for what exactly?” Olivia finally asked.
The rap on her door was preceded by the quick steps that belonged to Ian.
Olivia turned as the door opened. Her childhood friend sailed past her as if he didn’t know her to stand before Lady Charlotte and said, “Everything has been prepared as you asked.”
“And have you informed my husband?” Lady Charlotte asked, her gaze still trained outside.
“My apologies, my lady. I was unable to locate Lord Camden. I’ve yet to apprise him of your plans but will do so as soon as I can.”
Olivia’s jaw slackened. She’d never heard Ian utter an apology before, let alone appear anxious.
Lady Charlotte turned to face Ian and smiled. “That won’t be necessary. I shall inform him myself.” The countess gave Olivia the briefest of glances as she exited, leaving the door open behind her.
With Lady Charlotte out of sight and earshot, Olivia rounded on the man who rarely kept secrets, let alone his thoughts, from her. “What exactly is going on, Ian?”
Ian strode across the room to assume the same position Lady Charlotte had occupied by the window. Eyes narrowed, his gaze fell directly to the gardens below.
What is so interesting that both Lady Charlotte and Ian are fixated on it?
Olivia joined Ian and searched the grounds but detected nothing unusual until she caught a glimpse of the muted pink day dress Lady Charlotte had been wearing.
Olivia squinted and was able to make out the lady’s silhouette as she carefully weaved her way around the wooded edge of the grounds.
It was as if Lady Charlotte was a predator stalking its prey.
“Hmph.” The dissatisfied grunt from Ian was punctuated as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“What?” She leaned to press her forehead against the glass.
“Lord Camden is behind Lady Charlotte, not in front.”
“Mayhap she is fully aware of his location and is merely luring him.”
“Perhaps, but not likely.”
Ugh. Ian and his bias that males were superior. “Care to make a wager?”
“With you. Never.” Ian finally turned and faced her directly. “I hope you do not plan on making a habit of visiting Warren in the wee hours.”
“I have no designs of seeing Warren anytime soon.” Even as the words rolled off her tongue, the sour taste of a lie filled her mouth.
“That may be difficult seeing as Lady Guernsey has invited Lady Charlotte for tea, and you are to accompany Lady Charlotte.”
Am I the only sane person to recognize the impossibility of a union between Warren and me? She peered up at Ian. Surely, he was in agreement with her. “Will you be coming along?”
“Not today.” Ian’s lips thinned as if he wished to say more but couldn’t.
“I’ll ask Lady Charlotte to give you permission—”
“Don’t.” Ian’s curt tone silenced her.
Olivia searched Ian’s face. Why is he being so distant with me today?
He turned from her to face the window. Olivia peered outside and was rewarded by the sight of Lady Charlotte tapping her husband on the back and Lord Camden jumping a foot off the ground.
She wanted to remind Ian and say, “Never underestimate a woman.” But the dark scowl on his face made her keep her words and thoughts to herself.
“Hmph.” Ian’s unhappy grunt was followed by, “You had best get ready. And remember…” He turned, his serious dark brown eyes trained on her. “Warren is no longer the boy you followed about, although he continues to remain a lone wolf amongst the pack of peers.”
Like you, she wanted to quip back, but Ian’s demeanor had her holding her tongue.
When Ian shifted to leave, she placed her hand upon Ian’s arm, stalling his departure.
He glanced down at her hand. She rarely made physical contact with anyone, and even fewer instances intentionally.
He raised his gaze to her face, and Olivia pleaded, “Please accompany me.”
And for the very first time, Ian denied her. He pulled his arm away. “I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Olivia blurted angrily.
Ian’s chin dipped, and he slowly shook his head as he silently left.
Olivia stared at her best friend's wide shoulders as he exited the room. Hands on her hips and eyes wide as saucers, her mind screamed, “How dare he!” For the first time in a very long time, she felt the absence of Ian’s support. He’d been her confidant since they met. Why abandon her now?
Jaw clenched as the carriage rattled along the cobblestone street, Olivia attempted to rein in her anger that continued to simmer and threatened to boil over if she were to open her mouth.
“Lady Guernsey will not be easy to sway, although Lady Anne and Lord Guernsey appear quite willing to provide their support.” Lady Charlotte poked Olivia’s knee with the tip of her fan.
At least if she were to have an ally, then Lady Guernsey would be a formidable one.
Still not in full control of her ire, Olivia nodded.
Outnumbered, how was she to convince Warren to abandon the notion of marriage?
At least she had ten days. Her eyes fluttered closed as her conscience reminded her that it had taken all of ten days for her to fall in love with the man, and even ten years of separation had not lessened her interest in Warren.
“I believe Guernsey received his Golden Invitation this morn.”
Curiosity getting the better of her, Olivia looked up at Lady Charlotte. “A golden invitation to…?”
Lady Charlotte raised her fan to cover her lips. “To the annual masquerade ball, of course.”
Olivia would have wagered that Lady Charlotte was grinning like a Cheshire cat.
“Who, might I ask, is hosting this masquerade ball, and when is it going to take place?” She had a sinking feeling she already knew the answers, but Lady Charlotte was highly unpredictable, and she had quickly learned it was best to simply ask rather than assume when it came to her mistress.
“You shall find out over tea.” With her fan wavering ever so slightly above chin level, the countess turned to look out the window, avoiding all eye contact with Olivia.
Olivia’s knuckles turned white as she gripped her hands together in her lap. She stared at the blasted fan that her hands itched to snap in half.
“Restraint is one of your more endearing qualities; however, we shall have to improve upon your ability to mask ire. It is a skill of great import.”
“For a lady mayhap, but not for the kitchen help.”
Brows raised clear up to her hairline, Lady Charlotte snapped her fan closed and rounded on Olivia. “You are forbidden to hide in the kitchens.”