Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
The terrace doors were left wide open, allowing both the fresh air and the sunshine to fill the morning room. Lady Charlotte was seated beside Lady Anne, who faced Lady Guernsey, the trio of ladies deep in discussion as she and Warren crossed the threshold.
“Ah, you have returned.” Lady Guernsey’s broad smile faded as her gaze flicked between Warren and Olivia.
Olivia pasted on a smile and left Warren at the door. “May I have a word, Lady Charlotte?”
Her employer nodded and rose to meet her halfway. “Is something amiss, Olivia?”
“I would like to return to your ladyship’s townhouse.”
“I think not.” Lady Charlotte grabbed her by the wrist and tugged her back to the settee.
Resuming her seat, she pulled Olivia between her and Lady Anne, whose gaze was still lingering on Warren.
The sudden knot that formed in Olivia’s stomach made her crouch over, her arms wrapped about her stomach.
“Now that we have all agreed, shall we make arrangements to see Madam Lennox and order our gowns?” Lady Charlotte asked as she recaptured the attention of both Lady Guernsey and Lady Anne.
Lady Anne leaned in closer to Olivia and whispered, “Is it that time of the month?”
Instead of admitting that the knots ailing her were due to jealousy, Olivia nodded.
Lady Anne’s warm hand rubbed her lower back. “I’m sorry. Would you care to lie down in my chambers?”
Why was Lady Anne being so kind? She was making it difficult for Olivia to remain indifferent.
The tips of Warren’s hessians came into view, and she sat upright.
Once again, the man held out his hand for her, and yet again, she was unable to resist the invitation.
She would regret giving up the opportunity to touch him once more, and so she placed her fingertips in his and stood.
Warren tucked her hand around his upper arm. “I shall escort Lady Charlotte’s maid to the guest chambers for a respite. I’m certain you can do without her for a spell, Lady Charlotte.”
Her stunned employer mumbled, “Yes, of course.” Which was barely audible over Lady Guernsey’s outcry, “Oh, you poor dear. Warren, call Helena to assist if need be.”
It was as if Lady Guernsey had not heard Warren’s declaration as to her real identity.
Olivia faced her host directly. “No need, Lady Guernsey.” She then turned on Warren and said loudly and clearly for all to hear, “No need to escort me anywhere. If I’m not needed, I’ll head to the servants’ quarters, which would be more comfortable and appropriate. ”
“Don’t be silly, Olivia. Allow us to take care of you.” Lady Anne argued. “Get some rest and leave the arrangements for the masquerade to us.”
Why were neither Lady Anne nor Lady Guernsey shocked at Warren’s revelation that she was not a lady?
She glanced at Lady Charlotte, whose complexion was now bright pink.
How could she possibly be in a room full of peers and not feel out of place?
She had entered an alternate dimension where all the rules of society had been turned upside down.
Olivia’s head began to spin, and before she knew it, Warren had slipped an arm beneath her knees and was carrying her out of the room.
Head heavy, Olivia rested against Warren’s shoulder and shut out the world around her, not ready to face reality.
In the secure arms of the man she’d dreamt of most nights, Olivia’s body seemed to mold itself to Warren’s.
She should instinctively be guarded, yet Warren’s steady steps lulled her into a relaxed state.
Behind closed eyes, the image of Lady Guernsey’s concern for her welfare, the sparkling eyes of Lady Charlotte, and the cautious but curious reaction from Lady Anne had Olivia's entire body tense once more.
“We are nearly there,” Warren said.
He must have sensed her strain. Why of all people in the world did it have to be Warren who was in tune with her thoughts and feelings?
Or should she be asking why she was acutely aware of the man and his reactions?
Argh. What was the matter with her? It must have been her proximity to Warren.
The man was maddening. She let out a deep sigh and slowly opened her eyes.
They traversed halfway down a long hallway.
When Warren stopped and lowered her slightly, she didn’t hesitate to reach out to release the latch and push the door open.
The sunbeams streaming into the chamber fell upon the four-poster bed that was positioned in the middle.
“I can walk from here,” she said as they crossed the threshold.
Ignoring her completely, Warren marched over to the bed and lowered her gently as if he were putting a child to bed.
As he leaned over her to arrange the linens and duvet, she shut her eyes tightly.
If she continued to look up at him, she might act irrationally.
Except her eyes shot wide open as his lips brushed her forehead.
“Warren…” Had she called out his name? That sultry voice couldn’t have belonged to her.
His lips covered hers, and her arms wrapped about his neck of their own volition.
Drugged by his kisses, she yearned for him to repeat his caresses from the other eve.
Olivia pulled him down until he lay next to her upon the most luxurious mattress she had ever laid upon.
Warren’s hand skimmed her side and came to rest upon her hip.
There were too many bloody layers of material between them.
She ached for the warmth of his skin. Greedy for more, Olivia shifted back and tugged at the linens, trying to free herself.
Warren stilled her hands with his. “You will have to make do with kisses, my dear.”
She looked up at Warren and frowned.
His response was to chuckle and add, “That is to say… it’s not wise to… for…” He raked his hand through his hair and then blurted, “Now would not be the best time of the month for you…”
Olivia placed her forefinger over his lips.
The bubble of laughter escaped as a giggle.
She’d never seen the man search so intensely for words or not reply with a query.
This was a side of Warren that she’d always suspected existed but had never witnessed.
“I lied. I couldn’t explain the terrible ache in my stomach, so when Lady Anne provided a believable excuse, I didn’t correct her. ”
His eyes closed, and Warren’s nostrils flared as he inhaled. He must have been angry because he rolled off the bed and marched directly to the door. Except rather than leaving, he slid the door bolt into place and then returned to her. “Telling lies comes with consequences.”
The simple fact Warren was speaking in sentences to her had Olivia giddy. The effect upon her was absurd yet it made her want to spend more time with him, to see if he’d expose the parts of him that he wouldn’t reveal to others. Reversing roles, she asked, “What would those be?”
With nimble fingers, fingers she acutely remembered stroking her, he circled the edge of each button of his coat as he slipped it through the hole in the material.
Inexplicable moisture built between her legs, and she couldn’t help but wiggle her hips to relieve some of the tension in her muscles.
Warren continued to watch her as he moved on to the buttons of his waistcoat.
He finally broke his silence and shrugged out of his clothes.
“I believe the ramifications of your lie should be…”
Olivia’s mouth went dry at the sight of the defined muscles that belonged to a man who spent his days in the fields and not in a seat at the House of Lords. Clearing her throat, she repeated, “Should be?”
Warren’s eyes darkened, and she didn’t need to be a genius to know what the man had in mind.
She was no harlot, but she was fully aware of what occurred in bedchambers.
While enticing a man into your bed was not uncommon among her lot, Olivia simply had no desire to do so previously.
Her mind had been filled with one man and one man only ever since her lips had touched his all those years ago.
What would Warren’s sculpted body feel like beneath her palms?
She pulled back the corner of the bed linens, inviting Warren to join her.
With lightning speed, he removed his boots and slipped onto the bed next to her.
On his side, he cupped her face with one hand. “Will you regret your decision?”
“That depends on you.”
“Was that a challenge?”
Why had he reverted to asking questions? Staring up at the ceiling, she answered, “No.” She rolled onto her back and immediately realized it was a mistake as Warren shifted atop of her, bracing himself upon his elbows.
His serious gaze pinned her down. “You have no idea how every word, every move you make affects me.”
The question of how was on the tip of her tongue.
However, before she could utter a word, Warren’s weight pressed her further into the mattress as he leaned closer to say in her ear, “My body aches to touch you.” He shifted his hips, and his cock pressed against her thigh.
“My lips want to explore every inch of you.” Proving it, he kissed the sensitive skin on her neck.
“My hands itch to learn every curve of your body, and…” His hands slipped between them and cupped her breast.
Air. She needed air. As if reading her mind, Warren lowered his head and kissed her soundly until she remembered to breathe once more.
Whether it was a lack of oxygen or the fact that his caresses distracted her to no end, she had no clue as to how he skillfully divested them both of their clothing until they lay naked next to one another.