Chapter 10
Dinner was absolutely delightful. With Lord Robertson on one side and Bett on the other, she’d never enjoyed a meal so much.
“The lamb is excellent,” Olivia said to Bett.
“I agree. Fleming is lucky to have such a talented cook,” Bett said, nodding.
After dinner, the gentlemen stayed behind to enjoy their port but didn’t linger overly long before returning to the parlor. She was delighted when Robertson took a seat next to her.
Every time Olivia saw him, her heart did a little flip-flop—something that had never happened to her before and that she rather liked. She hoped he’d ask her to stroll outside to enjoy the night air. She very much wanted him to kiss her, and it wasn’t going to happen in the parlor with a room full of people.
Her face heated when she thought about Lord Robertson’s lips finally touching hers. She felt hot and opened her fan, trying to cool herself.
“My lady, you look flushed. Would you care to take in the cool night air?” Robertson asked.
She looked at him and smiled. “Yes, I’d like that very much. I find it a bit stuffy in here.”
Robertson stood and held out his hand to help her to her feet before cradling her hand in the crook of his elbow. “It’s a lovely evening out,” he said as he led her to the balcony.
She loved feeling the firm muscles of his arm. He was very fit, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he looked like in his shirtsleeves. The more she thought about him, the less the night air cooled the heat simmering in her body. Was this desire? When she was a young woman, she’d dreamed of feeling like this… until her cruel husband beat any kind of longing out of her.
Be brave, Olivia. Embrace the feeling of being admired, she told herself, taking a deep gulp of air to calm her ragged breathing.
Robertson escorted her to thefar end of the balcony, where they could have some privacy. “My lady, you’re a vision this evening.”
Lady Armstrong inclined her head. “Thank you, my lord. You look quite handsome yourself.”
“Are you enjoying the house party?”
“Very much.”
Robertson wanted to ask her about what’d happened earlier in the day, but he didn’t want to ruin this moment, so he did the only thing he could. He leaned toward her, waiting to see if she would pull away. She did not, so he leaned farther until their lips were a hair’s breadth apart. “My lady,” he whispered. “I think I shall perish if I don’t kiss you. May I?” He waited a moment longer for her to refuse, and when she didn’t, his lips finally touched hers. Her sweet lips were everything he’d thought they would be. He placed soft, gentle kisses on her mouth and was quite pleased when she leaned into him after a few moments.
He continued to kiss her, drinking in her sweet orange blossom scent. It was intoxicating. When she moaned with pleasure and her lips parted, his tongue swept inside her mouth, tasting and exploring every delightful inch. She was tentative at first, but soon, her tongue began to dance with his, and he deepened the kiss.
He’d kissed plenty of women in his lifetime, but none of them had ever affected him like this. He wanted to devour every inch of her skin, but he didn’t want to frighten her. When her arms encircled his neck, he pulled her closer, and with her plump breasts pinned to his chest, his breath hitched.
Their kisses went on and on until finally, he released her. “My lady, you are magnificent. I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did.”
“I did indeed, my lord,” she said breathlessly. “I’ve never been kissed like that before.”
“Well, I must say that’s a cruel shame because you should be kissed and cherished like that every day of your life.”
“Thank you. That’s very sweet of you to say.”
“I would very much like it if you’d call me Everett in private.”
“Everett,” she said with a smile. “The name suits you, my lo…I mean, Everett. I’m Olivia.”
“A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.”
“You’ll spoil me with all these compliments.”
“I only speak the truth. I’ve never met anyone like you before, and I’d very much like to spend as much time as possible with you this week. Is that agreeable to you?”
“I would like that as well.”
“Now, I think it’s time we return to the parlor… before your friend comes looking for you,” Robertson said.
Olivia chuckled. “I’m not sure she’ll even have noticed I was gone. She seems quite enamored with your friend, Mr. Hughes.”
“He’s an honorable gentleman, and she couldn’t ask for a more pleasant fellow. I’m pleased they’re getting along so well.”
“I am as well,” she said, taking his offered arm to return to the parlor. “She deserves every happiness that life can afford her. She’s a true and loyal friend, and I only want the best for her.”
They’d just entered when Lord Fleming called out, “There you two are. We’re about to play a game of charades. Care to join us?”
Robertson looked at Olivia, who nodded. “We’d be delighted,” he said.
Robertson escorted Olivia to a seat next to Bett, and he saw her friend whispering in her ear,
When Olivia’s cheeks turned pink, he assumed her friend was asking whether or not they had kissed out on the balcony. He had enjoyed it immensely and hoped Olivia had told her friend the same.
When their host began talking, both young women looked up.
“We shall have teams of four for charades. Choose your partners well, my friends,” Lord Fleming said.
“Lord Robertson, my daughter is a very skilled player. Shall we partner?” Lady Bartlett said.
Robertson shook his head. “Thank you for the kind offer, Lady Bartlett, but I’ve already agreed to partner with Lady Armstrong, Lady Williams, and Mr. Hughes.”
Miss Bartlett grabbed her mother’s arm. “Come on, Mama. Lord John has asked that we partner with him.”
Lady Bartlett had no choice but to go sit with Lord John and another of the guests. The pout on her face as she walked across the room spoke volumes.
Robertson was happy to see her go. Both the lady and her daughter grated on his nerves, although he couldn’t fault Miss Bartlett too much. She was young and merely doing what her mother told her. He almost pitied her, making her debut into the marriage mart with such a controlling mother, but he knew that Lady Bartlett was only doing what she thought best for her daughter. It was what all matchmaking mothers did.
The rest of the evening was very pleasant indeed, although Robertson was disappointed when Olivia and Lady Williams retired to their bedchambers two hours later. He’d hoped to take an evening stroll with Olivia. He should have asked her when they were out on the balcony, but at least he had another activity with her to look forward to.
He was afire with anticipation for their ride tomorrow morning, as he very much wanted to kiss her again. Her sweet lips and orange scent had already burrowed deep into his soul. He’d had mistresses in the past, but none of them had intrigued him as much as Olivia. Her kisses were delightful, and he’d never enjoyed the activity more than he did with her. He couldn’t put his finger on why she was so special; he just knew that she was.
He bade his host good night and headed off to his bedchamber shortly after the women left. It was going to be another long night—one where he would relive over and over again the feeling of Olivia in his arms.