Chapter 12 #2
Grateful he’d instructed the staff to remain absent until their departure, Warren answered, “Marry me.” Olivia might have skinned him alive had he proposed before prying eyes and ears.
With her eyes narrowed and head tilted to the other side, Olivia asked, “Have you no shame?”
“What do I have to be ashamed about?” It was an honest question that was met with a fiery gaze from Olivia.
“Lords don’t marry maids!” Olivia threw her arms in the air and then began to pace in a circle. She was on her third rotation when she stopped directly in front of him. “You're supposed to seek a lady who is compatible… trained to run a household… refined…”
He pulled her to him and kissed her. She didn’t kiss him back, but she didn’t push him away either. When he released her, Olivia pinched her lips together tight, and she looked around him out the open door to the street.
“They’ve left without us!” She marched to the curb and looked down the street before striding back up to the house and closing the front door behind her.
He stepped forward until they were toe to toe. “I don’t give a fig what others think, but I know you do. I would never purposefully place you or your reputation in danger. You know I wouldn’t, don’t you?”
“I don’t know what to think or believe anymore.” She rested her forehead against his chest.
The intimate act sent a bubble of joy rolling about in his chest. He stroked her back and basked in their closeness. The footfalls of someone approaching had Olivia jumping backward. He reached out to steady her, but she tripped on her skirts, and they both ended up tangled up on the ground.
Lying on his back, Olivia on top of him, Warren looked up at Lord Camden, who was assisting Olivia back up to her feet. “Why are you two still here?”
“My lord.” Olivia was simultaneously righting her skirts and curtsying.
“What are you doing here?”
“I live here.” Lord Camden stepped in front of him and turned his back, giving Olivia his full attention. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, perfectly fine.”
Why did Olivia not lift her head when she spoke to the man?
He might be an earl, but Lord Camden was not the sort to intimidate his staff.
Ill at ease with the distance between them, Warren shifted to stand next to Olivia.
She wobbled when she shied away from him, and he grasped her by the elbow. “Did you twist your ankle?”
Olivia nodded, and he immediately bent and scooped her up into his arms. “Which way to the drawing room?”
“Follow me,” Lord Camden ordered.
On the man’s heels, Warren said, “We should fetch a physician.”
“I’ll assess her injury first.”
“Over my dead body.” Warren clutched Olivia closer to him.
“I’ve suffered worse,” Olivia claimed. “Put me down. I’ll walk and prove it.”
If it were any other woman, he might have called her bluff, but he wanted to show Olivia he’d honor her wishes.
Reluctantly, he lowered her to her feet.
When he released her, a tingling sensation ran up his forearm, and his gaze locked on her hand wrapped around his upper arm.
Glad he could be of need and ecstatic she was comfortable with him, Warren whispered, “You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. ”
The stubborn set of her jaw told him everything he needed to know.
At least she was no longer shying away from him or Lord Camden.
Shortening his stride to match hers, Warren escorted Olivia behind Lord Camden, who had also noticeably slowed his pace.
By the time they finally reached the drawing room, Olivia could no longer mask the pain.
Her jaw clenched, and crinkles at the corner of her eyes appeared with each step.
He wanted to pick her up, but the proud set of her shoulders told him not to.
“Olivia, please take a seat.” Lord Camden waved to the chair nearest the door.
Obediently, she sank down into the chair. When Lord Camden knelt in front of her, Olivia tucked her feet under the seat. “What are you doing, my lord?”
“I’m going to examine your ankle.” Lord Camden held out his hand for her to place her foot in.
“You are not going to touch my fiancée.” Warren nudged Lord Camden with a knee, but the man didn’t budge.
“Olivia, have you agreed to marry Lord Guernsey?”
Warren shot her a nervous glance. She was no liar, so it came as no surprise when she shook her head and said, “No, I have not.”
“As a member of my family, and I consider anyone under my care my family, I shall see to Olivia’s well-being.” Lord Camden opened and closed his hand, motioning for Olivia to place her heel into his palm.
No man other than him was going to see to Olivia's care as long as he was about. Warren knelt and shouldered Lord Camden with enough force that the earl fell onto his arse. “Olivia is mine.”
She already had her foot out for him as he returned his attention to her. He pressed gently about her swollen ankle, “Does this hurt?”
At the sight of Olivia’s flushed cheeks, the image of her sweet features beneath him the last time he had uttered similar words had his lips curving into a smirk. This was what it was like to share a life with another. Greedily, he grazed the tip of his finger higher over the curve of her calf.
“Ahem.”
Egad. He’d completely forgotten that Lord Camden was present. Why was it that when he was with Olivia, the rest of the world disappeared? He glanced up at the earl, who was watching over them.
“Thankfully, no break,” Warren said as he unfolded and faced Lord Camden.
“Well, that’s the best news I’ve received all day.” Lord Camden turned to Olivia. “You should remain here and rest. I’ll send word to my wife that you will not be joining her today.”
“Oh, don’t bother, my lord. If I wrap it tightly, I think I’ll be fine.”
Lord Camden placed a hand on Olivia’s shoulder, preventing her from standing. “Afraid Charlotte might order you some hideous gown for the masquerade or…”
Warren glared at Lord Camden. How dare he touch Olivia! He was about to take action when the earl removed his hand of his own accord. “...mayhap an afternoon at the dressmakers is exactly how you wish to spend your afternoon.”
“It’s not a matter of what I wish to do but what I should do,” Olivia answered.
“You will have to change that mindset.” Lord Camden shifted his gaze to fall upon Warren. “Peers rarely do what they should.”
Warren stared at Lord Camden as he left the room without another word. Had the earl actually insinuated he was remiss in his duties?
“Warren?”
Olivia’s strained voice had him back on his knees as he answered, “Yes.”
“Why does it feel like everyone is conspiring against us?”
He wanted to pinch himself. Olivia had referred to them as us…
like a couple, a team, partners… The glimmer of hope he’d held onto tight had blossomed into a spark that was determined to fan into a flame.
Distracted, he remained silent and simply shrugged, garnering him a sweet smile and kiss on the forehead.
When he was with Olivia, he didn’t have to have all the answers, he just had to be honest.