“I apologize for my attire. I realize it’s inappropriate, but I’m afraid I have nothing suitable to wear in the nineteenth century.”
He turned his head and briefly met her eyes before flashing a self-deprecating smile. “It is I who must apologize if I made you feel inadequate, Olivia. I was considering how to bring up the subject without giving offense. I should have addressed the matter sooner. After all, when I found you, you were wearing ripped up breeches.”
“Not breeches, jeans,” Olivia corrected with a smile.
“Right. Jeans. The point is, your clothing is very distinctive. And forgive me for being blunt, but also somewhat scandalous.”
Her face flamed with embarrassment. “I see that. I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize, please.” He threw her an assessing glance before continuing. “We need to have a proper wardrobe made for you. Otherwise, there will be talk amongst the servants. In fact, there probably already is. After breakfast, I will instruct Mrs. Simmonds to start working on putting together a wardrobe for you.”
If there was something more humiliating than being told your outfit was scandalous, it was having to depend on that same person to provide proper attire. But she had no other choice but to accept his help in this, too.
The immensity of her helplessness was never more evident. She had no money. The pound bills in her wallet were worth nothing more than the paper they had been printed on, her credit cards even less.
“Thank you,” she said. “I appreciate all your help. I don’t know how I could ever repay you for your kindness and all the trouble—”
“Please don’t. Don’t say that. Don’t even feel you owe me anything.”
He turned to face her, his face earnest. “You never need to repay me. My help is unconditional.” He caught her eyes to make sure she received the message. “Unconditional.”
The intensity behind his words took her aback. It seemed she had touched a nerve. Oh, but it was so difficult to know what the proper thing to say or do would be under these circumstances!
“I understand,” she said. “Please don’t be offended. You have been nothing but kind and generous to me. It is my fault if I don’t know how to accept the help graciously.”
She dropped her gaze. “I’m just not used to being so helpless. In my time, I earn my own money. But here I am nobody. I have nothing. I don’t even know how things are done. You are my only friend. My lifeline. I don’t want to become a burden.”
“You will never be a burden. I cannot imagine how you must feel, but I would probably feel the same, or worse, if I were in your situation. But please believe me when I say you are very welcome here. You have brought something to my life I didn’t even know I was missing. I feel more alive than I have felt in years. That is something you have given me and is priceless. So you don’t owe me anything, for I am benefiting from our friendship too.”
“If that is the case, then I’m glad, Dale.”
He flashed one of his beautiful smiles and extended his arm again. “Shall we have breakfast, then? I don’t know about you, but I am famished.”
“I’m starving.” She replied with a smile. Her previous discomfort vanishing.
Breakfast was served, and just like the day before, Dale dismissed the servants so they could eat in privacy.
Dale tapped his finger on the polished surface of the table as he eyed her over the rim of his teacup. When he'd taken a sip and swallowed, he said, “Would you be so kind as to tell me about yourself? What is your life like? How does the future look?”
“Hm... where to start? Well, I am an architect. I recently set up my design firm and was working on my first big commission. In fact, that’s what brought me to England. My client wants to build a mansion in the style of an English country manor, and furnish it with authentic pieces. She found out about an estate sale and sent me here to act as her agent and buy pieces for her mansion.”
“I see. And where is this estate? Is it possible that it has already been built? I know all the important estates in this part of the country.”
“The name is Crestview Hall.”
Dale’s whole body stilled, and his gaze snapped to hers. “This is Crestview Hall.”
