“There isnot!” she fumed. She didn’t know whether to be outraged or insulted or both. What on earth was he thinking? “I’m not for sale.”
Dev ignored her and addressed Hubert. “I want her personal belongings, too. All of them. Her clothes, shoes, trinkets and effects.”
An ugly smile twisted Hubert’s face. “I wouldn’t have thought a mistress would need many clothes.”
Dev’s expression was enigmatic. “You think I want her as my mistress?”
“Why else would anyone want her?” Hubert scoffed. “She’s a headstrong hellion with barely a penny to her name. And you’re the most determined bachelor in England.” He sent Olivia a disgusted look, as if Devlin’s scandalous suggestion washeridea. “It’s not as if you’re going tomarryher, is it?” He let out a wheeze of amusement.
Humiliation burned Olivia’s cheeks at her uncle’s crassness. God, he was awful.
Hubert’s expression turned cynical. “You’re not the marrying kind, Your Grace. Six years you’ve been back from the wars, and never once hinted at wanting a wife, despite the ladies throwing themselves at you. We’ve all heard about those scandalous parties you hold over at Hollyfield; infamous for their drunkenness and debauchery.”
“You’re just bitter you’ve never been invited,” Dev countered with a dark smile. “And what I choose to do with her is entirely my affair.”
“If you take her,” Hubert said, “then you’ll consider the debt repaid in full? You’ll make no more claims on the estate?”
Dev lifted the paper in his gloved fingers. “I’ll rip up this loan agreement and say no more about it.”
“Done,” Hubert said. “She’s all yours. Although I doubt she’s worth six pounds, let alone six hundred.”
“Excuse me,” Olivia interrupted furiously. “But my life isn’t yours to barter away, Hubert. You have no power over me whatsoever.” She turned to Devlin. “I have reached my majority. I will go where I wish, with whoever I please.”
Devlin held out his hand to her. “Do you want to stay here, with him?”
Olivia bit her lip, unable to lie. “I do not.”
“Then come with me.”
He made it sound so simple, but she’d never felt so conflicted. Yes, she needed to escape from Hubert, but going with Devlin felt like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Everything Hubert hand said about him was true; he was a rake and a scoundrel, and she couldn’t begin to understand what game he was playing.
Why would he give up his claim of six hundred pounds forher? He couldn’t truly want her as his mistress. In all the years she’d known him, before and after the war, he’d never once lacked for female company. He always had a beautiful woman on his arm, and the sight had made her heart sink with envy.
But she trusted him. Despite his wicked ways and scandalous exploits, he was a man of honor at his core. He wouldn’t physically hurt her or force himself upon her—which was more than could be said about Uncle Hubert.
It wasn’t really a choice at all. She’d go with him now and unravel his obscure reasoning later.
Hubert took advantage of her silent deliberation to send her another scathing look. “If you go, girl, then I wash my hands of you. You’ll get no more help from me.”
Livvy tossed the letter opener at his feet with contempt. “Good. I can do without your kind ofhelp, Uncle.” She brushed her hands on her skirts and looked up into Devlin’s handsome face. “I’ll come with you.”
Satisfaction blazed in his eyes as he reached down and gripped her hand, his leather-gloved fingers wrapping strongly around her own. “Put your foot on top of mine and I’ll pull you up. Behind me.”
The huge stallion stood obediently still as Olivia swung her leg up and over the horse’s back. Her skirts and petticoats rode up around her knees, exposing her white stockings and black ankle boots, but she was long past caring about modesty.
“Put your arms around my waist,” Devlin ordered curtly. He turned the horse with a squeeze of his thighs and sent a final look at Hubert, who was leaning heavily against the doorframe. “I’ll send someone to collect her things this afternoon. Be sure to pack them all.”
Olivia clasped her hands together over his stomach and pressed herself into his back, terrified that she’d fall. She hadn’tridden this way since she was a girl, galloping about the fields with Daisy.
A terrible sense of recklessness filled her. Devlin could be her savior or her ruin, but her heart pounded wildly against her ribs at the prospect of escape.
“Hold on!” He sent the horse trotting out of the gate and Livvy bit back a shriek as the wind whipped her hair around her face.
Dear God, what had she done?
Chapter Three
Livvy tried to catch her breath as they clattered down the village street, leaving Hubert and the gloomy churchyard far behind.
