He cringed right before he spoke causing Olivia to avert her gaze. She turned her attention to the flowering bushes they were presently strolling past. Perhaps Olivia wasn’t the one testing him at all. She knew very little about his sisters—nary a thing truly—but could well imagine that he was far from his comfort zone now that he found himself as their guardian.
“How old are they?” She met his gaze, a light breeze fanning her face.
“Old enough to be bothersome.” He chuckled.
Swatting at his arm with a playfulness that surprised her, she said, “Do be serious.”
“It was well worth the jest to see you smile.” His blue gaze dazzled matching the wide grin he shot her way. “You’re rather stunning when you smile.”
Olivia found in near impossible not to be charmed by his playfulness. All the same, she did want an answer. She notched her chin forcing what she hoped was a stern set to her jaw. “I desire an answer, Your Grace.”
He turned them down another path, bordered with bluebells. “Very well. Elizabeth is the youngest at sixteen. Then there is Louisa who’s eighteen and Catherine who is nineteen. Both are of age for a season. All three require a lady’s guidance.”
The blasted man wanted her for no other reason than to see after his sisters. The nerve of him! She could not fight the scowl that creased her face as she asked, “And you believe me capable of launching them on society?”
He drew her to a stop and moved to face her. “I believe you capable of a great many things.” He smoothed the back of his hand over her cheek. “We have been betrothed from childhood. Both of us have always known the day would come for us to marry. I fail to see the problem.”
She shivered at the cool tone of his voice. “I once believed that to be so, however, after I came of age and you still failed to so much as pen me a letter, I decided you were not interested in the arrangement. I believed myself free.”
“And now?” He arched one blond eyebrow, speculation in his gaze.
“And now I have no wish to wed.”
“Then we are at a crossroad as I desire to marry you.”
A small and long ago dream sparked to life. Could he genuinely wish for a lifetime with her? Did he want to have a family with her? To share his challenges and successes? Her pulse quickened as she pondered the possibilities.
Sighing, she pushed any bit of hope she had back into the depths of her soul. If any of that were true, he’d not be in such a rush. For heaven’s sake, he didn’t even know her. Gentleman did not long to marry ladies they didn’t know. Did they?
She met his gaze with the question lingering on her tongue. Did she even care if he were sincere? Her plans did not include marriage—not to him, not to anyone—so how could it matter?
Still, she needed to know; why now? And more importantly, why her? She squared her shoulder’s and said, “Very well. Am I correct in saying that you choose now because you need a woman’s hand to help with your sisters?”
All teasing feed from his gaze. “It hardly signifies, but yes.”
Barley contained anger ignited deep within Olivia. Hardly signified her foot. It mattered a great deal to her. Though not so much as her other question.
She drew in a slow breath, moved to trail her finger’s over a nearby blossom. Suppressing her anger and drawing on courage, she said, “You know nothing about me.”
“I know all that I need too.” He came to stand beside her.
She turned back to him, her heart pounding, and asked the one question that truly mattered, “Why me? And don’t you dare use the betrothal for an excuse.”
The corner of his mouth twitched as though he were about to grin then thought better of it. “I have no wish to hunt for a wife, no time to court and woo a lady. You are convenient,” he said.
“How lovely.” Olivia stiffened. “It’s a wonder I don’t swoon into your arms at such romantic sentiments.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
The duke drew closer and placed his hands on her shoulders. “You stand to gain a great deal in the bargain. Not only will you become a duchess, but you will also enjoy a generous allowance in addition to your dowery. Furthermore, you will have all of the freedom permitted a wife.”
Olivia could do nothing more than gape at him in horror. She saw no warmth in his gaze, heard no tenderness in his words. The duke did not love her. A fact she’d well understood from the moment his letter arrived—a fact she’d accepted years prior.
His lack of care did not surprise her, but his coolness most certainly took her by surprise. He was a cold and calculating man, incapable of loving anyone. He viewed their impending marriage as nothing more than a business arrangement.
Her stomach soured at the realization for it meant that she couldn’t match him with Juliet. Her friend desired love, dreamed about it and believed in it. The duke would crush her spirit and ruin her cheery disposition.
Olivia could never allow for such a thing to happen. Not to herself and most certainly not to Juliet. She’d have to find another way to save herself from this dreadful arrangement.
Folly… The word echoed through her mind. If she hoped to be rid of him, she’d have to do something drastic.
