He nodded and pocketed the pistol before putting Lilli behind him. Turning to the young man, he spoke scathingly to him, stripping him of his cockiness. The young man left before Oliver turned to stare hard at Lilli.
“I should have noticed you were in trouble sooner. For that I apologize. But if you ever pull a gun on someone, there will be no stopping the storm of smacks that will be visited on your arse. Do you understand me?”
“Oliver.”
“I am very close to taking you to the gardens and thrashing you anyway, Lilli, so you had better rethink your response.”
“Yes, Oliver. I understand. May I have my pistol back?”
“Not now.”
“Oliver, that is mine.” The thundercloud that met her statement made her sigh. “Very well. May I please return to my friends?”
“Yes, you may. And little one… behave. If you are in distress, you find me immediately. Understand?”
There was nothing to do but agree and try to hide her body’s wild response to him. They suddenly seemed to see each other more often than she would have ever imagined. How had she never met Oliver? He was invited to every event she attended and likely more besides. Maybe he hadn’t accepted many invitations before, but he certainly was now. If that were the case, why was he attending now? Did he have an eye on a future bride? And why did that make her belly ache so?
In the beginning, Lilli was successful in avoiding more than the courteous exchange of pleasantries. But as they began to cross at more intimate dinner parties, she found she was not so averse to deepening their acquaintance as she had first expected. But he did have an annoying habit of finding her in the most secluded corners with her friends, plotting the ruling men’s demise. Then, exhibiting his exceptional charm, he would have the previously irritated women sighing at his smile and cooing at his words. Infuriating and heart-stopping.
She wouldn’t admit he was affecting her as well. She wondered if that was his intent. At home, she was all business,and when not occupied with overseeing the estate, she was catering to her grandmother. And trying her best to hide her submissive desires. No, not submissive. Now, she did those things with him on her mind.
In her bedroom or wandering the gardens, she pretended she was a princess with nothing required of her but to do as she was told and to while away her days with entertaining herself. She would travel to exotic places and enjoy the life of leisure. Not that all of her needs and many of her desires weren’t fulfilled now, but she had responsibilities. Some days, it would be nice to be without them.
When she was indulging herself by spending time with her friends, she was enjoying the time as many of the young ladies were. Giggles, dancing, gossiping, and even mischief-finding occupied her time. Now, it seemed, Oliver was everywhere, often curtailing her fun. The visions played back in her mind as she wandered the garden.
So stuck in her mental ramblings, Lilli did not notice the sky beginning to darken until she felt the first smatterings of rain drops. Surprised by the rain and dismayed at the distance she had wandered while thinking of the duke, Lilli sounded a most unladylike grunt. She abhorred being caught by surprise in anything. It gave her palpitations and a throbbing head.
Getting wet would be vexing but not terrible. She turned, hoping the rain squall would hold off and not send a deluge before she could enter the side door of the manor. As was her luck these days, the rains came quickly, dousing her and then drenching her to the skin. Her anxiousness rose as she saw she still had quite a distance to go. Her dress was soddened, making movement require great effort. It involved holding up her skirts and taking exaggerated steps.
When she finally made it to the manor house, the great outer skirt was slung over Lilli’s shoulder, and her face was aswet from frustrated tears as rain. She could soon open the door that led to her grandfather’s study long taken over by Lilli in an attempt to manage the estate accounts. She had soon found that the room did not instill any specific knowledge on how to accomplish the running of the estate past her grandfather’s meager notes to himself. She didn’t use the room often any longer.
Finally close enough to reach for the door, she rocked in surprise. The door was opened just as she was attempting to manipulate the handle, causing her to stumble into the room.
“Lady Lilliana, what has happened to you?”
Standing in the doorway, dripping water on the floor and trying to catch her breath while shivering, she attempted to ignore the manservant.
“She was caught in the bloody rain, man. Get her a maid to bring her hot water for a bath and a maid to help her up to her room.”
The man looked at the duke and seemed unable to move. Oliver took his place closest to Lilli and began to take off her shawl before turning to the man again. “Why are you standing here?” he shouted.
“I cannot leave her in the same room as a man, Your Grace. Even if you are a duke. It is not proper.”
“To hell with proper! If you don’t do as I instructed,” he took her shoes off, “she could come down with a fever. Now do as I say.”
“Milady?”
Lilli attempted to answer him, but her teeth were chattering too much to allow anything intelligible to come out of her mouth. She waved him gone.
“Come on, little darling. Let’s take the rest of these wet clothes off and wrap you in this quilt.” He yanked the throw offthe wingback chair closest to him and held it open. She shook her head.
“Surely your health is worth a modicum of impropriety. I shall hold the quilt up and you will undress, then wrap yourself in its dry warmth.” He looked at the closed door. “What the hell is taking the maid so long?”
“I-I c-c-can-n-ot-t-t.”
“Forgive me. Of course you cannot, sweetheart. Hold on to me and I will assist.”
Without hesitation, Oliver peeled the top two layers of dress and petticoat off and when he faltered at the chemise, he was saved by the maid. That young woman tsked him and sent him from the room.
