“You seem preoccupied.” Olivia swished her full hips, the motion pushing her breasts enticingly over her bodice. The opposite of Eleanor in her coloring and personality, she spoke her mind and held nothing back. Eleanor was more subdued. She hadn’t been that night in the study. Pride for her swelled mychest. She deserved some pleasure after a lifetime of suppressing her desires.
“I am excited for the wedding, aren’t you?” I replied. Nigel has been champing at the bit to get married. When I was his age, marriage had been far from my mind. Until I met Eleanor. I could hardly wait for my night with Rex and Eleanor, and it was hard to concentrate on anything other than being with them.
“I am thrilled for my son. He is a good, brave man. Some men embrace the inevitable while others are afraid.”
The music separated us, her comment sending a panicked beat to my heart. I knew how she felt about me. She made no secret of her desire to make me her next husband. We were both widowed, and I had run out of excuses.
I bowed to her and offered my arm, my feet moving to the lively music of their own accord. I was not about to fall into her trap. “Nigel has turned into a fine man.”
The room was stuffy, and I wanted to tug at my necktie to loosen the tight fabric. Once the music ended, I would seek out Rex to discuss the arrangements for our tryst. By the way Olivia watched me with those knowing eyes, perhaps I should pretend to injure myself as a pretext for leaving the dance early. I usually wasn’t such a coward. Something about her brought out the vulnerable side I had tucked away.
“I heard from my cousin in Australia today, and she has invited me to come to Sydney.” A healthy flush enhanced her face.
“I hear it is a nice place to holiday.” I had considered leaving the country for a time, but had responsibilities I couldn’t shirk. My daughters being the most important. Once Nigel returned from his wedding trip, I would start handing over some responsibilities to him. One day, it would all be his.
She twisted her torso from side to side, hips swaying to the music. “That is what my cousin says. That’s why I am considering accepting her invitation.”
“You’re seriously considering traveling halfway across the world to a penal colony full of thieves and murderers?” My footsteps faltered at the declaration before I caught myself. Had I heard her right? If so, the full implication of her statement sent a rush of panic through me. The music wound down. I wasn’t ready to end the conversation.
“You just said it was a nice place to holiday.” With a trill of laughter, she shook her head. “That was over a hundred years ago. I assure you, it is very civilized.”
I was aware I was overreacting, but I was in shock. It must have shown on my face because she laid her hand on my sleeve. She and my brother had lived on my estate after their marriage. Since it soon became apparent after three daughters that I wasn’t having a son, I began grooming Nigel as my heir. Of course, I could always marry and beget another son. Except I was satisfied with passing on the title to Nigel. I was used to Olivia being around and depended on her assistance with raising three girls.
“Breathe, Flynn,” she said with a knowing grin. “I am merely considering it.”
I led her off the dance floor, needing more time to absorb her words. The news sent my head spinning, and I wasn’t sure why. “I see.”
Another gentleman stepped in front of her, a youthful-looking man with a roving eye that seemed to focus on her breasts. It was traditional for the duke and duchess to invite the local gentry to these affairs, thus I didn’t recognize the bloke.
“May I have this dance?” he asked. In addition to being a widow, she was also very wealthy.
When I was his age, I had wooed a widow twice my age. My own reason was to get her into bed. I had succeeded in my endeavor. This upstart might be after the same thing. “Lady Olivia isn’t—”
“Yes, I would love to dance,” Olivia said, cutting me off. She took the other man’s arm, lifting her brow in question when I didn’t move off the floor.
It occurred to me that she might be receptive to his attention. She had been alone for a while, and I never questioned whether she had taken a lover. Perhaps I was reading the situation entirely wrong. “I will leave you to it.” I bowed to Olivia and left the dance floor.
The nearest servant held a tray of champagne, and I snatched two glasses. Fickleness continued to dog me. I drank one down, handed the glass back to him, and went to the card room. Olivia’s distinctive laughter followed in my wake, taunting me.If she wanted to bed some young buck, it was her affair.
Cigar smoke drifted out of the room where ten tables were set up for play. I spotted Rex in the far corner playing whist. Per usual, he was dressed impeccably and my heart raced at the sight of his handsome face. What lay beneath those clothes hadn’t been fully exposed to me, and I was looking forward to seeing him naked. I moved to the table and stood at his back.
“Good evening,” I said, laying a hand on his shoulder. Heat raced up my arm, my awareness of him strong.
He glanced over his shoulder at me, and a grin transformed his countenance. With his hair combed away from his forehead and the muted light, he was very appealing. I had never been so glad to see him. “You are here.”
“Indeed, I was dancing with Olivia.” I rocked back on my heels, the pronouncement still ringing in my ears. She was leaving. My girls would be devastated because they adored her.
Rex offered me an understanding nod. “That explains it.”
“Explains what?” I glanced at the other three members at the table, two men and a woman. I didn’t wish for a conversation to be overheard. Gossip ran rampant, and even though I didn’t know half of the people in attendance, they knew who I was. Being an earl had its perks, but it also had its downsides.
“The wild look in your eyes.” Rich laughter followed his pronouncement.
If we had been alone, I’d kiss his smiling lips. I couldn’t do that, even if I wished to. Eleanor had forbidden it. “Is it that obvious?” I wanted it to come out light. The sheer magnitude of what Olivia had disclosed continued to haunt me.
Rex frowned before returning to the table and laying his cards down. “I am out.”
He paid with a few coins and stood up. His back still to me, he turned on his heel and met my eye. “I have a few cigars I procured from Havana. Would you like to join me on the terrace?”
