“Yes that sounds just the thing.” The servant with the champagne came through the gaming room, and I stole another glass. My throat was dry, and the evening had lost its luster. I might not be in love with Olivia, but she had been a part of my life for a long time.
Rex led the way out the doors to a terrace which ran along the front of the house. I followed him into the night until he moved to an alcove, where he paused and pulled out two cigars. I took one, my gaze moving to the garden where some guests were enjoying the warm night. Rex flicked the end of the match with his thumbnail, and the smell of sulfur and a bright light cut through the night. He held it up as I puffed on the end of the cigar. Our faces were close and I need only cup his jaw to bring his mouth to mine.
“We can’t,” he said.
“I know.” Music drifted outside, along with the sound of lifted voices. “I am sorry I had to leave. I heard Harry got into an ant hill.”
“The boy is constantly in trouble, rather like I was, I guess,” Rex said with a shrug.
“He does remind me a lot of you at that age.” Like Harry, Rex had always been brilliant and when he had something in his head, he pursued it with single minded purpose, regardless of everything else going on around him. Over the years, he had grown into the title but he was still uncomfortable in crowds and awkward in social situations. “Your father could be harsh. Harry’s is not. You have raised a decent boy with a curious mind.”
“I have, and I am proud of all of my children. I am sure your daughters will miss their aunt.” He rocked back on his heels, the glow of his cigar tip casting his face in shadows. “Eleanor will also miss her. She and Olivia are great friends.”
My good humor fled at the reminder. She’d thrown this at me without warning, and I wasn’t sure what to think. Unless she had been pretending that she would be fine when Nigel married, or she was simply trying to cover up her upset. It was hard to tell with her, or maybe I’d failed to pay attention. “I think they will. She’s made her choice. How is Eleanor faring? I hope things have improved between you.”
“We always sleep in the same bed and our time together, when we have it, is much different.” He pressed his lips in a grim line and shook his head. “However, outside of our room, she is still closed off.”
A bit alarmed, I shook my head. I leaned against the balcony rail and rested my elbows on the stone. Rex mimicked me, his shoulder bumping mine. Chinese lanterns illuminated several couples milling about in the garden below. “That is very unlike Eleanor.”
“I suggested she might be overwhelmed and she told me it wasn’t my place to fix her.” He rubbed at his forehead, clearly distraught. Rex was used to being in control and making snap decisions. “How does one fix that?”
“You don’t. If she said she doesn’t want you to fix her, then she doesn’t want you to fix her.” Olivia walked outside, startling both of us.
I turned my head to meet her direct stare. “It isn’t polite to sneak up on private conversations.”
“But necessary when two men who have no idea about women are trying to solve their problems.” She squeezed her way between us and snatched the cigar from my hand.
My annoyance with her was growing, and I dared not question why. “You go too far, Olivia.”
Her bold manners were off-putting, and she was being rude by eavesdropping.
With a shrug, she took a long draw of the tobacco. “I thought you might want to know what is wrong with Eleanor, but if you would rather me keep my mouth shut, I will.”
“No, please speak your mind.” Rex cut me off before I could protest further. He looked genuinely interested and I nodded my agreement for his sake, even though I didn’t have much of a choice. Like with Eleanor, I valued every second spent with Rex. He was pulled in all different directions, and although I logically knew his concern over his marriage took precedence over my own needs, it still stung to always be the sixth chair in the orchestra of his life.
Chapter Sixteen
Lord Rex, Duke of Smythington
I could tell Flynn was annoyed with me for asking Olivia to stay, but I desperately wanted her insight. My discussion with Eleanor in the breakfast room had been jarring. In hindsight, I hadn’t handled it well. I had been so caught up in wanting to connect to the Ambassador, that I had pushed Eleanor and her needs aside in lieu of a strangers. It was no wonder she was unhappy with me.
Shame washed over me in waves. Like my youngest son, I had a bad habit of focusing on a specific task to the detriment of everything else. I didn’t do it intentionally, but that was no excuse. She claimed she was happy, yet the chilliness in her countenance after our discussion belied that claim. While she had been a gracious hostess to the ambassador and his wife, she remained reserved around me.
“Eleanor is like many women who dedicate their lives to their husbands and children. Her life revolves around her family. She plans her schedule aroundyourschedule and will cut an outing short to be home when you come home, except you rarely come home at a decent hour.” Handing the cigar back to Flynn, Olivia spoke with passion. She had never been one to shy away from blunt words and lacked artifice. “It is disrespectful to her.”
