Gabriel could almost hear the wheels of her brain turning as she contemplated whether to answer his question. Straining, she awkwardly lifted the boiling pot of water to pour it into a chipped cup. Gabriel would have performed the task for her but doubted she’d appreciate it.
She nearly bristled in her independence.
With an exhale that sent the hair on her face flying into the air, she slammed the cup in front of him. “I make it a point to leave the house before he’s returned.”
Just as he thought. Gabriel glanced down at his watch. “You’ve a few hours left then. Plenty of time for you to serve me a slice of that pie.”
“You cannot eat his pie! What will he think if it’s already been cut into?
“Send it home with me. He never needs to know the pie existed.”
“He would smell it. The cinnamon.” She frowned at him but then pulled out a knife. Minx that she was, she shook it threateningly at him for all of three seconds before turning to carve out a rather large slice and transfer it onto a plate. “Why are you here, My Lord?”
“A few days ago, you called me Gabriel Fellowes. Enough of this My Lording. We are friends, are we not?”
She placed the pie in front of him along with a bent fork and then sat down facing him on the opposite bench. “Why are you here, then?Gabriel Fellowes.”
“He’s going to catch you eventually, you know. And he’s going to ask. Someone needs to talk some sense into you, so you don’t trap yourself for the rest of your life.”
“This is no concern of yours.” But she frowned at his words, and rightly so.
“We’ve already established that, have we not, my dear Miss Redfield? For the life of me, I don’t even know why I’m here.”
“Olivia. You might as well call me Olivia. But only if no one else is present.”
“Not Lazy-eyed Livvie?“
“So help me!” She lifted the knife threateningly again, effectively cutting him off before he could finish speaking.
Thoroughly enjoying himself, Gabriel chuckled and held both hands up in surrender. “But I love your eye!”
She leaned closer with the knife and lifted one brow.
“Eyes. I love youreyes.Both of them. The perfect one and the perfectly delightful one.” He knew he shouldn’t tease her. Stanton would kill him. But Gabriel couldn’t help himself. He loved watching sparks of annoyance shoot from her gaze nearly as much as he enjoyed hearing her laugh.
In exasperation, she placed the knife on the table and shook her head. “You are no help to me. Do you realize this? I’ve enough troubles without you.” She tried sounding flippant but hurt was more than evident in her voice.
Gabriel pursed his lips together. Ever since hearing the viscount refer to her as his own personal curse, he’d been unable to keep his mind from returning to her situation.
A perfectly lovely girl shamed by her own father.
“You’re right. Despite my best intentions, I’ve done nothing but harass you. And I did have a reason for coming here. Truly, I did. And this pie is divine, by the way. I think I will take the entire dish with me when I go.”
Ignoring his teasing, she brushed a few wayward hairs back and stared at him warily. She was one of the most pathetic but beautiful women he’d ever been acquainted with. More than acquainted. A few days ago, he’d indicated he was her friend, hadn’t he? How delightfully original of him to have a beautiful woman for a friend.
“What is your reason for coming here?” She pinned him with her gaze.
And that question gave him pause.Why did I come here?
“Why?” He frowned at her question. Why indeed? Oh, yes! “Because ever since you informed me that you were contemplating marriage to Mr. Smith, a man of fine character, I’m sure, but a man with whom you can have little, if anything, in common, I haven’t slept a wink.”
At that, she rolled her eyes.
“I feel that it is my duty as your friend, especially since your sister and Stanton are unable to advise you in this matter, to make certain that you do not make an irreparable mistake. I will be quite content at having done my duty when I know that you have no qualms uttering the most powerful word in the universe.”
At her confused look, he stuffed another bite of pie into his mouth and then spoke around it. “No.”
“No?”
