Presenting a leg, he bowed in her direction, as though for all the world, he’d been presented to her by the queen himself. “Gabriel Fellowes, Earl of Kingsley, at your service.”
He obviously hadn’t gotten a good look at her yet.
Perhaps she could keep it that way. In the shadows, all he would see was her shape, perhaps the color of her hair. He would not see her eyes. He would not remember the name he’d taunted her with—when what she’d hoped for had been a flirtatious smile, perhaps a wink.
Barely fifteen at the time, Olivia had fallen in love with the two young gentlemen fresh out of University. Despite just reaching their majorities, they both stood to inherit lofty titles; Stanton would one day be a duke and Kingsley an earl. There hadn’t been a young girl for miles who hadnotfallen for one or even both of the despicable duo. Olivia had foolishly mooned after Kingsley.
He would choose to be pleasantnow?
“You must admit that your timingwasmost unfortunate.” It really had been! If he chose to tell anybody of this encounter, she would never live it down.Her parents, to be more accurate, would never live it down and thus have even more reason to keep her hidden away. Olivia would continue her existence as something of an outcast, living in a cottage on the edge of her parents’ property.
Louella insisted all of it would change upon her marriage, but Olivia had serious doubts. Some impediments were too entrenched to ever be overcome.
She’d be happy enough right now, if she could remove the rather inconvenient impediment of his lordship, the knuckleheaded Gabriel Fellowes from her path.
And then a thought occurred to her. “Were you following me?” How else had he come to be in such an out of the way location?
“I was.” He cleared his throat. “And you did, as you say, attempt to warn me. But I would not know a moment’s peace if I left you out here alone.”
She slid him a sideways glance. Why were gentlemen so muleheaded?
“I have a younger sister, and she tends to be impetuous at times… Won’t you please accept my apology? And my escort, for the remainder of your stroll? That way, neither of us will worry over some scoundrel creeping up on you in the darkness.”
Itwasa rather charming apology on his part—and the concern he admitted to having for his sister was commendable.
“I will accept your escort, My Lord, on one condition.”
He grinned and winged an arm, as though meeting her requirement was a foregone conclusion. “Capital.” And then leading her sideways across the slope, he continued, “What condition would that be?”
“I would have your word that you will not tell another living soul about…” In reality, speaking the words out loud suddenly seemed too crass for even her. Mortification sent heat rushing up her neck.
He laughed again. A rich lighthearted sound. “You have my word… Miss…?”
“I am grateful for that,” she murmured.
He ducked his dark head in order to avoid a low-hanging branch, and she couldn’t help but try one last time.
“This isn’t necessary, you know. I’m perfectly capable of finding my own way back. And I realize…”That you must consider me vulgar and unrefined.
“You realize?”
That you are merely acting honorably.
“Nothing, I realize nothing,” she evaded. “Where are we going?”
“You must know that gentlemen do it all the time?” His voice held both amusement but also something else. Sympathy? Kindness?
Pity?
Olivia sighed. She knew she lacked many of the social skills required to mingle with landed gentlefolk, let alone those born into the aristocracy. It was why she’d wished to forgo Louella’s wedding festivities in the first place.
At some point, she’d simply given up. Given up adhering to all the rules, given up on fitting in with other ladies. And it went without saying that she’d never obtain either her mother or father’s approval.
“It’s different for ladies,” she lamented. Of course, he would know this.
He squeezed her hand. “There is a gazebo and a fountain one hundred yards ahead. I believe you’ll find the fountain quite amusing.”
Anything to divert this conversation from what she’d been doing when he initially stumbled upon her.
