And here she was, walking beside him, for all the world as though they were hardly more than strangers.
But this was Gabriel.
“Is it very different every time?” He was the only person she could ask. He was the only person who knew…
He coughed into his free hand, and then glanced down at her with raised brows. “Excuse me? You mean…?”
Olivia rolled her eyes heavenward. “Of course, that’s what I mean. I can hardly ask my sister or mother.”
“Why, Olivia Redfield,” he responded, pretending to be shocked. “To what purposes would you have me answer such a scandalous inquiry?”
“Well…” She touched her gloved fingertip to her lips. “You’ve obviously engaged in intimate activity numerous times. For a person such as myself, who’s had but one experience, I cannot help but wonder if it grows boring, or routine…”
At this point, Lord Kingsley sounded rather as though he was choking.
“Are you unwell, My Lord?”
“Olivia,” he brought himself under control. “We cannot…”
“I cannot seem to act appropriately, can I?” She dropped her gaze to the floor. “Regardless of how I dress, or walk, or if my sister is a duchess even.” She was beyond embarrassed. Of course, this wasn’t something one brought up for discussion…
“It isn’t that–”
As they neared the drawing room, the low murmurs of the other guests drifted along the length of this last long corridor.
“Please. Accept my apology.” Olivia disengaged her hand from his arm and increased her pace. What on earth had she been thinking? This man was not the one who had been her friend. She needed to learn to think before she spoke.
But she was not to make a complete escape.
“You never cease to delight me,” Gabriel whispered near her ear, at the same time claiming her arm once again as they entered the room where his mother’s guests gathered.
Miss Shipley approached them both with a welcoming smile. “Miss Redfield! That color is positively stunning on you.”
Olivia disengaged herself from Gabriel and allowed Victoria to take hold of her elbow instead.
With a glance in Gabriel’s direction, Miss Shipley added, “And I see you’ve met my fiancé, Lord Kingsley.”
Chapter 24
The Other Woman
Roaring filled Olivia’s ears.She should have known. She should have realized.
Victoria Shipley was Gabriel’s betrothed! And Olivia liked her! In the short time since meeting her, Olivia had found her to be a thoughtful and warm-hearted young woman. She wasn’t overly beautiful but very pretty.
“Miss Redfield got herself turned around in the corridors upstairs. I’m not certain she’d have joined us for dinner if I hadn’t run into her.”
Miss Shipley patted Olivia’s arm. “Call for a maid next time. I got lost once for nearly thirty minutes. Lady Priscilla was the one to save me then.”
Another gentleman entered the room behind Gabriel, and Lady Priscilla joined them.
“You got lost on more than one occasion.” Lady Priscilla winked at Miss Shipley as she joined in. “We shall have to have a game of Sardines while everyone is here!”
“Then we shall all be lost!” Miss Shipley laughed in mock horror.
Still grasping Miss Shipley’s announcement, Olivia forced a smile at the suggestion and then barely managed to acknowledge the introduction to Baron Lockley, a well-dressed somewhat older-looking gentleman. It was then she noticed a stiffening on Gabriel’s part.
His eyes flicked between Lord Lockley and his sister and then back to the baron.
