Always know, Olivia, that you are incomparable
She dare not imagine what he’d intended by such a comment. All summer and fall and over the holidays, she’d convinced herself she’d meant nothing more to him than any other wench he’d swived while on his travels.
Although she flinched at the thought.
She’d provided comfort when he’d most needed it. He had not experienced the same loss that she did at their separation.
But… incomparable?
So… Did he think about it?
Did he think abouther?
But he was to be wed in a matter of weeks! Miss Shipley was a lovely lady and had lost more than her fair share over the course of her life. He could not jilt her.
He knew that.
Of course, he knew that.
But…
She’d seen something in his eyes at the abbey today. She could not allow herself to imagine it had been love.
She would not.
Chapter 27
ALong Visit
Olivia didher best to avoid Gabriel over the next few days, which wasn’t difficult as the ladies spent a good deal of time working on wedding plans and even fashioning some of the centerpieces for the wedding breakfast. Lady Kingsley expressed her disdain that the gentlemen had gotten caught up in numerous poker games but did so affectionately.
Perhaps her husband had played poker and it reminded her of parties they’d hosted together.
The most difficult times to endure were the evenings. Always, Olivia tried to avoid Lord Lockley but also Gabriel.
Sometimes she nearly forgot herself, and in the presence of other guests, no less. An interesting topic would come up in the conversation and her tendency was to seek out Gabriel’s opinion.
Victoria didn’t talk much. Nor was she overly flirtatious with her fiancé. Olivia sometimes wondered… Although there was affection between Gabriel and Miss Shipley, it lacked the same intensity of Louella’s and Crawford’s. Olivia never caught them staring at one another longingly, nor did they ever slip away to be alone.
But they were to marry, nonetheless.
And very soon.
On the last night of the house party, following an elaborate dinner consisting of more courses than even Olivia could eat, Lady Priscilla persuaded her mother to allow the gentlemen to roll the carpets back so that there could be dancing.
“I will play the pianoforte,” Miss Shipley announced firmly. “Because Kingsley will never dance.”
Gabriel, who was standing casually behind his fiancée, had smiled and then dropped a hand upon her shoulder. “You know me too well, Victoria.”
Never my dear, or darling.
He had not dissembled with her in the garden that night—about never dancing.
He had danced with her, though. And quite willingly.
“I’d be honored to partner you, Victoria,” offered Mr. Gilbert Fellowes. In contrast to Nathaniel’s friendly appeal, Gabriel’s closest sibling was a serious and quiet gentleman. “One would think that a person could master something so simple over the course of three decades.”
Gabriel smiled and shook his head.
