Bile threatened to rise in Gabriel’s throat. Had the blood been hers or Lockley’s?
“That’s not the first time you’ve called my sister in law by her given name,” Crawford commented, observing him from his leisurely position.
Gabriel strode to the mantle and stared into the fire.
What was he doing? He loved her! He loved Olivia Redfield and yet she would suffer for lack of protection, nonetheless.
“I care about her,” he admitted as he stared at the bottom of his glass through the amber liquid. “She and I are friends.” He nearly choked on the last word.
“So, you’ve ordered Lockley off. And what of when you meet him face to face in London? What of when he reserves a dance with your future wife?”
Victoria. She was nearly as vulnerable as Olivia. Gabriel closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You only ordered him away from Lady Priscilla and Miss Redfield,” Crawford reminded him.
“I’d think he’d be wise enough to stay away from anything that’s mine.” With these words, he could not meet his friend’s eyes. “I’ll make certain he labors under no delusion.”
“I don’t envy you, Kings.” It was Crawford’s turn to stare into his glass as the fire crackled. “I loved the lady chosen for me to marry. Love. I love her. Damn near couldn’t stand the thought of her being away from me for the duration of your mother’s damn house party.”
“It’s not that I don’t love Miss Shipley. I esteem her most highly. She’s a delightful lady and will make an excellent countess.” The sentiment sounded empty the instant it left his lips.
“You don’t wake up with a countess. You don’t make love to a countess. You do all of those things with a woman.”
Gabriel met Crawford’s stare but didn’t say a word.
“Is there nothing you can do?” his friend asked.
Oh, hell. He could not pretend with Crawford. Gabriel answered with a shake of his head. But the question set him to thinking.
Was there, in truth, nothing he could do?
Chapter 29
The Chase
“Did you sleep at all, Olivia?”Concern laced Louella’s voice as she patted Olivia’s thigh below the long breakfast table. Louella seemed more attentive than normal this morning, making Olivia wonder if Gabriel had not told Crawford about the attack and if Crawford had then relayed it to Louella.
The duke, Mr. Fellowes, and Lady Kingsley sat opposite, and Gabriel had taken his usual spot at the head of the table. Miss Shipley’s aunt and a few other guests, whose names Olivia had difficulty remembering, were filling their plates at the sideboard. A handful had departed already and the rest, likely, were sleeping in.
“Not much.” The tea stung the inside of her lower lip. Lockley’s teeth had cut her mouth as well. The blood she’d tasted hadn’t been exclusively his. “Headache,” she added.
Olivia raised the cup of hot tea to her lips and blew. She didn’t really care if it was hot, or what it tasted like for that matter. When she closed her eyes, the memory of Lockley’s groping hands plagued her.
And she couldn’t allow herself to look down the table at Gabriel. It was possible she’d burst into tears if she saw sympathy, or worse, pity, in his eyes.
Olivia didn’t want anyone else to know what had happened. It was all too embarrassing! Mortifying, even! She knew it wasn’t her fault but couldn’t help but feel she’d been in the wrong somehow. Mary had insisted upon dining with the kitchen staff but only after she finished packing. Thank heavens they would depart shortly. Olivia wanted to put it all behind her. Even if that meant putting Gabriel Fellowes behind her as well.
Conversation was sparse after that, the only sound that of Mr. Gilbert Fellowes turning the page of his newspaper.
“Has anyone seen Lady Priscilla?” Miss Shipley asked almost before she had entered the room. “I stopped by her chamber this morning. We always come down together. And her maid says she did not return to her room last night.”
Gabriel’s head shot up. His eyes swung toward Crawford, and they seemed to communicate something of import. “Parker,” he addressed one of the footmen standing at the buffet. “Enlist every manservant. I want the manor searched from top to bottom without delay.”
The servant bowed efficiently and disappeared from the room.
Panic hadn’t quite entered Gabriel’s voice, but he appeared deeply concerned.
“Lockley?” Olivia said the man’s name without thinking. Blessedly, he was not present this morning. But if Gabriel had ordered the man to leave, was it possible he would have taken Lady Priscilla with him?
