But instead of shame or mortification, she felt only happiness, only love.
All this time she’d worried about Jane’s attraction to ruinous behaviour when she should have been worrying about her own.
Still, she could trust Alexander…couldn’t she?
As Olivia readied herself for bed, wondering if she should tell Mama that Jane wasn’t home, she heard the distinctive sounds of movement in Jane’s bedchamber and heaved a sigh of relief.
She had no idea what had happened with Jane and Mr. St. Clare, but she couldn’t question her sister right now. She needed to be alone to process what she’d done tonight.
That night as she tossed and turned, she started to regret her actions with Alexander.
She’d been so caught up in her desires that she’d convinced herself he was trustworthy. That he was enamoured of her as she was infatuated by him. But she’d made that mistake before and been humiliated for it.
Despite her best efforts, her mind would not be silenced, and the memories of that day would not be supressed.
After Alexander had almost kissed her, Olivia had been desperate to seek her sister’s council.
Being unable to find Jane in her bedchamber, she had searched the house and had finally moved toward the voices she heard coming from the library.
It was only as she reached the partially opened doors that she realized one of the voices was male. Was, in fact, Alexander.
She shouldn’t have really, but she settled in to eavesdrop. After all, she was full sure that Alexander had been about to confess tender feelings for her in the garden. She knew Lady Fincham was here to visit with mama. Alexander was bound to be telling his mother about it, perhaps even seeking her advice on how to proceed with a courtship.
What she heard, however, was decidedlynotwhat she had wanted.
“You’re going to pursue the Darington girl then?”
“What?” To Olivia’s surprise, Alex had sounded horrified.
“Mavis saw you in the gardens, Alexander. Really, you should be more discreet. And I’m not altogether thrilled about the match either. She’s a pretty thing and Lady Cynthia is a dear friend. But you are to be an earl. You can do much better than a baron’s daughter.”
The silence stretched so long that Olivia thought perhaps he meant to ignore his mother’s insults altogether.
Finally, he answered, “You should tell your companion to have her spectacles checked, Mother, there is nothing going on between me and Olivia Darington.”
“Do you care for her?”
“Of course not. It was a joke. We’re always playing tormenting each other, are we not?”
Olivia’s face burned with humiliation.
“I do wish you’d stop with that immature nonsense, Alexander. But I’m glad to hear there won’t be any sort of betrothal in the works. Perhaps you should keep your distance from the gel. Wouldn’t want her getting any ideas, after all.”
As her stomach churned with remembered humiliation, Olivia came back to the present with a terrible thud.
What was the point in all of this? She had barely gotten over her embarrassment then. Now, with her heart involved, she refused to take the risk.
Alexander watchedOlivia’s faceas a myriad of emotions flitted across it. He was throwing another party, this time a smaller dinner, just so he could see her again. He watched in amusement as she stifled a yawn. She’d never been able to hide her feelings, even when they were children.
It was one of the things he loved the most about her.
His thoughts came to a screeching halt as the word burst through his mind, like fireworks across a darkened sky.
He did. He loved her, the annoying, sneaky, beautiful, stubborn little hell-cat.
He couldn’t stop his sudden grin.
It seemed so obvious to him now.
