He loved her.
They would marry and fill a nursery and she would be his countess and share his life with him. Her quick mind would be invaluable in the running of his affairs, and her sharp wit and sharper tongue would be a constant source of entertainment. And then of course, there would be the opportunity to hold her and kiss her and make love to her every second of every day.
It would be bliss.
Alexander was about to snatch her from the clutches of his painfully boring solicitor to tell her all of this when she looked up at him and her expression changed once more.
She didn’t look pleased to see him, or happy to be there. In fact, she looked miserable.
A feeling of trepidation dropped into his stomach and without acknowledging any of the nods or greetings sent his way, he cut through the room until he was at her side.
“Olivia—”
“Excuse me, my lord. Mr. Smith,” dropping a quick curtesy to them both, she shook her head and moved towards the door.
He frowned in confusion.
What the hell was going on?
Alexander hesitated only moments before following her out of the room.
He found her once more in the conservatory.
“I heard you, you know,” she spoke as though they’d been in the middle of a conversation. He could see the blush staining her cheeks, even in the moonlight. “All those years ago after we’d — well, after.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said carefully, not really knowing what her mood was or where this conversation was headed.
“No, I expect you wouldn’t. The whole thing was rather boring and insignificant for you, I’d warrant. But it bothered me, I’ll admit. And I haven’t forgotten it.”
Without saying another word, she turned and made to leave the room.
Alexander felt his temper flare, though he knew it was panic that was causing it.
Just like that, she was ruining all his hastily made plans. She couldn’t just stomp off without explaining why.
“Would you care to expand, Olivia?” he called, rushing after her. “For I am at rather a loss as to what you are going on about.”
“After our encounter in the garden that day, you were at such pains to laugh about me to your mother. To tell her about your decided lack of interest in me. To assure her that you would never be interested in me.”
Damn.
“Olivia, we were young. We were enemies. You cannot think that things are the same now. After last night?”
“I can and I do. I can only hope that I can save Jane from making the same mistakes I did. I couldn’t keep myself safe from a rake, but I can perhaps save her.”
Alexander couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The pain of hearing what she really thought of him was excruciating.
Was she really going to hold the sins of his past against him? He hadn’t even meant what he’d said. He’d just had no idea how to deal with the visceral reaction he’d felt when touching her.
“Olivia, I didn’t mean it. I was trying to save face. You have to understand.”
“Oh, I do understand Alexander. I understand that last night should never have happened. I understand that if I wasn’t good enough for you back then, I certainly shan’t be now. Penniless and ruined.”
“Can we please talk about this?” he asked desperately.
She sighed and looked suddenly weary.
“I’m tired and I have a headache. I’m going to find Jane and we can forget all of this ever happened. If you would be so good as to keep an eye on your friend, I’d appreciate it.”
