The conservatory was blissfully quiet but unfortunately it wasn’t the best choice of rooms, given the biting cold outside.
Shivering, Olivia went to peruse the shelves of potted plants; most of them sadly empty at this time of year. But some were filled with shrubs and winter flowers, and they gave the room a pleasant, fresh smell.
Much as she tried to stop it, Olivia couldn’t prevent her mind from wandering back again.
She had come to her own conservatory all those years ago after that confusing moment with Alexander Stratford in her father’s garden. She had been furious; with him for daring to act as though he would kiss her and with herself for wanting it so much. What the blazes was wrong with her? He had been the enemy, and she had turned to a shameless mess in his strong arms. Thankfully some tiny semblance of common sense had slipped through the unexpected haze of desire and saved her from Lord Fincham. Nay, from herself.
Her embarrassment had been acute as had been her confusion. Usually, she would have gone straight to Jane to discuss such an event. Butusuallyshe wouldn’t have allowed herself to be touched by the beast, let alone pressed so wantonly against him! She’d almost been kissed by him! By the arrogant, cocky, Alexander Stratford.
As time had gone on, however, and she had replayed that almost kiss over and over in her mind, she began to naïvely think that perhaps Alexander cared for her. Hard as it was to believe, there was no way he could have held her like that if he hadn’t wanted to, was there?
So it was, that in the space of thirty minutes, Olivia had managed to convince herself that Alexander Stratford had been secretly, desperately in love with her all this time, andthatwas why he’d put worms in her bedchamber and rotting kippers in her bed. The poor soul hadn’t had any outlet for his feelings.
And, if she were being honest with herself only, she could admit that as much as she hated him, there was a small but persistent part of her that didn’t hate him at all… that felt quite the opposite.
Most of the gentlemen of her acquaintance were far too young and immature. Or far too intense and inappropriate. Not one of them held even a flicker of interest for her.
But Alexander; Alexander was always so laid back, so relaxed about things. He had a charming manner, a wicked smile, and a penchant for never really taking anything seriously. That had been a heady combination to a young lady in the first flushes of adulthood.
Olivia looked around the conservatory, seeing it as her own had been that day. Hot and humid and filled to bursting with exotic flowers, their colours and smells combining to make her head spin.
Stupidly, she had allowed her mind to wander so far that she could practically hear church bells ring as she and Alexander walked down the aisle, her in a confection of satin and lace, him looking devilishly handsome in wedding clothes fit for a king.
A sudden noise behind her brought Olivia back to the present day, and she whirled round to see the source.
Oh, how she was brought back down to earth with a bang.
As though her memories had conjured him up, there stood Alexander Stratford in all his conceited, handsome glory.
Olivia was horrified at the jolt of lust she felt upon seeing him. Had she learned nothing in the past few years?
It had been three years; here was her chance to show him how sophisticated and singularly unaffected she was by him.
“What are you doing here?” she blurted out, sounding petulant and very much unsophisticated.
“I live here,” he drawled in response, and Olivia ruthlessly pushed away her reaction to his mellifluous voice.
“Here in the conservatory?” she snapped back. “Quite a tumble from lord of the manor.”
He smirked in response.
“I see time has not mellowed the viper, though it has improved you drastically in other areas.”
His heated gaze travelled leisurely down her body and back up making her feel as though she were slowly catching fire. She didn’t know whether to slap him or throw herself at him.
“I would thank you for the compliment, but since it’s you, I can only assume there was an insult in there somewhere.”
This time his smile was a full blown grin, and Olivia almost staggered back at the impact.
The dratted man! He had no business making her stagger.
“If you must know, I followed you in here,” he spoke now, stepping closer to her, his voice quiet and deep and wicked.
“How could you have followed me in here? Nobody knew I was even coming in here, and you weren’t at your own ball.”
“I was at the ball. And I have been watching you all evening.”
Olivia gulped.
