“Ugh, that’s ghastly,” she complained.
“Well, you weren’t supposed to down it like a sailor,” he laughed.
Screwing the lid back on, he tucked it into the pocket of his greatcoat and turned and walked the couple of feet to see that his carriage and driver were still in position tucked behind a huge holly bush.
He’d told his coachman to sit inside when the snow began to fall in earnest. One of them might as well have the chance of getting out of here before freezing to death.
If they had to wait much longer, he was going to throw Olivia over his shoulder and carry her to the damned thing.
Turning back around to tell her so, his temper flared as he watched the blackguard who’d been watching her salivate all over her lurching into what he assumed was supposed to be a bow and pawing for her hand.
If he touched her one more time, Alexander would launch himself at the bastard and strangle him.
The evening was dragging, the brandy was having no good effect on his temper whatsoever, and now he was going to have to murder someone.
Alexander watched Olivia’s face closely as he ambled over. He wanted to give the appearance of being calm and casual lest the blackguard turn out to be a decent pugilist. Alexander wanted the element of surprise on his side.
Olivia suddenly looked over at him, directly into his eyes and all thoughts, violent or otherwise, fled from his mind.
Dear God in Heaven. She was extraordinary. A goddess. And his heart, he knew, had never been in more danger.
Olivia raised a brow, as though daring him. To do what, he had no idea, but it made him determined to win whatever this battle between them was. He could only hope, rather desperately, that she was going to be his prize.
Alexander made no effort to release Olivia from his gaze. He knew he probably looked brooding and intense, a look that had frightened many before her, but he couldn’t look away. Didn’t want to.
His desire for her seemed a tangible force, reaching across the short distance between them to wrap her in its web. Her eyes widened and her lips parted.
This wasn’t what they were here for! He had brought her here like some damned knight in shining armour yet here he was fantasising about seducing her just as he was trying to prevent Elliot from doing so to Jane.
More and more, Alexander was becoming sympathetic to Elliot’s desire. If his friend felt for Jane even a fraction of what Alexander was starting to feel for Olivia…but that was just it. Elliot wasn’t falling in love with Jane Darington.
And surely Alexander wasn’t falling in love either?
Lord knew, he was starting to feel like he’d tear a man limb from limb if he attempted to keep Alex from being with Olivia. Was jealousy an indication of love? Was lust? She annoyed him and amused him in equal measure.
And at times, he’d genuinely feared for his life around the little termagant.
And yet -
All of this ran confusingly through his head as he finally came to a stop before Olivia and her drunken admirer.
The blasted idiot still had his left hand on Olivia’s person. This time, he was touching her upper arm, his thumb brushing along the velvet of her cloak.
Alexander’s tenuous grasp on his temper snapped.
“If you’re fond of that hand of yours, I suggest you remove it from the lady,” he said softly watching with a grim satisfaction as the young pup’s eyes widened.
“I’m not sure I follow,” the little upstart said now, but he had removed his hand from Olivia’s arm.
“Oh, I’m quite sure you do,” Alexander retorted softly.
He was gratified to see the other man’s throat bob wildly.
There was an uncomfortable silence which Alexander made no attempt to break since all his efforts were focused on giving the man one of his most vicious scowls.
Finally, the drunkard put up his hands in a symbol of surrender and started to back away.
“My apologies,” he said. “I didn’t know she belonged to anyone.”
