Phineasdid.
Phineas knew what she was talking about and was genuinely interested. He was interested inher.
That was almost as heady a feeling as his kiss had been!
As the rainy day wore on, others joined them in the library; some coming to read or play chess, while others popped in to pick out books, then left again. By the end of the day, Olive’s throat was sore from the time she’d spent talking with Phineas, and she was far more tired than she’d expected to be, having spent her time sitting in front of the fire.
The following day was Sunday, and although it wasn’t raining, the clouds were threatening. Still, Phineas was one of the few who opted to venture into town for church service at the cathedral, so she joined him.
See? I can be adventurous too!
Part of her scoffed at the thought braving a bit of rain-dampened outerwear was going to impress Aberdeen Jones, but he offered her a bright smile and sat beside her in the pew.
It was difficult not to touch him, not with his warmth so close by, but Olive did her best to focus on the sermon.
The threatened rain broke again that evening and continued for several days. Olive was used to being indoors, but for the first time ever, she begrudged the weather for keeping her from her goal.
“Dinnae fash yerself, lass,” Phineas said with a wink as he took her hand Monday morning. “We’ll be able to investigate the dig soon enough.”
“I know,” she sighed, shifting her grip on the rolled charts in her other hand. “I am just anxious to compare the maps—and our theories—against the site.”
“I ken what ye mean. There’s just something about beingin situwhich makes the layout of the site sort of click into place. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which way is which when ye’re looking at a chart.”
The reminder this man has seen many archeological sites and had found glorious wonders—at risk of life and limb, no less—made her stomach flop. But the fact he was discussingthisonewith her, as if she were an equal, made her stomach flop in an entirely different way.
Perhaps she just had a floppy stomach?
Perhaps you should not have eaten that third rasher of bacon this morning.
But…bacon. She wasn’t going to pass up bacon. Doing so would beimmoral.
As the day wore on, it became almost funny to see how Lady Dumpkins ran about, becoming increasingly more desperate to organize activities for her guests. Since the outdoor activities weren’t possible, her poor staff were run ragged attempting to satisfy her urge to keep everyone occupied.
“What does my father see in her? Does he like tornados?” Phineas murmured to Olive as their hostess shooed them out of the library toward one of the front parlors where games were being set up.
Olive smiled slightly as the back of his fingers brushed against hers as they walked. “Desperate women do desperate things, and she seems unwilling to allow us to make our own amusement.”
He whispered something which sounded like, “Zeus protect us,” which made her smirk.
The gentlemen in the gathering seemed less than excited about the charades Lady Dumpkins had organized, and Olive noticed more than a few excusing themselves. The Duke of Cashard escorted his mother and his sister to their seats, gave them both curt nods, then turned on his expensive heel and strode haughtily from the room, refusing to acknowledge anyone elseon his way to the study Lady Dumpkins said he’d claimed as his own.
But all contemplation on the other man went out the window when Phineas rested his arm on the back ofherchair, so his fingers brushed enticingly against her shoulder. Olive was torn between blushing and preening. He was practically staking his claim on her, and she was just a jumble of happy nerves at the thought.
Anyone could see they were perfectly suited for one another, couldn’t they? Certainly, Phineas’s life experiences were much greater than hers, but she wanted—no,longed for—those same experiences, and he was treating her as if they were equal!
Also, when it was her turn to perform, he guessed her charade—pedaling a bicycle—in very little time, therefore proving they were very well-matched indeed.
Oh dear.I suspect I am finding any excuse to fall in love with the man, am I not?
The next three days were filled with more parlor games, crafting exhibitions, and more painting than someone like Olive was comfortable with. Her sisters teased her about her poor talents, but after her attempt at sketching the gentlemen in ersatz Roman togas—really,whothought those were accurate—from a few weeks back, she’d avoided the arts whenever possible.
Olive’s brother—and the L’arbre girls’ mostly missing chaperone—was happily ensconced in the game room with a few other guests, and he confided to them that he’d won enough to keep Mother and Father happily settled for the rest of their days. Olive was happy for Ash, and for their family, but it was hard to focus on anything besides Phineas.
Because Monday evening, he kissed her again.
They were standing together at the window in the library, each lost in their thoughts as they stared at the rain hitting the glass, highlighted by the occasional strike of lightening. Olive was idly wondering what the rain was doing to the dig site, and how many years of rain and river floods it would take to wear down the exposed Roman foundations, which had endured so much already, when she felt his hand on her arm.
She turned to see the last of the guests had wandered out of the room at some point, leaving her and Phineas alone. That was all she had time to notice before his lips came crashing down upon hers, and she instantly lost the ability for all rational thought.
