“You like her?”
How like an American, to get right to the point. “I do,” Phin admitted. “Very much so.”
And not just because the taste and feel of her had him spilling in his smalls, although that encounter had been perfection in itself. After he’d returned to his room and cleaned up, Phin had realizedwhyhe felt so guilty; he’d had to resort to subterfuge to be with Olive, and that hadn’t felt right. Which meant that hedidwant to court her, legitimately, so he had to make his intentions clear to Ash L’arbre.
So on his way back to her room, Phin had taken a detour to the gaming room to find the young man, which had resulted in him spending hours learning to play vingt-et-un. Ash hadn’t taken too much of his money, and Phin had been surprised to discover he liked the man’s easy-going humor, almost as much as he liked Olive’s.
But it meant he hadn’t had the chance to send word to her yesterday, or even this morning, because Ash had cornered him after breakfast once more.
Max finally missed his shot, and straightened with a shrug. “I’m happy for you.” When Phin glanced at him in surprise, his brother offered a little smile. “I’ve spent the last decade watching all my friends fall in love and find their happily ever afters. I was getting a little itchy, being the only single one left, so I jumped at Mr. Prince’s offer of this here job.”
He jerked his chin toward the distant window. “The fact that it came with a new family was just about the best thing to ever happen to me.” Max clapped Phin on the shoulder. “And I’d be honored to watchyouget started on your forever, as well, assuming that’s what you’ve got planned.”
To Phin’s surprise, he realized his throat was tight with emotion. This brashly spoken new brother of his was special, and nothing like the cowboys in the books. “Thank ye,” he managed with a jerky nod of his own. “I—” He cleared his throat. “Aye, I’ve spoken with her brother.”
“But have you spoken withher?” Max winked and stepped back. “Where I come from, we figure the girl ought to have something to say about it, eh?”
Phin grinned. “I’m working on it. I was on my way when I stopped in here to rescue ye.”
“Well, shit, I’m doing fine on my own.” Still smiling, Max tipped his head toward the door. “But why don’t you escort me to the front so I don’t accidentally end up chatting with another earl or duke, and then you go on with your wooing?”
Chuckling, Phin deposited his cue. “Deal.”
But at the front of the manor house, the butler was waiting with a letter. “Mr. Oliphant, I was just about to dispatch a footman todeliver this.” The stately man handed over the envelope. “It was delivered in this morning’s post.”
Phin unfolded the letter and was soon engrossed.
“Good news?” Max’s voice eventually broke through.
“I’ll say!” Phin slapped the letter against his open palm. “The Society has another offer for me. I’ll have to pop down to London soon to get the particulars…”
He trailed off as he skimmed the rest of the letter. As always, the members of the Board of Directors for the Society of Archaeology offered him a decent reward for fetching a particular artifact for their collection. This one was a certain chalice of Roman origin, which sources indicated could be found in a ruined city in the Holy Land.
Phin was soon absorbed in considering the logistics, even as Max retrieved his hat and took his leave.
Da would forgive him for abandoning the house party early, surely. The Board would give him the rest of the details, and then he’d have to head back to the Highlands to gather the rest of his equipment and notes. He’d been to the Holy Land before and was confident in his knowledge. He wasn’t as much an expert on Roman antiquities as Olive?—
Olive!
Rushing off on this adventure would mean leaving Olive! It would mean giving up the opportunity to find the matching goldensphaerato the one in his collection, but it would alsomean giving up on the chance of a future with Olive. If he ranoff on an adventure, knowing how desperately she wanted to experience the same, he’d be a cad.
But perhaps…
After yesterday’s chat with her brother, Phin was feeling rather certain of his chances at a future with Olive. Perhaps he just needed to dangle the offer of an archaeological trip in front of her.
His lips curled upward at the memory of her term for what he did:combat archaeology. Only his Olive could come up with something so ridiculous, yet so perfect.
“Phineas!”
As if thinking of her had conjured her, Olive burst into the foyer. When every single head turned her way, she blushed a deep pink and drew her bottom lip between her teeth.
That sight sent twin spikes of arousal and jealousy through Phin, and he glared at the footman who had the audacity to appreciate her beauty.
When she released her lip with an audiblepop—Phin managed not to groan at the sensuality of the sound—and lifted her chin, he had to grin. Despite her embarrassment at having used his first name, she didn’t hesitate to step into the room and march over to him.
“Mr. Oliphant,” she began properly, “I have some information for you, but I need to see the charts again.”
“Absolutely.” Without hesitation, Phin crammed the letter from the Board of Directors into the pocket of his tweed jacket and held out his arm for Olive.
