Page 4 of A Stranger’s Kiss

Olivia turned as a craggy-faced man with salt-and-pepper hair joined them, tall and distinguished in his green plaid kilt. Judging from his black brows drawn into a scowl and the way his jaw jutted, he was greatly displeased. Olivia dropped a quick curtsey and began backing away.

The man’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Olivia,” he grated, his lips barely opening as if speaking through clenched teeth.

Olivia blinked. He knew her name? She’d never met him in her life. He was obviously wealthy, a noble of repute. The smallest of the rings glittered on his knobby fingers in testament to his wealth. Never had she seen so large a sapphire. No doubt, he mistook her for someone else.

“My lord.” She inched away.

“Olivia,” he said, again.

Bobbing again, Olivia cast a puzzled glance at Lady Blair for guidance, but to her shock, Lady Blair appeared almost stricken. A meadowlark landed in the lilacs behind her, its chirp unnaturally loud in the silence that had fallen over the tent.

“Olivia,” the stern man repeated.

Olivia faced the man again. His eyes, so very green and so very cold, narrowed as she frowned. “My lord?”

When he didn’t answer, Lady Blair cleared her throat. “My dear Olivia, may I introduce His Grace, the Duke of Lennox.”

Lennox. Olivia stared into the man’s eyes for a full five seconds before recognition struck.

Lennox. The Duke of Lennox.

Lord save her.

He was her grandfather.