Grace forced a smile, letting her walls slide neatly back into place as well. “Unfortunately, that has not been my experience.”
Oliver stood, brushing the grass from his trousers; that insufferable half-smile returning. “Well, I can hardly spill all of my secrets in a single afternoon. If we run out of things to talk about too soon, we may be forced to return to arguing, which would violate our truce.”
Grace narrowed her eyes, tilting her head slightly. “I have not yet agreed to the truce.”
His smile deepened, and something about its warmth unnerved her far more than his sharp wit had. “Whether you agree or not is of no consequence to me. Matthew’s only condition for me to remain at Somerton was that I be cordial.You, my Lady, may be as vile as you wish. I shall remain unbothered.”
Grace scoffed, ignoring the fluttering in her stomach. “I have never in my life met anyone as irritating as you.”
Oliver shrugged, as though he had heard that particular sentiment before. “You really should not flatter me so much, Lady Rockwell. People may start to get the wrong impression.”
Grace bit back a reluctant smile. She would not give him the satisfaction or the encouragement. His eyes twinkled with something brighter than mischief, and in that instant, Grace recognized the perfect way to make him suffer
“I will agree to your truce, Lord Blackburn,” she said coolly, brushing a stray thread from her sleeve. “But on one condition.”
Oliver tilted his head, offering his hand with exaggerated gallantry. “And what demand will the Lady of War make?”
She ignored his hand and stood on her own, smoothing her skirts with sharp precision. “You must refrain from engaging in idle flirtations—with anyone—for the remainder of the summer.”
Oliver laughed, but Grace stood firm, lifting her chin slightly. “That means no teasing, no glances, and no flattery of any kind, unless you haveseriousintentions toward the lady in question.”
“Is your opinion of me truly so low that you think I cannot endure a few parties without flirting?”
Grace let herself smile properly for the first time that day, “I think you will struggle to survive tomorrow’s lawn games.”
Oliver pressed a hand to his heart with dramatic flare, “It is a grave challenge to be sure, but I do accept your conditions.”
Whether it would be a true hardship for him or not, Grace didn’t much care; either way, it served her purpose. She folded her hands neatly in front of her. “Then I accept your truce.”
Oliver held out his hand again, this time in a gesture meant to seal their agreement. Grace hesitated, but then placed her hand in his own. He grasped it gently and gave it a firm shake, but his fingers lingered around hers for a beat longer than necessary. Grace felt a slight flush rise in her cheeks as she pulled her hand from his grasp.
Oliver cleared his throat and glanced back towards the house. “I shall leave you to enjoy the rest of your morning in peace. I should also make sure Matthew has not already instructed the staff to start packing my things.” He tipped an imaginary hat. “Lady Rockwell.”
“Lord Blackburn, wait…” The words were past her lips before she fully realized she had the urge to say them. “Seeing as we are to spend the entire summer together, and we have agreedto be cordial, perhaps we could call each other by our given names? Things are less formal here than in London—”
“I think that would be more than alright,” Oliver said gently, cutting off her rambling. “Have a lovely morning, Grace.”
“You as well, Oliver.”
Oliver nodded in a genuine farewell, and for one foolish moment, Grace thought that perhaps spending the summer with him might not be entirely intolerable, until he ruined it, tossing her a quick wink before turning back towards Somerton—Insufferable man.
Oliver whistled softly as he made his way back to the house. Grace’s soft laughter, though reluctant as it was, still echoed in his mind. It hadn’t been a total victory, not by the standards he usually measured them by, but something had changed between them.
He rounded the corner of the terrace and spotted Sarah across the lawn, searching behind every bush, tree, and anything that could resemble a hiding spot with frantic urgency. Oliver took a cautious step backward, hoping to slip through the terrace doors before she spotted him.
“Oliver!”
He sighed as Sarah altered course and marched straight for him. Bracing himself, he lifted his hands in surrender. “I swear, I have not broken a single thing since breakfast. Not even a rule.”
She didn’t smile; her eyes flooded with concern. “Have you seen Grace?”
He tipped his head towards the pond behind him. “When I left her, she was conversing with the pond lilies.”
Sarah breathed in relief, but it only lasted a moment before her eyes narrowed on him again. “Did you say anything to upset her?”
Oliver mustered up the most innocent expression he could manage. “Does that sound like something I would do?”
Sarah folded her arms across her chest, her gaze holding his in a steady challenge. Oliver softened and gave Sarah a smile, hoping to disarm her. After the progress he’d just made with Grace, the last thing he wanted was for Matthew to storm across the lawn and toss him out of Somerton for distressing his delicate, expectant wife. “You truly do not have to be alarmed, Sarah. We agreed to a truce.”
