“I saw you sprinting across the meadow, so I have your bath all ready, my lord.”
“Excellent. I appreciate that,” he said, stripping off his clothes and walking into his dressing room. As he sank into the steaming water, he felt more relaxed than he had in months.
He was looking forward to the day’s activities, hopefully with Lady Armstrong.
***
Olivia opened her eyes to the sun sending prisms of light around her bedchamber. She didn’t usually sleep so late—she was probably more tired than she’d realized.
There was a knock on her door, and Emma walked in carrying a tray of tea and toast. “Good morning, my lady. I thought you’d enjoy a cup of tea while I see about your bath.”
“Thank you, Emma. I would indeed.”
Emma placed the tray over her legs. “I shall return in a moment.”
For the first time in a long time, Olivia felt excited—excited to enjoy the house party activities and excited to see Lord Robertson again. Although she’d told Bett she wasn’t interested in meeting anyone new, perhaps she could make an exception for the Earl of Robertson. He intrigued her, and it didn’t hurt that he was one of the most handsome men she’d ever met. She drank her tea and thought about their interaction the night before. There was nothing special about their conversation. Itwas the man himself. Olivia wanted to spend more time with him and get to know him.
A little over an hour later, she knocked on Bett’s door, but no one answered, so she assumed her friend was already downstairs. She descended the stairs and made her way to the dining room.
As she neared the room, she could hear voices, and the one that stood out above the others was Lord Robertson’s deep timbre. She inwardly smiled and hurried to join the group. When she walked into the dining room, she was relieved to see Bett at the sideboard, filling her plate with eggs and fruit. She walked over to her. “Good morning.”
Bett turned to her and whispered, “Liv, you slept in late this morning. I didn’t want to wake you, so I came downstairs. Are you feeling better today?”
Olivia nodded and reached for a plate. “I am. Thank you.”
“Please, allow me the pleasure of filling your plate, Lady Armstrong,” Lord Robertson said, picking up the plate.
She hadn’t heard him walk up behind her, and when she turned and looked up into his gorgeous brown eyes, she smiled. “Thank you, my lord. That would be most helpful.”
“What do you prefer this morning?”
“Eggs and fruit, please.”
“My pleasure,” he said, filling her plate and then his own before escorting her to the table. He put the plates down and pulled out a chair for her before sliding into the seat next to her. “I hope you’re feeling better today?”
“I am, thank you, and looking forward to the day’s activities,” Olivia said.
“As am I. Would you care to partner with me for the archery contest?”
Olivia’s eyes widened. “Um…I’m afraid I’m not very good at archery. If you’re keen on winning, you might want to choose a more suitable partner.”
“Winning isn’t everything, Lady Armstrong, and I’d very much like to spend more time with you, if you’d allow it.”
She felt a blush travel up her neck and stain her cheeks pink. No one had ever asked permission to spend time with her before. Armstrong had controlled every aspect of her life, including who she could see and talk to. To have a gentleman ask for her permission was a new and heady sensation. “Well then, as long as you don’t care about winning, I would be delighted to partner with you, my lord.”
There were ten ladies and ten gentlemen at the house party, and Olivia could hardly believe that Lord Robertson had singled her out, especially since therewere a number of beautiful young ladies and widows in attendance.
She turned to Bett, who was seated on her other side. “Are you partnering with Mr. Hughes in the archery contest?” she whispered.
Bett nodded. “Yes, he asked me last night.”
“I shall be partnering with Lord Robertson.”
Bett arched an eyebrow. “Is that so? Well, I dare say that is a step in the right direction.”
“Hush, Bett. It means nothing.”
“Are you sure? I saw the way he looked at you when you came into the dining room this morning. That was the look of an interested man.”
