“I would very much like it if you’d call me Everett in private.”
“Everett,” she said with a smile. “The name suits you, my lo…I mean, Everett. I’m Olivia.”
“A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.”
“You’ll spoil me with all these compliments.”
“I only speak the truth. I’ve never met anyone like you before, and I’d very much like to spend as much time as possible with you this week. Is that agreeable to you?”
“I would like that as well.”
“Now, I think it’s time we return to the parlor… before your friend comes looking for you,” Robertson said.
Olivia chuckled. “I’m not sure she’ll even have noticed I was gone. She seems quite enamored with your friend, Mr. Hughes.”
“He’s an honorable gentleman, and she couldn’t ask for a more pleasant fellow. I’m pleased they’re getting along so well.”
“I am as well,” she said, taking his offered arm to return to the parlor. “She deserves every happiness that life can afford her. She’s a true and loyal friend, and I only want the best for her.”
They’d just entered when Lord Fleming called out, “There you two are. We’re about to play a game of charades. Care to join us?”
Robertson looked at Olivia, who nodded. “We’d be delighted,” he said.
Robertson escorted Olivia to a seat next to Bett, and he saw her friend whispering in her ear,
When Olivia’s cheeks turned pink, he assumed her friend was asking whether or not they had kissed out on the balcony. He had enjoyed it immensely and hoped Olivia had told her friend the same.
When their host began talking, both young women looked up.
“We shall have teams of four for charades. Choose your partners well, my friends,” Lord Fleming said.
“Lord Robertson, my daughter is a very skilled player. Shall we partner?” Lady Bartlett said.
Robertson shook his head. “Thank you for the kind offer, Lady Bartlett, but I’ve already agreed to partner with Lady Armstrong, Lady Williams, and Mr. Hughes.”
Miss Bartlett grabbed her mother’s arm. “Come on, Mama. Lord John has asked that we partner with him.”
Lady Bartlett had no choice but to go sit with Lord John and another of the guests. The pout on her face as she walked across the room spoke volumes.
Robertson was happy to see her go. Both the lady and her daughter grated on his nerves, although he couldn’t fault Miss Bartlett too much. She was young and merely doing what her mother told her. He almost pitied her, making her debut into the marriage mart with such a controlling mother, but he knew that Lady Bartlett was only doing what she thought best for her daughter. It was what all matchmaking mothers did.
The rest of the evening was very pleasant indeed, although Robertson was disappointed when Olivia and Lady Williams retired to their bedchambers two hours later. He’d hoped to take an evening stroll with Olivia. He should have asked her when they were out on the balcony, but at least he had another activity with her to look forward to.
He was afire with anticipation for their ride tomorrow morning, as he very much wanted to kiss her again. Her sweet lips and orange scent had already burrowed deep into his soul. He’d had mistresses in the past, but none of them had intrigued him as much as Olivia. Her kisses were delightful, and he’d never enjoyed the activity more than he did with her. He couldn’t put his finger on why she was so special; he just knew that she was.
He bade his host good night and headed off to his bedchamber shortly after the women left. It was going to be another long night—one where he would relive over and over again the feeling of Olivia in his arms.
Chapter 11
“How did you like thekiss?” Bett whispered as they walked up the staircase to their bedchambers.
Olivia couldn’t keep herself from breaking out in a huge smile. “It was magical. I never knew a kiss could be like that. I felt safe and protected and had the most delicious shivers racing throughout my body.”
“I knew you’d change your mind with the right partner. I’m very pleased for you, my dear. I was hoping you’d meet someone here.”
“Bett, it was only a few kisses. I don’t expect anything else to happen.”
“Are you sure? I watched Lord Robertson tonight, and he couldn’t keep his eyes off you. I believe he’s quite smitten with you.”
