His heart leapt at the sight of her. Her green traveling dress brought out the green in her eyes, and hewas mesmerized. “Olivia, I must speak with you most urgently.”
“I don’t wish to stand out here, so I suppose you might as well come inside before you catch a chill,” she said, producing a key from her reticule and opening the door.
She was glad she had sent a note to Mrs. Elliott to light the fire and the heat from the parlor fireplace was spilling out into the hallway. She lit a candle on the table by the door before looking back at Robertson.
“”Make yourself comfortable there in the parlor while I put on some water for tea,” Olivia said, hanging up her cloak, and walking toward the kitchen located in the back of the house.
Robertson wanted to follow her into the kitchen, but he didn’t want to overstep especially since she’d asked him to wait in the parlor. He walked over to the fireplace and let the warmth seep into his bones. There was no place for him to sit that wouldn’t leave a water stain on the furniture so he just stood waiting for her to return. Would she welcome his company? He had no idea, but he had to try to impress upon her how much he loved her.
Olivia busied herself withthe tea tray. Her cook was probably up at the manor house getting food stuff and supplies now that she had returned. She had givenEmma the fortnight off to visit her sister and she was due to return tomorrow.
Robertson’s appearance at her doorstep had unnerved her. What was he doing here, and in the rain, no less? If she were being honest, the sight of him fed her soul like nothing else. Her heart cracked open once again. It would be best if she sent him on his way as quickly as possible, but she couldn’t in good conscience send anyone out in this weather.
How long had he been waiting for her?
His wet clothes suggested it had been quite a while. Why had he come? And why now? She hadn’t heard a word from him in a fortnight.
“My lord, I’m at a loss as to why you’re here,” she said, walking into the parlor and placing the tea tray on the low table in front of the sofa. She poured out the tea for something to do with her hands. Her insides were trembling, but was it from fear or excitement at seeing him again? She didn’t know as she handed a cup to him. “Drink up. Your lips are turning blue.”
Robertson chuckled. “This is most welcome as it is a bit wet out there.”
Olivia waited for him to sip his tea. She couldn’t go through emotional turmoil again and was about to ask him to leave when he looked at her.
“Olivia, I’ve been such a fool.”
“What?”
“I should never have let you go.”
“My lord, we’ve had this discussion.”
“Everett. Please call me Everett.”
“Everett, there’s no future for us. I understand and accept that.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. We can have a grand future together.”
Olivia shook her head. “No, that’s not possible. Drink your tea, and please go. I’m sure Mrs. Elliott can offer you a room for the night.”
“Please, my darling, don’t send me away. I’ll die without you.” For most of his life, Robertson believed he didn’t deserve to be loved, especially since he carried such guilt over his brother’s death, but perhaps he could have love in his life.
“I’m afraid there can be no future for us without trust and love. Maybe I was foolish, but there’s no denying that I love you with all my heart. I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you striding across the meadow at Lord Fleming’s estate. You taught me how to open my heart again, and I’ll be forever grateful because I’m not the same woman who went to the house party.”
“And I’m not the same man.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that you, my dear sweet Olivia, have taught me how to love again. I’ve been an idiot andshould have told you that last night in the garden how I felt. There is no excuse except I was overwhelmed with such anger against Pressley that I wasn’t thinking straight. I so admire you. There’s such strength within you, but there’s more. Olivia, I love you with every fiber of my body and soul. It was wrong that it took me so long to realize that.”
“You love me?”
“With everything that I am. More than life itself. I think I fell for you the very first night I saw you. It was like being hit by a lightning bolt.”
“And you braved that horrendous storm to tell me?”
“I’d brave a thousand more if it meant I’d hear you tell me I’ve not lost the chance to be with you forever.”
Olivia was stunned.
