Joseph didn’t miss a beat. “Do you love him?”
Her breath caught. “I beg your pardon?”
“The question is rather simple. Do you love him?”
She could feel the blush creeping into her cheeks and despised herself for it. “I heard you. But I will not answer that.”
His smirk deepened. “You do. I know it.”
Trying to regain her composure, she crossed her arms and asked, “Is there a purpose to this conversation?”
“No,” he said, shrugging casually. “But I am happy for you. I never thought it fair how thetonpainted you.”
She glanced out the window, trying to keep her voice light. “I made a mistake.”
“One mistake in an otherwise unblemished life,” he said, not unkindly.
Olivia turned back to him, her gaze steady now. “Why are you here, Joseph? You didn’t risk both our reputations just to chit-chat about the past.”
His features sobered. “I need your help. I need you to convince Evander to sell the indigo plantation.”
“Why would I do that?”
A flicker of genuine distress passed over his face. “Because I fear your life may be in danger.”
She drew back further. “Why? I have nothing to do with the plantation.”
“True, but the reformers are growing desperate. We are running out of time,” he said grimly. “I’ve been threatened, and so has my mother.”
The mention of Lady Harwood made her gasp. “Not your mother.”
“She’s already endured more than her fair share. I can’t burden her with this, too.”
“I understand, but?—”
“No, Olivia,” he interrupted, his tone steelier than before. “You don’t understand. Neither does Evander. What’s at stake here is greater than you know.”
She held his gaze. “Then explain it to me.”
He hesitated, then ran a hand through his hair. “There is a growing movement in India. They’re determined to dismantle the power of theNabobs. An uprising is coming. We need to pull out before we lose everything.”
For a long moment, Olivia simply studied him. There was real fear in his eyes—an urgency that made her chest tighten.
“I will speak with Evander,” she said. “But I promise nothing.”
“He will listen to you. I know he will.” He knocked against the ceiling of the coach. “This is my stop.”
The vehicle came to a halt, and Joseph exited as swiftly as he had arrived, leaving her alone with her racing thoughts once more.
Only minutes later, the coach drew up before her brother’s townhouse. As she descended, she looked up at its familiar windows and realized with a pang that it no longer felt like home. Her home was now with Evander.
The door opened before she could knock, and Dosia stood on the threshold with a bright smile. “What a delightful surprise! Do come in.”
Olivia climbed the steps, allowing herself to be pulled into a warm embrace.
“I’m so glad to see you,” Dosia declared. “I’ve missed you.”
The sincerity in her voice brought an ache to Olivia’s chest. She hadn’t realized how much she missed the comfort of true friendship until now.
