Page 71 of Waiting for Love

“Did the old earl take a belt to your brother, I hope?”

Olivia scowled. “I am not a tattletale, sir. I simply stole Reg’s spectacles. It was his very first pair and he wasn’t quite used to them, but he liked how clearly they helped him to see. I ground sand against the lenses, then replaced them before he noticed they were gone. For an entire day, he feared he was going blind.”

Hazard laughed. “Taverstons.”

“How is Georgiana holding up?” It was two o’clock in the morning. She must be dead on her feet.

“She said she would retire after supper. Perhaps during it. She said this is generally when Arthur wakes to be fed.”

“It is good of Georgiana and Reg to come to London. I never even asked Reg how his lecture went.”

“Splendidly, I am certain. And you know they would not have missed your coming-out. Not for the world.”

“I’m sorry we didn’t invite Lord Chesterfield.” Jasper said his name had somehow been overlooked. “You know you could have brought him along.”

A cloud passed over Hazard’s face. “It wasn’t necessary. He detests these sorts of things. Always has.” Then he blinked. “I don’t mean your ball, of course.”

He changed the subject. They spoke of Chaumbers. Then Hazard’s estate in Kent.

Over the next course—beef roast, savory pies, haricot lamb, jellies, and peas in sauce—he mentioned his country home in Cumbria. Olivia picked at her plate. She wasn’t at all hungry.

“Lovely place, but I haven’t been there in over a year,” he said, bunching his lips.

“Is it difficult to get to?”

“No. Not so very.” He took a sip of wine. “I banished my cousin’s son there, you see. Nasty fellow. But the duns were hounding him, and I told him I’d pay his debts if he rusticated for a while.” He gave her a stern look. “That is not to be repeated, naturally.”

“Of course not.” She knew Hazard had a relative that he was not fond of. And unfortunately, the young man was his heir.

Hazard sallied on to another topic. “Your mother is permitting no waltzes?”

Olivia shook her head. “I cannot dance a waltz until I receive permission at Almacks, and my invitation there is not until the end of the month. She thought it would be safer simply not to have any tonight.”

“Lest some villain force you to waltz in public?”

She giggled. “It is silly, isn’t it? All these rules?”

“Etiquette is what keeps civilization from collapsing.” He stretched out a leg as if he had a cramp. “Who are you dancing with next?”

She showed him her card and his eyes slid down the list.

“Hazard,” she said, suddenly suspicious. “Did Jasper put you in charge of assessing my partners?”

His gaze flicked up, then away. “Your mother would not have invited anyone inappropriate for you to dance with.”

“Is that what I asked?”

He cleared his throat. “No. And yes, Jasper asked me to stand sentry. He thought it less obtrusive than if he were to do it.”

She should have been annoyed. Or maybe she shouldn’t. What did it matter? The only man she cared to be with had already been ruled out.

Instead, she sighed. “So what will I be contending with the next few hours? Bores? Fortune hunters? Cacklers? Gropers? Men with two left feet?”

“No.” He handed back the card. “Perfectly suitable gentlemen.”

They were all titled. Not a mister in the lot.

Dessert was served. A cake constructed to look like their townhouse. It was a shame to eat such a work of art. Especially because it tasted bland.