Page 91 of Waiting for Love

“We’ve been practicing,” Olivia said with a giggle. She hopped foot-to-foot as though stepping in an Irish jig.

Benjamin knew he was not the only man beaming at her, but he was the one she beamed back at.

Jasper laughed. “They will have to open a second factory in Cartmel. Come along. We’ll need to take two carriages.”

Jasper took Vanessa’s arm and gave her a very public kiss before leading her from the room. Reg swept Georgiana after them. He didn’t kiss her, but the look in his eyes was every bit as…heated. Hazard glanced at Benjamin, then offered his arm to Olivia. Benjamin escorted Alice.

As they stood in the drive, waiting to sort themselves into carriages, Olivia continued giggling and skipping in her boots.

This was what made Olivia happy. Taking part in a scheme with her sisters-in-law. Not worrying about courting for one night. The promise of an evening with her brothers. Did they not see it?

Then she skipped right up to Benjamin. She put her hand on his neckcloth. To his…shock, she untied it. His knees almost buckled. Then she tied it again, murmuring under her breath, “You are staying. I am so glad. So glad.” She patted the knot and said aloud, “There.”

“Olivia!” A very indignant chorus cried out.

Jasper sputtered, “Livvy, you cannot do that.”

She shrugged. “It was crooked. I fix Reg’s all the time.”

“Yes, but…” Jasper cast a helpless look about.

Hazard said, nose in the air, top-lofty voiced, “My dear Lady Olivia, a lady does not touch a gentleman’s clothing except a few light fingers on the sleeve when she takes his arm.”

Benjamin’s face felt hot. And not only his face. He didn’t dare try to speak. Or move. He should try to make a joke of it. That was what Taverstons did. But his mind would not function. He could think of nothing but…being undressed by Olivia.

“Oh, bosh,” Olivia said. “Well, then, lend me your sleeve, my lord, Viscount Haslet. My carriage awaits.”

As Hazard handed her up to the carriage, she spun around and patted his neckcloth. Hazard laughed and shouldered her inside. Benjamin joined in the laughter. Everyone was boisterous. Too pleased to see Olivia being herself to scold her for it.

Only Benjamin saw the obvious. It was not an outing with the Taverstons reviving her joy. It was him. He could make her happy. He could make her very happy. And he knew, deep in his heart, she had just challenged him to do so.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Although Olivia had been to the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens before, when she was a child, she had never been at night to see the place in all its glory. Flowers bloomed everywhere. The paths through the gardens were extensive and varied, meandering and straight, wide, and narrow, well-lit, and dark. Something for everyone. Notorious for illicit liaisons.

The Taverstons walked the main wide road to the pavilion where supper was served. Jasper had reserved a box. The ladies settled around a table while the men fetched the food.

The pavilion sat on a hill overlooking a tiled platform for dancing. Softly glowing lamps illuminated the whole, but not well. Vauxhall was equally prized for its shadows. An orchestra played, and music wafted up to them.

“This is grand,” Olivia said. She breathed in the perfume of the gardens. “It is the loveliest place I’ve seen in London.”

Georgiana squeezed her arm. “I’m so glad you’re pleased.”

Olivia smiled. She knew the family was worried about her because her sisters-in-law had told her so while they were putting on their boots. She’d told them she missed Chaumbers, and they sympathized. She told them she found the Marriage Mart overwhelming. She said nothing about Ebersom, but only that she didn’t understand how she was supposed to fall in love with one man when they all looked and talked and acted the same.

“Amen,” Georgiana said. “Olivia, don’t feel you must choose just for the sake of choosing. I think it should be a law that no girl should accept a proposal her first Season.”

Alice laughed. “Georgiana refused sixteen.”

“Seventeen,” Vanessa said. “You mustn’t forget Jasper.”

Olivia had giggled along with them. She’d thanked them for their advice. And confided nothing more. She hadn’t exclaimed joyously, Everything is all right now. Benjamin is staying in London!

The men returned with platters of refreshment: slivered ham and paper-thin slices of beef. Something shriveled and green. Stale bread rolls.

Olivia turned up her nose. “What on earth?”

“People do not come for the food,” Jasper said. “We must sit here awhile so that people may gawk at us. The commoners love to gawk at peers.”