Page 20 of Never Dare to Masquerade with a Maiden

“Olivia… May I call you Olivia?”

The earl’s gentle tone eased Olivia’s nerves ever so slightly. The man rarely spoke, but when he did, everyone knew to listen and listen carefully. “Of course, my lord.”

“Grand. Now, pray share your destination. Although, I have a good inkling as to where you have decided to set off to at this ungodly hour.”

“I didn’t mean to cause you alarm, my lord.”

“Of course, you didn’t. However, I will remind you that you are in my employ and it is my responsibility to see to your safety.”

She stared at the lord before her. Servants were easily replaceable. Her previous employers never hesitated to remind her of that fact or to make her an example. Ian had truly found the most unique employers in London.

Ian! Olivia peered around Lord Camden to find Ian quietly standing in the shadows. Ugh! She should have known that her childhood friend would have fully anticipated her actions. Ian always knew her next move even before she did.

“Must you always interfere?” she asked as Ian stepped forward.

Before Ian replied, Lord Camden raised his hand and answered instead, “It’s quite fascinating how women and men can experience the same set of events and yet come to two entirely different viewpoints.”

Shifting her gaze back to the earl, Olivia felt befuddled by the man. He was like no lord she’d ever met prior, and that included Warren. There was no pretense, no arrogance, just pure straightforward honesty.

“Are you seriously upset at me?” Ian barked. “You were about to traipse about town in the wee hours, and to visit a blasted lord, no less.” Ian turned to Lord Camden and added, “No offense, my lord.”

“None taken.” The smirk on the earl’s face was clear even as clouds blanketed the moonlight.

Such a remark would have earned Ian a good beating, or worse, resulted in his being released from his duties on the spot by most peers, yet Lord Camden remained calm and appeared amused rather than irked. How had Ian gained such favor?

Olivia stepped closer until she came nearly toe-to-toe with Ian and motioned for him to bend down so she might speak to him in private. Like always, Ian sighed but lowered his head. “I must speak with him.”

“In the middle of the night?” Ian growled in her ear.

“I’ll not sleep a wink until⁠—”

Ian didn’t let her finish. Instead, he harshly countered, “You haven’t slept well in a decade. Why not wait ’til morn?”

“Why are you being so difficult?” She wanted to stomp on his foot and run away as she used to when they were little, but they were adults now, and such behavior was unbefitting, especially in front of Lord Camden, even if she wasn’t a lady.

“If you are going to be stubborn, then I shall accompany you.”

She flickered a glance over at the earl who was pretending to be uninterested, looking down at the tips of his boots. Olivia leaned in closer and whispered, “Just you and me, like always.”

Ian’s shoulders visibly relaxed, and his lips curved momentarily at the corners, banishing the dark scowl from his features. “Fine. Just the two of us.”

She had won. No easy feat against a man who was a stickler for rules. Ian straightened and shrugged out of his coat only to drape the heavy material about her. She would be a liar if she didn’t admit that the warmth infused her with a strength that was much needed.

Bolstered with confidence and with Ian at her side, Olivia turned to address Lord Camden. “I shall leave Lady Charlotte in your care for the eve.”

“I expect both of you to return before daylight.”

Brows knitted, the earl’s command wasn’t lost on Olivia as she nodded and slipped past her unusual employer. Lord Camden had a godlike aura about him that often had Olivia wondering if he was even human, and especially now.

As soon as they exited the Camden townhouse, she doubled her pace to keep up with Ian’s long strides. During their teens, he had grown feet while she had grown mere inches. Nearly out of breath, she gasped, “Are we going on foot or should we hail a hack?”

Ian slowed his pace. “It’s not much farther.”

Glad for his sense of direction, Olivia smiled. “Thank you.”

“What for?”

“Accompanying me.”