Page 27 of Never Dare to Masquerade with a Maiden

“I know that. But…” Olivia sat on the edge of the fountain and clasped her hands in her lap.

He knelt next to her. “But what?” As the question slipped through his lips, he wanted to smack his own head. Why did he rattle off query after query? His mama would say it was a sign of intelligence, but Olivia’s frustrated gaze would say otherwise. Fortified by a deep breath, he added, “I’m clever but not so wise as to know what is troubling you. Please, tell me.”

“I can’t marry you.”

The words cut through him, and he fell back onto his arse.

“I’m sorry.” Olivia stood and held out her hand to assist him to his feet. She must think him a damned fool if she believed he’d give up that easily.

He took her hand and pulled her down to him. Taken off guard, she tumbled forward, and as he hoped, she landed upon his chest. He secured her, wrapping his arms about her. The question, what are you sorry for, threatened to tumble from him, but he caught himself and instead, he said, “I can’t let you go. Not again.”

“Why?” Her voice trembled, and he stroked her back.

“Because I’m like a ship at sea without a captain when you are not with me.”

She lifted her head up to peer at him. “Hmph, now you resort to a pretty line of poetry rather than a question.”

“It’s the truth.” He wanted to remain right where he was with Olivia in his arms but the more she wiggled, the more tempted he was to act upon his baser instincts. Unfortunately, he was not a rogue. Still reluctant to fully let her go, he rolled them both on to their sides. Face-to-face, he added, “I won’t claim to have been a saint over the years. I’ve entertained my mama’s idea of a match. However, no lady has ever captured my full attention like you have.”

“Be honest, you never gave those other ladies a real chance.”

He stared at her clear, intelligent eyes that could make any man’s heart thump hard as if they had run a mile. Volleying between responding with a question or a teasing remark, Warren decided upon the latter. “So, you have been keeping tabs on me.”

Her gaze lowered to his chest as she answered, “Not exactly.”

“Will you give me a fair chance?”

“Why must you be so… so different from your peers, so single-minded, so…” Olivia pushed herself up. She glared down at him and added, “so bloody stubborn!”

Egad, she was as beautiful flustered as she was relaxed in his arms. Warren couldn’t help but grin, which he masked as he rolled to his feet and held out a hand for her. “It is those exact traits that draw you to me, and me to you.”

With a defeated sigh, Olivia placed her hand in his, and he hauled her up and once again close enough for him to wrap an arm about his waist. Surprisingly, she leaned into him slightly. “I’m not like the others. You don’t fool me. I know you are a rogue. A wolf in sheep's clothing.”

“Oh, you are certainly unlike any other woman.” He pushed a tendril of hair behind her ear. “You are brave. You are as single-minded as I am, and if you allow yourself, you will become the Viscountess of Guernsey.” As soon as he uttered the honorific, he felt the weight on her shoulders shift her mood, and he wished he could instantly retract his words. How damn insensitive of him. Ugh. He could be a bloody idiot at times.

Rather than push him away, Olivia remained close, and he dared not to move in case he messed up. Wanting to comfort her, he glanced down at her and sensed she was deep in thought. Would she reject him again? Taking advantage of the time she allowed him to be close, he closed his eyes as he rested his chin on top of her head and continued to wait. He was in no rush to return her to the care of Lady Charlotte.

The brush of Olivia’s cheek against his chest had him straightening.

She lifted her chin and stared directly up at him with clear, thankfully moisture-free, eyes. “I suppose our choices are that we either continue to argue the issue every day for the next nine days or we simply agree to enjoy one another's company minus any discussion about marriage.”

“Before we decide upon that, I want to know more about that day and the pond.”

“You are tenacious.”

“Ooh, that is new.” He liked the fact she was describing him in more ways than one.

“It wasn’t meant as a compliment,” Olivia said but this time with a smile. She turned and led him to sit upon the bench facing the fountain. “The short version is you fell into the icy pond, and I jumped in and hauled you out. You became feverish, and we were forced to relocate.”

“You were blamed for my foolishness?”

“Again with the questions, and no, I wasn’t blamed for your fall.” She shifted to face him. “Your father knew you far better than you think.”

He blinked and repeated, “My father?”

“Yes, the man who you once believed favored Ian over you.”

Warren frowned. “I’ve always been jealous of Ian?”