Page 69 of This Marquess of Mine

Olivia huffed out a laugh. “Ask him to marry me? Are you mad?”

“Ask him how he feels,” Emmy corrected. “Talk to him. What do you have to lose?”

“Besides my pride?” She grimaced. The thought of humiliating herself before him again was insupportable.

“Well, it’s better than spending the rest of your life wondering what might have been, isn’t it?”

Olivia fell silent as Emmy’s words knocked around in her head. Would she regret never knowing? If she married Paxton, would she still be wondering, years from now, if her life might have been different if she’d been braver?

“What if he rejects me?” she asked, the thought sending her heart thudding in her chest. “What if he turns me away? How will I ever face him again?”

He’d been so cool toward her tonight, so distant. Not remotely encouraging, and certainly not lovelorn.

“But what if he doesn’t turn you away?” Emmy said. “What if he tells you he loves you? That he wants to marry you?”

Olivia’s lips thinned. “If he wanted to marry me, surely he would have asked me by now.”

“Would he?” Emmy said, her tone gentle but challenging. “You have spent these last two months doing everything you can to become a duchess. Perhaps he thinks you would turn down an offer from a marquess.”

Emmy’s words made Olivia pause and her brow furrowed. Could she be right? Was it possible he wanted to marry her but was afraid she would reject him?

And was she brave enough to find out?

“Go to him, Livvy,” Emmy said softly. “Go to his study and talk to him.”

“But what about your mother’s party? I cannot just disappear.”

“Leave that to me,” Emmy said with a wave of her hand. “I’ll tell everyone you were feeling unwell and retired to my chamber for a brief rest.”

Olivia gripped Emmy’s hand in hers and squeezed. “Thank you,” she said. “You’re a good friend.”

“I’m the best,” Emmy said, her gray eyes twinkling. “Now, go.”