Page 89 of This Marquess of Mine

The politeness between them felt odd, and for some reason she found herself blushing over it. Swallowing, she turned away and began to remove her spencer, resolutely avoiding his gaze.

“Come, ladies,” Lady Keswick said. “We are all gathered in the blue salon, and you will find some light refreshments awaiting you there.”

“Excellent,” Aunt Augusta said, thumping her walking stick on the floor. “These old bones could use a refreshing glass of sherry.”

The two older ladies led the way out of the entrance hall, and Griffin fell into step beside Olivia.

“You brought Artemis with you,” she said, reaching out to scratch the kitten’s ear. The little ball of fluff had grown quite a bit since she’d last seen her.

“Of course,” he said simply, as if it had never occurred to him to leave her behind. “She wasn’t especially fond of being cooped up in the carriage, but she loves Keswick House.”

Olivia smiled. “Lots of spaces to explore.”

“And new places to nap in.” He cleared his throat as they reached the salon. “Olivia…”

He paused just outside the door, and she did the same, turning to face him with an expectant look.

“How…” He trailed off and cleared his throat again, uncertainty twisting his mouth. “How…was the journey here? Uneventful, I hope?”

Olivia blinked, surprised by the banal question. Was that what he’d wanted to ask? “It was, thankfully,” she replied. “And Aunt Augusta slept most of the way, so…” She lifted one shoulder and smiled.

“Ah.” He chuckled. “Uneventful and peaceful.”

“Precisely,” she said before clasping her hands behind her back. “And what of you? How have you been since I saw you last?”

“Well enough, I suppose. Glad to be home. Those last few weeks in Town were dull without you.” He threw her a teasing smile, his eyes twinkling.

“I think I shall take that as a compliment,” she said, arching her brows.

“Good. It was intended as one.”

The tenderness in his gaze, the fondness in his smile—what did it mean? Anything? Everything?

Nothing?

Or was it just a figment of her imagination; nothing more than the yearnings of a wishful heart?

She thought again of all he’d done for her, and wondered, for the hundredth time, what it all meant. She didn’t know why he’d visited her father on her behalf, but she knew she had to thank him for it. Whatever his reasons, he deserved her gratitude.

“Griffin…” She drew in a breath and smoothed her palms down her ivory muslin skirt. “I know what you did for me,” she said, keeping her voice low. “I know of your visit to Surrey to see my father.”

Surprise flashed in his eyes, but he did not speak, though his discomfort showed in his stiffening shoulders. Still, she would say what she must, whether he liked it or not.

“I don’t understand why you did it,” she went on, “but I am grateful to you all the same. And I will never forget what you did for me.”

He said nothing for a long moment, his fingers absently scratching Artemis behind the ear, and then, quietly: “Your relationship has improved, then? With your father?”

She nodded. “It has. Enormously. Whatever you said to him…” She shook her head, a smile turning her lips. “It changed him. It changed my life.”

Griffin’s gaze softened. “I’m glad, Olivia. That was all I wanted, for your father to treat you as you ought to be treated. For you to be happy.”

Her heart dipped at his words, and she could not keep her next question at bay. “Why?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Why do you care so—”

“Livvy! At last, you’re here!”

Sophie’s delighted voice cut through the corridor, silencing Olivia’s words, and she turned with a smile to greet her cousin in the doorway. Her talk with Griffin would have to wait, it seemed. There would be plenty of time for answers later, if she chose to try again.

To be honest, she wasn’t sure she should.