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Chapter 15
Olivia stood at the threshold of the garden, gazing at the spectacle below. The Ravenwood’s had outdone themselves. A large white marquess, under which sat two long tables. A string of flowers crisscrossed the structure. Already there were many people assembled on the lawn, chatting and laughing.
Her eyes narrowed. An afternoon garden party. She had already spotted quite a few eligible bachelors amongst the assembly. Would one of them be her highwayman? Would she be able to tell?
Stop it, Olivia, she scolded herself.You are being fanciful. You must forget about him entirely and focus on the other bachelors.
They joined the party, her mother heading off to sit down on one of the many white wicker chairs dotted around the lawn. Olivia and Emma had just taken a glass of lemonade each when her friend’s face changed. Two bright dots of colour suddenly appeared on Emma’s face. Olivia turned around to see what had caused this reaction.
Olivia smiled slowly. Of course, it was Lord Turnbury loping across the lawn towards them, his eyes fixed upon her friend. He truly did seem a bit smitten with Emma. This was the third engagement where they had encountered him and healwaysfocused upon Emma, rarely leaving her side. Emma seemed just as taken with him.
Olivia chatted idly with him for a moment before drifting away. She was starting to feel like a third wheel around them. They probably would not even notice she was gone. She walked off, a bit away from the assembly, sipping her lemonade. Again, that pervasive feeling of loneliness was starting to overwhelm her.
“You seem off with the fairies,” said a droll voice behind her.
Olivia spun around. To her chagrin, it was Captain Fletcher himself, his blue eyes dark with mirth. She cursed underneath her breath. She had been wondering when she was going to run into the man. It was bound to happen eventually.
“Captain Fletcher,” she said, in a terse voice. “What a delight.” Her voice was laced with sarcasm.
He laughed easily. “Oh, come now, Lady Olivia, I can tell by the look upon your face that you arenotdelighted to see me.” He paused. “I know that we got off to a bad start, but I do assure you I am really not such an ogre.”
“Is that so?” she said, gazing at him steadily. “Well, I guess time shall tell. It seems you are inevitable now, like the sun rising in the east. I suppose I shall just have to make the best of it.”
He laughed again. “Yes, I suppose we are a part of each other’s lives, for better or for worse. Believe me, I did not ask for it any more than you did, milady.” He paused. “Are you enjoying your time in London?”
She shrugged. “It is diverting, to be sure. My calendar is always full.” She gazed at him curiously. “I have heard you have taken a house in London for the season. You and your family.”
He nodded. “You have heard correctly,” he replied. “My sister Lucy and my aunt are with me. I thought they could do with a holiday.”
“How old is your sister?” she asked, almost against her will. She did not really want to be engaging in idle chit chat with him, but her curiosity about his family and his life had gotten the better of her.
“Lucy is sixteen,” he replied, a slight smile playing around his lips. “She usually resides in a small village in Kent with my aunt. I think she finds it very boring, so she jumped at the chance to spend some time in the capital.”
“I see,” said Olivia, her curiosity piqued further. “And she is your only sibling?”
“She is,” he said, his blue eyes lingering on her face.
“And you live with her and your aunt when you are not at sea?” she pressed.
“I am always at sea,” he said, in a sardonic voice. “I visit them but usually stay around London when I am back, ready to set sail again. There are always last minute tasks to attend to, milady.”
Olivia pressed her lips together. She did not want to seemtoointerested in his life. She should make an excuse and drift away. Her grandfather would be pleased to hear she had made an effort to talk with him, at any rate. To her surprise, it had not beentoopainful. At least they had not ended up in an argument like they usually did.
But he was still the interloper and she could not forgive him for it. The thought of marrying him was anathema to her. Even if he did have very attractive blue eyes and a rather handsome face. She had forgotten quite how handsome he was and that day in the library at Essington Manor when he had brushed his hand down the length of her face…
Suddenly, her heart started beating erratically. He was so tall and broad across the shoulders. Just like the highwayman. She shook the thought away quickly, utterly appalled. It was impossible! Hecould notbe the masked man in black who had kissed her… could he?
To her dismay, she felt herself reddening at the thought. Captain Fletcher seemed to notice, cocking his head to the side, gazing at her with an appraising look upon his face. Her blush deepened until she felt like her face was on fire and her head might explode off the top of her neck entirely, like a firecracker.
“You have a high colour, milady,” he remarked, his tone silky. “Are you feeling rather hot?”
“Were you at the masquerade ball the other night?” she said, her heart flipping. “At Lord and Lady Carnevale’s home?”
He smiled slowly, as if her question caused him significant delight. “I was, indeed, milady. What a spectacle it was. Everyone in disguise…quite impossible to know who anyone was at all. Was that your impression as well?”
Olivia gulped. “Yes. It was.”
Why had not her grandfather warned her he might be there? This was terrible! She tried to stop full panic from enveloping her, but it was extremely hard.
