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“You want to keep sailing the seven seas?” she asked, surprise in her voice. “How peculiar. Why would you wish to continue such a life when there is no need?”
He laughed. “Milady, there is a whole world out there for you to discover. Freedom is wonderful after living in a fishbowl. It is intoxicating.”
Olivia’s smile froze on her face. He had hit a nerve. It was true. Shedidlive in a fishbowl, and it was not just because of the privilege of her position in life. It was because her grandfather and mother were overprotective of her to the point of smothering her. She knew they only acted out of love and grief over the loss of her father and brother, but that did not change anything. This was still her life and she had to endure it.
“What did I say?” he asked, looking askance. “You look upset.”
To her horror, tears were burning behind her eyes. “Nothing,” she said, feeling mortified. She did not want to burst into tears in front ofhim, of all people. He would probably tease her about it. “I just got a bug in my eye. That is all.”
Furiously, she wiped at her left eye, pretending to dislodge the imaginary bug. His mouth twitched as he watched her.
“Would you like me to have a look?” he asked in a gentle voice, moving towards her. “I am very good at getting a bug out of an eye. Or so my sister tells me.” He laughed wryly.
“No matter,” she said, in a bright voice, taking a step back. “All better.”
“I am so glad,” he said, staring at her intently.. “And now that we have called a truce, would you like to go back to the house? I can see my sister and aunt are wilting a little.”
To her surprise, he held out his arm to her. She hesitated for a brief moment, before taking it. Strangely, walking arm in arm with him felt familiar, as if she had done it many times before. Olivia frowned. What a disconcerting man he was in so many ways. He was so abrupt and yet could be quite gentle, like when he had offered to get the imaginary bug out of her eye.
But even if he did have the capacity to be gentle, she knew better than to trust him. She would watch Captain Alexander Fletcher with a careful eye, indeed.
***
When Olivia finally got back to the house, entering the parlour, her mother smiled.
“How did you find Miss Fletcher?” she asked.
“Most agreeable,” said Olivia, flopping down on the sofa. “It was quite surprising, really, considering what Captain Fletcher is like.”
“It was kind of you to call upon her,” said Mama. “She must be feeling a bit overwhelmed at the change in her family’s station. She could do with a helping hand.”
Olivia shrugged, but she felt pleased at her mother’s praise. “It is no trouble. I told her I would teach her to ride at Essington and perhaps we may take her and her aunt to the ballet while they are in London. Would that be alright?”
“Of course,” said her mother, smiling. “Your grandfather will be most gratified.” She hesitated. “You know that he still harbours hope you may marry Captain Fletcher.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “I do know it, but it makes no difference. I am determined to find my love match as soon as I can and he agreed that he would let me choose my own husband.” She paused. “The thought of being married to that man is shocking. We would probably end up killing each other.”
“You are so overdramatic, daughter,” said her mother, in a placid voice. “He is very handsome and confident, to be sure. A fine figure of a man. Are you certain you do not feel any admiration for him at all?”
“Quite certain,” said Olivia, but she knew she was lying. It would be pointless to deny to herself that shedidfind Captain Fletcher attractive and had from the first moment she had laid eyes upon him. He was devilishly handsome with those intense blue eyes and commanding physique. If only he were not quite so irritating. Apart from the fact he did not have a romantic bone in his body.
She frowned, pondering his adamant reply to her when she had asked him whether he wanted to find his own love match. Captain Fletcher did not wish to fall in love and patently never had. Idly, she wondered why a man would be so fervent about such a thing, why he would never even contemplate the possibility of it. It was a mystery. Had something happened to him in his past? Had a woman stolen his heart and broken it into a thousand pieces?
But the more she thought about it, the more she dismissed the idea. She would bet her last shilling he did not have a heart to break. A callous rake, more intent upon seduction than love. He had that look about him. The teasing blue eyes, the way he conducted himself.
He wore an air of animal sensuality about him that was quite shocking. He probably had no morals at all when it came to the fairer sex and she imagined many women would have succumbed to his charms. He was a seaman, after all. They had a certain reputation.
Emma walked into the parlour, carrying letters. Olivia’s mother rolled her eyes. “Oh, dear,” she said, biting her lip. “More invitations. I do not know how we are going to fit all these events in our diary.”
Emma laughed, passing them to Henrietta. She stood up, walking to the desk, efficiently opening them one by one before tossing them aside. At the fifth one, she stopped, reading quickly. She turned to the girls.
“This is interesting,” she said. “An invitation to a weeklong house party on the outskirts of London from the Viscount Sedgewick and his wife—Lord and Lady Langley.” She hesitated. “A brief sojourn from the circuit might be invigorating, girls. What do you think?”
Olivia’s ear pricked up. A house party was intimate. There might be some new eligible bachelors there. It was worth exploring. And a brief break from London might indeed be refreshing.
“I think it sounds like a splendid idea,” she said, turning to Emma. “What say you, dearest?”
Emma nodded. “I would like to go to it. Lord Turnbury told me he is attending.” Her cheeks turned pink.
