AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 7
Olivia felt like stretching. They had been cooped up in the carriage since leaving London with no break. She always felt restless after a long journey. But she knew they were close to home. They had just dropped Emma at her house, and Essington Manor was just down the end of this stretch of road. She could see the high gates of the estate already.
Home, she thought, her heart lifting, all weariness erased,at last.
By the time the carriage wheels slowed down in front of the house, she was already reefing the door open. Her mother chided her, but Olivia did not care. She just wanted to be out of the carriage. She wanted to see her grandfather. He would be surprised they had returned early—neither she nor her mother had written him to tell him they were cutting their London sojourn short.
But Grandpapa was nowhere to be found in the house. Her mother retired upstairs immediately, saying she wanted to oversee the unpacking of her things. Olivia, still restless, opened every door, but could not find him. Eventually, a parlour maid told her that the Earl was walking in the gardens. Olivia headed outside, wanting to surprise him. She could not wait to see the look upon his face when he saw her.
She headed down every usual path, but still could not see him. Eventually, she headed towards the folly. Grandpapa sometimes liked to go there. Her late grandmother Isobel, who she could not remember, had overseen the construction of it and her grandfather said he felt her spirit close when he was there.
Eventually, she spotted his silver hair, poking above some bushes. She grinned to herself, approaching stealthily. She did not want to scare him—he was not a young man after all, and she did not want him to have an apoplexy—but she could not resist a little surprise. She would make sure that he saw her approach. She was not going to jump out from behind a bush or anything.
She turned a corner, then stopped dead in her tracks. Grandpapa was standing in front of her. But he was not alone. A tall, broad-shouldered man with closely cropped dark hair was beside him. They looked like they were in deep conversation.
Olivia felt a shiver of awareness go through her. She did not know the man, but he looked familiar, in some strange way …
She gasped. The man turned, staring straight at her. Those piercing blue eyes.
It was the man she had collided with in Hyde Park. The man who had teased her. The man who she had furiously ridden away from. The man who had been on her mind ever since.
What was he doing here?
“Olivia!” Her grandfather’s voice was full of shock. “I do not understand. You are supposed to be in London.”
The tall, dark-haired man was staring at her quizzically, as if she were a puzzle he was trying to work out. She held her breath, waiting for him to recognise her and say something. But if hedidrecognise her, he clearly decided not to say a word. Thank the Lord.
Her grandfather shook himself, walking towards her, holding out both his hands. “Dear child. Why have you returned early?”
Olivia took his hands. “We wanted to come home, Grandpapa. The gowns were all ready and Mama was restless. You know she always pines when she is away too long.”
“Yes, yes,” he said, in a distracted voice. “I should have thought of that. But never mind.” He turned to the man, beckoning him. “There is someone I want you to meet.”
The man seemed to hesitate, then took a deep breath, walking towards them. He really was very tall, thought Olivia faintly. At least six feet. He had an almost overpowering presence. His body was pure muscle. She felt another shot of awareness through her entire body.
“My dear, this is Captain Alexander Fletcher,” said her grandfather. “May I present my beloved granddaughter, the Lady Olivia.”
The man bowed briefly. Olivia inclined her head. Her heart was thumping hard. He was a captain. Was he in the army or navy? But he was not wearing a uniform. And she still did not know why he was here or how her grandfather knew him.
What are the chances? How is this possible?
“My lady,” said the man, in the same teasing voice she remembered. “It is a pleasure to meet you. Your grandfather talks about you in such glowing terms, I almost feel like I know you already.” His blue eyes stared straight at her, filled with a mischievous light.
Olivia gazed at him furiously, not knowing what to say. She was tongue-tied. It was most unlike her. But then, she had never been in a situation like this before. She knew now that he recognised her. He knew she was the girl who had been disguised as a boy riding at a furious pace through Hyde Park. His last veiled comment had told her that.
“Indeed,” she said, raising her chin imperiously. “Who are you and why are you here?”
“Olivia,” scolded her grandfather, frowning. “Did you leave your manners behind in London?”
But the man just laughed. “It is quite alright, my lord. I like frankness in a lady.” He paused. “I am Captain Fletcher, as your grandfather said. I command ships.”
“You are not a naval officer,” said Olivia. “You are not in uniform. Are you a pirate?”
He laughed again. “Nothing as cutthroat as that, my lady. I am a seaman with my own vessels. I command one of them, trading all over the world.”
“I see,” said Olivia, digesting this information. A ship’s captain, sailing the seven seas. How dashingly romantic. But she still did not know why he was here or how he knew her grandfather. Grandpapa was not very social and had been less so the last few years. It was odd, especially that the man was here, walking with him. They had looked engrossed in their conversation, like they knew each other well, and liked one another.
She was burning with curiosity, but she knew her grandfather would scold her again if she rattled off all her questions in such a blunt manner. It was considered gauche and common and her mother had schooled her well in proper etiquette.
