AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 14
The next day, Alexander sat at the breakfast table in his new rented London townhouse, feeling irritable, nursing a slight hangover. He had overindulged in good whiskey last night at that masquerade ball out of sheer boredom and he was paying the price now. Every sound irritated him, even the sound of Lucy scraping butter on her toast with a knife.
“Must you?” he barked, glaring at her.
Lucy peered at him, then burst into laughter. “Are you feeling a little worse for wear after the ball last night, brother? You are bleary-eyed and dishevelled.”
“I do hope you were not intemperate with alcohol, Alexander,” said his aunt primly, looking at him reprovingly. “One must always keep control, especially in such exalted company. I do hope you were not foolish.”
Alexander sighed deeply. He was usually very careful when drinking. But after that kiss with Lady Olivia, he had lost interest in the entire ball. He did not want to dance or talk to any of the insipid, dull people who were flitting about. He had sought out the Earl and ended up playing round after round of cards while partaking of the good whiskey. More was the pity now.
His loins stirred, thinking about that stolen kiss. He knew she had no idea who he actually was, of course. But that had been part of the excitement. He had recognised her instantly even though she wore a mask like everyone else. But it had not been able to disguise her beautiful ice blue eyes or those delectable pearly lips, nor her fine figure.
He did not know why he had done it, he mused, sipping his tea in a rueful manner. Just because he could? Because he had suddenly been possessed by a madness to taste those delectable lips, even if it was just the one time? He knew how much she loathed him.
He would probably never get another opportunity. He was in disguise. He had not seen a flicker of recognition in her eyes. She had not known it was him. More than likely, she would have slapped his face if she had.
He had sought her out and found her. And oh, what a find she was.
Abruptly, he felt ashamed. She had no idea who he was and he knew the consequences would be grave for her if they had been discovered in the illicit embrace. She was a fine lady and her reputation was everything.
He took another sip of his tea. It had all turned out fine, he reassured himself. They had not been discovered, and Lady Olivia was none the wiser as to who had stolen a kiss from her. They had gotten away with it.Hehad gotten away with it.
Now, he must put it out of his mind as if it had never happened.
He turned to his aunt. “I was not foolish, aunt. Do not worry.”
His aunt looked pleased. If only she knew about some of the wild nights drinking cheap rum with his crew in various ports around the world, amid the company of rather wild women. But that was part of his other life that his aunt and sister had no knowledge of and never would. A sedate night drinking whiskey in the drawing room of a gentleman did not compare.
Lucy leaned froward eagerly across the table, her eyes shining like two cut gemstones. “So, how was the ball? Oh, I wish I could have gone! Were the ladies’ gowns beautiful?” Her voice was filled with yearning.
Aunt Edwina gave her a disapproving look. “Lucy, you have not yet made your debut. You cannot attend such an occasion yet, even if you have the opportunity now.”
“I know,” said Lucy impatiently. “It does not change the fact I long to do so! Please, tell me everything, Alexander. I am all agog.”
Alexander grimaced. The last thing he felt like doing was going into great detail about the ball, but he saw how eager his sister was. Firmly, he tried to push the thought of Lady Olivia’s lips aside, turning to Lucy. But as he spoke, he could not quite manage it. It seemed she had wormed her way into his mind again now and he could not dislodge her, no matter how hard he tried.
***
At that exact moment, Olivia was gripping the bedpost in her room as her maid laced her stays. She could not stop thinking about what had happened at the masquerade ball last evening. Her mind was awhirl and her body was still suffering the aftereffects of it. Delicious little tremors coursed down her spine, rippling outwards.
The highwayman. The kiss. Who is he?
Her chamber door opened. Emma walked in, already dressed for the day ahead. She stopped short when she saw Olivia’s state of partial dress.
“Are you still getting ready?” asked her friend. “I thought we agreed we would head to Bond Street for tea and cakes at this time.”
Olivia sighed. How could she explain to Emma that she had lazed in bed too long this morning, dreaming of a highwayman?
But suddenly, she realised that perhaps her friend might know the identity of the highwayman. Emma might know who the gentleman really was. Her heart started to thud at the very thought.
“I shall be ready soon, dearest,” she said, trying to keep her voice casual. “Do you recall the gentleman who first asked me to dance last evening? The one dressed as a highwayman?”
Emma frowned slightly. “I think so. Tall, dressed in black, with a black hat and mask?”
“The very one,” said Olivia, her heart skipping a beat. “His disguise was very good. He never introduced himself and I have no idea who he was. Did you recognise him at all?”
Emma shook her head. “No, indeed. His disguisewasvery good, as I recall. His mask obscured most of his face. I did not recognise him, but I am fairly sure I have never seen him before.” She paused, staring at her friend curiously. “Why do you ask?”
