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He glanced around restlessly. The ballet had proved to be as dull and boring as he had anticipated. It was a wonder he had not nodded off. But Lucy was chattering like a starling about it and even Aunt Edwina looked animated. Clearly, ladies enjoyed such things. And he was quite outnumbered by them this evening. He wished the earl had come to redress the balance, but apparently the older man had left London for a couple of days.
He turned back to the group. Aunt Edwina was smiling kindly at Olivia.
“Lucy tells me that you have a suitor, my lady,” she said. “She says he is a very handsome and charming gentleman.”
Olivia blushed prettily. “Yes, indeed, Mrs Oakley,” she said, a small smile playing around her lips. “His name is Lord Bertram Langley. I met him when we attended a house party at his home. Bertie is very charming and we get along ever so well.”
“I think he shall propose soon, Olivia,” said her friend, Miss Percy, smiling widely. “I can tell that he is violently in love with you.”
“Oh, will he?” gasped Lucy, looking delighted. “How romantic! Will you accept, my lady?”
“One never asks a lady such an intimate question, Lucy,” scolded her aunt. “It is quite impolite and indelicate.”
“Oh, I do not mind answering,” said Olivia, putting a reassuring hand on Lucy’s arm, when she saw the girl’s face fall. “If I am lucky enough that Bertie does propose, then I shall accept with alacrity, my dear. It shall be the crowning jewel of my season!”
“You are being rather hasty,” said Alexander, feeling irritated. “You barely know the gentleman. Just because he can charm the birds off the trees does not mean he has a good character.”
Olivia’s eyes glittered dangerously. “I know that Bertie has a good heart! Sometimes these things are obvious, Captain. One does not need to have a five-year courtship in order to have the measure of a person.”
“But getting to know someone slowly has its advantages,” he pressed. “I have seen many examples of women being swept off their feet by a rake, seduced by pretty words and trinkets. A man’s character is in his actions and deeds, not his words and what he can buy you.”
“Lord Bertram is no rake, sir,” said Olivia, in a tight voice. “I am quite offended by the suggestion. And as for seduction, perhaps one who lives in a glass house should not throw stones?”
There was a tense silence. Olivia’s mother and friend looked embarrassed. Lucy’s jaw dropped. Aunt Edwina shifted her gaze uncomfortably to a point just beyond the group. Olivia looked at him defiantly, her ice blue eyes glittering. She looked like a warrior queen about to draw her sword and run into battle.
He stared at her, filled with admiration. What a woman she was.
“Olivia, you speak too hastily,” chided her mother eventually, in a gentle voice. “I am sure that Captain Fletcher is not making any slurs against Lord Bertram’s character. He is merely reminding you that you should be cautious. There truly is no harm in getting to know someone slowly and great benefit to it.”
“You only knew Papa for six weeks before you were engaged,” said Olivia, her eyes still shining defiantly. “You told me you both knew almost immediately that you were meant for each other. You did not have a slow courtship, Mama. And you and Papa were deliriously in love and knew straight away that you were meant for each other!”
“It is true,” said her mother, frowning slightly. “But our story belongs to us, not to you. Not everyone who rushes into marriage is so lucky.”
“Marry in haste, repent at leisure,” said Aunt Edwina, nodding sagely. “There is truth to the old adage.”
Olivia looked angry. “I do not care what anyone says. I know Bertie is a good man and shall always treat me well.”
Alexander stared at her. Did she really believe what she was saying? He had only met Lord Bertram once and did not know the man at all, but he seemed far too smooth and oily for his liking. Alexander had met many men like him in his life and he was fairly sure he had his measure. Lord Bertram probably could charm the birds off the trees but there had been a hardness in the man’s eyes.
He shrugged. Why should he care if she rushed into marriage and ended up with a flop? It was her life. And she was clearly determined to fall in love with the gentleman and marry him. He should just wish her luck and be done with it.
But he could not. The words seemed to stick in his throat. He wondered why. Clearly, he was invested in this. He told himself he was just looking out for her, in the same way her grandfather would.
The Lady Olivia was so determined to secure her love match that she really was not approaching this in a sensible way. He was just protecting her interests, looking out for her like an older brother, in the same way he would one day do for Lucy.
That was all there was to it. He was sure.
The gong sounded, indicating that the second act was about to commence. Alexander suppressed a sigh of irritation. He did not know what was worse—standing here arguing with the lovestruck lady about not making a hasty marriage or enduring another round of ballet.
