Page 11 of Her Heartless Duke

“I shall see you at Bennet House in two days, then,” she told him with a polite smile.

“I did not say that I am agreeing to your scheme.” His expression remained cool and aloof, but his voice held none of its earlier derision.

She shrugged. “What would you have to lose in exchange for a few dance lessons? I gather that it shall not take up too much of your time. And in exchange…”

She let the words hang in the air, letting his mind fill in the gaps for him.

“I shall take my leave now,” she said, turning towards the door. She cast one last look at him over her shoulder. “Good night, Your Grace.”

* * *

Olivia Bennet—he had not seen her in a good long while. His memories of her were of a shy young girl with wide, cornflower blue eyes, her pale golden hair in plaits. Daniel’s younger sister.

He had heard that she had made her bow a few years ago, but he had not been in the position to witness her introduction into Society. Since he had not heard much about her, he gathered that she was not one to make waves in theton.

However, it would seem that she had gained a lot of courage in the past few years. First, she had taken it upon herself to introduce her cousin to him. Now, she had proposed to serve as a sort of bridge between him and Lady Vivian in exchange for dance lessons.

God above, were young ladies now as audacious as she was? He did not recall Lady Vivian or her sister being as bold as Olivia was behaving at the moment. Did her brother even have any idea what she was up to?

Or was it simply because Daniel doted on her too much, had given her so much leeway, that she was running amok without his knowledge?

He could vaguely recall when she had been much younger, her blonde hair in plaits, eyes blue and wide, as she followed Daniel around as most younger siblings were wont to do. Now, she was a young lady, her hair elegantly coiled and held together with jeweled pins instead of ribbons, and her eyes shone with a strange and heady concoction of mischief and resolve, her lips curving into a smile that was artlessly sensual.

He should have refused her outright. He had better things to do with his time, after all.

Like what?Isaac’s mind taunted him.More gambling and drinking? It’s not like the gambling hall will be open all day…

And she did promise to relay his messages to Lady Vivian—a much tempting offer than having to stalk and wait for the young lady herself in every damned ball that Society chose to throw every few days.

Besides, if shedidpull a similar stunt like that of her brother, then he could refuse to give her any more of the dance lessons she sought.

In any case, he did not see a good enough reason not to give her what she wanted—for now.

“Wait!”

He saw her pause and glance at him from over her shoulder.

“Not at Bennet House,” he rasped. “Let us meet somewhere else.”

Am I really agreeing to this?

Her eyes lit up. “Truly? But where?”

“I shall let you know soon enough.”

It appeared that hereallywas agreeing to the young lady’s proposal.

CHAPTERSIX

Olivia read the address on the small note with some puzzlement. It had been two days since she had struck the agreement with Isaac and as he had promised, he sent her the address of the location they were supposed to meet.

“But this is…this is…” Jane, her personal maid stammered, eyes wide as she beheld the address on the note. “Begging your pardon, milady, but…this is hardly a place for young ladies. Not to mention that it would be well after dark!”

“I think it is a wonderful idea!” Olivia’s eyes flashed as she folded the hastily scrawled note and tucked it into her reticule. “Perhaps it is a test to see if I am truly committed to learning? The way men think can be very unusual, or so I have been told.”

Jane did not look convinced by her mistress’s enthusiasm. “Perhaps I can go there myself first? Just to make sure that the area is safe?” she offered instead.

But Olivia shook her head and stood up in a flurry of excitement. “There is hardly time for that. We must not keep him waiting or he will think that I bailed out on our agreement!” she exclaimed. She flung the doors to her wardrobe open and rifled through the numerous dresses hanging from inside. “I think I shall go for the midnight blue dress, Jane—you know just the one. Oh, and fetch me a cloak, will you?”