Page 33 of Her Heartless Duke
Perhaps one day, she might be able to tell him just how highly she thought of him, if only through these letters that supposedly came from Lady Vivian.
There!Olivia smiled triumphantly as she finished the letter with a slight flourish. She held it up to the light and read it again, scrutinizing it for any possible mistakes before she sealed it with a bit of wax and tucked it back into her drawer. She would give it to Isaac on their next dance lesson and hopefully, he would not write to Lady Vivian for quite some time.
When she emerged from her bedchamber, she had changed into a more appropriate attire for a day out at the Park—a light blue dress with cap sleeves and a matching bonnet and gloves. Her hair had been done in intricate braids and wound up in her head, tucked neatly under her bonnet.
Fiona’s eyes lit up when she saw her dressed and ready.
“I have already informed the stables that we intend to promenade at the Park today. Mama has also given us her permission to do so,” she grinned at Olivia as she looped her arm around hers.
Olivia could only smile at her cousin while raising an eyebrow. “I have never seen you so eager to go promenading before. Could it be that there is somethingor someoneyou wish to see at Hyde Park this fine day?”
Her cousin’s cheeks colored delicately and she swatted playfully at Olivia’s arm. “Oh, do stop teasing me, Livvy!”
“Why should I? When you make it so easy for me?” she laughed. “In any case, Aunt Joana would be extremely pleased if you were to promenade with a suitor, don’t you think?”
“It is not a suitor, I assure you,” Fiona told her firmly.
“Well, what is it then?”
Her cousin smiled jauntily at her. “You shall see soon. For now, we had best be on our way!”
Olivia shook her head as they boarded the carriage and headed off to Hyde Park to the clatter of the horses’ hooves. As they drew nearer to their destination, she could not help but feel some sort of excitement.
Hyde Park, after all, was a rather popular place for thetonto visit during the Season. Ladies flocked to the picturesque grounds with their dainty parasols as the gentlemen brought out their finest steeds and coaches, each one of them eager to show off.
Indeed, Hyde Park was the place to see andbe seen.
On any other day, Olivia might have hesitated to accompany Fiona for a turn about the Park, despite the entertainments it offered. With her headaches becoming more frequent and her collapse at Anderleigh Hall just the other day, it was becoming difficult for her to hide her condition from those around her.
She peered out of the window and with her heart racing, thought she spied a rather familiar carriage. She angled her neck, hoping to get a better look at it but it disappeared from view.
“Is there something the matter, Livvy?” Fiona asked her, peering out from the window as well.
Olivia shook her head. “No, I just thought I saw someone familiar.”
“Oh… In any case, we are already here!” her cousin beamed at her.
As they descended from the carriage, Olivia could not help looking around her once more, hoping for a glimpse of a tall man with broad shoulders and a head of dark hair.
And then, she sawhim, striding away from them.
Olivia turned towards him just as Fiona grabbed her arm.
“Come, Livvy!” she announced cheerfully. “There is an archery contest over there that I have been wanting to join!”
Olivia smiled at her cousin. “Just a moment, Fi—I thought I saw someone…”
But when she turned around, he was already gone.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Olivia allowed Fiona to drag her away from where she thought she had seen Isaac, feeling slightly dejected at having missed him. She did not see his face clearly, but she knew in her heart that it was him. She could feel his presence as surely as if he was standing before her.
She sighed inwardly. In any case, there was only a very small chance that she would see him today.
At least I caught a glimpse of him today, she thought with a rueful smile.That is more than I could have hoped for if I had stayed at home.
She had no idea when it started, this longing to see his face in every crowd she ventured to. He had begun to occupy her every waking thought and even in her dreams, all she could see was him.