Page 38 of Her Heartless Duke

Images of the kiss they shared in the ballroom and how responsive she had been to his touch flooded his mind. He had never met a woman who courted his physical desires as powerfully as she did and to think she was innocent to that part of his world! Had Olivia been more experienced in the art of seduction, he might not have survived it.

But as attracted to her as he was, he knew that it would be best if he kept his hands to himself in the matter of Olivia. Not only would Danielmurderhim if his best friend were to find out, but he had also already expressed his intentions to court Lady Vivian anew.

He was not such a rogue as to ply the affections of two impressionable young ladies at the same time.

Daniel shook his head. “The little imp seems more invested in that damned dance contest Lady Willow is holding at the end of the Season, although I have already told her to make finding a suitable match her priority.”

“Perhaps she intends to use the dance competition to find her match?” Isaac suggested.

His best friend frowned, brows snapping together. “Yes, I gathered as much. Our mother won the same dance competition more than two decades past.”

Isaac nodded. Olivia had told him as much, although her feelings towards the contest were not exactly geared towards attracting suitors.

“If she wins this dance competition of hers,” Isaac said slowly. “It would certainly call the attention of a significant number of suitors.”

He had seen it when Fiona won her archery contest. Suddenly, every young fop was vying for her attention and every young miss wanted to be her friend. Even archery was now in fashion, thanks to her success.

If Olivia won her dance competition, then he could very well expect her to be surrounded by every eligible gentleman in London, except the thought aroused in him a shocking fury.

Fortunately, her own brother did not seem to think highly of such suitors.

“If all she attracts are dandies with the intellectual depth of a saucer, then I would hardly call it a successful enterprise,” Daniel scoffed. “That fairytale our mother told her was more of the exception than the rule.”

Good!Isaac found himself inwardly cheering on his best friend.Keep her away from those scoundrels!

“But she still must find someone,” the Earl continued, frustration clear in his voice. “I have told her to make it her priority but she refuses to listen to me at all.”

“Olivia is still young,” Isaac shrugged. “Soon enough, shewillfind someone.”

Even as he said them, the words felt extremely unpalatable on his tongue. The thought of Olivia finding someone else, someone she could be reasonably happy with…

Well, that image did not sit well with Isaac at all.

“I suppose she dreams of a grand romance as every young woman does,” Daniel sighed. “But those things fade in time. She should search for someone of a more compatible temperament to hers. Passion, too, fades in time, but companionship will serve her far better throughout the years.”

As far as marriages in thetonwent, Daniel did speak the truth. Matrimony was decided mostly upon compatibility in status and finances. For his best friend to consider Olivia’s long-term happiness by searching for a suitor that suited her temperament spoke volumes of his affection for his only sister. Not every brother or cousin or father would be as considerate.

“Well,” Daniel smiled as he stood up from the chaise. “I had best be going. You will help me keep an eye out for Olivia, won’t you? See if there are also some fine gentlemen out there that would suit her tastes…”

“I will,” Isaac managed to say. His best friend did not need to know how extremely unpleasant he found that task to be.

Find a suitor for Olivia?Isaac felt like he would much rather chop off his leg.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

“Oh, do stop fidgeting, Livvy! You are making me absolutely uncomfortable watching you go about like that.”

“I cannot help it, Fi! I think I look like… like a pastry of some sort!”

Fiona giggled as she watched Olivia fret about with her dress. She reached out and smoothed out her sleeve for the umpteenth time.

“You look absolutely stunning, Livvy,” she reassured her in a much softer voice. “His Grace will not be able to take his eyes off of you.”

“You think so?” Olivia asked her doubtfully.

“Iknowso.”

“That is rather easy for you to say, since you have become such an overnight success,” Olivia grumbled as she smoothed her skirts yet again.