Page 55 of Her Heartless Duke
“It is already dark out,” he snapped. “The lady risks scandal the longer she remains in Anderleigh Hall.”
“Oh, yes! Forgive my lapses, Your Grace.”
Horace bowed and scurried off to have the stables prepare the coach for Olivia, while Isaac stood in that empty hallway, his frustration mounting by the second.
Only a handful of hours ago, he had felt the most peace he had in his entire life since his return from the Peninsula.
Now, he did not know what to think anymore.
* * *
The carriage took Olivia home to Bennet House without issue. Horace had even sent the housekeeper to accompany her, to ensure propriety and to protect her reputation. Perhaps she should be thankful for that, but she only found it suffocating as she had to keep up a stoic front for the entire duration of the ride back home.
When they finally reached Bennet House, she thanked Mrs. Wilson for accompanying her once more, before all but bolting for the door.
“Livvy?” a voice called out. “Is that you?”
Fiona appeared down the hallway with a worried frown. “It is already past dark. Where have you been?”
Olivia gave her a pleading glance and she immediately covered her mouth, nodding with a knowing look.
“It is almost time for dinner,” her cousin told her. “Daniel just sent word that he will not be joining us for tonight.”
A blessing, Olivia sighed inwardly.
“I think I shall not be joining you either,” she told Fiona with a smile.
“Why?” her cousin asked with narrowed eyes. “Livvy, are you ill again? You know you should not be pushing yourself too hard when you have scarcely recovered—”
“Oh, hush, you!” Olivia brushed her off with a slight laugh. “I am merely tired from practice. You do not know what kind of teacher the Duke is—he must have mistaken me for one of the soldiers under his command and the dance steps for battle drills.”
Fiona did not look too convinced at first, but then her expression softened and Olivia finally allowed herself to relax the slightest bit.
“Very well then,” Fiona relented. “You go on ahead and rest. I shall inform Mama that you tired yourself out from shopping all day.”
“You are the best, Fi,” she thanked her cousin, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek, before hurrying back to her rooms.
The moment the door closed behind her, she nearly slumped upon it, closing her eyes as she let the torrent of emotions finally run free. Tears ran down her cheeks as her body bowed forward with the weight of her sobs.
She had not wanted to leave Anderleigh Hall or Isaac, but it was far better to make her escape than to break down before him. She could not do that—would notallowherself to do that.
She had seen the hesitation in his eyes, had known that he wanted to talk about it with her, but she did not want to have to sit and listen to his explanation. Nor did she want to have to listen to his apologies, and knowing him, she knew that he would feel himselfcompelledto take responsibility for her.
And what then? Would he marry me to safeguard my reputation? Even when we both know that it is Lady Vivian he holds in his heart?
Besides, she was about todie.
The thought of it made her chest hurt so badly that she crumpled onto the floor, drawing her knees to her chest as she sobbed.
She loved Isaac—she could hardly deny it now. The faint flutters that she felt whenever she saw him, those little sparks she felt whenever they touched… she had thought them merely the signs of an attraction and nothing more. She had thought that they might burgeon at the moment, but would ultimately fade in time.
She waswrong.
She wanted so muchmorewith him.
I do not want to die!Olivia screamed in her head.Dear Lord, I want more time with him. More time to see him smile and laugh and attain all the happiness in this life that he deserves…
As the tears trickled hot and fast down her cheeks, she felt the familiar cold, choking sensation of despair.