Page 63 of Her Heartless Duke

“You are so kind, Lord Westmore,” Olivia remarked. “If we had asked my brother to buy some cakes for us, I’m not sure he would be as accommodating.”

“Well, if you ever have need of them, you can tell me,” he said, although Olivia felt that this offer was directed more towards her cousin. But then, he added, “You can also ask Langley, though.”

Fiona frowned. “Langley? As in the Duke of Langley?”

At the mention of his name, Olivia felt the unmistakable flutter in her belly, accompanied by the sudden acceleration of her heartbeat.

“The one and the same,” Lord Westmore laughed.

“Oh no! We cannot possibly!” Fiona exclaimed.

“Between us, I think that it would do him a world of good to be sent on an errand every now and then,” he replied with a sheepish grin. “Much better, I suppose, than staying cooped up in that musty palace of his.”

But Anderleigh Hall is not a musty palace!Olivia wanted to protest, although she wisely chose to bite her tongue.

It would only invite more questions if it ever came out that she had been to Anderleigh Hall several times already when it had beenyearssince that palatial home had ever welcomed guests.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Lord Westmore left with a box of almond cakes for the Dowager Countess, and Fiona and Olivia headed home shortly after as well.

Once she was alone in her rooms, Olivia could not help but slump against the door. It was getting so hard to keep her emotions in check when talking about Isaac with other people. Gossip was already circulating amongst theton, speculations of their possible involvement with each other.

How wonderful it would have been if all of it were true—that there wassomethingbetween them.

Unfortunately, she knew that he still intended to court Lady Vivian and she… well, she was only living on borrowed time.

Whatever it was between them was never meant to be and the thought of it broke her heart.

* * *

It was not his first time in Bennet House. As Daniel’s friend, he had come here several times, although those visits dwindled after his time at the Peninsula.

Still, the stately London home of the Earl of Lancashire and his family was hardly unfamiliar to him—which was why he was rather perplexed as to why he was shifting on his feet like an anxious schoolboy outside the door.

“Your Grace!”

Lady Bennet came to the door with Miss Fiona Bennet in tow. Olivia was nowhere to be seen.

Isaac smiled politely, the expression almost second nature to him as he greeted them, “Good afternoon, Lady Bennet. I hope my sudden appearance is not inconvenient to you at this moment.”

And even then, I might still have pressed your hospitality if it meant that I could see Olivia…

“Oh, no, no! Not at all!” Lady Bennet beamed at him. “We received your card earlier this morning, so it is hardly much of a surprise. Please, do follow me into the parlor. It will be much more comfortable than standing at the front door.”

Isaac nodded and followed her through the front door and into the parlor, where a table and tea service had been set out.

“Now,” Lady Bennet said, sitting down. “To what do we owe the honor of your visit? My nephew is still not home, although we will be expecting him for dinner in a few hours.”

“Ah… I shall not be staying that long, my Lady,” Isaac replied. “I simply wished to see Lady Olivia.”

“Eh?” Lady Bennet looked at him, and then at her daughter in confusion. “You wish to see dear Olivia?”

Isaac saw Fiona shake her head slightly, as if to tell her mother not to ask too many questions.

“In that case, I shall, er, ask her to come down,” Lady Bennet stammered. “You will excuse me for a moment, Your Grace.”

The two ladies left the parlor to call Olivia and inform her of his visit, while Isaac started to shift once more in his seat as questions started pouring into his brain.

Should he pour himself some tea? His mouth felt dreadfully parched… but maybe he should wait for Olivia to arrive.