Page 64 of Her Heartless Duke

And if she did come to see him, how would she react to his presence? What would she say?

What wouldhesay to her?

I am sorry for divesting you of your innocence, but it was the best damned night of my entire life…

No, she would probably slap him across the face for that, and rightly so. In fact, her brother would be well within his rights to challenge him to a duel for even daring tothinkit.

Lady Olivia, it has been a week since I last saw you, and I just wish to—

No, that made him sound like a lovelorn swain and much too demanding of her time and attention.

As he ran over different scenarios in his head, he heard footsteps in the corridor, soft and unhurried. He stood up from his seat just as Fiona appeared in the doorway with Olivia right beside her, and the sight of her fairly knocked the breath from his lungs.

How could he not have realized sooner just how beautiful she was? It seemed to him that not a fairer creature had been fashioned on God’s green earth than Lady Olivia Bennet.

All he wanted to do was rush to her, to hold her once more in his arms, and kiss her.

Today, she was wearing a dress the color of a rose in bloom. Her blond hair was braided simply and arranged into a coronet on her head, exposing her swanlike neck. Her back was ramrod straight—like a queen walking into the throne room—and when she saw him, she imperceptibly stiffened.

To the untrained eye, the subtle movement might not have been detectable, but Isaac had honed his senses during his time at the Peninsula, where one mistake could cost one’s life.

Besides, he was already so keenly attuned to her that her every movement stirred something from deep within him.

For a moment, it felt like he was suspended in time, beholding a goddess cloaked in golden sunlight, while she stared back at him.

The sound of a throat being cleared reminded him that there was someone else in the room with them—Miss Fiona Bennet. She looked knowingly at her cousin, who now sported a deeper flush on her cheeks, and then at Isaac.

“I shall let you two have some privacy now,” she said.

“That will not be—”

“Thank you, Miss Bennet,” Isaac answered swiftly with a grateful smile, cutting through Olivia’s protestations.

Fiona smiled beatifically at him. “I will be nearby if you have need of me.”

And to make sure that I do not attempt anything untoward, Isaac thought to himself.

After Fiona left them, Olivia walked over to him, her every step echoing in his chest, in his very heart. He could not help but think how perfect she was, how utterly magnificent.

She sat down across from him and he mimicked her, taking his seat as well.

Here I am, Olivia, he wanted to tell her.Where have you been all these days? Have you been avoiding me?

Instead, he just smiled at her. For this round, he would let her make the first move.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

Olivia was rather perplexed as she sat from across Isaac, the air between them thick with tension. When he smiled at her, she could not help but furrow her brow.

What does he want from me?

When Fiona had rushed into her rooms breathlessly a few minutes ago, informing her that he had come to call upon her, Olivia nearly fell out from her window seat in shock.

And then, she nearly stumbled over herself as she called on her maid to attend to her and have her prepared to meet him. To say that she was glad to see him would have been an understatement.

She poured them both some tea and continued to observe him from beneath her lashes, waiting for him to say something.Anything.

Perhaps he wants an update on the letters? After all, it has been some time since I came up with some sort of ‘reply’…