Page 72 of Her Heartless Duke
Daniel had sent Jane to take a tray to her laden with an assortment of foods that Dr. Edwards recommended that she eat regularly to at least slow down her illness. Her brother had piled on that poor tray probably everything on the good physician’s list and if she was not so heartbroken over Isaac, she would have laughed at the sight of her poor maid struggling under all that food.
“Just put it on the table, Jane,” she told her with a tired smile. “I shall eat it later when I am feeling better.”
“His Lordship recommends that you at least sample the cheese and some bread, my Lady.”
But Olivia only shook her head. “I am not really so hungry at the moment.”
Her maid gave her a sad look and Olivia finally relented, choosing to nibble on a piece of cheese, and washed it down with some rosemary tea to relieve her headache. She wondered, however, if rosemary tea was just as effective at curing headaches brought about by too much sobbing.
After that paltry showing of eating, she pulled the bed covers up to her shoulders and told Jane to dim the lamps so that she may sleep.
“Perhaps a little rest will do the trick,” she murmured as the maid smoothed the covers over her fretfully.
“Perhaps, milady.” She did not look too convinced, though.
Still, Jane obediently dimmed the lamps and added a few more logs to the fireplace to keep the fire going through the night.
Exhausted from the physical and emotional strain of the day, Olivia finally fell into a thankfully dreamless sleep.
When she awoke the next day, she was of half the mind to remain in bed.
Perhaps it would be better to just stay here, she told herself.Perhaps I can stay here and just…fade away…
That idea was certainly promising, but it was also, most unfortunately, the day of Lady Willow’s ball. She couldnotafford to remain in bed when the whole of Society would be descending into the dowager’s home for the much-vaunted dance competition.
Fiona may not be joining this year, but she had sworn to cheer on Olivia.
As much as she wanted to just wither away in bed, she had unfinished business to attend to.
When it came time to prepare for the ball, she had Jane take out the dress she had specifically requested Madame Dumont to fashion for her. The popular French seamstress, ever eager for a challenge to her creative abilities, promptly went to work crafting the perfect dress for Olivia’s night.
The result was a splendid concoction of an airy, pale pink fabric that seemed to float and sway with her every movement so that it seemed as if she was dancing in water. Beads and pearls would have made the dress heavier, so Madame Dumont used silver thread to add some sparkle to the dress and she did it so beautifully that when Olivia stepped into the ballroom that night, a collective hush fell over the crowd.
Yet, as she craned her neck over the crush of people in attendance, the one face she longed to see was not amongst them.
“He is not here yet,” Fiona remarked. “Perhaps His Grace is just delayed.”
Olivia felt her stomach sinking. Isaac could probably be delayed, as Fiona suggested, but he could also very wellnot show upat all.
After their heated exchange yesterday and the way she flung his love for Lady Vivian in his face, she could understand why he would have lost all possible desire to aid her in any way possible.
But he is not like that!Olivia screamed inwardly.He would not abandon me like that.
“They are already starting,” Fiona pointed to the dance floor. “That is the first round of dancers for the competition. You and His Grace are in the next…”
The musicians struck up their instruments and music, sweeping and vibrant, swept across the ballroom as the participants of the competition began to move.
Still, there was no sign of Isaac and Olivia felt her trust in him slowly eroding.
Please, Isaac… just this once. Choose me, just this once.
* * *
He was late. He could already hear the music when he entered the ballroom, could already see the dancers whirling on the dance floor while the audience peered on, whispering amongst themselves their wagers for winning this year’s competition.
His heart sank when he thought about how crushed Olivia might feel if she should miss her chance at winning just because he was late…
“Come now, this is only the first batch,” he heard a young lady giggle from behind her fan. “You and Lord Bennington are in the next round and I am certain you will outshine them all tonight!”