Page 40 of My Secret Duke

T he Ashtons were making the long-awaited visit to Whitmont. The Fitzsimmonses had been adamant they host the formal celebration of Charles and Justina’s engagement. Adelina had said that once the shock had worn off, her family united in enthusiastically welcoming Charles into their ranks. It didn’t hurt that he was charming and grateful for their attention, and when they learned of the years he had spent in an orphanage, it was a done deal.

Although Ivo wished it could be the announcement of another engagement entirely, he wasn’t about to encroach on his brother’s happiness. Besides, Gabriel was still holding firm on the subject of any announcement.

As the guests began to arrive and disembark from their vehicles, a cold wind blew across the salt marshes and rippled through the shrubs at the edge of the driveway. It was a small event, with close friends and family only, and despite his resolution to be the perfect host, Ivo was hoping for some time alone with Olivia. If he could escape her brother’s watchful eye. Gabriel couldn’t, he told himself, be everywhere at once, could he?

Ivo’s mother broke away from her family to greet the Dowager Duchess of Grantham, being helped down from her coach by Gabriel. Olivia was just about to step down herself when Edwina dived past her, almost knocking her over, and skipped toward Ivo.

One of the other sisters—Georgia?—pulled a face. “You should make her say sorry,” she declared loudly. “She gets away with everything.”

Olivia looked slightly frazzled, and Ivo imagined how it must have been, cooped up with the noise and bickering between her younger sisters.

Edwina dropped into a low curtsy and announced proudly, “This is my best ever. Do you like it? I can stay down for ages too, and with hardly a wobble.”

“Exceptional,” Ivo agreed seriously, hiding a smile.

Olivia had reached them and took her sister’s hand, scolding her that she should have waited.

“Why?” Those big blue eyes turned on Ivo. “He doesn’t mind, do you?”

“I don’t mind,” he assured her. “It is a pleasure to see you, and all of your sisters.”

“Edwina!” Vivienne called, and the little girl ran off.

Olivia’s smile had a wicked slant. “Should I curtsy too?”

Ivo glanced beyond her. “Your brother is watching.”

“He can’t be watching all the time,” she said with a pout.

“Exactly what I was thinking.”

“Perhaps you can find him something to do that keeps him busy for an hour or two?”

Ivo groaned softly. “God, don’t tempt me. I am trying to be on my best behavior.”

“There’s no fun in that.”

He wanted desperately to kiss her. Just at that moment, a gust of wind caught at her white bonnet, and sent it sailing across the driveway.

Ivo didn’t think. He chased after it. The bonnet rolled several yards, until turning abruptly into the shrubs that bordered the driveway, where it was trapped. Ivo bent, plucked it out, and brushed it off. The white hat was made of stiffened cloth, with an uptilted brim, and was decorated in fashionable lace and satin ribbons, with a drooping feather.

“Thank you!” Olivia was right behind him, sounding a little breathless. “This is the first time I have worn it, and it would be a shame if it were the last.”

She was holding out her hand, and he presented the bonnet to her. “I don’t think it’s damaged,” he said.

She smiled, but did not replace it, holding it at her side where the wind tugged at it again. Ivo could hear the voices of the others, but they were a little removed over here. Olivia looked about her.

“Everything is just as you described it,” she said with a sort of wonder. “The house and the marshes.”

Ivo was remembering that day in the park when he had spoken about his home. “Whitmont is not to everyone’s taste.”

“I suppose not. At least you do not have holes in your roof. That is… I assume not?” she finished, making her eyes big. “One day, the east wing of Grantham will fall down, and I think it will be a relief when it does.”

“I assure you my roof is intact,” he said gravely.

Their gazes locked and wouldn’t let go. It was as if there was so much being said beneath the surface, unspoken. Memories of the past and hopes for the future. She forgot whatever else she had been about to say as Ivo devoured her with his eyes as if he couldn’t stop himself.

“I feel like a starving man. Starving for you.”

“Why have you withdrawn from society?” she asked. “I don’t see you anymore. I look, and you’re not there.”

“You know why. I need to put my affairs in order if I am ever to live up to your brother’s expectations.”

“But I miss you,” she whispered.

Her words caught at his heart like a broken nail. He wanted to wrap his arms about her and hold her against him. “I miss you,” he said. “Every moment of every day.”

She might have touched him, but Gabriel called out for her. Her lashes swept down to hide her eyes, making dark shadows on her pale cheeks, and her expression turned melancholy. “He is the best of brothers, but I wish he would relent and at least let us announce our engagement once Charles and Justina have celebrated theirs.” She glanced behind her. “I should go and see that Edwina is not getting up to any mischief.”

He accompanied her back to the house where his mother was holding court.

“I have put the youngest three in the nursery. It hasn’t been used for years, not since Ivo, which is a shame. Perhaps one day,” she added with a smiling glance at Charles and Justina.

Ivo hadn’t seen his mother so full of joie de vivre for years. It was as if she had been closed up, folded in on herself, ever since her husband died, and now she was opening out like a flower.

“Everything is prepared,” she assured everyone. “You will find no fault with my housekeeping. Although there is that annoying thing with the bunches of holly that someone keeps leaving at our door.”

Ivo raised his eyebrows. “Holly? It isn’t Christmas yet.”

His mother was distracted by the younger Ashton girls indulging in some pushing and shoving. “I wish I knew who was leaving them. There was another one there this morning.”

Something cold stirred in Ivo. Jacob Rendall had him rattled. The holly could just be some childish prank, and nothing sinister at all, and yet it was the name of Mystere’s ship, and that felt like too big a coincidence.

Dinner was a triumph. His mother reigned supreme. They had hired extra servants for the occasion—for the first time in a long time, Ivo actually felt they could afford the expense—and it was organized chaos as everyone sat down for the first course. He was glad to have Annette by his side, just like the old days, and her chatter filled in his own silences. She had arrived with Harold, and of course Viscountess Monteith, who was Ivo’s mother’s best friend.

“Justina says her grandmother is stepping back from her position as chatelaine,” she said in an undertone, sipping her soup. “Vivienne is taking on more and more of the burden of Grantham. I don’t envy her, but she is so capable, I’m sure she will soon have everything running smoothly.”

Vivienne was conversing with her husband, her cheeks flushed as she smiled back at him. Her happiness shone out. Beside them, Will Tremeer said something that made Roberta roll her eyes in her usual unladylike fashion.

“You are very solemn tonight,” Annette said, with a sideways glance at Ivo. “This isn’t a funeral, you know.”

“Charles and Justina will be very glad to hear it.”

She wrinkled her brow. “You are becoming a sad case, Ivo.”

“That’s better than languishing in prison, surely?”

He had been thinking of Olivia and the wedding that seemed to be slipping further and further out of his grasp. And then there were the bunches of holly left by some unknown person. Should he be worried? Should he set someone to watch for the culprit?

Annette looked at him and sighed. “Of course it is, but there must be something in between. You can still be happy, can’t you? Especially on a day like this. Your brother is about to be married, and you have welcomed him into your family. Look at him!”

Ivo followed her smiling glance. Charles did look happy. He was so much a part of the Fitzsimmons family now that he could barely remember when he wasn’t. When Charles and Justina married, he would stand up with his brother and listen to him speak his vows, and perhaps in a year or so, his mother might have her wish granted about the empty nursery.

He looked down the table at Olivia and imagined a child of theirs. Dark hair like hers and his green eyes, or perhaps fair hair and blue eyes. It didn’t matter. He would love it, and he swore to himself he would never, ever, teach it the art of smuggling.

At the resolution, she looked up, and he was staring straight into those glorious blue eyes.

Now Olivia was watching him. With Adelina leaning forward to share some amusing anecdote with Harold, Ivo had a perfect view of her. Her glossy dark hair was dressed simply, and she wore a rose-colored gown, the neckline only just covering her cleavage. Ivo remembered perfectly well the shape and the softness of her breasts. The jut of her nipple against his palm as they kissed so desperately. The clasp of her body on his as they joined together and became one in their ecstasy.

He shifted in his chair.

Bloody hell! The last thing he should be doing was ogling her like this.

But she was ogling him too. Her gaze was almost a caress as it slid over his formal jacket and snowy cravat, before her attention shifted to his cleanly shaven jaw. His mouth… She lingered on his mouth, and he wet his dry lips with a sweep of his tongue before he could stop himself.

Her eyes widened and shot up to his, before quickly returning to her plate. She did not look at him again. She ate her meal, and smiled at her companions, and agreed with something Justina said… Ivo knew all of this, because he couldn’t look away from her. He thought he could watch her forever and still not be satisfied.

“Olivia looks lovely tonight.”

Annette. He had forgotten she was there, but when he turned to her, she was observing him with amused interest. She always did know him too well.

“So do you,” Ivo said smoothly. “When is your wedding again?”

“You know when it is,” she scolded. “Next April. Plenty of time to finish my book.”

Ivo snorted a laugh, but Annette looked serene. She was happy, so much happier than she would have been if she had married Ivo, and he was glad to see it.

Gabriel was proposing a toast to Charles and Justina, and they all responded.

“This should be you next,” Annette murmured at his side. “I see the way you look at her.” She nodded toward Olivia.

He wanted to tell Annette about Jacob Rendall and his continued presence. He wanted to explain that it wasn’t just himself who was at risk, but more and more he was beginning to think anyone who meant anything to him might become quarry to the smuggler. His sisters and his mother, his new brother. Until his enemy showed them exactly what his plan was, they were all in the dark.

At least while he kept their love a secret, Olivia was safe.

Thankfully, the next course arrived, and the person on Annette’s other side claimed her attention. Ivo was left in peace, for a moment at least.

“Ivo!” His mother was calling for him to make another toast to his brother, and with a smile, he rose to his feet.