Page 11 of Never Doubt I Love (Calloway #3)

Olivia had beaten Alexander in three games before she started to wonder if he was losing on purpose. He had always come across as relatively intelligent, and no one trying to win at chess would leave his king so vulnerable. Alexander had already lost most of his pawns in the fourth game, as well as both of his bishops and a rook, and Olivia still had most of her pieces.

As the man pondered his next move, Olivia narrowed her eyes. He could easily take her queen with one of his knights and put her into check, but he had either not seen that move or was ignoring it entirely.

She glanced at Lucy, who was dozing again, and pursed her lips. Lucy should have gone up to her room to nap, and Olivia suspected she was still here in order to act as a chaperone. While Wilson could be summoned again, Olivia could understand the need for more supervision, depending on how long Alexander was to stay. Perhaps Simon and Nick would replace Lucy so she could sleep, though Olivia wasn’t keen to have the men around while she interacted with her friend. They were insufferable enough as it was, and Olivia was convinced they did not fully trust Alexander.

She could not fathom why. He had been nothing but kind to her since the day they’d met, and he generally seemed to keep to himself. What danger could he possibly bring?

When Alexander finally shifted his final pawn forward, Olivia sighed. “I expected more from you, Alex.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw as he looked up at her. “I told you I was not good at the game.”

She shook her head. “What you told me was that you are not as skilled as you would like to be, which says nothing about your actual ability.”

His eyes seemed to dance in the firelight that kept the room bright and cheery despite the storm. “You have already proven you are the better player. Three times, in case you have forgotten.”

“The only thing I have proven is that I should pay more attention when around you. I know you saw that move, even if you pretend otherwise.”

“Which move?”

“The one with your knight. You could have captured my bishop.”

He glanced down at the board. “You mean your queen?”

“Ah ha!” Olivia pointed at him, thoroughly pleased when he couldn’t fight his grin. She pushed her queen out of harm’s way and shook her head. “Why do I get the feeling you are actually quite good at this game?”

He shrugged. “Perhaps I have played a few more times than you have.” Then he moved his remaining rook and said, “Checkmate.”

Goodness, she should not have been so happy to have lost, but she was. “I gladly accept defeat, Alex Bailey.”

“Gladly?”

“I have never claimed to be a strategist, while you clearly deserve the victory.”

As he sat back in his chair, he studied her for a moment, his eyes traveling the whole of her face as if he hoped to learn some sort of secret by examining her. “Perhaps you never claimed to be skilled at chess,” he agreed, “but you have been playing a strategist since the day we were officially introduced at Almack’s. Haven’t you?”

She supposed he was right about that, even if she hadn’t accomplished much. Convincing a few men to give up their pursuits had hardly done anything to help her get her friends married and settled.

“You know,” she said, leaning forward, “I would be far more successful if I knew how to turn more men’s heads.”

“Away from you, yes?”

“Yes.”

He chuckled. “You are unique among women, Miss Calloway.”

“Olivia,” she reminded him.

“Olivia,” he repeated, though he kept his voice low and glanced in Lucy’s direction. “You might be the only woman in all of London who is not searching for a husband.”

“I never said I did not want one. Only that I do not wish to be pursued by men only seeking my fortune. Perhaps I am living in a fantasy, but if my brothers can marry for love, why should I be denied the same?” She was almost daring him to contradict her, curious to see what he would say.

Apparently, he would say nothing. Though he opened his mouth, he stopped himself from speaking and shook his head, turning his attention to resetting the chessboard.

“What?” Olivia asked.

“I was about to speak out of turn.”

“What stopped you? I do that all the time.”

Chuckling, he clenched his bishop in his palm and spoke more to the piece than to her. “If I recall, your second brother was in a duel because he chose to marry for love.”

“Does everyone know about that?” She knew William had been challenged to a duel by his wife’s father when they’d married without his permission, but she had been under the impression that it was not common knowledge.

Alexander shook his head. “No, I would suspect few people know about it.”

“Then, how do you?”

“I know a lot of things. You must be used to that, being so close with Mr. Forester. He knows more than anyone.”

“I would not call us close.” Olivia spoke the words without thinking, though she regretted them as soon as Alexander met her eyes with curiosity in his expression. Sighing, she joined him in resetting the board, because she assumed it would be easier to explain when she was not looking at him. Perhaps admitting her feelings to the man would be unwise, but she was determined to truly treat Alexander as a friend. He seemed to need one. “I once thought myself in love with Mr. Forester, and I am too embarrassed to act like myself around him now that he is so happily married.”

“Did he ever return your affection?”

“I thought he did.” Feeling her cheeks heat, Olivia pressed her palms to them, grateful that her hands were cool against her face. “It seems he has only ever seen me as a younger sister, which makes my past affection all the more embarrassing and childish.”

Alexander hummed as he placed his last piece in its spot. “I see no reason for you to be embarrassed, Olivia. Whatever your feelings were, you were allowed to feel them. And I would hardly call your affection childish simply because it was not returned.” He rested his elbows on the chess table and tucked his hands under his chin. “I wouldn’t call you childish at all. You are every bit the grown woman the ton sees when you enter a room, and that is the reason you have half of London in love with you.”

“With my dowry, you mean.”

He shook his head. “I have only known you for a week and a half, Olivia, but I have spent all of this Season hearing your name because several bachelors hope for a chance to win your hand. You are without a doubt one of the most personable and lovely young women any of them have ever met.”

Oh goodness, if she thought she was red-faced before, it was nothing compared to the heat in her cheeks now. “Alexander Bailey, you mustn’t say things like that! It will go straight to my head, and my family already says I think too highly of myself.”

“Another falsehood,” he replied smoothly. “Have you already forgotten your goal to turn most men’s attention to the ladies around you?”

It seemed Olivia had made an excellent choice in befriending this man, though she never could have expected him to be so skilled at compliments. She felt as if he could see directly into her heart, where her fears and insecurities lay, and he was doing his best to soothe them.

“Well,” she said, forcing in a breath because she seemed to have forgotten the necessity of it, “I have yet to be successful in my endeavors, so I do not think we can use that notion in my favor.”

He smiled. “Given time, I believe all of London will have you to thank for their happiness.”

“Including you?”

That question seemed to catch him off guard. One of his elbows slipped from the table, in turn dropping his head from his hands, and he gaped at her for a moment before composing himself. “You ask about my happiness? Why?”

Olivia would have thought that to be obvious. “Because you are not happy, Alex.”

“I am happy.”

“When you are not with your brothers, yes.” In fact, he seemed to be a different person entirely when away from the duke and Lord Charles. “Is that why you want to learn from Simon? So you can get away from them?”

“Yes.” His quick answer surprised her.

“I did not expect you to be honest,” Olivia said eventually. Then she winced. “Forgive me. That was a terribly rude thing to say.”

Alexander seemed to think carefully about what he said next, studying her before leaning the slightest bit closer. “I hope I can always be honest with you, Olivia Calloway, just as you have been with me. I could never hope to be a good friend otherwise.”

“I am so pleased that you have agreed to be my friend, Alex.”

“As am I.”

Although, with the gentle way Alexander smiled at her, she wondered if perhaps he hoped to be more than friends. Was that something she wanted? She liked the man, but she had not allowed herself to think of him as anything but a puzzle to be put together. The pieces were falling into place more quickly than she had anticipated, and she would have to figure out what to do once she knew everything there was to know about Alexander Bailey.

A part of her hoped it would take a long time.

“Olivia, you have a visitor!” Nick’s loud voice preceded him into the room, startling Olivia and waking Lucy. He paused just inside the door, glancing at all three people in the room with interest, before bringing a calling card to Olivia.

She frowned at it without reaching for it. “Nick?”

“Yes, Liv?”

“Why are you taking on the duties of a butler?”

He grinned. “Because I wanted to see your face when you saw the name on that card.”

More than a little curious, Olivia took the card and read the name out loud. “Mr. Edward Harris? But why would he come to see me when the sky is pouring out buckets?”

“I suspect it is because he likes you,” Alexander replied. His smile had faded, making way for the emotionless mask he usually wore around the duke.

Olivia did not like it one bit. “But I only met the man last night,” she argued, not sure whether she was speaking to Alexander or Nick. “Plus, I insulted him.”

“Oh, that Mr. Harris is here?” Lucy asked, fighting a yawn. “How fortunate that you did not scare him away, Olivia.”

“Lucy, would you like me to take you up to your chamber so you might nap?” Nick asked, holding out his hand to her.

Though she nodded, Lucy looked over at Alexander and Olivia. “What about—”

“I doubt they could get into any trouble in the few minutes I will be away,” Nick said. “Besides, Simon is with the Harrises as we speak and will be bringing them here any moment.”

“Harrises?” Olivia asked. “There is more than one?”

As he helped Lucy to her feet, Nick nodded. “Mr. Harris brought his sister. Apparently, he spoke so highly of you that she braved the rain just to meet you.”

“Who would do something so ridiculous?” Olivia asked in alarm. Alexander may have been convinced she was personable and friendly, but venturing into a storm just to be introduced to a stranger seemed such a silly notion, and Olivia was struggling to see any sense in such a decision.

Lucy shot Olivia a look. “Be nice to her, Olivia.”

“When is she ever not?” Nick asked, and then the two of them disappeared.

Forgetting she was suddenly alone with Alexander, Olivia stood and started to pace. “I hardly wish to be better acquainted with Mr. Harris, and now I am expected to befriend his sister?” She had been enjoying her day immensely, now that she had Alexander to keep her company, and she had hoped to continue learning more about the man. On any other day, she would not have minded the intrusion—indeed, if Mr. and Miss Harris had arrived two hours earlier, she would have gladly welcomed them.

“What do you have against Mr. Harris?”

Olivia paused her pacing, looking back at Alexander as he sat back in his chair. “He is after my dowry, of course.”

“Is he?”

Well, she did not know that for certain, but she had assumed. “I cannot imagine any other reason he would call on me in weather such as this. Besides, I was not especially kind to him.”

Alexander smiled, shaking his head. “I cannot imagine you being anything but kind.”

“I told him I disliked his hair.”

“And you thought that might turn him away?”

“I turned Mr. Knowles away with mere talk of a color, if you will recall.”

He smiled. “I am astonished that he gave up so easily.”

Olivia rushed back to her chair, sat, reached across the chessboard, and grabbed Alexander’s hand. She ignored the pieces that scattered under her arm and kept her focus on the man who stared back at her in surprise. “What would convince Mr. Harris to give up on me?”

“Olivia.”

“Please.”

“I do not know. I have still not met the man.” He looked so stricken by the fact that Olivia suddenly burst into laughter, which seemed to confuse him. “Olivia?”

“I do believe I am the ridiculous one,” she replied, shaking her head. “Listen to me, panicking about the possibility of a man taking an interest in me.”

Alexander frowned. “You are afraid?”

“A little. What if a man chooses me, and I turn out to be different from what he expected? What if he says he loves me but that love fades?” Her eyes drifted to her hand still holding tightly to Alexander’s fingers. She had never held a man’s hand like this, and she marveled at how small her fingers looked next to his. “Or worse,” she said, whispering now, “what if no man ever finds he can love me?”

Alexander swallowed, his eyes fixed on their clasped hands. “I do not think that is possible.”

A throat cleared, startling Olivia once more.

Tugging her hand free, Olivia leaped to her feet and forced a smile despite Simon’s obvious displeasure as he stood just inside the sitting room, Mr. Harris and a young woman behind him. “Simon! Nick is helping Lucy to her room to rest.”

Simon’s jaw clenched as his eyes slid to Alexander, who had moved to his feet as well. “Olivia, you remember Mr. Harris?”

It would be difficult to forget a man she had met only the night before, but Olivia pasted on a smile, forcing herself to behave. “Yes, of course! How lovely to see you again, Mr. Harris.”

He bowed his head far lower than he needed to, his hands in fists at his sides. “And you, Miss Calloway. I hope we are not intruding.”

Yes, you are , she wanted to say, but she refrained. “No, of course not. I am always happy to receive visitors.”

“Ah yes.” Harris glanced behind him to where his sister practically hid in his shadow. “Er, this is my sister, Miss Harriet Harris.”

Oh, the poor girl. Olivia’s smile faltered as the urge to laugh struck her hard. She should not laugh at something a person had no control over, but goodness, what an unfortunate name!

Miss Harris, with her cheeks pink and her blue dress soaked at the hem, ducked her head. “My name is a bit ridiculous, is it not?”

Olivia’s jaw dropped. She must not have hidden her amusement as well as she had thought. “Oh, Miss Harris, I did not—”

“Please do not fret, Miss Calloway.” Miss Harris stepped forward and took hold of her hand, giving her a pleasant smile. “You were hardly offensive, and I say that to everyone. It is far too easy to laugh at such a silly name. One can only hope I find myself a husband sooner rather than later, yes?”

And when the girl giggled, Olivia relaxed. “I think Harriet is a lovely name.”

“It was my maternal grandmother’s name, and I am afraid my mother did not consider what it would sound like all put together with her married name.” Miss Harris’s smile was so sweet that Olivia decided she liked her immensely.

“You should be glad for your name, Harriet,” Mr. Harris scolded. “At least you have one.”

Before Olivia could contemplate the oddity of that comment, Miss Harris leaned in, as if she was about to share a secret. “Pay no mind to my brother,” she whispered. “He never says what he means when he is nervous, and our younger sisters and I tease him endlessly for it.”

“Harris,” Simon said, interrupting the ladies, “have you met Lord Alexander Bailey?”

Mr. Harris’s brown eyes widened, and it seemed he had not noticed Alexander at all until this moment. “The Rowdy Duke’s younger brother?” He spluttered. “I mean... that is not what I... oh dear. Lord Alexander.” He bowed even lower than he had for Olivia, and one of his hands trembled.

Olivia met Alexander’s gaze, and though he kept his expression mostly neutral, there was a hint of a smile on his lips. She shot him a warning look, and he nodded back.

“‘Rowdy’ is such a perfect word to describe my brother, Mr. Harris,” he said, bowing his head. “Though, perhaps we should keep that nickname to ourselves.”

Harris exhaled quickly. “I did not mean to say it. Please forgive me.”

“Nothing to forgive.” Alexander nodded to Miss Harris as well, offering her the smallest of smiles. “I am pleased to meet you both, and I am sure Miss Calloway will be glad for company beyond my own.”

“The rain is not so bad now, Lord Alexander,” Simon said, and it was a clear indication that he no longer wanted Alexander in his house.

Olivia wanted to protest and ask Alexander to stay as long as he could, but she refused to give Simon any reason to keep him away in the future. She was not so naive as to think their friendship would be seen as innocent, especially considering the duke’s reputation. That, and the way they had been holding hands when Simon came into the room would hardly have looked innocent.

Though he met Olivia’s eyes again, giving her a long, unreadable look, Alexander nodded once more to the Harrises and made his way from the room, pausing only to thank Simon for his time that morning.

Turning back to Miss Harris, though she wished she could follow Alexander to the door and bid him a proper farewell, Olivia smiled. “Would you like to sit, Miss Harris? I will call for some tea.”

She made it one step into the corridor past Simon before he gently grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop as the Harrises settled onto the sofa beside each other. “I hope I have not made a mistake in agreeing to tutor Lord Alexander,” he muttered. “No matter his intentions, I cannot approve of a match between the two of you.”

Olivia took a deep breath, forcing her expression to remain calm and steady. “Then, it is a good thing neither of us wish for a match between us. Lord Alexander has become a friend, nothing more.”

“He was holding your hand, Olivia. While the two of you were alone, for goodness’ sake.”

“We were alone for hardly a minute.”

Simon groaned. “Do you have any idea how dangerous a minute can be?”

She may have been new to Society, but she had heard about plenty of scandals. “Yes, Simon, I know the danger. But you have nothing to fear from Lord Alexander.”

“Perhaps. But if half the stories about his brothers are true, I have everything to fear from his family.”

“Simon.”

“I promised Father I would look after you, and—”

“Simon.” Olivia grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. Simon was perfectly justified in his fears, but he worried too much as it was. Olivia did not want to add to his stress, no matter how much she liked being around Alexander. “You have always looked after me, and I love you for it. Thank you. I have no intention of causing scandal, so I will endeavor to keep your mind at ease when it comes to Lord Alexander. I promise. Now, will you allow me to call for some tea for the man who is actually here to pursue me?”

Simon’s frown had been in place from the moment he entered the room, but it relaxed ever so slightly as he looked back at Mr. Harris, who sat stiffly in his seat and stared at the only blank space of wall in the room, it seemed. “I confess I do not know much about Harris,” he said with a tilt of his head. “But Forester said he is a good man.”

“As is Lord Alexander.”

“Olivia.”

She grinned. “I know you saw good in him too, or you would not have agreed to teach him. You and I always see the best in people.”

Her brother did not seem to believe that, but he nodded. “I only hope Mother wasn’t delayed too long by this storm. We could all use her wisdom this Season.”

“She truly is far more intelligent than the rest of us combined.”

“Yes, well, Forester seems to bring our collective intelligence down with his particular level of idiocy.”

“I take offense to that, Calloway,” Nick said, suddenly appearing in the corridor. “But, never fear. I forgive you.” He came to a stop in front of them and glanced at the Harrises before fixing his gaze on Olivia. “Are you running away already, Liv?”

“I was going to call for tea before Simon decided to lecture me again.”

“He is good at that, isn’t he?”

“ I will call for tea,” Simon grumbled, taking Nick by the shoulder and nudging him into the room. “And you are going to be the best chaperone Olivia has ever had.”

Nick put a hand over his heart. “Reduced from butler to chaperone? I am wounded.”

“You will survive.” Simon disappeared down the corridor in search of one of the servants.

Chuckling, Nick held out his arm to Olivia and gave her a smirk. “Come, Liv. We will never get you married off at the rate you are going, and we can’t have that.”

It was that we that hit Olivia the hardest, as if she had never heard the word before, and she blinked, staring at Nick. He suddenly looked different, even though he hadn’t changed his appearance in years. Perhaps she merely saw him differently. Gone was the man who had been a part of her dreams and wishes for much of her life. In his place stood a third brother, one who had always been there and known his place in her life.

No wonder she had not felt any nervous fluttering in her stomach around him lately. That childhood love was well and truly dead, and good riddance. “You know,” she said, slipping her arm through his. “You would have driven me to madness if we had married.”

He smirked. “Indeed I would have.”

“I am glad you found Emma.”

“As am I.” He leaned in closer. “Now, are you ready to see if you can live with Mr. Harris’s horrid blond hair?”

Olivia bit her lip to keep from laughing. “I suppose I could look past it.”

“I should hope so, given you fancied me for so long, and I am as blond as they come.”

“You are certainly lucky your wife has such poor taste.”

Nick barked out a laugh and led Olivia back into the room, depositing her into the chair that sat closer to Miss Harris before taking his own seat near Mr. Harris. “Harris,” he said, as if the two were good friends, “I hope you have a sense of humor, because our Miss Calloway is the cleverest creature I know.”

Olivia’s cheeks heated, but when Mr. Harris turned an eager smile to her, she found that warmth spreading to her chest as well. Perhaps she had been too hasty in dismissing the man.