Page 5 of Never Doubt I Love (Calloway #3)

It was a good plan, Olivia thought. Perhaps not the brightest or the most advantageous for herself, but after two days of watching her lovely friends be all but ignored by the eligible men of the ton since their conversation in the park, she was downright tired of the way things were. The only reason all these men were even giving her any attention was because of the ridiculous dowry Simon refused to lower, and under no circumstances was she willing to give up on a love match.

But tonight? Tonight she was not dancing.

“Why did we come tonight?” Simon asked in frustration. “Liv, the whole point of purchasing vouchers to Almack’s is for you to dance with potential suitors, so why on earth would you—”

“I am here to observe,” Olivia interrupted, lifting her head high. Perhaps it was unkind, forcing her brother to be a part of such a well-attended function when he barely tolerated Town in the first place, but if her plan was to work, she needed to know what she was up against.

There had to be a reason no men took notice of women like Margaret and Beatrice. Something beyond their lack of fortunes. And if Olivia could pinpoint those reasons, she could use them to dissuade those who cared only for her fortune. Only the most persistent of men would remain long enough for her to discover whether their affections were true or merely an artifice to win her dowry. She was biding her time, just as she did whenever she raced Simon on horseback. Waiting for the perfect moment to set her mount free and take the victory.

“Observe what, exactly?” Simon asked, but he could not wait for an answer, because a young gentleman approached him and bowed low. “Sir Daniel.”

“Lord Calloway,” the man replied. “I was hoping I might request an introduction to your lovely sister.”

Simon barely managed to hold back a sigh. “Olivia, may I present Sir Daniel Topham? Sir Daniel, my sister, Miss Olivia Calloway.”

“Miss Calloway.” He bowed. “It is a wonder we have not met before now. I have heard so much about you. I wonder, are you engaged for the next—”

“My sister is not dancing tonight, Sir Daniel.” Simon spoke with such weariness that it almost made Olivia giggle. “Heaven knows why,” he added under his breath.

Sir Daniel blinked a few times before he recovered. “Oh. I hope it is not because of any illness or injury, Miss Calloway. That would be unfortunate indeed.”

“Not at all, Sir Daniel.” Though, now she would have to come up with a reason that sounded less strange than observing . “I, er...”

“She is quite overcome at the sight of so many people,” Nick said behind her. He had been deep in conversation with his wife only a moment ago, though he had clearly been paying attention to the interaction with Sir Daniel. “Our dear Miss Calloway is terribly shy, you see. Rather terrified of strangers.”

Olivia’s eyes went wide. She was nothing of the sort, and Nick knew it, but arguing would confuse poor Sir Daniel to no end and make her look a fool. So she lowered her eyes and nodded, hoping Simon would be intelligent enough to play along.

“Perhaps...” Sir Daniel clenched his fists at his sides, clearly uncomfortable. “Well, we are not strangers now, are we?”

“Alas,” Nick said before Olivia could answer, “I am afraid Miss Calloway only becomes comfortable with someone once she has danced with him. Quite the paradox, you will agree.” He coughed to cover a laugh when Mrs. Forester swatted his arm.

“Er, yes. Quite the... paradox. If you will excuse me, I believe I am needed...” Sir Daniel’s words dropped off, and he slipped away after a quick bow.

Olivia turned on Nick. “What was that for?”

Chuckling, he shook his head. “I do not know yet what you are up to, Liv, but I thought I might help. Clearly you have concocted some sort of scheme, or you would be dancing until you can no longer feel your feet. Why condemn yourself to an evening of small talk?”

“Exactly what I was wondering,” Simon grumbled. “I could be at home reading with my wife right now, but no.”

“You did not have to come, you know,” Olivia said. “Mr. Forester could have—”

“I trust Forester about as much as I trust you right now.” Simon’s hazel eyes scanned the crowd, narrowing when they focused on something in the distance. “As much as I am able, I will be joining you throughout the Season from here on out. I should have done so from the beginning.”

Nick furrowed his brow as someone asked his wife to dance. He watched her go with reluctance in his eyes, and then he turned back to Simon. “Then, what the devil am I doing here?” It was a good question. Olivia had spent the last month mostly on outings with the Foresters, and it had surprised her to learn that Simon would be joining her tonight while Lucy rested at home.

Despite that, Olivia was glad for Simon’s change of heart. It was rather bothersome to try to take interest in a man when Nick Forester was always right there, being his perfect self. No one seemed able to compare. Perhaps once she was with Simon and Lucy more often, she might actually stop measuring every man up to Nick and start paying attention to the men themselves.

Simon grunted. “You and Emma,” he told Nick, “are here to act as reinforcements.”

“Against which adversary, pray tell?”

Simon nodded toward whomever he had been glaring at. “The one coming right for us.”

Nick squinted. “Alexander Bailey?”

Olivia perked up, though she wasn’t entirely certain why. Lord Alexander had paid her the least attention when she’d met his brother the duke, but that was precisely what made him more interesting. Of the three Baileys, he was the biggest mystery. That meant he would be the most fun.

Lord Alexander stopped several feet from where Olivia stood, his eyes lingering on her for only a moment before he turned to Simon. He had such fascinating eyes, an odd shade of blue that looked nearly gray.

“Lord Calloway,” he said with a bow.

Simon acknowledged the greeting with the barest courtesy. “Lord Alexander. Have you met Mr. Forester and my sister, Miss Calloway?” The way he spoke through his teeth, he clearly wanted to do anything but make the introductions.

Lord Alexander’s lips twitched as he made his bows. “Indeed, but Miss Calloway only briefly.” And while she expected him to proceed to ask her to dance, his attention remained with Simon. “I understand you have recently procured a new business venture, Lord Calloway. A millinery, was it?”

Simon frowned. “Haberdashery.”

“I have heard enough talk of the place that I’ve a mind to come see its success with my own eyes one of these days.”

“Assuming you are given enough rope,” Nick said.

What was that supposed to mean?

Lord Alexander merely glanced his direction before continuing. “I know it is presumptuous of me to ask it of you, but I was hoping I might come by on a day when you are free and discuss business with you, as I have taken an interest in the profession.”

Simon’s eyebrows flew high. “It is not common among the nobility to venture beyond the acceptable occupations, Lord Alexander. Especially for one as high as you.”

The twitch turned into an almost smile. “I am well aware of that, my lord. But that does nothing to dissuade my interest.”

“And what of your brother’s interest?” Nick asked.

Lord Alexander’s eyes flicked to Olivia, sending a strange thrill through her when they connected with hers. Whatever madness had induced her to appreciate being ignored, she rather liked it. She had grown so used to being the center of attention over the last weeks that the man’s apparent disinterest was a breath of fresh air.

“I suppose I could set aside some time on Tuesday morning,” Simon said, clearly baffled.

Lord Alexander bowed briefly. “Thank you, sir. I know I have no reason to expect such kindness from you. I shall call on you on Tuesday.” He turned to leave.

“Aren’t you going to ask me to dance?” Olivia blurted out, making Simon groan and Nick break into a poorly stifled fit of laughter.

Lord Alexander turned his head only enough to look at her from the corner of his eye. “I noticed you are not dancing this evening, Miss Calloway, and I did not wish to make you uncomfortable by having to refuse. Forgive me if I assumed incorrectly.”

“Wait!” Olivia had no idea why she called him back again, but she was ever so glad when he turned to face her fully this time. There was nothing she loved more than a good mystery, and Lord Alexander was certainly a mystery. “I may not be dancing tonight, but we could walk around the room.”

“Absolutely not,” Simon growled.

Olivia was undeterred. “Take some air outside?”

“Olivia.” Simon was clearly reaching the end of his patience.

“I believe the next set is the supper dance,” Lord Alexander said calmly. “Perhaps, if your brother is not opposed, I may stand here and speak with you before accompanying you to supper.”

Before Simon could even open his mouth, Olivia glared at him. He surely thought she had lost her mind, first refusing to dance and then showing sudden attention to the first person he had disliked all night. The fact that Simon disliked the man intrigued her all the more. Especially because Nick did not seem to harbor any distrust.

Thankfully, Simon nodded his agreement and grabbed hold of Nick’s arm to pull him into a hushed conversation.

“I am afraid I have caused your brother distress,” Lord Alexander said, frowning. “I had not intended to—”

“It was my fault,” Olivia said. “Though, that is hardly new. Simon has had to endure my oddities my entire life, and he would much rather be at home with his wife.”

Lord Alexander’s eyes sparked with interest that came and went so suddenly it was as if it was never there. The same thing had happened at the park the other day. “I hope Lady Calloway is well,” he said, clearing his throat as he focused on something across the room. “I admit I know little about your sister-in-law, though Lord Calloway is quite the talk of Town.”

Smiling, Olivia kept her voice low to avoid Simon hearing her. “My brother endures the gossip about himself, but he does not stand for anyone talking of Lucy. He is quite protective.”

It seemed Lord Alexander was not much for smiling, unlike his two brothers. The duke had been all charm at St. James’s, and the third Bailey had smiled almost too widely.

“Am I to keep on my guard when around you, then?” Lord Alexander asked. Something had shifted in his voice. It had grown lighter. Looser.

Olivia cocked her head. “I suppose that depends entirely on your intentions, my lord.”

“Ah, intentions.” For some reason, that word seemed to displease him, and he tucked his arms behind his back, dipping his chin. “I do not believe that is something you should rely on, Miss Calloway. A man should be judged by his actions, not his reasons for doing them. Do you not agree?”

Were they to wax philosophical? “I cannot say,” Olivia replied. “Suppose a man brings a lady flowers, only to learn she is terribly affected by them and cannot be in the same room without sneezing. Should he not still be given thanks for his intent, despite the lady’s distress?”

Ah ha! The man nearly smiled that time, closer than he had gotten thus far to any sign of humor. “A fair point,” he acknowledged. “But if a man brings a lady flowers, he must admire her in some way, yes? Then, would it not stand to reason that he would ask to know her favorite bloom and avoid the mistake altogether?”

Olivia fought against her own smile, if only to match him. “Are there any men intelligent enough to think ahead? I have yet to meet one.”

“What is your favorite flower, Miss Calloway?”

She gasped, but not because she had been bested. She gasped because the man asked the question with the most breathtaking grin she had ever seen. Perhaps it was simply the contrast to the blank mask he wore otherwise, but his smile lit up his face and made him come alive. A pity it did not last long.

Swallowing, she expanded her fan and hoped she had not turned entirely red at the glimpse of such a smile. “Love-in-a-mist.”

His shock did not disappear as quickly as his other emotions had. “That... is an interesting choice, Miss Calloway.”

“I am an interesting woman.”

“Clearly you are, as I seem to have attracted a good deal of jealousy for being the one to have claimed you as my supper partner.” He nodded toward the crush around them, where several gentlemen all turned away as if they had been caught staring.

Maybe they had, though Olivia had quickly learned to ignore spectators. With so many suitors after her dowry, she had learned to give attention only to those whose bravery went beyond seeking an introduction.

Sighing, she closed her fan and pretended to watch the dancers for a moment. She had already forgotten her goal for the evening, though she could not be too angry with Lord Alexander for distracting her. He had not come over to ask about her dowry or even to ask her to dance. In fact, he had not come over to speak to her at all.

He could not have been married, or Simon would not have let him remain. Neither was he of the House of Lords, given his brother possessed the dukedom. He dressed well enough to speak of a fine income, but that did not necessarily mean he was not in need of hers. The man outranked Simon by a good deal but showed him respect, and Olivia wanted to know more.

“A majority of the ton concerns themselves with my fortune,” she said at last, opening her fan once more. “It is the only reason they look my way, from what I can ascertain.”

Lord Alexander merely glanced at her. “I would imagine their interest stems from more than that, Miss Calloway. I know of no one more sought-after than you, even by those flush with their own fortunes.”

“Do you? What else do you know of me, my lord?”

Amusement played at the corners of his lips again, though his gaze remained anywhere but on her. “I fear that question may be a trap, Miss Calloway.”

It was most certainly a trap, and she enjoyed his clever response immensely.

“I can only say what I have heard,” he continued, “given we just met the other day. I myself know next to nothing about you.”

“What have you heard about me?”

“That you are too clever and speak your mind too readily.”

Olivia’s jaw slipped open. “I assumed you were going to list my virtues.”

He nearly smiled again. “Is that not what I did?”

“That depends on whom you ask, I suppose.”

“It seems you have been asking the wrong people.”

What a strange man! Olivia had always known she had a habit of speaking out of turn, and her brother William had warned her it would make her less desirable. She had seen the truth of it more than once, when her tongue had brought an end to a conversation and she never spoke to the man again.

And yet Lord Alexander admitted he appreciated boldness in a woman?

“I have also heard,” he said, as if unaware of her shock, “that you are a remarkable rider.”

Heat rose up her neck to her face, likely turning her an unbecoming red hue. She fanned herself more vigorously. “I do not know if I would call myself remarkable,” she said breathily.

“Do not let her fool you, Lord Alexander,” Simon said, making Olivia jump. How long had he been listening? “My sister has put my riding skills to shame.”

“Do you ride, my lord?” Olivia asked.

There was that smile again, only much more briefly than before. It was as if he was afraid to show enjoyment, though Olivia could not fathom why. “On rare occasions,” he said. “I find I have been unable to learn to enjoy the pursuit. Perhaps...” His eyes focused on something in the distance, narrowing before he cleared his throat and continued. “Perhaps you would care to demonstrate your skills someday?”

Heat spread across Olivia’s cheeks again. He was not the first man to suggest such a thing, but for once she saw the invitation as a legitimate desire to see her skills rather than an attempt at earning her affection. “I would like that.”

The dancing finished, and Lord Alexander offered his arm. “Would you like to accompany me up to the supper rooms, Miss Calloway?”

“Thank you,” she said, slipping her arm into his. “Despite not dancing tonight, I am positively famished.”

He chuckled as he guided her across the room. “Then, I fear you are about to be disappointed, Miss Calloway. Is this your first time at Almack’s?”

“Is it obvious?”

“Oh, Liv.” Nick appeared at Olivia’s other side with his wife in tow once more. “I have failed you most terribly for not preparing you for the sad state that is the supper at Almack’s.”

Mrs. Forester swatted his arm. “You needn’t tease her. Olivia, keep your expectations low, and you will still be disappointed.”

Lord Alexander leaned down and explained. “The patronesses have decided it is best to keep the refreshments... simple.”

“Paltry,” Nick clarified.

“Dismal,” Simon added from behind them.

They were not exaggerating. The spread consisted of only un-iced cake and a piece of bread, with some lemonade that was not nearly as sweet as Olivia preferred. Everyone seemed to be used to the offerings, as no one complained, but Olivia found herself wondering why membership at Almack’s was such a coveted thing.

“Ah,” Lord Alexander said, nudging her arm after she had nibbled at her food. “It seems you have lost the enchantment of Almack’s.”

She sighed. “I suppose I was expecting more than merely another ball.”

“Is that why you are not dancing tonight?”

Lord Alexander had already led her to believe he found her oddities to be worthy qualities rather than parts of her she should hide, which made her feel bold. “If you must know,” she said, lowering her voice so her brother would not overhear, “I am hoping to learn more about the gentlemen of the ton through my observations so I may be better prepared.”

Lord Alexander’s eyebrows pulled low. “Prepared for what, exactly? You have already made your entrance, and from what I can observe, you have no shortage of suitors.”

Olivia could not decide whether he considered that a fault or a virtue. “Perhaps, but none of them truly know me. Not like you seem to.”

He nearly smiled, his gray-blue eyes roving across the room. “You think I know you?”

“You seem to know a good deal about me, yes. And yet I know nothing about you.”

“Perhaps I am not worth knowing.”

Olivia scoffed. “Well, that I cannot believe. Everyone is worth knowing.”

“Do you believe that?”

“Should I not?”

Lord Alexander nodded toward a portly gentleman who was on his fourth cup of lemonade as he stood alone in a corner. “Mr. Collings has been on the hunt for a wife for the last two decades and yet never speaks to anyone when he is in social settings.”

“Perhaps Mr. Collings is simply shy and has the most pleasant personality, but no one has thought to approach him.”

“They have, and he does not say a word.” Lord Alexander cocked his head. “And what of Sir Thomas? The man ended his engagement with Miss Weston last month after he discovered she has a cousin in America.”

Olivia gaped at the man in question, who was frowning at his cup of tea while a woman spoke incessantly beside him. “Is that truly the reason?”

Lord Alexander shrugged. “So people say. Assuming it is true, do you think Sir Thomas is worth including among your acquaintances?”

“I could hardly say without knowing the man. Which is why I have yet to pass judgment on you.”

Simon cleared his throat, reminding Olivia that they were hardly alone. She would need to be careful about what she said. Not easily done. “You seem to know a good deal about Society, Lord Alexander. Do you enjoy the gossip columns?”

Lord Alexander pursed his lips. It was not a frown, but neither was it a smile. “Unlike your friend Mr. Forester, I do not especially like gossip. I care more for the truth. And I am an observer more than a participant in social situations. There is always a good deal to learn by watching those who forget they are in public.”

How fascinating! Olivia fought to keep her smile from growing too wide. “That is exactly how I feel! Only, I do not mind participating. Tonight, however, I have been hoping to discover what it is the men of the ton look for in a wife.”

Lord Alexander’s expression shifted to something closer to disappointment. “Is that so?”

“Not for myself, of course,” she added hastily. “While I am eager to find my match, I am also in no hurry. But I have made so many dear friends since arriving, and they cannot seem to catch a man’s attention despite their talents and beauty.”

“Money.” He coughed and dropped his gaze. “And status. Most men care for little else.”

“But apparently there are aspects they do not like,” Olivia said with a huff. “Such as relations in America. I will have to use that to my advantage if Sir Thomas ever looks my way.”

Lifting an eyebrow, Lord Alexander looked up at her as if he did not fully understand her meaning. “You wish to turn men away?”

It was an odd concept, of course, but if Olivia could convince more men to look beyond her to the ladies who had far more to offer than a hefty dowry, perhaps she could both help her friends find happiness and make room for someone who truly cared for her. Olivia was more than her money, just as her friends were worth pursuit.

“You think me strange,” Olivia said quietly. Perhaps that was a good thing. If Lord Alexander thought she was too odd to pursue, maybe others would as well. “I wish to see my friends happily settled just as I hope to find love for myself.”

Lord Alexander shook his head. “I think you are more intelligent than you let people realize. Far too many women allow fear to dictate their choices when it comes to marriage.”

“Far too many women have little choice to begin with,” Olivia argued. “Whether I find my love match this Season or the next—I am only eighteen, after all—I hope to at least also give others a better chance if I can.”

“Olivia.” Simon reached over and touched her arm, his eyes lingering on Lord Alexander for a moment. “If you are determined not to dance, might I suggest we return home early tonight? You are going out walking with Mr. Ladner in the morning, if you remember.”

“Oh yes.” Olivia held back a sigh. Mr. Ladner had approached her the night before at a dinner party, and though he was relatively handsome and personable, he had asked her nothing but questions about Simon and his wealth. She suspected the morning’s jaunt through the park would be more of the same. “Lord Alexander, thank you for your company. It was a pleasure to meet you.”

He nodded but said nothing, his eyes focused across the room again. Just before Olivia stood to leave, however, he touched her elbow and muttered, “Mr. Ladner cannot stand animals. Of any kind.”

At first, she was not certain what he meant by telling her such a thing, but then she caught the slight twinkle in his eyes. “Thank you for your insight, my lord.” She curtsied to him and took Simon’s arm, though she could not help but look back before reaching the door.

Lord Alexander was now deep in conversation with his brother, the duke, and neither man looked very happy.

What was that about?