Page 24 of Never Dare to Masquerade with a Maiden

“That may be difficult seeing as Lady Guernsey has invited Lady Charlotte for tea, and you are to accompany Lady Charlotte.”

Am I the only sane person to recognize the impossibility of a union between Warren and me? She peered up at Ian. Surely, he was in agreement with her. “Will you be coming along?”

“Not today.” Ian’s lips thinned as if he wished to say more but couldn’t.

“I’ll ask Lady Charlotte to give you permission⁠—”

“Don’t.” Ian’s curt tone silenced her.

Olivia searched Ian’s face. Why is he being so distant with me today?

He turned from her to face the window. Olivia peered outside and was rewarded by the sight of Lady Charlotte tapping her husband on the back and Lord Camden jumping a foot off the ground. She wanted to remind Ian and say, “Never underestimate a woman.” But the dark scowl on his face made her keep her words and thoughts to herself.

“Hmph.” Ian’s unhappy grunt was followed by, “You had best get ready. And remember…” He turned, his serious dark brown eyes trained on her. “Warren is no longer the boy you followed about, although he continues to remain a lone wolf amongst the pack of peers.”

Like you, she wanted to quip back, but Ian’s demeanor had her holding her tongue. When Ian shifted to leave, she placed her hand upon Ian’s arm, stalling his departure. He glanced down at her hand. She rarely made physical contact with anyone, and even fewer instances intentionally. He raised his gaze to her face, and Olivia pleaded, “Please accompany me.”

And for the very first time, Ian denied her. He pulled his arm away. “I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?” Olivia blurted angrily.

Ian’s chin dipped, and he slowly shook his head as he silently left.

Olivia stared at her best friend's wide shoulders as he exited the room. Hands on her hips and eyes wide as saucers, her mind screamed, “How dare he!” For the first time in a very long time, she felt the absence of Ian’s support. He’d been her confidant since they met. Why abandon her now?

Jaw clenched as the carriage rattled along the cobblestone street, Olivia attempted to rein in her anger that continued to simmer and threatened to boil over if she were to open her mouth.

“Lady Guernsey will not be easy to sway, although Lady Anne and Lord Guernsey appear quite willing to provide their support.” Lady Charlotte poked Olivia’s knee with the tip of her fan.

At least if she were to have an ally, then Lady Guernsey would be a formidable one. Still not in full control of her ire, Olivia nodded. Outnumbered, how was she to convince Warren to abandon the notion of marriage? At least she had ten days. Her eyes fluttered closed as her conscience reminded her that it had taken all of ten days for her to fall in love with the man, and even ten years of separation had not lessened her interest in Warren.

“I believe Guernsey received his Golden Invitation this morn.”

Curiosity getting the better of her, Olivia looked up at Lady Charlotte. “A golden invitation to…?”

Lady Charlotte raised her fan to cover her lips. “To the annual masquerade ball, of course.”

Olivia would have wagered that Lady Charlotte was grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Who, might I ask, is hosting this masquerade ball, and when is it going to take place?” She had a sinking feeling she already knew the answers, but Lady Charlotte was highly unpredictable, and she had quickly learned it was best to simply ask rather than assume when it came to her mistress.

“You shall find out over tea.” With her fan wavering ever so slightly above chin level, the countess turned to look out the window, avoiding all eye contact with Olivia.

Olivia’s knuckles turned white as she gripped her hands together in her lap. She stared at the blasted fan that her hands itched to snap in half.

“Restraint is one of your more endearing qualities; however, we shall have to improve upon your ability to mask ire. It is a skill of great import.”

“For a lady mayhap, but not for the kitchen help.”

Brows raised clear up to her hairline, Lady Charlotte snapped her fan closed and rounded on Olivia. “You are forbidden to hide in the kitchens.”

She leaned forward and met Lady Charlotte’s well-practiced glare that was fully intended to intimidate her. “Why?” Her simple question made Lady Charlotte blink for the briefest of moments, and gone was the feigned intimidation, replaced by pure shock. Olivia willed the corners of her mouth to remain still; oh, how she wanted to break her own facade of seriousness and laugh at the countess’s reaction, but she was going to prove she could be in control of her own blasted expressions if it was the very last thing she did.

“Because your place is by my side,” Lady Charlotte replied with a steely tone that almost had Olivia shifting in her seat.

The carriage lurched forward slightly as it came to a stop. Damnation. Olivia cursed under her breath as she was the first to brace herself.

No longer locked in battle. Lady Charlotte winked at Olivia as she moved to exit the carriage. “Come along, Miss O. We have much to discuss.”

Resisting the urge to plant her foot on her mistress’s bottom and assist her out of the vehicle, Olivia inhaled deeply and stepped down from the carriage. The path in front of her seemed to stretch out twice as far as she remembered. Dread mounted with each step as she got closer to the front door. When the Guernsey butler appeared in the doorway, the urge to flee had Olivia tripping over her own feet.