Page 33 of Never Dare to Masquerade with a Maiden

Returning to the edge of her bed, she sat with her back to him. Mayhap if she focused on his voice, which Ian had difficulty in masking, she might obtain some insight as to what he’d been up to. “It’s not a matter of whether I trust you or not; it matters what you think.”

“I think you are grasping at excuses.”

“I beg your pardon?” Olivia turned to glare at Ian, but he was facing the window once more.

“I had hoped that once you spent time with Warren, you would discover he was no longer the boy you had faithfully followed about and far from the man you imagined him to be.” There was a sadness in his tone that was foreign to Olivia’s ears. He parted the curtains with a finger. “Lord Camden has matters to attend to overseas, but he is reluctant to leave Lady Charlotte in her condition. He has requested I go in advance until he can make the trip.”

“Why is he sending you, a footman?”

“I’ve been appointed as Lord Camden’s steward.”

She stood and directly marched up to him. Without hesitation, she poked him in the back. When he didn’t move, she poked again and only when he’d turned to face her did she ask, “Since when, and where is he sending you?”

“I can’t share that with you.”

Olivia had run out of patience. She wagged a finger. “Ian Brian Stuart McDougall, you had best tell me now or…”

Ian interjected, “Or what?”

Her mind came up blank. Who was this man standing before her? It certainly wasn’t the Ian she’d grown up with. No, this emotionless person was not her friend. “Ian…” She paused since the words she needed to breach the impenetrable wall he had erected were not forthcoming.

“Since I won’t be able to keep an eye on you, you shall have to be more careful. Promise me, no more traipsing about town in the middle of the night.”

In addition to the sadness she heard, there was weariness in Ian’s words. Blast his ability to shield his emotions from his features. With only the barest of inflections in his tone to interpret, Olivia began questioning if she was hearing things correctly or if her senses were simply over-heightened. “Why are you leaving me?”

“For my own sanity and because Lord Camden has ordered me to.”

“In the past, you have chosen to leave posts rather than leave town.”

It was Ian’s turn to chuckle, but his was forced and awkward. “You haven’t promised yet…”

“Very well. I promise not to wander about alone at night.” She searched his eyes. “Happy?”

The spark that normally flashed when he won an argument didn’t appear.

“In time I will be.” Ian finally smiled as he skimmed his palm from the top of her head to her shoulder. “Be yourself, Olivia, and all shall be as it should be.”

“I’m no longer a child.” She reached out for his hand. “I know my touch won't harm anyone. Being a bastard doesn't mean I will spoil the souls of those who dare come close.” He pulled his hand away sharply, leaving her doubting her previous claims. The ache in her chest at his reaction prompted her to say, “You are the one who taught me that.”

“Then I shall leave knowing I’ve done all I could.”

Warren’s actions had left her dazed earlier, and now Ian was leaving her confused and frightened. “Why are you talking in riddles?”

“I’m not. I’m simply providing you with the best and most direct answers I can.” Ian gave her shoulder a pat, and then he moved to leave.

She captured him by the forearm, preventing him from striding away. “Why do I have the feeling I won’t be seeing you for a long time?”

“Since we were children, there hasn’t been a day when we haven’t seen or spoken to one another, which would mean an absence of two days might feel longer for us than others, but it is still forty-eight hours.” This time, Ian unwound her fingers one by one until he was free. “I’ll return.”

“When?” She couldn’t hide the panic in her voice.

“I can’t say.”

She jogged around him and stood in front of her door. “Again, with the can’t. Can’t this, can’t that. What can you tell me?”

He scowled down at her, and after what felt like an eternity, Olivia sighed. Defeated, she said, “Promise to keep yourself safe and return to me.”

“I promise to return,” Ian answered solemnly, then left her room without his usual reassuring smile or even a glance back.