Page 35 of Never Dare to Masquerade with a Maiden

Olivia might not recognize it herself, but she already possessed all the qualities necessary to navigate and manage the expectations of a viscountess. When she stood, Lady Charlotte’s sunny disposition evaporated instantaneously, and he half expected his future wife to sink back into her chair, but Olivia did no such thing. Instead, Lady Charlotte rose and the two engaged in a battle of wills. Neither spoke, but he imagined Lady Charlotte declaring that Olivia would remain right where she was, and Olivia deciding she would return to her post.

Gasping for a breath he didn’t know he was holding, Warren coughed and drew the fiery gazes of all four ladies in the room. “I… Don’t mind me…” He was no dullard; he knew when to retreat. “I’ll go arrange for the carriage so we all can be off. Wouldn’t want Madame Lennox waiting on us now, would we?” Backing out of the room, Warren gave in and tugged at his damn cravat that was tied far too tight for comfort. He was in for a long afternoon at the dressmaker’s.

A half hour later, the ladies marched in single formation through the foyer toward the front door. Warren fell in line and followed Olivia, whose shoulders were slumped forward in defeat.

He lengthened his stride to step up next to Olivia. “Are you alright?”

“And what would you do if I said I wasn’t?”

What would he do?

Three steps away from crossing the threshold, Warren reached out for her hand and came to a stop. “You and I shall follow in my carriage.”

“That won’t do. I must accompany Lady Charlotte.” Olivia tugged her hand free.

He crossed his arms over his chest and shifted to block her path. “First, tell me what is wrong.”

Olivia let out a sigh and then glared at him with her serious, molten brown eyes. “If you must know, I was outnumbered and…”

“And?”

“Don’t cock that eyebrow of yours at me!”

Olivia’s cheeks flushed pink. Ha! She wasn’t entirely immune to his presence. He wanted her to know he was on her side, not the enemy. “Whatever they badgered you to agree to, we can overcome.”

“We?” Olivia’s brows snapped together. “You left me in a den of wolves, and you well know it.”

She wasn’t wrong. He had abandoned her. How can I redeem myself? He motioned behind his back to the driver to proceed before Olivia would notice and distracted her by saying, “That’s because I have faith in you.”

“I’m not a bloody peer.” She pressed her hands to her temples, took a moment to breathe, and then continued, “I’m a member of the staff. Why do you lot keep forgetting that?”

“I seriously doubt anyone has forgotten, since you bring it up constantly. However, the matter of you not being a peer can be easily rectified.”

Hands planted on her hips, she cocked her head to one side and asked, “How so?”

Grateful he’d instructed the staff to remain absent until their departure, Warren answered, “Marry me.” Olivia might have skinned him alive had he proposed before prying eyes and ears.

With her eyes narrowed and head tilted to the other side, Olivia asked, “Have you no shame?”

“What do I have to be ashamed about?” It was an honest question that was met with a fiery gaze from Olivia.

“Lords don’t marry maids!” Olivia threw her arms in the air and then began to pace in a circle. She was on her third rotation when she stopped directly in front of him. “You're supposed to seek a lady who is compatible… trained to run a household… refined…”

He pulled her to him and kissed her. She didn’t kiss him back, but she didn’t push him away either. When he released her, Olivia pinched her lips together tight, and she looked around him out the open door to the street.

“They’ve left without us!” She marched to the curb and looked down the street before striding back up to the house and closing the front door behind her.

He stepped forward until they were toe to toe. “I don’t give a fig what others think, but I know you do. I would never purposefully place you or your reputation in danger. You know I wouldn’t, don’t you?”

“I don’t know what to think or believe anymore.” She rested her forehead against his chest.

The intimate act sent a bubble of joy rolling about in his chest. He stroked her back and basked in their closeness. The footfalls of someone approaching had Olivia jumping backward. He reached out to steady her, but she tripped on her skirts, and they both ended up tangled up on the ground.

Lying on his back, Olivia on top of him, Warren looked up at Lord Camden, who was assisting Olivia back up to her feet. “Why are you two still here?”

“My lord.” Olivia was simultaneously righting her skirts and curtsying.

“What are you doing here?”