Page 43 of A Relentless Rake

Elizabeth’s face fell. “I felt terrible about what happened to you last night. I wanted to see for myself if you were all right.”

Her voice turned so soft that it was as if she were speaking of scandal instead of stain. Heaven only knew how she would react if she discovered Olivia had been locked undressed in the retiring room with her brother.

“I’m fine.” Olivia dismissed her concerns with a smile. “No need to worry.”

“But your lovely dress was ruined.”

Something about the way Lady Elizabeth said that…did her lips twitch? “It was only an accident,” Olivia reassured her. “What I regret is that the evening ended so early.”

“Do you?” Elizabeth pressed. “You were truly having an enjoyable time?”

“I was.” Her answer seemed to matter a great deal, so Olivia didn’t have the heart to tell her that the only part she hadn’t enjoyed was waltzing with her brother, even if hewasthe best dance partner she’d ever had.

Elizabeth impulsively hugged her. “Oh, I’m so glad!” She fixed Olivia with a determined gaze. “Then youmustattend tea tomorrow afternoon at Harlow House. Mama wants to show off her flowers to the garden club, and it will give us the chance to make up for what happened to you at the ball.” When Olivia hesitated to accept, Elizabeth laughed. “I simply refuse to let you refuse!”

Olivia bit her lip. Unless she wanted to offend one of the most influential families in England and hurt Lady Elizabeth’s feelings, she had no choice but to accept.

Yet to bring herself so close to Alec again made her feel as if she were playing with fire.

Still, an afternoon tea surrounded by society ladies seemed harmless enough. Perhaps she might meet potential patrons among the countess’s friends, since she wasn’t able to discuss the school with anyone at the ball. And, she tried to convince herself, it was highly unlikely that Alec would attend a ladies’ garden party.

“I would be honored,” Olivia agreed. “Thank you for thinking of me.”

The young woman flashed her the brightest smile yet and drew one from Olivia in return. She genuinely liked Lady Elizabeth, although she had no idea how Elizabeth and Alec could be siblings. They might look alike, but they were as different in personality and presence as night and day.

“Wonderful!” Bubbling with excitement, Elizabeth withdrew the invitation from her reticule and handed it to Olivia. “I’m so thrilled you’ll be there. You’ve rescued me.” When Olivia frowned, puzzled, Elizabeth lowered her voice and leaned closer as if sharing a secret. “I didn’t want to say anything before, but without you, tea with all those old matrons and widows would have been absolutely tedious!”

Olivia gave her a conspiratorial smile. “Then I’ll be happy to rescue you.” The conversation was drawing to an end, but Olivia was enjoying spending time with her. “Are you certain you can’t stay for a tour of the school? I’d be honored to show it to you.”

The girls would be thrilled to meet the sister of an earl. Except for the scholarship students, the girls weren’t poor, but their families also weren’t part of theton. They—and most of their mothers—were dazzled by fashionable ladies like Elizabeth and longed to be part of that world.

“Perhaps some other time?” Genuine regret played across Elizabeth’s face. “Alec told me about the work you do here. I think it’s wonderful.”

Olivia lost her breath. “His lordship told you about me?”

Elizabeth’s eyes gleamed. “You’re practically all he’s talked about during the past few days. Well, and the school, of course.”

“Of course.” She frowned, convinced that Lady Elizabeth had just lied to her. “Will your brother also be attending the tea?”

“I certainly hope not! Alec’s an utter bore at these events.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Nothing exciting ever happens when he’s around.”

With a parting wave of her hand, Elizabeth hurried from the room, as if afraid Olivia might change her mind and refuse to attend after all.

Olivia stared after her, flabbergasted. Nothing exciting ever happened around her brother? If only Elizabeth knew the truth! The Alec Sinclair whom Olivia had encountered was far from an utter bore.

If anything more exciting happened between the two of them, she might not survive it.

Eleven

“I’m very happy you’re here, Alexander.” Isabel Sinclair patted Alec’s arm as he escorted her onto the rear terrace of Harlow House. “Two events in three days is unprecedented for you.”

“I know how important this is to Elizabeth.”

His mother glanced across the garden into the afternoon sun and blinked against its brightness. “It’s also important to me.” She paused. “Someday, I hope we can be close again, as we were before you joined the army.”

He stiffened. He wasn’t daft enough to pretend that he didn’t know what she meant, that she hadn’t felt the tension between them since his return.

But he also wasn’t ready to confront her about exactly how much she knew about her husband’s evils, how she could have turned such a blind eye to what happened within her own home. Scars still lurked where she couldn’t see them, and most likely always would. He wasn’t ready yet to expose them to the light.