Page 45 of A Relentless Rake

Aunt Agnes must have thought so, too, because she waved her yellow handkerchief wildly at her, as if attempting to flag down the mail coach on its run to Dover.

“Miss Everett!” Agnes called out, loud enough to be heard all the way to Covent Garden. “How delightful that you could attend our little tea!”

Despite the widening of Olivia’s eyes, Agnes hurried across the terrace to grab her arm before she could bolt, and barely in time, too, based on the look of longing Olivia threw over her shoulder at the doors. Yet Agnes latched on to her as if she were a prodigal daughter. Chattering nonstop, Agnes led her through the cluster of little tables on the terrace to introduce her to the other guests.

Alec slid a narrowed glance at Elizabeth. “What wicked little scheme have you planned, imp?”

“Why, none at all.” But her forced innocence only confirmed his suspicions. Olivia was here because of Beth. “I’m doing a good deed.”

He arched a brow.

“Her evening at the ball was ruined—you know, that whole horrible punch incident.”

Oh, he certainly knew, all right, and still felt guilty about it. “And?”

“And I wanted to make it up to her by inviting her to the tea. That’s all.”

“Why don’t I believe you?”

She gave a smallhmphof irritation and scowled. “Would I play matchmaker for you?”

“Why not? Mother and Aunt Agnes do every chance they get.”

“All right, then.” She gestured toward Olivia as if the answer were obvious. “Would I play matchmaker with someone who is so clearlywrongfor you?”

His eyes snapped back to Beth. “What’s wrong with her?”

“She’s not the kind of woman you usually pursue.”

“What do you mean by that?” His hackles were rising, despite himself.

“Oh please,” she muttered with a long sigh. “You’re exact opposites, for one. She’s a schoolmistress with an impeccable reputation, and you’re a gentleman who—”

“She’s lovely,” he interrupted, unwilling to subject himself to a critique of his faults. Or Olivia’s.

“Indeed.”

“Hard-working, brilliant, and caring to a fault, unable to deny her brother or those girls at her school anything they ask of her.”

“Certainly.”

“There is nothing wrong with her.”

Beth flashed an overly bright, knowing smile. “Andthat, dear brother,” she assured him as she patted his arm again and slipped away, “is why I’m keeping her away fromyou!”

She strolled across the terrace and held out her hands to Olivia in welcome. The two women greeted each other like old friends, all smiles and easy laughter.

Alec blew out a harsh breath.Hell.He was in tea hell. The afternoon was shaping up to be his miserable penance for the ball.

“St James!”

Mrs. Peterson rushed up to him and curtsied so deeply that the rotund woman nearly fell over. Alec grabbed her arm to steady her.

The woman panted out excited breaths. “Your mother said…I should find you immediately…and tell you all about my niece…Iphigenia Dunwoody… I thought perhaps you might be interested…”

Bloody hell.

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