Page 46 of A Relentless Rake

From the corner of her eye, Olivia saw Alec reach to steady the chatty woman who had swooped down upon him like a hawk.

Oh Lord, he washere, even though Elizabeth had assured her he wouldn’t be. The Earl of St James…her masked menace.

From the way his dark gaze darted over the woman’s head to land on Olivia for a long moment before he grimaced and looked away, he was no happier to see her than she was to see him.

Good.Maybe he would keep his distance.

“Don’t worry about Alec,” Elizabeth assured her as she followed Olivia’s gaze to her brother. She led her toward a tea table at the side of the terrace where night-blooming jasmine mixed with morning glories across a brick wall. “He’s only here today because Mama asked him to help welcome the guests. I’m certain he’ll leave as soon as possible.”

Verygood.

His sister smiled with amusement at Alec’s expense. “He’ll be too busy dodging requests to call on their unmarried female relations to bother us.”

Olivia frowned. Perhapsnotso good after all. It wasn’t relief that gnawed at her then but jealousy.

“We’re all so delighted that you could attend the tea, my dear.” Lady Agnes patted her hand as she sank into the chair next to Olivia’s. “Young things like you always brighten up a gathering.”

So did Agnes, apparently. In an orange dress and yellow turban, the older woman was nearly as bright as the sun herself, and with strings of jewels dripping from around her neck and rings covering her fingers, she was also every bit as eccentric as rumors had led Olivia to believe. Lady Agnes Sinclair was uncommonly lively for a pillar of society, with an energy and vivaciousness that simply burst from her.

From her place as hostess on the other side of the terrace, Isabel Sinclair sent Olivia a welcoming smile that lit up her beautiful face. Then the countess turned her attention back to making certain that all her guests were seated and gave a silent nod to the butler to begin the service.

Clearly, Lady Elizabeth had inherited the best of her family’s traits—the beauty of her mother and the exuberance of her aunt. But thankfully none of the dark brooding of her brother.

Olivia sat back as a footman placed a plate covered with tiny cakes and sandwiches in front of her. Another footman placed a teacup and saucer beside the plate. The butler followed behind with a teapot, pouring out each cup. The men moved through the forest of small tables like a well-trained army in synchronized battle maneuvers.

She turned her attention back to the table to find Lady Agnes studying her closely. From the other side of her, so was Lady Elizabeth. Good heavens! She felt like an animal on display at the Tower menagerie.

Olivia cleared her throat. “Thank you both for inviting me.”

“It was the least we could do after your evening at the ball was ruined,” Elizabeth answered.

“Oh, yes! The punch. Strange incident, that.” Agnes frowned. “I’ve been watching Captain Reed quite closely since he returned from the wars. Usually, the man is much more graceful.”

Captain Reed. So that was the name of her punch perpetrator. But Olivia couldn’t blame him for ruining her evening when it was another man who’d truly done that. She placed her napkin on her lap and assured them, “It was an accident.”

“Well, yes.” Agnes reached for a cucumber sandwich. “But Elizabeth’s dress was completely ruined.”

“Oh?” Olivia lifted the teacup to her lips and turned toward Elizabeth. “Did something happen to you at the ball as well?”

“Not at all.” Elizabeth smiled and nibbled at a lemon biscuit.

Olivia turned back toward Agnes again for clarification. “What did—”

Her gaze accidentally landed on Alec, who stared boldly at her from his chair. His heated gaze melted into a frown.

She glanced away but not before a flush rose in her cheeks.

Agnes leaned toward her, shoulder to shoulder. “I would warn you about my nephew,” she said in a low voice, “but you’ve nothing to fear. He’s not at all the rake that society portrays him to be.”

“That’s good to—”

“But he used to be absolutely terrible! Could have given the Prince of Wales a run for his money when it came to women, drink, and gambling.” Lady Agnes swept an assessing look over her. “Besides, you’re not at all his sort.”

Olivia caught her breath on an unexpected pang of disappointment. “Oh?”

“Intelligent and proper.” Agnes sighed wearily. “Unfortunately, he prefers women who are frivolous, sadly lacking in intellect, and far too simpering.”

“I see.” Olivia dropped her attention to her tea.