by Julia Parks
Sir Richard took Olivia’s arm, and Lord Sheridan hesitated.
“Going to call it a night, too, old boy?” asked Sir Richard.
“No, I…I will stay for a little while longer,” he said, following along after them.
With a glance over her shoulder, Olivia allowed Sir Richard to escort her back to the ballroom. They stood at the edge of the floor while the dancers finished the line dance they were performing. When the music began again, it was another waltz.
“I don’t know if I should,” said Olivia. “To dance two waltzes with the same gentleman might be considered fast.”
“She has a point,” said Lord Sheridan.
“Nonsense. Not when we are only friends,” said Sir Richard. Still, she hung back, and he added, “We are friends, are we not, my lady?”
Looking into his eyes, Olivia couldn’t help but smile. Glancing at Lord Sheridan, she said, “If you will excuse us, my lord?”
Then she placed her hand on Sir Richard’s shoulder and followed his lead onto the floor.
Observing them with a sour look on his face, Sheridan started when Amy Hepplewhite appeared at his elbow and commented, “They make such a lovely couple.”
“Do you think so?”
“Yes.”
“He is a rake, you know.”
“Olivia has dealt with her share of rakes and rascals,” said the older woman with a laugh.
“Nevertheless, I should warn her. When she finishes this dance, I will ask her for the next and tell her just enough about Richard’s reputation with the ladies to warn her.”
“You may do as you wish, of course, but I do hope you plan to dance with other ladies, too.”
“No, why should I wish to do that?”
Amy shrugged and said, “The handsome Marquess of Sheridan attends a ball without his cane and dances for the first time in years. Once with his old friend and twice with my niece. We shall have half of London on our doorstep tomorrow, sniffing out the latest on-dit.”
“So you are saying that in order to do what is right by your niece, I must dance with some of these colourless young ladies.”
“That is precisely what I am saying. Everyone will still be wondering why you have suddenly taken to dancing, but no one will link your name and Olivia’s.”
Leaning closer, he whispered, “Very well, my dear Amy, but it is only my noble and chivalrous character that is enabling me to accomplish this mission.”
“Bon chance, Sheri,” she whispered in return.
He took the hand of the first miss he came across, begging for the honour of a dance. After hasty introductions, permission was granted and he led her onto the floor.
Sheridan wasted no time in manoeuvring himself and his partner toward Lady Olivia and Richard. She was laughing at something his friend had said. He backed his partner into another couple and threw them all a hasty apology.
Getting close to his target again, he overheard his friend say, “You cannot deny me, my lady.”
“Can I not? My, but you…”
Other dancers came between them, and Sheridan ground his teeth in frustration. “Hell and blast! ” he muttered.
Glancing down, he realized his partner was trembling. He apologized and spent the rest of the dance uttering trivial civilities just to appease her wounded sensibilities. After all, it wouldn’t do to have it bruited about that he talked to himself.
Finally, the dance was over, and Sheridan was able to return the nameless miss to her chaperon. After several agonizing minutes of polite conversation, he bowed and escaped. He then tried to fight his way through the crowd to Olivia, but she was already on the floor for the next set with another partner.
Again, Sheridan found another lady to partner and then joined the square where Olivia chatted with Mr. Thomas, waiting for the musicians to begin. Sheridan was rehearsing what he would say to the beautiful Lady Olivia, but his partner for the quadrille was nothing like the tongue-tied miss of the previous dance. Interrupting his ruminations, she put her hand on his forearm and ran it up his sleeve with a seductive purr.
“I was hoping you would remember me,” she said.
With a quick frown, he said, “Of course I remember you, Lady Givens. I knew your husband quite well. I was sorry to hear of his passing.”
She shrugged and pouted at him. “I do not want to talk about him. Let us talk about you, Sheridan.”
He stiffened, but she didn’t appear to notice. He breathed a sigh of relief when the music started.
“Perhaps you could come by tomorrow. I am having a little gathering of friends in the afternoon.”
“Hm,” he said, keeping his eyes on Lady Olivia.
“I keep a very good brandy,” she purred.
“Uh huh,” he replied.
Finally, the steps brought him face-to-face with Lady Olivia. She smiled, and he growled.
Lifting her brows in surprise, she asked, “Whatever is the matter, my lord?”
“I have to warn you about Richard.”
“Warn me? Why would you need to do that?”
“You don’t know him like I do. He is a rake, and…”
The steps required him to return her to Mr. Thomas, and he did so reluctantly. Lady Givens rattled on as they turned this way and that. The movements separated them, and Sheridan took a turn with one of the other ladies. Finally, he took Lady Olivia’s hand again.
“You must be careful, my lady. You do not know how he can twist his words, until he has you…”
With a gay laugh, Lady Olivia said, “Lord Sheridan, I assure you that I can handle Sir Richard. I know all about harmless flirtations.”
“Richard is not harmless.”
They were separated once more. When they finally met again for a brief exchange, Sheridan redoubled his efforts.
“He is very adept at the art of seduction.”
Again she laughed, and he wished for a moment that he could put his hands on her pretty shoulders and shake her until her teeth rattled.
“Lord Sheridan, have no fear. In truth, I look forward to my encounters with Sir Richard. What’s more, I hope to be able to teach him a few lessons.”
Gaping with indignation, Sheridan returned to his partner. One glance at his furious face, and Lady Givens fell silent. When the dance ended, Sheridan bowed over the lady’s hand and left the ball, propelled by his insupportable fury.
If anyone had asked him, he would not have been able to express the extent of his rage. He wanted very much to throttle both his friend and the foolish Lady Olivia. There she was, a delicate flower, playing with fire. She had no sense, no common sense at all. First, it was light skirts at Vauxhall, and now rakes and seduction.
And she thought she could handle them all.
“Hell and blast!” he raged, causing his coachman to pull up and ask if he should stop.
“Good God, no! Take me home.” When the carriage was under way again, he muttered, “If I didn’t have windmills in my head, I ought to have him take me all the way home to Sheridan Hall! ”
Olivia fell backward onto the bed and wrapped her arms around herself. Hawkeye, who had been asleep on the pillow, sprang to his feet and hissed. When he saw the disturbance was only his mistress, he stretched and ambled closer. A wide smile on her face, Olivia turned on her side and gathered the cat close.
“You have no idea how happy I am,” she said. “I know that he did not actually say anything lover-like, but he is so sweet to be concerned about Sir Richard’s intentions.
“Oh, I know what you are thinking. I have had other jealous suitors, but those were just boys who fancied themselves in love with me. It is not at all the same. Though he may not be conscious of it himself, Lord Sheridan is beginning to have feelings for me—warm feelings.”
She snuggled with the cat until he began to struggle. Letting him go, she sat up, blew out the candle, and climbed back into bed.
Closing her eyes, Olivia tried to sleep, but that silly grin kept her from relaxing. As the minutes ticked away toward dawn, she daydreamed about a house in the country, with Sheridan and his children, and perhaps a babe in her arms.
Sheridan found his friend at their club, in the reading room.
“Good morning, Sheri,” said Richard, glancing up from his newspaper.
“Good afternoon, you mean,” said Sheridan.
“As you wish. Do sit down. It makes a fellow feel quite insignificant having such a tall person lurking over him—rather like a predator looking down on his prey.”
Sheridan sat down. Taking his cane, he carefully pushed aside the newspaper, causing Richard to look up in surprise.
“Did you wish to speak to me? I assure you I can listen and read at the same time. Or have you forgotten how adept I was at school, listening to the teacher at the same time I drew lewd pictures for your amusement?”
Sheridan couldn’t help but smile, but his eyes grew serious again, and he said, “I want a word or two with you, and I would like your undivided attention.”
Richard set aside his paper. “Very well. I am all attention.”
“It is about Lady Olivia,” said Sheridan, lowering his voice so that no one would hear.
“A beautiful woman but one who has been too long on the shelf. I think she is ripe for the picking.”
“I know that I am not related to her in any way, but as she does not have a protector, I feel I must ask you to define your intentions toward the lady.”
“Protector? A strange word to choose. Isn’t that term more for a mistress and her…beau?”
“Never mind my terminology. Answer the question. Are your intentions honourable?”
“My intentions are my own business, but I will say this—my intentions depend entirely on the lady in question. They will be as dishonourable as she allows. And unless you plan to make her your responsibility in truth, I think you should leave well enough alone.”
“Make her my responsibility? Why would I wish to do that?” asked Sheridan.
“You tell me,” said Richard.
‘There is no need. You know how I feel about marriage. Once was more than enough for me.”
“So you have always said and continue to say. However, your actions do not reflect it. So, my old friend, before you ask me to call off my pursuit of the most delightful and stunning Lady Olivia, you must decide what your interest in the lady is. Until then, I bid you good day.”
Richard rose and left the room. The wind taken out of his sails for the moment, Sheridan only sat there.
What could he say to Richard’s objections? He was not ready to answer those questions. He only knew he did not want his friend to succeed.
Richard had always had the women flock to him. He was a charmer, but Sheridan was convinced that for Olivia, Richard spelled only trouble.
He wracked his brain for some solution. After a moment, he snapped his fingers and rose, leaving the club and going home for his carriage before making his way to Lady Olivia’s house.
She was out when he arrived, just as he had hoped.
Instead, he asked the butler to present his card to Amy. Waiting in the rose-coloured drawing room, he paced back and forth.
“Lord Sheridan, what a delightful surprise. And you asked for me specifically?”
“Indeed I did,” he replied, bowing over her hand. “I was hoping to have a few words with you in private. I know it is improper of me, but I would like to speak to you about your niece, and I don’t want her to overhear.”
“Oh, dear, Olivia is due to return at any moment. She only went to the shops for a few minutes.”
“Perhaps we could go for a drive together?”
“The perfect solution. Only wait a moment while I go and put on my bonnet.”
She was gone only a few minutes, but while she was out of the room, Sheridan heard the front door open, followed by the sound of voices.
Olivia and Richard entered the drawing room.
“Good afternoon, Lord Sheridan,” she said, coming up to him and giving him her hand. She was wearing a yellow carriage dress with a floral shawl draped around her shoulders. She looked as fresh as spring.
“Good afternoon, Lady Olivia.”
“Hello again, Sheri,” said Richard. “Wasn’t it lucky of me to leave the club and run straight into Lady Olivia at the draper’s?”
Sheridan responded to his friend with the merest nod.
“Are you here to see me?” asked Lady Olivia.
“No, I came to take your aunt for a drive. We made plans last night,” he lied. “Ah, here she is now.”
“Good afternoon, Sir Richard. How wonderful to see you again. Lord Sheridan and I were just going out, I’m afraid. I’m sure Olivia will offer you refreshments.”
Sheridan made a choking sound and said, “Perhaps we should stay, Miss Hepplewhite. Would it be quite proper for Lady Olivia to entertain a gentleman here alone?”
Richard leered at Lady Olivia, but she missed his wolfish expression as she glared at Sheridan.
“Am I not visible today?” she demanded. “Why do you speak as though I were not in the room? If you wish to know what I think, then ask me.”
Amy settled matters by saying, “This is all nonsense, my dear. Lord Sheridan, Olivia is past the age where one must be so very careful. Sir Richard is a gentleman, as well as a friend.”
“Hear that, Sheri? I am a gentleman and a friend.”
“I hope you will remember both,” muttered Sheridan.
“Very well. We should be going then. Good day, Lady Olivia.”
“Good day, my lord,” came the frosty reply.
When Sheridan had Amy settled in the carriage and they were under way, he said, “The reason I am concerned about your niece, Miss Hepplewhite…”
“I thought I was to be called Amy when we were private?”
“Very well, Amy. The reason I am concerned about your niece is Sir Richard.”
“Such a delightful man. What about him?”
“He is not the saint you seem to think him.”
“I never thought that he was. On the contrary, he is a great deal too amusing to be a saint. A saint would be unspeakably dull, and Sir Richard is frightfully merry. I find his company enormously amusing, and so does Olivia.”
“And that is the problem. She is so busy being amused that she does not realize he is quite dangerous to her reputation.”
“A rake, is he?”
“Most assuredly.”
“Hm, that may not be all to the bad, Sheri. So far, Olivia has not found anyone else quite so interesting—except you, but I think she merely feels sorry for you.”
“Sorry? For me?” he gasped, almost dropping the ribbons. He guided the horses through the park gates and then pulled them up short. Turning to face her, he demanded, “Why the devil would anyone feel sorry for me?”
“Let me see. You rarely smile, and you are rather silent. I mean, rumour has it that you are still grieving the loss of your wife some ten years ago.”
“No, I do not smile like an idiot all the time. And silent, I grant you that one. But let me assure you, Amy, I am not grieving over Anne. I never really did, and so you may tell everyone you know and see.”
“Please do not be angry, Sheri,” she said, placing a gloved hand on his sleeve.
He covered her hand with his and then patted it. “I am not angry just amazed at how very gullible people can be. I do not smile because I see very little to smile about—especially here in London. And to be truthful, I worry about people who smile all the time. Your niece, for e
xample. Until getting to know her better, I thought she was nothing but a shatter-brained pea-goose, or worse—an incurable coquette. I thought it had to be one or the other, the way she always smiles and laughs at those obnoxious young coxcombs she manages to find for dancing partners.”
“Olivia? I have never heard of such! She is the kindest person you will ever meet, but she is not a pea-goose or a coquette. She is really very shrewd. How else could she keep so many charities afloat?”
Sheridan picked up the ribbons and sent the horses along the path. “Very well. I will accept your assessment of the lady’s wisdom where such matters are concerned. However, she is still an innocent, is she not?”
“An…of course she is!”
“Then she is no match for Richard’s seductive charms.”
“I think you are worrying needlessly, Sheri, but what is it you want of me?”
“I want you to let me know if she begins disappearing for hours at a time, acting secretive about her absence, and daydreaming all the time. Olivia may think he means marriage, but I must doubt it. Will you keep a watchful eye out?”
“Yes, I will do that, but I think your worries will come to nothing.”
“Then you will be able to say, ‘I told you so.’ Until then, we will strive to keep Olivia safe.”
“That is the second time you have called her simply ‘Olivia.’”
“I am feeling rather like a big brother to the lady, that is all,” he said gruffly. This was the second time in a matter of hours that someone had questioned his motives, and he really did not like it.
“Of course,” said Amy, smiling up at him.
In the next few days, Sheridan marshalled his forces in his attempt to keep Lady Olivia safe from his friend. He summoned Butters, a Bow Street Runner who often earned extra money working for him, and put him on duty tailing his friend, Richard.
