of the question. Although visions of his head smacking into a low branch, and his unseated aristocratic arse landing in the mud did bring a pleasant smile to her lips.
“Unfortunately, my lord, I have brought no riding clothes with me.” She lifted her chin, ready to dismiss him and return to Elizabeth.
“Well here’s where you’ve got off to.” A tall handsome man, blond against Jason’s dark coloring, startled them both. He slapped Jason on the back and looked pointedly at Olivia. “May I have the pleasure of being made known to this lovely lady?”
Olivia and Jason both stood. “Lady Olivia, please allow me to introduce Lord Stafford.”
He bowed over Olivia’s hand. “Your servant.”
Olivia smiled at Stafford and turned to Jason. “I would like to return to Lady Lansdowne, my lord, but I’m afraid I don’t remember which direction to find her.”
“As you wish.” Jason held her elbow, and eased her through the throng, Lord Stafford on their heels.
Olivia breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted Elizabeth anxiously scanning the crowd.
“Lady Lansdowne, a pleasure as always.” Stafford bowed to her. Elizabeth returned his smile and presented her hand for his kiss.
“Olivia, are you all right? You look a little flushed.” Her friend peered at her with concern.
Olivia didn’t think she would ever feel right again after this evening’s humiliation. If it wasn’t unladylike, she would relieve a passing footman of his empty tray and smack it against Lord Arrogant’s head. Let him make from that what he would.
“Actually, I do feel a bit lightheaded. Would you mind terribly if we left? I’m afraid I’m not yet used to the crowds.” She took Elizabeth’s arm.
Elizabeth patted her hand. “Not at all, I’ll have Grif summon the carriage.”
“I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, my lady.” Jason bowed to her.
“It’s nothing. Perhaps in time I will become accustomed to London.”
Elizabeth nodded at the two gentlemen and they made their exit.
“Elizabeth I think I’m going to faint.” Olivia panted as she grasped Elizabeth’s forearm.
“No you’re not,” she returned. “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
Truth be known, Olivia wasn’t used to the crowds of London. Or anywhere else for that matter. Having spent a quiet, contemplative life with her father, the smells and heat of the ballroom smothered her, gave her a feeling of not having enough air to breathe. How in heaven’s name did these people handle such events all the time? Right now she longed for the comfort and quiet of her room at Lansdowne House, a roaring fire, a cup of tea, and her favorite night rail.
The two women made their way through the crowd to the entrance hall. Elizabeth addressed a footman stationed at the door. “Will you please find a seat for Lady Olivia while I locate my husband? And please have Lord Lansdowne’s carriage brought around immediately.”
The young footman quickly provided a chair and Olivia sank into it.
What in heaven’s name am I going to do now? Coventry wants to accompany me on a ride?
A mere five minutes later Elizabeth returned, Grif on her heels. The women’s wraps handed over, the three descended the stairs, Grif solicitously holding firmly onto a now shaky Olivia.
“I’m so sorry to cut your evening short, my lord. I’m sure I can see myself home, and you can return to your entertainment.”
“Nonsense.” Grif tapped on the roof of the coach and they started forward. “Elizabeth will tell you I would much rather relax in my comfortable chair in front of the fire in my library, my wife by my side, than attend a ball.” He chuckled and squeezed Elizabeth’s hand.
Olivia leaned back and closed her eyes. The occupants of the carriage remained silent for the rest of the ride. In facing Jason again, it had never occurred to her he wouldn’t even remember her. Indeed he’d been very drunk at their wedding, and she had heard such
“Unfortunately, my lord, I have brought no riding clothes with me.” She lifted her chin, ready to dismiss him and return to Elizabeth.
“Well here’s where you’ve got off to.” A tall handsome man, blond against Jason’s dark coloring, startled them both. He slapped Jason on the back and looked pointedly at Olivia. “May I have the pleasure of being made known to this lovely lady?”
Olivia and Jason both stood. “Lady Olivia, please allow me to introduce Lord Stafford.”
He bowed over Olivia’s hand. “Your servant.”
Olivia smiled at Stafford and turned to Jason. “I would like to return to Lady Lansdowne, my lord, but I’m afraid I don’t remember which direction to find her.”
“As you wish.” Jason held her elbow, and eased her through the throng, Lord Stafford on their heels.
Olivia breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted Elizabeth anxiously scanning the crowd.
“Lady Lansdowne, a pleasure as always.” Stafford bowed to her. Elizabeth returned his smile and presented her hand for his kiss.
“Olivia, are you all right? You look a little flushed.” Her friend peered at her with concern.
Olivia didn’t think she would ever feel right again after this evening’s humiliation. If it wasn’t unladylike, she would relieve a passing footman of his empty tray and smack it against Lord Arrogant’s head. Let him make from that what he would.
“Actually, I do feel a bit lightheaded. Would you mind terribly if we left? I’m afraid I’m not yet used to the crowds.” She took Elizabeth’s arm.
Elizabeth patted her hand. “Not at all, I’ll have Grif summon the carriage.”
“I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, my lady.” Jason bowed to her.
“It’s nothing. Perhaps in time I will become accustomed to London.”
Elizabeth nodded at the two gentlemen and they made their exit.
“Elizabeth I think I’m going to faint.” Olivia panted as she grasped Elizabeth’s forearm.
“No you’re not,” she returned. “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
Truth be known, Olivia wasn’t used to the crowds of London. Or anywhere else for that matter. Having spent a quiet, contemplative life with her father, the smells and heat of the ballroom smothered her, gave her a feeling of not having enough air to breathe. How in heaven’s name did these people handle such events all the time? Right now she longed for the comfort and quiet of her room at Lansdowne House, a roaring fire, a cup of tea, and her favorite night rail.
The two women made their way through the crowd to the entrance hall. Elizabeth addressed a footman stationed at the door. “Will you please find a seat for Lady Olivia while I locate my husband? And please have Lord Lansdowne’s carriage brought around immediately.”
The young footman quickly provided a chair and Olivia sank into it.
What in heaven’s name am I going to do now? Coventry wants to accompany me on a ride?
A mere five minutes later Elizabeth returned, Grif on her heels. The women’s wraps handed over, the three descended the stairs, Grif solicitously holding firmly onto a now shaky Olivia.
“I’m so sorry to cut your evening short, my lord. I’m sure I can see myself home, and you can return to your entertainment.”
“Nonsense.” Grif tapped on the roof of the coach and they started forward. “Elizabeth will tell you I would much rather relax in my comfortable chair in front of the fire in my library, my wife by my side, than attend a ball.” He chuckled and squeezed Elizabeth’s hand.
Olivia leaned back and closed her eyes. The occupants of the carriage remained silent for the rest of the ride. In facing Jason again, it had never occurred to her he wouldn’t even remember her. Indeed he’d been very drunk at their wedding, and she had heard such
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