Lady Be Reckless (Duke's Daughters #2)(27)

And why was the thought of striking Bennett coming as an afterthought to her image of striking him?

It had to be those rakish curls, she thought to herself.

“Park right over there, Clarkson,” Mr. Wolcott said to his coachman. His eyebrow was still raised in skeptical disbelief, but at least he hadn’t said they couldn’t try her plan.

She really did not like it when people refused to even try her plans. Pearl had refused more often than she had agreed, and it was only because Pearl was her twin that Olivia hadn’t stopped talking to her.

That, plus Pearl was her closest confidante, and the one person upon whom Olivia could depend.



“Toss it farther out, Mr. Wolcott.”

Olivia stood beside him, her shoulder nudging his arm as she pointed to the middle of the pond. “Do you see? That big one keeps getting all the food, and it’s not fair.” Her voice rang with righteous anger, and he had to suppress a smile.

Her sister had apparently bored long since, and was now sitting on a bench several feet away, her head bent as she worked on some sort of sewing project. It seemed odd to Edward, but perhaps that was what aristocratic ladies did—go out of doors and do needlework.

He’d have to ask Olivia when she wasn’t so riled up about the inequity of duck feeding.

He stretched forward and arced a piece of bread past where the greedy duck swam about, landing just in front of the one Olivia was championing.

The duck fluttered in the water and snatched the bread, gobbling it down even as the greedy duck whirled about in the water in an attempt to get the food.

“You bully!” Olivia had grabbed his arm and was leaning forward herself, her bonnet shielding her face from his view. “It’s not fair to take all the food.” She turned her head to him. “It’s not right.” He was startled to see her expression—pained and serious, as though the duck was responsible for all the inequity in the world.

“It’s fine, Olivia.” He placed his hand over hers, which still rested on his arm. “We took care of that duck. See?” He pointed over her head to where the now-fed duck was swimming, dipping its head in the water and wriggling its tail feathers. “It’s fine,” he said again.

She looked at him, wide-eyed, as though she didn’t fully comprehend what he was saying. And then she blinked and smiled, and he lost his thoughts also.

She was so pretty. Breathtaking, actually, especially when she was passionate about something. Which appeared to be most of the time.

“Thank you.”

He felt himself lean toward her, his gaze fixed on her mouth, only to jerk back suddenly as he realized what he’d been about to do. Kiss her. Kiss Lady Olivia, in public, in front of her sister and most of polite Society. Kiss the woman who was in love with his best friend.

He could not have conjured up a speedier way to being drummed out of Society completely than if he had completed his action.

She stared back at him, an unreadable expression on her face. Did she know what he wanted to do? What would she have done if he had kissed her?

He’d never know. He couldn’t ever find out.

Instead, he removed her hand from his arm, reaching down to pick up more bread. An excuse, of course, but it worked to snap him out of the moment.

“Yes, well, thank you for making sure that duck got its fair share.”

Her voice was soft. Was it his imagination or was it also a bit shaky?

“Over there.” She’d grabbed his arm again and was nodding vigorously, the festoons on her bonnet coming perilously close to his eyes. “That is Lady Cecilia Baxford and her father, Lord Baxford. We should make sure they see us.” She let go of him to lift her arm and wave, her whole body shaking with the effort.

She never did things by halves, did she? She was just as upset about the ducks as she was about his position in Society. Did that make him feel more or less special?

“They’ve seen us, they’re coming over.”

He turned to see a young lady and an older man stepping carefully on the path toward them. Lady Cecilia’s face froze as she looked at Edward, and he found his hands curling into fists at his side.

“Calm down,” she whispered, her fingers sliding into his, bringing both of their hands behind his back so Lady Cecilia and her father couldn’t see.

It felt delicious, something they were doing that nobody could see. It did calm him, as she’d intended. But it also made him aware of how right it felt to have her hand in his.

He reluctantly drew his fingers out from hers as she stepped forward to greet the new arrivals.

“Lady Cecilia, how delightful to see you. And Lord Baxford, you are looking well. Allow me to introduce Mr. Wolcott, who has just arrived in London.”

Edward caught his breath as he saw the older gentleman realize just who he was and weigh whether or not he should shake his hand.

And exhaled as Lord Baxford stretched his hand out and took Edward’s, giving it a weak shake, but a shake nonetheless.

“It is a pleasure, my lady,” Lord Baxford said.

“I did not realize you were acquainted with Mr. Wolcott, Lady Olivia,” Lady Cecilia said. Was it Edward’s imagination, or was her tone somewhat snide?

“But then again your family knows such . . . interesting people.”

Not his imagination.

“Yes, we do, don’t we?” Olivia replied in a bright tone, as though completely unaware of the other lady’s implication. “It is far better to be interesting than entirely predictable, wouldn’t you say?”