Regency Christmas Pact 02 - A Gentlemen's Pact Read Online Free PDF Page B

years ago. She’d done him a favor, really, so why did he seem so angry with her now? Would he rather have been given the option to reject her?
    It wasn’t a very charitable thought, but she was certain he wouldn’t have married her after one night of passion that she’d forced him into, so it was the most logical explanation she could come up with.
    She leaned back with a sigh. The boredom was starting to settle in. The doctor had come and gone, assessing that she had only a slight injury—nothing was broken or even sprained. He did want Olivia, however, to stay off of it for a few days. That would never do, of course. She had to work. With Christmas coming, she couldn’t afford to lose the pay. Marcus would have a proper holiday with presents and a goose and all the trimmings.
    The sound of jingling bells outside drew her attention to the window. She was a bit too far away to see much of anything, but it was obvious the party was back from their ride. Butterflies took up residence in her belly, fluttering wildly about and making her a bit nauseated. What had Rowan and Marcus talked about? Did Marcus notice his resemblance to Rowan? Had he revealed that his father had passed away several years ago?
    Olivia chewed on her fingernails while she sat there alone, waiting. Part of her wished they would never come inside, but another part of her was nearly dying of anticipation to find out what had happened during the outing.
    There was a flurry of activity in the corridor as servants rushed to the foyer to assist with coats and hats and such. A cold draft snaked its way into the drawing room, followed by the jovial sounds of laughter and chatter as the party made its way into the house.
    Olivia waited, trying to settle her nerves with deep breaths. It wasn’t working, of course. But in the next moment, Marcus came barreling into the room and practically launched himself into her arms.
    “Mama!”
    Olivia laughed and squealed as his cold body collided with hers. “Goodness, Marcus, you’re frozen!”
    “I didn’t even notice the cold,” he exclaimed. “Mr. Findley and I had a grand time on the ride.”
    Rowan appeared in the doorway and Olivia’s heart skipped several whole beats. He had always been handsome, but it still took her aback whenever she laid eyes on him. He no longer wore his hat, and his dark hair was ruffled a bit. An errant curl fell over his forehead to just above his left eyebrow, giving him a boyish charm, reminding her of the night they’d met. He’d seemed so much older then—a man to her, since she was still only a girl—but seven years had turned him into a real man. And Olivia into a real woman. Her body reacted, not like a green girl’s of seventeen, but like a woman who knew of desire.
    “What did the doctor say?” Rowan asked as he crossed the room and sat down in the chair beside her. His forehead crinkled with genuine concern, but the furthest thing from Olivia’s mind right now was her blasted ankle.
    “Oh, um…I’m going to be fine, actually. He thinks I should be right as rain by tomorrow morning.” She wasn’t exactly telling the truth, but perhaps if she told the lie often enough it would come true.
    “I’m very glad to hear it.” Rowan turned to Marcus. “I think you ought to go find the others in the dining room.”
    “All right!”
    Well, blast. He wasn’t going to make this easy on her, was he?
    “Aren’t you hungry, Mr. Findley?” she asked, trying to appear as innocent as possible.
    He leveled her with an intimidating glare. “Not in the least.”
    “Oh, well…” She had to get him to leave her alone. As much as her body longed to be near him, she knew she’d tell him everything if he stayed around much longer. She couldn’t risk it. “I’m famished, myself. Would you mind bringing me a plate?”
    There. That ought to do it.
    “Certainly, Mrs. Edwards.”
    He stood and started across the room. Olivia felt triumphant. This would at least buy her a