Page 44 of The Duke's Stubborn Wallflower
Olivia opened her mouth to respond, but Alexander was right. They were not engaged or even married.Do I even want to be?Olivia glanced at Nigel, hoping he might be of some help.
“Olivia, you know what kind of scandal this kind of wanto—” Alexander stopped himself and cleared his throat, “this kind of behaviour is likely to cause. What if someone else had seen you?”
Olivia’s heart twisted.Alexander knows too well what kind of trouble that can bring — it is after all, how he and Rose found each other.Though as Olivia thought this, she could not help but to reflect that the match had worked out rather well for both of them.
“More to the point, what would have happened if I had not found you?” Alexander’s face was a mix of fury and embarrassment.
Olivia felt her cheeks redden. The strange, giddiness within her wanted to sayI suspect more kissing.The sensible, rational side of her instead said, “Nothing would have happened; it was just a brief kiss in the privacy of my own home.”
“A kiss that would ruin you. Maxton would walk away unscathed, but you, dear sister, would be ruined.” Alexander glared at Nigel. “I thought that he held me and my family in such high esteem that he would not seek to cause such harm.”
“I am my own person.”Why does every man in my life insist on making my mind up for me?Olivia thumped Alexander. “That you think so little of me and my wit is distressing brother. The Duke did not force himself upon me —”
“I would never do something like that.” Nigel looked at Olivia rather than Alexander, a steel in his eyes that made her heart stutter. “Not ever.”
“Hold your tongue,” Alexander spat.
“Brother, you are being ridiculous. You can hardly demand an explanation and then tell Ni— the Duke to hold his tongue.” Olivia only just stopped herself from rolling her eyes. “Honestly, you are being rather hysterical.”
“Do not continue to make light of this, Sister-mine. What he has done…” Alexander clenched his jaw in an effort to contain his anger. “If anyone else were to discover this, it would be all over the ton. Any hope for your future, for happiness and marriage, would vanish. You know this.”
“Of course, I know that. I live it every day.” Olivia felt her irritation rise.
“You of all people, should know that you can ill afford for such things to happen.” Alexander pointed an accusing finger at Nigel. “Though you, Sister, have the excuse of youthfulness; Maxton does not. On his honour as a gentleman, he should not have behaved as he did.”
“Rokesby, I am sorry.” Nigel sighed. “I do not know what else to say, I —”
“No…” Alexander made to move towards Nigel, but Olivia darted in front of him. “I do not want your apologies. I want you to do the honourable thing. Youwillmarry my sister.”
Olivia’s heart skittered. “No, I do not want the Duke to be forced into a life with me. I do not want any man to be forced to marry me.”I want to be chosen.
“It matters little what you want. With what has transpired, there can be only one honourable course of action.” Alexander’s voice was a low growl. “Maxton will marry you.”
Olivia turned to look at Nigel, who met her gaze. She saw the anguish in his eyes and felt her heart break.He does not want to marry me.
“I have already told you, Rokesby. I cannot marry your sister.” Nigel’s body slumped as he said it.
Alexander made a grab for Nigel once more, but Olivia was in his way. She glared at her brother, trying to ignore the pain she felt.
“What do you mean you cannot marry her?” Alexander’s voice was full of cold fury. “How dare you toy with her emotions so!”
Nigel shook his head. “I should not have kissed her. It was wrong of me.”
“Then you regret it?” Olivia’s voice was small, and she could not keep the pain from it.
Nigel met her eyes sadly. “Were the world a different place, I would not. It is not the kiss that I regret, but the harm it might cause you. I have no wish to hurt you.”
“Then marry her.” Alexander insisted mulishly.
Olivia ignored him. “I have no wish to be hurt.”
“Whether or not you wish it, hurt will surely follow if news of this spreads.” Alexander shook his head. “I cannot confess tounderstanding what has transpired, but one thing I do know is that we cannot allow for this breach of propriety to go unchallenged. Maxton must marry you. There is no other way.”
“It was just a kiss. Hardly the most scandalous thing to have happened between Nigel and myself,” Olivia said without thinking, her patience finally at its breaking point.
There was a moment of silence as Nigel’s eyes widened. Belatedly Olivia’s mind caught up to her mouth, and with dawning horror, she realised what she had done.
Alexander’s eyes widened in shock and then narrowed in fury, his voice barely more than a whisper as he hissed, “What exactly do you mean by that, Olivia? Do you mean to imply this is not the first time you have been… intimate?”
