Page 68 of The Duke's Stubborn Wallflower
And sopping wet, he turned on his heel and headed into the night.It is time to reclaim my wife.
Chapter Twenty-Three
A Most Unusual Alarm
Olivia was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling above her. She had been trying to sleep for hours, but all she could think was that tomorrow would have been her wedding day.Or perhaps today. God, I have no idea what time it is.
She closed her eyes, trying to force sleep to come. There was a soft tap at the window.Probably just my imagination.But when she heard it again, Olivia opened her eyes. Was she hearing voices?
“Please tell me I have not broken my mind and my heart,” Olivia murmured, pulling the covers over her head. “Although perhaps if I am mad, this will hurt less.”
Two more taps at her window. Then a third.Was that a dog barking?
“Olivia!” a voice seemed to be shouting.
“Oh good, now I am hearing voices. Go away. Leave me in peace.” Olivia batted a hand at the air as though this could make the phantom madness leave.
A loud thunk and crack sounded at her window, followed by the sound of cursing and a dog barking. Her eyes flew open. Outside, it sounded like a man was whistling a tune, an achingly familiar whistle and tune. The dog had begun to howl.Is that Dandelion?
“What on Earth is going on?” Olivia muttered to herself as she drew her dressing gown around her and moved to the window.
As she threw open the curtain, she saw the large crack in the windowpane and winced. Carefully, she opened it and peered out, trying to understand exactly what was going on.
Nigel was staring up at her with Dandelion at his feet.Why on Earth is he sopping wet?Behind him, looking like he deeply regretted being here, was Alexander.
“Olivvviiiiiiiaaaaaaa!” Nigel called again. “I am sorry!”.
“Nigel? What are you doing here? Were you throwing rocks at my window??” Olivia shook her head. “Were you not content with breaking my heart? Did you need to break my window as well.”
Nigel winced, but Olivia could not find it in her to feel pity.How dare he show up like this in the middle of the night.Something else stirred in her chest, but she refused to acknowledge it. Instead, she fed her anger.
“The pebbles didn’t seem to be getting me anywhere, and I really needed to speak to you.” Nigel ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll pay for the glass, of course.”
“You’re going to wake the entire estate,” Olivia hissed at him.
“I… I know, but… damn it, this couldn’t wait.”
“What couldn’t wait?” Olivia folded her arms across her chest.
“Would you let me come in so that we might speak privately?” Nigel asked.
Olivia shook her head, preparing to close the window yet finding her hands unwilling to obey her. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“My cousin has been trying to kill me!” yelled Nigel.
“WHAT?!” Olivia yelled, completely forgetting that this would definitely wake the entire house.“If this is some plot to force me to speak to you, you should come up with a better lie.”
“He is telling the truth, Olive,” Alexander spoke, his voice carrying across the grounds. “I was there. I heard theconfession.” Olivia was fairly certain she could hear the sounds of footsteps and voices throughout the house, but she did not care. Blood thundered through her ears.Lord Briston tried to kill Nigel.
“Don’t you see what this means?” Nigel called, earnestly.
Olivia hardened her heart. “That your cousin is a murderer?”
“That I am not cursed. I never was.” Nigel shook his head and said with a hope that almost broke Olivia’s heart, “I am not dying.”
He’s not dying.“How do you know there is no curse?” Olivia asked.This doesn’t change anything. Does it?
Nigel had still lied to her. Even if there was no curse, the news of his cousin’s treachery was awful, but the curse had not been what drove them apart. Still, some part of Olivia could not withdraw from the window.
