"Lucy, where are you?" Olivia hollered.
"She's hiding," came her husband's voice as he pulled her into the
25 March 1820Rome, ItalyJacob was lounging on a chair and Mrs. Valentina Lombardi, the most sought after courtesan in Rome was sprawled on his lap, her lush body pressed to his as she tried to coax a reaction out of him. He knew all the other men watching him envied him. But for the life of him, he couldn't muster any enthusiasm for the act.
What Jacob saw when he went through the door stopped him in his tracks. His breath whooshed out of him. That ghost of a man, only skin and bones couldn't possibly be his uncle. Uncle had been a large man, he'd been robust. But this man looking at him with his eyes stark against his pale, lifeless face...
Mayfair, London"I am not wearing that gown, Aunt Mel. It's practically indecent!" Olivia groaned. "Of course not! Why do you say that?" her aunt demanded, dangling a maroon taffeta gown before Olivia's eyes. It was beautiful, no doubt. "For one, the bodice is so low that my breasts might pop out at any time."
"Archie, can we please sit out the next set?" Olivia didn't want to dance anymore. "Fine by me. If we dance one more set together, these people will most definitely call out the banns and print the news of our betrothal in The Times," he rolled his eyes. "But what's wrong? You love to dance," he eyed her. "I do, but my legs hurt," the lie slipped out easily enough. As the set was abou
7 years ago. 13 June 1813Derbyshire, EnglandOlivia grunted as another pebble slipped into her slipper. It appeared like she had gone momentarily daft when she'd chosen her dainty slippers instead of the sturdy boots for her jaunt by the countryside.
Jacob couldn't help but like this girl and he was having a fine time baiting her. He chuckled when she began to stammer again. "There is no need to be afraid, I am not going to harm you," he said, using his placating tone. She looked up at him then, raising her face to look at him for the first time since he had come upon her. "I am not afraid,
The evening after the Sutherland ball, 1821"How did you like Lady Olivia?" Peter asked. "She seems fine." "Fine? She's wonderful, Jacob. How can you even think about hurting her? Do you not think she's gone through a lot already?" An ugly frown wrinkled Pete's brow.
Good god, had she loved the man? Jacob had not really planned this out as thoroughly as he would've liked. He'd seen her in the park and he'd improvised, although not well enough...He certainly shouldn't want to know why her fiancé had runoff. He wasn't supposed to care. But he cared, dammit. He wanted to learn all her secrets and he wanted to kill the sod for hurting her so. You're going to hurt her too.
data-p-id=2a60d748418ea8a4eb3d294edc56518f,"Lucy, where are you?" Olivia hollered. data-p-id=5d08697369b2ec9e3a8c603053a68e35,"She's hiding," came her husband's voice as he pulled her into the
"You look absolutely stunning, darling," Aunt Mel sighed wistfully, tucking in some pink blossoms into Olivia's coiffure. She smiled. Somethings never changed. "And you," Olivia grinned, kissing her aunt's cheek affectionately. "Oh Aunt Mel, don't cry!" she groaned when a few tears escaped the woman's eyes.
A lot could change in less than a day, Olivia discovered the day after Jacob’s trial. For one, her father had refused to acknowledge her after calling her 'another Townshend bitch.' Although it had hurt quite a bit, she figured she was better off without him anyway. Jacob had tried to talk to her but she had rebuffed his efforts. She had just discovered that her father had been responsib
Jacob had gone through a week of hell. So he couldn't be blamed for thinking he was suddenly in heaven when he saw Olivia walk into the courtroom. She took his breath away, dressed in a simple morning gown with her hair pulled back under a hat. But the surprise and pleasure lasted only for a moment. Because after that it was replaced by fear. She was either here to testify against or for
"George, please darling. You must eat," Melissa pleaded with her fiancé. data-p-id=73562c872f390bc18a836fc4b1cf93e0,style=text-align:left;,"Eat? How can I eat when my neph
When Olivia awoke, it was quite late—almost noon. She found a note lying beside her. I'll be back in a day, it read. She sighed, missing Jacob already but glad he'd thought to leave a note. And it was only a day, she tried to pacify herself.
Jacob felt like someone had poured a bucket of ice-cold water onto his head and without a warning, at that. "He took it in exchange for settling a debt?" he asked, needing to be sure if he'd heard her right. She nodded, her eyes pitying. He didn't know what to say. He took the necklace dangling from her hands–his mother's necklace and motioned her to turn around. He put it against her ne
Although he was right beside her, Olivia felt like he was very far from her. And what worried her was that she might never find a way to bring him back. They were both solemn when they reached Remington hall. As it turned out, Lord Merrick and Winifred had won the treasure hunt. Nobody questioned Olivia and Jacob about their whereabouts. Jacob quietly excused himself and disappeared into
"What do you think?" Olivia asked Jacob who was reading the clue with nary a wrinkle upon his brow. "The hunting lodge," he said confidently. "What? Allow me to read it," she reached for the piece of paper that held the riddle which would direct them to their next clue. He moved his hand away from her reach and Olivia instinctively went after it, inadvertently pressing up against him with a mu