"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.