bottle and perhaps another one as well. She brought the glass to her lips, then remembered she would need a clear head to be firm in her resolve to move out of her London residence when she returned home, so she lowered the glass to her thigh. ‘This room is lovely,’ she said, changing the subject.
‘So this is how it is to be. I am excellent at keeping secrets. Should you choose to confide in me, I will be willing to listen.’
‘I appreciate that, Janvier, I do. However, I think it best if we do not discuss it.’
‘If you have not come to confide in me, what does bring you to my door? Not that I am unhappy you are here, but you can understand why I am curious.’
‘I’m sorry to say I will not be able to attend the theatre this evening.’
An unreadable expression crossed his face before he took another slow sip of wine. ‘I will not lie and say I am not disappointed.’
‘I am disappointed as well and I was hoping to introduce you to the Prince Regent, but circumstances are preventing me from attending.’
He sat up straight, no longer appearing the epitome of relaxed elegance. ‘Has His Grace forbidden you from being seen with me?’
‘No, that isn’t it.’
‘Then help me to understand. He does not like you spending time with me. I have seen it colour his expression when we are together.’
She shifted uncomfortably at his prodding and looked down at her glass. ‘You’re wrong. His Grace is not a jealous man. Of that, I can assure you.’
‘You are mistaken. He is a man not accustomed to having what is his taken away.’
This discussion was pouring salt into her open wound. She needed to change the subject. She remembered seeing trunks in the entrance hall when she arrived. ‘Are you leaving London?’
‘I will be returning to Paris for a time to visit friends. Are you certain I cannot persuade you to change your mind about this evening?’
‘I am certain, however I have no wish to deprive you of such wonderful entertainment.’ Reaching into her reticule, Olivia pulled out two tokens for her box at the theatre. She held them out to Janvier. When he went to take them, she snatched her hand back.
‘I have one condition. You must tell me about the performance when next we see one another.’
‘Agreed.’
Clinking their glasses together, they raised them to their lips in unison. The warm spicy wine slid down her throat smoothly. There was an intensity rolling off her companion. Not for the first time since arriving here did Olivia question her decision to deliver the tokens herself.
‘As you are aware,’ she said, ‘my box is to the left of the royal box. The hallway can become crowded with people hoping to catch sight of the royal family. It’s best to arrive early, if possible, to avoid the crush.’
‘The idea of becoming lost in a crowd does not distress me.’
She took another sip, this time a longer one, and she felt her body begin to soften into the gold brocade cushion. ‘I hope you enjoy your evening. Although I realise it is late, please ask anyone you wish to accompany you. There is no reason you need to attend alone.’
‘That is very kind of you.’
‘Have you not heard? I am all that is kindness,’ she said, taking an even longer drink.
He grinned in amusement. ‘I see the wine is helping. Allow me to pour you some more.’
Glancing into her glass, Olivia raised her eyebrows. When had she finished all of her wine? It was exceptional and after the day she had, she was entitled to enjoy an excellent vintage. She handed him her glass and took in his well-made form as he sauntered over to the cellaret housing numerous bottles of wine.
Her time with Gabriel was over. She would never know a man’s touch again—unless, she took a lover.
Janvier had impressive shoulders, which were showcased nicely by the cut of his black tailcoat. His waist and hips were slim—much slimmer than Gabriel’s more muscular form. Janvier’s build was long and graceful. Gabriel’s form suggested strength and power.
What would it feel like to be held in the arms of a man Janvier’s size?
Just as she was trying to imagine such an encounter, he looked at her from across the room.
‘I would love to know what you are thinking.’
Olivia did not want to contemplate what her expression had obviously betrayed. ‘I was thinking of the wine.’
Stalking towards her with two glasses in his hands, his face became almost tiger like. ‘I am certain you were contemplating something delicious. I do not believe it to be the wine, though.’ Stopping in front of her, he stood there with a heated gaze looking down at her. ‘I know you feel this attraction between us.’
He was attractive, but Olivia hadn’t felt any desire for him. From the time he’d kissed her in his carriage, to staring into his brown eyes now, her body wasn’t flush with the need to press herself against him and feel him buried deep inside of her. Those were the feelings her foolish body had only for Gabriel. She peered closer at Janvier as if she could will herself into a state of arousal.
Why couldn’t he make her heart race and her body quiver in her most intimate places? If he had, she might have been able to transfer some of the feelings she had for Gabriel to Janvier. She was destined to die alone with only the love of Nicholas and, God willing, her grandchildren—but without a man’s love and comforting touch.
And it was all Gabriel’s fault!
The clock on the mantel began to chime and Janvier turned his head to look. In that brief instance, she studied him again.
Still nothing.
He turned back to her and again caught her examining his form. She really needed to leave before she embarrassed herself further.
‘You do feel this attraction. However, if we begin exploring our shared passion now, I will miss the performance.’
Well, that was insulting. He wanted her, but not enough to give up seeing the performance of a play.
Men were toads!
This day had gone from wonderful, to horrible, to absurd in a ridiculously short period of time. She needed to leave, return to her rooms and pack her things. Tomorrow she would be at Victoria’s house, where she could begin to arrange a new life for herself and Nicholas.
She picked up her reticule, looped the braided handle around her wrist and rose from the sofa. ‘I shall be off.’
‘Forgive me, I did not mean for you to leave immediately.’ He held out her refilled glass. ‘We should drink to friendship before you leave.’
She stared at the glass and imagined throwing the contents into his face. But after the day she had had, numbing herself with more wine sounded like a better notion. She accepted the glass and his watchful gaze never left
