From all intents and purposes, the Marquess was a regular visitor in their home prior to the tragic demise of the Viscount. In fact, he had been present when the news arrived.
“We shall discuss it later,” Oliver murmured discreetly to her.
Lady Suzanna nodded and turned her attention back to Rowley sisters, who were discussing their trip with great smiles.
Oliver sighed inwardly and wished that he had never introduced Artemus Hunter to either his sister or Claire. It seemed that had been a huge mistake that he was going to have trouble rectifying.
Claire had been coming around wonderfully without his presence. Her relationship with his sister was slowly healing and they had taken to regarding each other more amiably than the outright hostility she had displayed when Suzanna first warned her.
If Artemus was allowed into their lives again, Oliver was afraid he would disrupt their peace and cause a rift between the most important women in his life.
He had already done so much damage several weeks back. Oliver just prayed that he would not be able to do so again.
Chapter 15
Claire had never felt so confused in her entire life.
A few weeks ago, she had been certain she was madly in love with the Marquess of Draydon and that she would marry him or no one else.
He was charming, urbane, witty, and handsome after a fashion.
However, the past few weeks, she had seen a side of Oliver that she had not seen before. She had always known he was handsome but it was a knowledge and admiration that was tempered by the love a sister had for her brother.
Now, she found that it was not so.
She was seeing him with different eyes and it scared her. Whenever he caught her glancing at him, her heart would beat so rapidly in her chest, she feared she would succumb to the vapors.
She had never before thought that a single glance from him would render her knees so weak they would be unable to bear her weight.
As she watched him interact with her and her sister, she noted how his strong, gentle presence calmed her and gave her the feeling that she was secure and protected. That no matter what befell them, he would be there and he would make everything all right again.
Of that, she had no doubt. He had proven himself exceedingly adept at coaxing her out of her grief when she was certain that her world had ended when her father died.
I never thought I would see him in this way. He has always been kind and gentle but this time, it feels rather strange. I am not seeing him as a brother but as…something else.
When she thought of Lord Draydon, it was different. He made her heart beat fast and made her dizzy. He made her do things she normally would not.
I acted like a total fool around him,she thought to herself.Like I had lost my wits. I even turned Lady Suzanna away for him and nearly ruined our years of friendship. But with Oliver, I feel more sure of myself…
It also did not help that her sister thought she should marry the duke.
Admittedly, what Trixie had told her shocked her but it also had her thinking about if she indeed fell in love with Oliver and married him.
It really is not so horrible as it sounds. In fact, it sounds quite wonderful. He is a rather wonderful man and there are others who would give an arm and a leg to marry him.
Of course, it also begged the question of whether Oliver saw her inthatcapacity.
Did he comfort me out of brotherly obligation? Does he even see me as a woman?
The questions swirled in her mind until she thought it would make her dizzy. Afternoon tea had long ended and His Grace had retreated back to his study to study the blueprints of the new ships he had been planning to purchase.
Trixie had also gone back to her rooms to enjoy the new things she had purchased from Bond Street.
Lady Suzanna—their relationship was still tenuous but she was also preoccupied with running the household. Besides, she could not just go to her when Lord Draydon was the root of their disagreement.
I need to go out! I need to sort all these feelings out!
It felt like her emotions were clawing at her chest—a maelstrom of grief, exhilaration, pain, and the anxiety induced by uncertainty.
