“Holy stars, what happened to her then?”
Oliver shrugged. “They fled to Scotland to hide. My mother followed to keep her company. The entire affair is unacceptable.”
“Well, you certainly are a good son.”
“I didn’t have much of a choice in this regard,” Oliver said, recalling the last letter he received from his mother. “She is standing her ground alongside her friend in Scotland until this club is destroyed. I also find their actions unacceptable.”
“Brave woman.”
Oliver stared at Lady Louisa, his gaze tracing the smooth skin of her cheeks. Yesterday, in The Raging Stag, he had been impressed by her mettle. This angel had a backbone that few ladies possessed.Shewas a brave woman.
“Shall you be joining the house party,” Lady Louisa jolted him out of his thoughts, “as a duke or servant?”
“Servant,” Oliver said without hesitation. Talbot was at the party. Showing up the same day as his daughter might not be the strongest strategy since the man was suspicious by nature. At least, from what Oliver had seen so far.
“That is probably for the best.”
Her knee brushed against him, and a ripple of awareness trickled along his spine. His fingers twitched. He hadn’t been this aware of a woman in a long, long time. In fact, had he ever been this aware of a woman before?
He shrugged off the thought.
Naturally, he would be aware of Louisa Talbot. She was aTalbot. Every nerve, every instinct he possessed leaped to alertness with every movement and every word she spoke.
“You had your reservations about the duchess before I told you of her involvement. May I ask why?”
A moment of silence fell before she answered, “I’m not sure. It’s more of a feeling I get whenever I’m in her presence. She is also a different person in front of my father than she is elsewhere.”
Oliver nodded thoughtfully. “It makes sense. If she is the true head of this organization then I would imagine she would be rather good at manipulating people. She is also blessed with a fair, innocent face, which must help.”
A snort. “There is nothing fair and innocent about that woman. A conniving and scheming person. My father must be blind as a bat or...”
She didn’t need to finish the sentence. He understood. Or her father might very well be part of the organization. “Will your father question your sudden attendance?”
She shrugged. “I shall tell him I was bored and decided to join when I heard Theodosia would attend. She is the reason I’m in this pickle, is she not?”
Oliver arched a brow. Her brother was the real reason, but he decided not to point that out. “Is she attending?”
“No, but I shall then claim I must have gotten it wrong.”
“They might not wish you to leave until the party is over.” Best be prepared for anything.
“Oh, no need to worry about that. My father is rather lenient with my whims. Otherwise, I would have been betrothed the moment the heiress scandal lit up all the gossip pages.”
Ah, right. “Yes, I heard chatter that he might marry you off.”
“All bluster.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, I do not believe your father would stoop to outright criminal activities such as smuggling.”
“Unless we became paupers and required blunt.”
“You don’t sound optimistic.”
“I have learned that when it comes to powerful men, one cannot rule out anything.” Her gaze met his. “Men such as you.”
Her words hit like a blow. “You don’t like men such as me?”
“I don’t.”
