“Yes,” Jack rushed before patting her bonnet and frowned.“Now, if you don’t mind, I’m getting the most terrible crick in my neck. We shall await the revels of Vauxhall!”
And before her brother could utter another word, she took Olivia’s arm in hers and careened off toward Kensington Gardens.
“Your brother is a most strange individual,” Olivia observed.“He scowls at me. It put me in mind of when my nanny put me in the corner.”
“My brother would never put you in a corner,” she told her. “But this year has been unkind to him. I’m sure he can see that your position is very similar to his.”
Olivia gave a quick smile.“Of course, he grieves your father, and that must leave him changeable. But my position is not at all similar to his. He is a peer born to privilege, and I am climbing a ladder, which he is more than aware of. No doubt he disapproves of me greatly.”
Jack paused, gathering her thoughts before she suggested,“I would not judge Alexander too quickly. The truth is, you made him do two things I have not seen him do since my father died.”
“Oh?” Olivia breathed.“What things?”
She took her friend’s hand in hers.“He laughed and he smiled. And I must thank you for it.”
Olivia blushed and looked away.“I’m glad of it.”
“As am I.” And with that, she glanced back over her shoulder and caught Stone staring. He gave her a slight bow of his head.
They were conspirators now.
She found herself feeling something she had not in months.
Hope. And it was a wonderful thing, indeed.
Chapter Ten
“Vauxhall with two unmarried ladies, Stone? You’ve lost your wits. My sister will no doubt regale you with tales of sonatas. You shall soon know, measure for measure, the intricacies of the German composers.”
He laughed.“It sounds a splendid evening.”
Blackbrook arched a brow.“Why the devil did you propose it?”
He had a very strong suspicion about his friend’s sudden black humor, which was a complete contrast to the smile that had changed his face but a few minutes before. “You are in need of a wife, are you not? And I told you that I would happily find you one. She would do admirably.”
“Miss Olivia? She’s the daughter of an actress,” Alexander stated, though it was clear he was making excuses.
Stone did not take his friend seriously. The man did not have a judgmental bone in his body. He was, however, clearly trying to avoid the very real prospect of Miss Olivia.
“Yes,” he countered,“but you are the son of a—”
Alexander glowered again. “You will not bring my father into this. We come from a long line of excellent lords, and he made but one mistake.”
Stone nodded, urging his stallion on at a slow pace, keeping him ready for the sprint that was no doubt soon to come. “But can you truly judge her based upon her mother? It doesn’t seem very noble of you.”
“It is the height of nobility,” Blackbrook drawled, “to judge people based upon their lineage. It is what we do, after all.”
“You judge me by my father, then?” Stone asked softly.
Blackbrook’s haughty disdain vanished, replaced by the kindness that had always been there. He let out a sound of dismay. “Forgive me. Of course I do not. You know I do not. Your father was—”
“Mad,” he said.
Blackbrook hesitated as he searched for the proper words. “Your father was not mad.”
“He was,” James countered, unwilling to pretend.“He was most definitely mad.”
It was hard to explain to people what his father was like at the end, how he had slowly descended into some reality that did not match that of anyone else.