Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

M ust these bouts go on interminably?

Olivia felt as though the last several minutes did not just constitute an hour or two but had spread themselves thin across the span of several days. When Lord Ridgewell was invited to take his turn, she watched him defeat one opponent after another but remained unenthralled. She feigned joy, to be polite, but the sentiment did not touch her heart.

Even the thought of joining Lord Ridgewell underneath the tree, so they could look through his book together brought her little enjoyment. She recognized, almost at once, a kindred spirit in Lord Ridgewell because he did seem to genuinely take pleasure in reading. But aside from that, the two had little in common. She found his talk of business matters tedious, and while he had a sweet smile and polite manners, she wished for a bit of excitement.

But none was to be found.

Just as Olivia contemplated making an excuse to go indoors, she heard Edith's father say, "Too true, Lord Frontershire. Rightly put! My daughter and I are so very pleased that you have done us proud."

Getting to her feet, Olivia sent a long look in Edith's direction. But as Lord Frontershire walked away, to perform in yet another exhibition of his skills with the sword, she saw Edith staring after him.

Oh, no. I may have agreed to stay out of Lord Frontershire's path, but I will speak to Edith and caution her.

"Miss Templeton," Olivia said as she slid into the seat Lord Frontershire had just vacated right next to Edith, "may I share something with you?"

"Share anything," Edith encouraged. "I should dearly like to hear what you think of the fencing." She leaned closer and whispered, "I thought when the dowager invited my parents and I to sit at the head table, I might be stationed close to you, but I have spent the whole of the morning preoccupied by…"

"Lord Frontershire," Olivia interjected. "He is the reason I came over here now. I wish to remind you of how…"

"How he behaved this morning at breakfast?" Edith snorted. "I have not forgotten so quickly the words I heard him say to you, Lady Olivia. And I shall not forget any time soon."

Olivia's brow wrinkled as she stared at her friend. "Then, why do you encourage him? Why do you…"

"I applauded his efforts because he is the best swordsman in the field. And I am spending time with him because that is what my father wishes. He has taken a liking to Lord Frontershire, and it pleases him to surround himself with other sportsman." Edith shrugged. "I will not displease my father by being disagreeable, but I also see who Lord Frontershire is and have no desire to be swept off my feet by the Charming Rake."

"Good," Olivia said firmly. "Then, let us agree to…"

Before she could say anything further, Lord Frontershire and Lord Ridgewell were both called to the center of the lawn. It was announced that the final bout was set to commence, and these two worthy adversaries were to compete for the title.

"Title?" Olivia whispered incredulously. "What title?"

"Shh!" Lord Gilwood hushed her. "I want to hear this."

"Hear what?" Olivia questioned as she leaned closer to her friend, not wanting to disturb the viscount further. "Do you not think we have had enough for the day? Would you not be happier if we went inside and…"

"Lady Olivia," Edith said in a quiet tone, "if you want to go indoors, please, go on. But I rather like watching the competition and wish to remain right here."

Stymied as to what exactly Miss Templeton, her father, and apparently the rest of the people at the event found so intriguing about fencing, Olivia sat back in her seat and trained her eyes on the competitors. While she had been talking with Edith and her father, the bout had begun.

Lord Ridgewell was grinning jauntily, and at first, it seemed as though he were toying with Lord Frontershire by thrusting then scampering backward quickly.

Olivia did not know either of the gentlemen particularly well, but she knew the exact moment when Lord Frontershire lost his patience. She could not hear him make a sound over the din of the other guests who were talking excitedly about the bout, but she was sure he growled in Lord Ridgewell's direction. Then, as if he were possessed by the spirit of a fiend, Lord Frontershire slashed his foil rapidly. He whipped the sword one way then the other, moving so quickly that it was difficult to track the motions. Olivia's head spun as she watched him twirl the foil dizzily, and when Lord Frontershire finally lunged at Lord Ridgewell, it was no surprise that he achieved a touch.

"Bravo!" Lord Gilwood called. Moments later, the match concluded, and Olivia watched as the two men shook hands, but while Lord Ridgewell held a firm, friendly smile on his face, Lord Frontershire turned away quickly, scowling as if he were the defeated rather than the victor.

"Come!" Lord Gilwood beckoned. "Join us, Lord Frontershire. Let us all raise a glass to the man of the hour." He called for a footman to bring several glasses of wine, and as Lord Frontershire stalked toward them, Olivia saw that his lips were still turned downward into a decided frown.

Why is he so upset?

Before she could whisper the question to Edith and ask if she had perhaps missed something, Lord Frontershire's valet hurried forward and helped his master remove several garments. The topcoat was the first to go, followed by the constrictive vest he wore. By the time Lord Frontershire joined the group at the head table, he was wearing but an airy, white, long-sleeved shirt that was soaked through with perspiration.

An odd sensation stirred in Olivia's abdomen, and she found it nearly impossible to avert her gaze. With every step Lord Frontershire took, the muscles in his chest bounced and rippled, and Olivia could not help but think of how those muscles might look if he were to remove his shirt altogether.

"Oh my…" she murmured. Then, stunned because she had allowed herself to say that much aloud, she hurried to her feet.

"Where are you going?" Edith asked, looking up at her with a confused expression on her face.

"Anywhere but here."

"But…" Edith persisted, "now that the bouts have ended, we are going to…"

"I beg your pardon," Olivia said, "but suddenly, I do not feel quite myself."

No truer words had ever been spoken. Until this very moment, Olivia had never been seized by desire or wished to see a gentleman dressed in anything less than his very best. She liked the smart, sharp look of the dandies, and around the countryside, she thought her friends and neighbors looked their best when they dressed to impress at the church services on Sunday. But having these feelings for a man like Lord Frontershire was simply unacceptable, so Olivia hurried from the lawn, running from the temptation that remained behind.

"Where is she going?" John could not help but ask when he saw Lady Olivia practically sprinting toward the house. "Is she finally making her escape to the library?"

Miss Templeton shook her head. "She muttered something about feeling unwell and…and I am worried that she may have taken too much sun today." She gestured toward the front of the throng where Olivia had sauntered almost every time Lord Ridgewell participated in a match.

"You may be right," he agreed, accepting the goblet of wine that was offered to him by a footman. "That area is not so sheltered as it is back here, and Lady Olivia has a fair complexion. Too much sun would not be good for her."

"Stop fretting," Lord Gilwood interjected. "These ladies are all wearing sun bonnets and carrying parasols. It is not possible to take too much sun when one is so well-protected against it."

Lord Frontershire nodded, but as he turned his attention to Viscount Gilwood and Miss Templeton, he could not help but send another darting glance after Lady Olivia. He would have liked to see her reaction to his win and perhaps even tease her slightly because he had bested the gentleman, Lord Ridgewell, but now, he would not have the privilege of engaging with her.

Huh…mayhap she ran away because she knew I was approaching. Just as we agreed, she is keeping her distance from me, giving me space to consort with these friends, even though she could have stayed put.

Flummoxed, Lord Frontershire took a long gulp of wine and then decided to do all he could to forget about Lady Olivia and why she made a hasty exit.

"More wine!" he commanded, and as a footman hustled forward, offering John and all those gathered around him another cup, loud cheers of congratulations reached John's ears, and he reveled in the adulation.