Chapter 15

As they strolled along the cobbled streets towards the local pub, Olivia couldn"t help but voice her curiosity.

"I must admit, William," she began, casting him a curious glance, "I"m surprised you know about this place. You rarely seem to venture out of the household, let alone to such establishments as this."

"Ah, well, I may not frequent pubs often, but this particular one has quite the reputation," he explained, his voice tinged with a note of pride, "It"s known as one of the better places in town for a meal."

Olivia"s eyebrows arched in surprise, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"Is that so?" She replied, "Well then, I"m certainly looking forward to it."

As they continued on their way, Olivia couldn"t help but feel a sense of anticipation building within her. Not only was she eager to try the food at the pub, but she found herself relishing the opportunity to spend more time in William"s company, something she hadn't quite thought possible.

The bustling streets seemed to blur as Olivia and William made their way towards the pub, lost in conversation and the anticipation of a delightful luncheon. Suddenly, the sound of hooves thundered behind them, and before they could react, a carriage careened dangerously close, its driver seemingly oblivious to their presence.

Instinctively, William pulled Olivia out of harm"s way, his heart pounding in his chest as they stumbled. They crashed to the ground, the impact sending a jolt of adrenaline coursing through them both.

For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still as they lay there, Olivia sprawled atop William, their gazes locked in a shared moment of shock and relief. The world around them faded into insignificance as they found themselves caught up in the intensity of the moment, their breaths coming in rapid gasps as they processed what had just happened.

In that fleeting instant, as they lay there in the midst of chaos, something shifted between them. The barrier of formality that had always stood between them seemed to dissolve, but all too soon, the moment passed, and they found themselves scrambling to their feet, shaken but unharmed.

As Olivia and William regained their footing, they became acutely aware of the curious onlookers who had gathered nearby, their faces a mixture of concern and intrigue as they watched the scene unfold.

Embarrassment flushed Olivia"s cheeks as she straightened her disheveled attire, casting a quick glance around to assess the situation. She could feel the weight of their gazes upon her, their silent scrutiny amplifying the awkwardness of the moment.

She had been in a similar situation before, and she did not like it.

As Olivia and William attempted to collect themselves amidst the curious onlookers, the carriage driver who had nearly collided with them approached.

"I-I"m terribly sorry, sir, miss," the driver stammered, his voice trembling, "I didn"t see you there. It was a mistake, I assure you.

But William"s fury was palpable, his eyes blazing with indignation as he turned to face the driver.

"A mistake?" he thundered, his voice laced with anger, "Do you truly call that a mistake? You could have seriously injured her!"

Olivia placed a calming hand on William"s arm, attempting to diffuse the tension.

"It"s alright, Your Grace," she murmured softly.

But William"s temper flared, his frustration boiling over as he rounded on the driver once more.

"No, it"s not alright!" He snapped, his voice echoing through the crowded street, "You have a responsibility, and you put her life in danger with your recklessness!"

The driver recoiled, his face pale with shock as he struggled to find the words to respond.

"I-I"m sorry, sir," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper, "It won"t happen again, I swear."

"It is alright, sir," Olivia nodded gently, "There is no harm done."

The driver, still visibly shaken by the encounter, attempted to offer an apology once more.

"I truly am sorry, sir, miss," he said, his voice quavering with remorse, "It was a dreadful mistake, and I"m grateful no harm came to you."

"Just be more careful in the future," The duke muttered tersely, his tone softened slightly.

"He will, I am sure."

"It is as I tell you, Miss Staunton, it is my responsibility to care for you. I have to do my best to do that."

The driver, perhaps misreading the situation, glanced between the two of them and smiled, as if trying to change the subject.

"Ah, young love," he remarked with a wistful smile, "It"s a beautiful thing, isn"t it? I"m sure you two will make a fine couple."

The duke"s brow furrowed in confusion, while Olivia fought to suppress a laugh at the driver"s assumption.

"Oh, no, we"re not..." she began, "You see, we-"

"Thank you for your apology," the duke interrupted, "Now if you"ll excuse us, we have somewhere to be."

The driver nodded, his expression one of embarrassment as he watched them disappear into the crowd. And as they resumed their journey, they couldn"t help but reflect on the brief encounter, grateful that his careless mistake hadn"t resulted in tragedy, and perhaps a little amused by the unexpected event.

"What"s so amusing?" The duke inquired upon hearing her laugh a short while later.

"It"s just the irony of it all," Olivia replied between giggles, her eyes bright with amusement, "You blamed me for nearly getting hit by the carriage, and now it"s happened again, and you were protecting me over it."

William"s amusement faded as he processed her words, a sheepish smile spreading across his face.

"Ah, yes," he admitted, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks, "I suppose I owe you an apology for that."

Olivia waved off his apology with a playful grin.

"There is no need, Your Grace," she reassured him, "We"re both unharmed, and that"s what matters. You rescued me, and so we can consider ourselves even."

"I can"t help but wonder," he sighed, his tone laced with a hint of incredulity, "How are you so calm after what just happened?"

Olivia shrugged nonchalantly, a serene smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"It is as I said. We"re both safe, aren"t we?" She replied, her voice calm and composed, "There"s no reason to worry."

William couldn"t help but marvel at Olivia"s composure, her unwavering tranquility in the face of danger.

"But still," he persisted, his concern evident in his voice, "It could have been much worse. What if I hadn"t been there to pull you out of the way?"

Olivia"s smile softened, a gentle reassurance in her gaze as she placed a comforting hand on his arm.

"But you were there," she reminded him, her voice soft but unwavering, "And we"re both alright now. That"s all that matters."

As William and Olivia settled into the cozy ambiance of the local pub, the atmosphere seemed to lighten, the tension of their earlier encounter fading into the background as they enjoyed a leisurely lunch together.

"This stew is absolutely divine," she remarked between bites, her voice tinged with genuine pleasure, "I can"t remember the last time I had a meal this satisfying."

"I will be sure not to tell the cook," he joked.

"She does not count. I help her most days, regardless. No, what I mean is that this is the best thing that has been cooked for me in a long time."

"I"m glad you"re enjoying it," he replied, a smile gracing his lips as he took a sip of his ale, "It"s nice to see you so happy."

"I am always happy, in case you have not noticed. I am aware that I am incredibly fortunate, and so I like to act accordingly."

Their conversation was interrupted by the curious glances and whispered words of the other patrons, who seemed to regard them with knowing smiles and amused expressions. Mistaking their easy rapport for something more, they exchanged amused glances and playful smirks, content to let the assumption linger uncorrected.

Noticing the speculative gazes directed their way, Olivia arched an eyebrow in amusement and leaned closer to the duke.

"It seems like we"ve attracted some attention," she remarked with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

As they savored their meal, a nearby patron couldn"t resist commenting on the apparent chemistry between them.

"You two make a lovely couple," the elderly gentleman remarked with a warm smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Olivia"s cheeks flushed pink with surprise, but she recovered quickly, offering a gracious smile in response.

"Thank you," she replied, her tone polite and composed, "That"s very kind of you to say."

Beside her, William shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unsure of how to respond to the well-intentioned remark. He cleared his throat awkwardly, his gaze flickering between Olivia and the patron.

"Um... yes, thank you," he mumbled, his voice slightly stilted.

Sensing his discomfort, Olivia shot him a sympathetic glance, her eyes silently urging him to play along. With a subtle nod of understanding, William managed a faint smile, offering a polite nod of agreement to the patron"s comment.

As they made their way back home through the bustling streets, Olivia couldn"t help but reflect on the amusing turn of events at the pub.

"Twice in one day," she remarked with a wry smile, her eyes glinting with amusement, "We seem to have a talent for this."

William"s expression tensed slightly at her observation, his thoughts drifting back to the encounters they"d had earlier.

"Yes, it does seem that way," he replied cautiously, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

There was a moment of awkward silence between them as Olivia searched for the right words to say. Despite the lightheartedness of the situation, she couldn"t help but notice the feeling of unease that lingered within him.

"Don"t worry," she said softly, her voice gentle and reassuring, "It"s all in good fun, isn"t it?"

William nodded, his expression softening.

"Yes, of course," he replied, "It"s just... unexpected, that"s all."

"To be sure. Not only that, but not one of them has noticed that they are speaking to their duke in such a manner. I doubt that they would say those things if they knew the truth."

"I almost prefer it this way. It makes me feel like everyone else that is living here, rather than someone above them. I am nobody's superior, not really."

"I would never have thought that about you."

"It is something I pretend not to feel. It makes it easier to take control of situations."

"That… that makes sense."

It certainly did. After all, he had entered his home and found a young lady there determined to disobey him at every corner. It was no wonder that he had tried so hard to put her in her place.

Upon their return, the duke quickly escaped to his study, leaving Olivia to inspect all of the work that had been done in her absence. They were ready for their guests, but she couldn't help but wish that they were not coming.

Alone in the quiet of the drawing room, Olivia allowed herself a moment of introspection, consumed by the unexpected feelings that had begun to stir within her. She couldn"t deny the undeniable pull she felt towards the duke, a magnetic attraction that seemed to defy reason and logic.

Frustration welled up within her as she struggled to make sense of her emotions. This was absurd, she told herself sternly. She was a guest in their home, nothing more, and yet try as he might, she couldn"t deny the growing awareness of his presence, the way he commanded the attention the second he entered a room. Everyone turned and looked at him. He was domineering, present, and she was… she was the help.

With a sigh, she ran a hand through her hair, her mind reeling with conflicting thoughts and emotions. This wasn"t supposed to happen, she thought desperately. She couldn"t afford to be distracted by such foolish notions, not when there were more pressing matters at hand, such as her impending courtship with the duke's brother.

And yet, despite her best efforts to suppress them, the feelings remained, stubbornly persistent in their refusal to be ignored. With a sense of mounting unease, Olivia realized that she was in danger of losing control, of allowing herself to be consumed by a desire that she knew could only lead to heartache and disappointment. She was to be with Scott, that was why he was coming to stay in the first place. This was about Scott, not his beastly duke brother, even if it was the latter that was keeping her awake at night.

What was she to do? How could he possibly navigate her way through her problems when the only thing that she could think to do was charge straight through? Was that the better option, or was it better to simply run away?

Maybe she was right, and the only way out was through.

Yes, she would talk to the duke. It had been sudden, and she was unsure of what ‘it' even was, or when it happened, but she had to tell him.

She was falling for him, and she did not wish to be courted by his brother. She wanted to see how he felt first and foremost, before Scott arrived, and have that proof that she had been right about it. The duke felt the same way, she was certain of it, but he was too stubborn to say as much. It was no matter, not to Olivia, because she was not too proud to admit it herself.

Would he mock her? No, he was not that sort. Perhaps if she had fawned over him like she had no doubt other ladies did when he was in London, but he was not the gentleman she met upon his arrival. He was kinder, someone that cared deeply whether he dared to admit it or not. She wanted him to know that, at least.

They were not supposed to arrive yet, and so she still had time, and-

"Brother! What an unexpected surprise to see me, I am sure."

Scott was early, and she was too late.