Joy and Jealousy

SourceRead  PART 1  , PART 2 AND PART 3

A Regency Romance in seven parts  : Part 4/7



Charles could not believe his good luck. He had finally found his dream girl. More than that, she was one of the many girls that his mother was considering for the post of her future daughter-in-law. He suppressed a chuckle remembering how he had ignored the praises his mother had heaped on him about Olivia.
Olivia, what a lovely name. It became her entirely. Now he couldn’t wait to make her his bride. He should have purchased a special license to wed Olivia, the girl who had bewitched him from the moment he had laid his eyes on her, the girl who was present in his every thought.
He watched the group of four women from his corner of the room where he had joined other gentlemen. He hardly heard what his friends were talking as his attention was totally on the side of the room which was occupied by Olivia until he heard her name uttered by one of the men in his group. That too by his friend Richard Eastbourne, the Baron Eastbourne.
“Oh, I can’t wait to court her. Tomorrow morning, I will be the first to wait on her. Her smile, her voice, her eyes, her hair, her lips…,” Richard was speaking with a dreamy look in his eyes.“Richard, not a word more about Miss Bradbury. She is quite out of bounds for you. For anyone of you. Do you understand?” said Charles beginning to walk off from there. Richard caught his arm and stopped him.
“What is this I am hearing? The self-proclaimed chronic bachelor has become possessive about my girl. No my dear, you can’t. She has already shown enough signs that she is smitten by this smashing young Baron. In fact, I am to call on her tomorrow morning after which I plan to take her out on a cosy long ride,” said Richard enjoying the way his friend was turning a deep shade of red.
“Upon my dead body you, lecher. You will never get the chance. Touch her and you will meet me at dawn for a duel. You understand,” said Charles and stomped off from there.
The musicians were beginning to play a waltz and Charles approached Olivia to lead her to join the other couples who were already on the dance floor. Olivia smiled at him and placed her hands in his and he tucked her hands possessively into his turning slightly to glare at Richard and his gang.He swept her into his arms and began the dance. He resisted the urge to pull her a little more closer and close the distance between them with a kiss on the most delectable lips he had ever seen. He feared he might scare her off and make a spectacle of themselves. He let off a deep sigh and urged himself to speak.
“Do you like dancing Miss Bradbury?” he asked bestowing his best smile on her.“Yes your Grace. I like it next to riding. There is nothing better than riding my horse, thunder across the meadows while the wind played with my hair. I so miss that,” said she and closed her eyes as though reminiscing the experience.
“Don’t worry Olivia. Once you are at the Wentworth estates, you can ride your thunder for however long you wish. Except I would want to ride beside you myself, every time,” he said and Olivia looked up at him with her eyes open wide.
“Is that an invitation to visit your estate, my Grace,” asked Olivia, nervous that he had used her first name. what did he mean by saying that? Had her aunt already accepted an invitation to visit his estates?
“Of course. I would love to have you there,” said Charles and he wished he could tell her what he really wanted. That he wanted to make her his forever. But he wanted to woo her in the proper way and make her fall in love with him.
After the waltz ended, Charles never left her side. He scared off the other gentlemen who approached her to ask for a dance with his famous icy glare and made himself the talk of the group. But he didn’t care. He wanted to mark Olivia as his. The happiest among group was Lady Wentworth; her mule headed son had fallen in love with the lovely Olivia Bradbury. She patted herself mentally for having brought him here.
The most worried among the group was Olivia. The Duke appeared all that she always wished for in a husband, she could easily fall in love with him. He was courtoeus too. But did he really love her? Oh, she couldn’t ever marry a man who didn’t love her. A marriage to such a man would be hell.

  Linking this to APRIL A-Z Challenge.