Betrayed by Your Kiss by Laura Landon

Author:Laura Landon [Landon, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2015-03-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Lady Fortinier’s ball was, as promised, one of the most well attended events of the Season. There was hardly one member of Society absent. Which meant everyone would hear of her engagement to Rolland before the stroke of midnight.

Everyone except Damien.

She didn’t doubt he’d be standing in the foyer waiting for her to come home. At least by then her betrothal to Rolland would have been announced, and it would be too late for him to do anything to prevent it.

Olivia forced a smile on her face and tried to appear calm, even though she was quivering inside. She tried to imagine Damien’s reaction when he heard she intended to marry Rolland. He’d be furious, no doubt.

“Is something wrong, Olivia?”

Olivia snapped her gaze to where Prudence stood at her side and focused her attention on what was going on around her. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

“I was just commenting on the crush of people. I thought it was crowded before, but even more people have arrived. There’s such a crowd one can hardly hear oneself think. I’m glad Mother found a chair earlier, or she’d be forced to stand until we go down for dinner.”

Olivia looked around the room. “Yes. Everyone is here.”

She cast a glance into the crowd and saw Rolland wend his way through the guests with a footman following him, carrying a tray of filled punch glasses. Prudence must have spotted him at the same time.

“Here comes Rolland.” She smiled and her eyes glowed when she spied him.

Olivia was struck by the open look of adoration on Prudence’s face. A look that was impossible to miss.

She considered how she’d feel if another woman looked at Damien like that, and she realized it would anger her to the point of wanting to harm her. It saddened her to realize she wasn’t angry with Prudence. The love she saw in Prudence’s eyes was something Olivia was incapable of giving Rolland. A love he deserved to have.

“He’s ever so handsome, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is,” Olivia answered, unable to hide her reaction to Prudence’s admission. Prudence’s face turned a deep shade of red.

“Oh, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“What? That Lord Rotham is handsome? But he is. It’s very plain to anyone who looks at him.”

“But I shouldn’t have said it out loud. I’m terribly sorry. Please forgive me.”

“Nonsense,” Olivia said, squeezing Prudence’s arm in reassurance.

“It’s just that we’ve known each other for so long, and consoled each other through such sadness. I forget myself sometimes. But I’m glad to see him so happy now. Truly I am.”

“So am I,” Olivia said, focusing on Rolland walking toward them.

“He looks quite pleased with himself, doesn’t he?” Prudence said teasingly when Rolland was near enough to hear. “As if getting mere glasses of punch were some amazing feat.

“You wouldn’t say that if you’d been the one battling such a crowd,” Lord Rotham answered good-humoredly, handing Olivia a glass first, then one to Prudence. He took two off the tray for himself and drank one immediately.

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