Harlequin Historical March 2020 Box Set 2 of 2 by Michelle Willingham Julia Justiss and Greta Gilbert

Author:Michelle Willingham, Julia Justiss and Greta Gilbert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Published: 2020-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Halting in the corridor several rooms away, Olivia raised a hand to lips that tingled in the wake of the Colonel’s nearness.

He had been about to kiss her—she was absolutely sure of it. Though everything within her had yearned to respond, some primitive sense of impending danger had sent her fleeing from the room.

Alarm coursed through her anew as she thought again about what she had nearly done. Or rather, what she had nearly let the Colonel do.

No man she’d ever waltzed with had affected her like the Colonel. Despite the mindless yearning that drew her to him, her limited experience hadn’t prepared her to know how to manage such powerful feelings.

Feelings that she, as merely an employee, absolutely could not allow herself to develop for her employer.

It was past time for her to return to her duties and forget she’d ever been granted the indulgence of dining with him, dancing with him…

‘Are you all right, Miss Overton?’

Startled, Olivia looked back to find Mr Saulter hurrying after her, concern in his gaze. ‘Won’t you come into the dining room? Let me pour you some wine.’

Still too stunned to feel embarrassed, she let him take her arm and lead her into the silent room, where he swiftly relit several branches of candles on the table and sideboard before pouring them each a glass.

Motioning her to a chair, he said, ‘Please, sit and drink this. You’ve had…something of a shock, for which I fear I am mostly responsible.’

‘What just happened?’ she murmured as she seated herself—and was aghast to realise she’d uttered the question aloud.

Taking a chair beside her, Mr Saulter gave a short laugh. ‘Something I should have managed better. You see, these last few days, Hugh has seemed so much more alive, so much more like the man I first knew in India, that I got ahead of myself. I was so excited to observe how he responded to you, I pushed him too hard. And was most unfair to you in the process. I assure you, he meant no disrespect!’

Feeling her face colour, Olivia shook her head. ‘It wasn’t his fault. The dance—the music—I’m afraid I was carried away, too.’

‘Please, you aren’t the one who needs to apologise!’ Sighing, he continued, ‘I’ve observed what a great help you’ve been to him, taking care of his wards and easing him into shouldering a burden that can’t be anything but painful. I don’t think I’m in error in thinking you admire the Colonel and are concerned for his well-being.’

‘No, of course not. I wish to assist him in any way possible.’

Saulter nodded. ‘That’s what I thought. So believing that, I hoped you wouldn’t mind my encouraging his attraction to you. You can’t imagine how much it gladdened my heart to see him show signs of admiring, and coming to trust, another lady, after what he’s endured! I had begun to despair that he would ever get over Lydia’s betrayal and the manner of her death. After all, to suffer the

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