Lady Laugherty's Loves Read Online Free Page B

was, wasn’t it?” She shushed him when he
would have answered.  “When my parents chose Avery, I let
them.”
    “I understand.” Ellis tried to soothe
her. Avery leaned in the doorway and listened.
    “I wouldn’t undo their choice,” Olivia
said. “And I love Avery with…” She stopped talking.
    “You love him with all your heart.”
Ellis finished her thought.
    She looked up at Ellis quickly,
emotion shining in her eyes. “No, I love him with half my heart,
because the rest belongs to you.”
    Avery wanted to punch the air and kick
up his heels, and he watched as Ellis drew her into his arms, and
she went willingly.  Thank God. He’d never hoped this would be
so seamless. There were still some issues to work out, but they
weren’t insurmountable.
    Avery left them and returned to the
archery competition, already plotting ways to make this
work.
    ***
    Olivia toed her slippers from her feet
and tucked them beneath her skirts. Her settee in her own sitting
room was one of the only places in the entire house she could relax
and take a deep breath. There were no men lurking in the shadows
with the intent to overwhelm her senses.  No one making her
heart pound. No one making her desire things she couldn’t
have.

    A scratch sounded at the door. Olivia
groaned beneath her breath and hung her head back in
defeat.   “Enter,” she called weakly.
    The scratch sounded at the door again.
Certainly, the interloper could open the door without assistance.
With a grunt of disgust, she crossed to the door.  The scurry
of little feet as they ran down the hallway caught Olivia’s notice.
She placed a hand over her heart and breathed deeply.  Olivia
followed the child around the corner and ran headlong into what
must be the child’s mother, Lady Southerby.  Her given name
was Morgana if Olivia remembered correctly. Of course, with all she
had on her mind, that could be completely wrong.
    “My apologies, Lady Laugherty,” the
woman sang out over a giggle. She bent down to the little girl and
whispered to her vehemently, and then thrust her into the care of
her nurse who pointed and squealed with excitement, then darted
down the corridor herself.  The little girl followed. “I’m so
sorry if she bothered you,” Lady Southerby apologized.
    “She’s no bother,” Olivia admitted. A
conundrum, but not a bother.  “Where are they going, if I may
ask?”
    The lady pressed her lips together as
though suppressing a giggle, but it eventually burst forth. “You’ll
be scandalized by the very thought of it. But she has lost her
pet.” She pointed a thumb down the corridor where the nurse and
child had disappeared. “They saw it go that way, though, so I
imagine they’ll have it corralled in no time.”
    “The child or the pet?” Olivia
couldn’t help but ask.
    “Both,” her mother admitted with a
grin.
    “I’m afraid to ask what kind of pet it
is. Perhaps you can tell me over some tea?” She led the way back to
her sitting room. It wasn’t until she returned to the room that she
realized she was still out of her slippers. “My sincere apologies,”
she said as he moved to slide them back on.
    “Oh, thank heavens,” Lady Southerby
said as she toed her own slippers off and let them thud against the
floor. “I feel like I have been on my feet all day.” She shot
Olivia a sly glance. “You certainly know how to keep your guests
occupied.”
    “Feel free to forego any of the games
you like. I certainly am not one to judge,” Olivia said as she
gestured to the room they were in. She, of all people, should be
the last one to hide in her sitting room. “I’m a terrible hostess,”
she groaned.
    “Oh, posh. You’re no such thing. We
all need a break every now and then. Particularly someone in your
situation.” She lifted her teacup to her lips and regarded Olivia
over the rim.
    “My situation?” Olivia queried. “I’m
not certain what you’re referring to.”
    Lady Southerby sat forward. “May I