Brant watched as Olympia came down the stairs. He wondered if she knew that a little gold cat followed her. Then he looked her over from head to toe and wished he did not have to send her into the jaws of society without him at her side. Dressed in a blue gown, white lace at the neck and ends of the sleeves, she was beautiful. The gown also showed to advantage all those curves he was hungry for. He realized he was feeling very possessive of her and tried to kill the feeling. She deserved better than a man who could not seem to protect anyone close to him.
“Do you know that you have a shadow?” he asked when she reached the bottom of the stairs, and he nodded toward the hem of her skirts.
Olympia looked down and sighed. “Lure. Bad kitty.” She picked the kitten up, caught sight of Pawl lounging in the back of the front hall reading a book and called, “Pawl, can you put this little demon back into my bedchamber?” She heard a yowl coming down the stairs. “Best be quick about it or Dinner will be trying to claw her way through my door. Mother cat gets very upset when she cannot find this little bit.”
As soon as the kitten was gone, Brant helped her into her coat and escorted her out to the carriage. It had curtained windows if they were needed so that he could remain hidden as he left her at the Poston house, something that galled him. He should have paid more heed to what his mother had been up to but had to admit that it had never once occurred to him that his mother would find any reason to make him such an outcast amongst society.
The ride was pleasant enough but only reminded Brant of how much he wanted her. Her scent, the brush of fat, black curls against her shoulders, and even the way she occasionally bit her bottom lip as she thought on the visit facing her made him eager to push her skirts up and take her right there in the carriage. Tonight, he promised himself.
“When shall I collect you?” he asked as the carriage pulled up in front of the Postons’.
As she leaned forward in preparation of getting out of the carriage, Olympia was about to answer when there was a soft tap at the window. She was even more startled when Brant pushed his body forward, hiding her behind him as he looked out the window. Over his shoulder she saw the marquis and wondered why Brant did not relax at the sight of a man he knew fairly well now.
“M’lady?” said the marquis, or Stone as he preferred to be called. “I thought I recognized you.”
“Brant,” she whispered and nudged him, hard, in the ribs. “I think it wonderful that he is here and can serve as an escort if needed, someone to shelter behind if I find reason for that as well.”
Brant sighed and pulled away from the window, knowing that he was risking being seen. He knew she was right, just as he knew he had no reason to be jealous of the marquis. The man was eager to make someone pay for what had happened to his child. Even better he fully understood why it all had to be done so carefully. Yet, he was young, handsome, and of a higher rank. Undoubtedly far richer as well, he thought a little sourly.
“I am willing to bring her home, Brant,” the marquis said as he helped Olympia out of the carriage.
The word no was on the tip of his tongue but he bit it back. That would be convenient and would lessen the risk that someone would recognize him with Olympia. It would also give her an added shield from gossip if all saw that the marquis friended her.
“That would be convenient. Thank you, Stone.”
As the carriage pulled away Brant decided he would use his time to prepare a romantic night for Olympia. Their time as lovers had not only been short, but a bit rough, their hunger for each other too new and hot to allow much seduction and romance. He smiled, his good mood revived by the idea and he began to make plans.
“It is very kind of you to offer to escort me home, Stone,” Olympia said as the butler collected their coats.
“I fear Fieldgate was not so pleased by the offer.” He laughed and shook his head at her look of confusion. “He conceded but I could see that he did not want to hand you over into my care.”
The thought that Brant might actually be jealous of Stone was a heady one. Olympia wanted to consider it some more, but her friend hurried up to her and a moment later, just long enough to settle Stone in the library with a drink, Emily had her looking at all the arrangements she had made and talking of everything that had happened in her life in the months since they had seen each other.