Who Wants to Marry a Duke - Sabrina Jeffries Page 0,53
costly carriages, although she knew better than to show it.
As soon as the footman helped her down from Grey’s carriage, however, Lady Gwyn was at her side, greeting her with a broad smile. “I’m so glad you’re here at last, Miss Norley.”
“Please call me Olivia. Everyone does.”
“Well then, since everyone calls me Gwyn, you should, too. It sounds as if we’ll be spending a great deal of time together.”
“It does, indeed.”
“But I had to deduce that on my own. When Thorn told me of your arrival, he failed to explain the reason for your visit. I had to wrestle it out of my husband.”
“Oh, dear,” Olivia said. “I hope I didn’t cause any strife between you.”
“Don’t worry yourself over that for one moment. Joshua enjoys having me wrestle things out of him. And he would confirm that if he were here.” She tucked Olivia’s hand in the crook of her arm and led her up the steps. “But he isn’t, of course, because he’s on his way to Carymont to help Grey find the man who blew up your laboratory, isn’t he?”
“Oh, yes, and I’m sure—”
“He’ll put everything to rights, trust me,” Gwyn went on, as if Olivia hadn’t spoken. “Though you must have been in a terror the whole time it was happening!”
“Well, it was rather—”
“I cannot believe that Thorn and Grey took such a chance in the first place.” She shook her head. “They should have asked Joshua to join them from the beginning. You’ve met my husband, right?”
“Yes. He seemed very—”
“But of course you met him. At the ball here last week. I don’t know where my mind is.”
Just as they reached the top step, a new voice sounded from behind them. “I don’t know where your mind is either, sis. Perhaps back with all the questions you keep asking poor Miss Norley without waiting for an answer.”
“Thorn!” Gwyn said as she turned on him. “I thought you were planning to be here when she arrived.”
“I got a bit caught up buying dangerous chemicals and funny-looking glass-bulb things for her laboratory. But it’s finally all on its way to Rosethorn, so we can leave tomorrow.” He met Olivia’s gaze and smiled. “Unless you need some time to rest from your journey, Miss Norley?”
“No, indeed. I’m eager to get started again.”
Thorn winked at her before telling his sister, “That’s how it’s done, Gwyn. You ask a question and then you wait for the person to answer you.” When she lifted her eyes heavenward, he said to Olivia, “Gwyn talks very fast when she’s nervous. Give her a little while to get to know you and to settle down. Then she’ll behave more normally, I swear.”
“Or as normally as I can,” Gwyn said saucily, “when dealing with Mr. Know-It-All.”
Olivia laughed. She was certain she and Thorn’s sister would get along just fine.
The three of them entered the foyer through the open front door. As two footmen scurried to take both Olivia’s cloak and Thorn’s greatcoat, Thorn asked Olivia, “How was your trip?”
“Dull,” she said. “But I read my journals and took more notes, so it wasn’t a complete loss.”
He smiled at her. “Admit it—you missed having me there to keep the conversation lively.”
“Lively!” Gwyn said. “Is that what you call it when you go on and on about the latest plays and such? And that is a rhetorical question, Thorn. No need to answer.” She stopped short. “Oh, dear, I almost forgot—your friend Mr. Juncker has been waiting almost an hour for you.”
That knocked the wind right out of Olivia. Mr. Juncker? Here? She’d never even seen her favorite playwright, much less met him. And he was here? Dear heavens! She had to remind herself to breathe.
But Thorn’s face had turned a peculiar shade of gray. “In your house, Gwyn? He’s waiting just down the hall?”
“Of course,” Gwyn said, apparently as surprised by his reaction as Olivia. “How would I know about it otherwise? He’s in our drawing room.” When Thorn muttered a curse under his breath and changed direction to head that way, Gwyn said, “He didn’t make advances toward me or anything, if that’s what worries you.”
“Not a bit. I’m just surprised he knew I’d be here.”
Gwyn hurried to keep up with Thorn’s long strides. “I offered him tea but he said he wouldn’t be staying long.”
“He won’t,” Thorn said grimly. “I’ll get rid of him quick enough.”
Olivia must have made some sound of disappointment because at that moment, Thorn and Gwyn apparently realized she wasn’t right