Free Scandalous Summer Nights by Anne Barton Page B

makes me want to take a nap.”
    “Not yet,” James said. He withdrew a fresh handkerchief from his pocket and laid out the sweets from the bakery as well as the peaches, which he sliced with a knife. He’d thought to bring a canteen of tea, but no cups, and the tea was tepid.
    “A picnic!” Olivia exclaimed.
    “A primitive one,” he said, “but I suppose it qualifies. You must try everything.”
    Olivia tugged off her gloves before she began sampling. She closed her eyes in ecstasy while savoring the buns. When she bit into the ripe peach, a droplet of juice rolled down her chin, and James checked the urge to lean over and lick it off. She laughed and brushed at it with the back of her hand, blushing prettily.
    When they’d eaten all they could, they sat companionably, letting the warm breeze rustle their hair and clothes.
    At length, Olivia turned to him. The playful crinkles around her eyes had vanished. “The things you said last night,” she began. “You were right about me.”
    Hell. “I shouldn’t have spoken so plainly or harshly, Olivia. I was upset that you’d placed yourself in danger.”
    She shook her head, and a few stray brown curls waved in the breeze. “One of the things I’ve always admired about you is that you speak the truth, and you hold nothing back. I think you are incapable of deception.”
    James thought of the letter from Olivia’s father that he’d left in his room at the inn and swallowed. “I had no right to say—”
    “It doesn’t matter. You made me realize that I’ve done precious little of value with my life. It’s time I changed that.”
    Good God. What if she really
did
mean to enter a convent? “How can you say that? You’ve been a devoted sister to Rose. You were the only person she trusted, the only person who was capable of reaching her. And must I remind you that without your assistance, Huntford and Anabelle might never have resolved their differences?”
    “They were destined to be together, with or without my interference.”
    “The point is, your family and friends have often been the beneficiaries of your kind acts.”
    “They require less and less from me now. I was thinking that I must expand my good deeds beyond the circle of my family and friends, to those who are less fortunate.”
    “What do you intend to do?” James frowned. Olivia had been gently bred; he didn’t like the idea of her visiting prisoners in Newgate or tending to the diseased in filthy hospitals.
    “I don’t know yet, but I have some ideas. It’s time I experienced more of the world and shared my good fortune with others.”
    He felt like the worst kind of hypocrite. “I hope you’re not doing this because of the nonsense I spoutedlast night,” James said. “The blow to my head probably knocked the good sense out of me.”
    Her lips curved into a faint smile. “No, you were right. And though I cannot deny I wished my adventure would end differently, perhaps this result was for the best.”
    “Just don’t do anything rash. Whatever plans you undertake, discuss them with your brother. I would hate for any misfortune to befall you.”
    “Thank you.” Olivia’s eyes brimmed, but she blinked away the tears. “As for my current predicament, I’ve decided what I must do.”
    James arched a brow. He’d assumed her fate rested in his hands. He should have known Olivia would have other ideas. “And what is that?”
    “I shall leave for Aunt Eustace’s this afternoon. The sooner I’m on my way, the better.”
    “But she’s not expecting you.”
    “I wrote her a letter this morning and asked Hildy to post it.”
    “And what of your brother?” James asked. “Will you tell him where you’ve been?”
    Olivia stared out at the valley. “I’d rather not. It’s cowardly of me, I know, but Owen has a tendency to overreact in matters such as this. Still, I cannot prevent you from telling him, and I understand if you feel you must.”
    James searched Olivia’s face