Julian waited patiently, letting the silence stretch. He could feel the tension radiating from her: the guilt, the confusion and the lingering heat of what they had done. It was almost amusing how hard she tried to maintain the image of the dignified Duchess while her body clearly remembered every touch.
Finally, Olivia broke the silence.
"Are you excited?" she asked, still not quite meeting his eyes. "About Lady Elara's arrival, I mean."
Julian considered his words carefully before answering.
"Well, to be honest, no," he said, his tone calm but honest. "I have a lot on my mind, and marriage is the last thing I want to think about right now."
Olivia finally lifted her gaze to meet his. There was a complicated mix of emotions there. She took a small step closer and lowered her voice even though they were alone in the corridor.
