A Taste of Temptation (33 page)

“Not at all,” Olivia said, even though Andrew was giving her the sign to tell her aunt it was a bad time. “Come into the parlor and have a cup of tea.” Olivia and Andrew followed Agatha into the parlor and Andrew kept trying to kiss Olivia and she playfully pushed him away.

Agatha took her usual seat on the settee and Olivia sat beside her.

“Can I get you something to drink, Miss Loudermilk?” Andrew asked.

“I’d love a little of that port Claudette is always talking about.”

“All right. Perhaps you’d like to try it, too, Olivia,” Andrew said.

She nodded to him and turned to Agatha and said, “Did you have a special reason for dropping by?”

“Yes, I wanted to tell you that Lord Pinkwater came to see me last night.”

“He did?” Olivia looked from her aunt to Andrew, who jerked around to look at both of them when he heard Agatha’s comment.

“I guess he got tired of me trying to find him and he found me.”

“What did he say?” Olivia asked.

That faraway look came into Agatha’s eyes and her bottom lip trembled. “He’s not coming back. He told me to go on with my life. He’s not coming back for me.” A lump of sadness grew in Olivia’s throat. “How do you feel about that?”

“Well, last night I cried as I did that first night he left me.”

Olivia took her hand. “I’m so sorry, Auntie. What can I do?”

Agatha took a deep breath and forced a smile. She took her hand out of Olivia’s and said, “You can stop feeling sorry for me. I’ve thought about it all day and I decided that if Claudette is not too old to be looking for her fourth husband, I’m certainly not too old to look for my first.” Olivia gasped. “What?”

Agatha looked over at Andrew and said, “You don’t think I’m too old to marry, do you?” Andrew handed her a glass of port and one to Olivia and said, “Of course not. Once they know you are finally available, gentlemen of all ages will be seeking your attention.”

“See, Livy,” Agatha said, then sipped the port. “Mmm.

Very nice. Claudette always had excellent taste.”

“Auntie, you can give up Lord Pinkwater just like that?”

“What do you mean, just like that? It’s taken me close to fifty years.”

“Well, I—I’m happy for you.”

“I’m not sure I understand it, but I know for the first time since I was eighteen I feel as if Lord Pinkwater has truly set me free.”

“This calls for a celebration,” Andrew said.

“Yes, it does,” Olivia agreed. “We also found out that Lord Pinkwater’s ghost did not cause the urn to fall the first night we were here.”

Olivia and Andrew explained to Agatha what happened with Hawkins and Ellie.

Agatha smiled contentedly. “Your estate manager and maid might have caused the mischief here in the house, but it was Lord Pinkwater’s ghost that brought you two together. Make no mistake about that.” Andrew winked at Olivia and said, “And I shall always be grateful to him for that.”

A short time later Agatha left and Olivia and Andrew closed the door behind her.

Olivia turned to Andrew and said, “Do you really think she’s going to look for a husband?”

Andrew smiled and pulled Olivia into his arms and hugged her tightly. “I think she might look, but whether or not she’ll marry I have no idea. In any case, she and Aunt Claude will have a good time talking about it.”

“Andrew, I do think it was Lord Pinkwater’s ghost who came into my room.”

“Do you really?” he asked with all sincerity.

“Yes, and I have this strange feeling I’ll never see him again. Now that he has spoken to Aunt Agatha I think his mission here is done and he won’t be coming back.”

“I hope you are right, Olivia. I don’t like the idea of you seeing any man in your chamber except me.”

“You know, Aunt Agatha was right. Lord Pinkwater did bring us together.”

“In that he brought you to London, yes. But I was drawn to you when I first saw you in the receiving line at my house. I think you must have felt the same way because you were certainly letting your gaze feast upon me.”

“Feast!” she said in mock horror. “I was merely appreciating a handsome man.”

He smiled. “And what was it that caused you to kiss me later when we met in my chamber?”

“I was merely curious about your room and your kisses.”

“And if I’m remembering correctly I still haven’t had you in my bed yet.”

“I believe you are right.”

“I suggest we go upstairs right now and change that.” Olivia looked up into his eyes and answered, “I agree, my love.”

Andrew reached down and lifted Olivia up into his arms and started up the stairs with her.

Olivia thrilled to his touch.

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T
he late afternoon
crowd at White’s was small as Andrew, John, and Chandler took their seats at a corner table in the club room.

“How long has it been since the three of us have been alone together?” John asked.

“At least a month,” Andrew said.

“More like two,” Chandler corrected him.

Maybe Chandler was right. Andrew was enjoying spending so much time at home with Olivia that he didn’t seem to notice time anymore.

A server set a bottle of expensive port and three glasses on the table in front of them.

“Who ordered this?” Andrew asked.

“Me,” Chandler said as he poured a splash into each glass. “I have news that calls for a celebration.”

“Then out with it,” Andrew said as he looked at John.

Chandler picked up his glass and said, “Millicent is with child. I should have a son by next spring.”

“Congratulations,” Andrew and John said at the same time.

They clinked their glasses together and all sipped their port.

John cleared his throat and said, “Well, I have a bit of news of my own.”

Andrew and Chandler looked at him curiously.

“Well, I don’t think you can top his news,” Andrew said.

“No, but I can equal it,” John said with a grin. “Catherine is expecting a babe next spring as well.” Cheers went up from all three of them and they toasted again. As they sat their glasses back down on the table Chandler and John looked at Andrew.

Laughing, Andrew held up both his hands. “No, no.

Don’t look at me. I have nothing to confess. There are no babes expected at my house.”

“But you are—well, I mean, you are …”

“Yes, damnation, John, I am sleeping with my wife.”

“Don’t get icy. There was a time you weren’t.”

“A very short time, which I don’t need to be reminded about. I happen to love Olivia very much.”

“Good.”

“Glad to hear it, old chap,” Chandler said. “Now, I just had a thought. There’s a very good chance, if you have a son soon after us, that our sons could be the second gener-ation of the Terrible Threesome.”

“I rather like that idea,” John said.

Andrew looked at his two friends and remembered when they used to plan their own futures. Now they were planning their sons’ futures. Life had changed for all of them.

“So what do you think about that idea, Andrew?” Chandler asked.

“I think you both will have daughters,” Andrew said.

The friends looked at each other and laughed.

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Dear Readers,

I hope you have enjoyed
A Taste of Temptation
, which is the last story in my Terrible Threesome Trilogy.

If you missed either of the first two books, don’t de-spair. They are still available. Just go to your favorite local bookstore or Internet bookstore and order
A Dash of
Scandal
and
A Hint of Seduction
.

I love hearing from you. Please contact me directly through my website at ameliagrey.com.

Enjoy,

Amelia Grey