Lady Olivia To The Rescue (21 page)

Sheridan dropped his hand, spinning around to face Evelina Divine. Harold, who was on his feet again, shut the door on the coffeehouse’s interested customers.

Grabbing the back of the nearest chair, he sagged against it, glancing at Miss Divine, then Richard, and finally Olivia, who gave him a tremulous smile.

Sitting down, he said, “What the devil is going on?”

After smoothing her gown and catching her breath, Olivia said, “Miss Divine and I have joined forces. We plan to save country girls who arrive in London without any funds from the horrors of the brothel. Miss Divine has devised a plan to seek them out, and I have purchased a building where they may live and learn a trade.”

“And Richard?”

“Just helping out, old boy. When Olivia needed help, she turned to me.”

This made Sheridan groan, but he said nothing.

“Come on, Evelina. I think the two of us are decidedly
de trop
.” Richard opened the door that led to the alleyway behind the coffeehouse, and Evelina followed him outside.

“Come here,” said Sheridan, opening his arms to Olivia. She gave him a timid smile and allowed him to pull her onto his lap. He bowed his head so that their foreheads touched.

“Why Richard? Why did you not come to me?” Sheridan asked.

“I couldn’t, not after the way you behaved at Vauxhall.”

“But you know I am very involved in my own charity work.” He raised his head and stared at her. “You didn’t think you could trust me. You might be right. I would probably have become all starchy about you associating with any of these women, even one as kind as Evelina Divine. I still don’t see how you managed to persuade Richard. He is not known for his benevolence.”

“No, but when he realized I was not at all interested in him, but in someone else entirely, we became friends. He knew Evelina, of course, and enlisted her help. And I think we will be wildly successful, Drew,” she added, hugging his neck in her enthusiasm.

He smiled and she sighed, gazing at him with those wide blue eyes.

“I have only one other question, my dear Olivia. Who is it that has captured your heart?”

Putting her arms around his neck, she kissed him. He pulled her close, responding to her lips like a man starved of all affection for a lifetime—as indeed he almost had been.

Several minutes passed in this pleasurable manner, but Drew finally broke it off.

With a devilish grin, he asked, “You didn’t answer me. Who is this man who has captured your heart?”

Olivia pretended to slap his face. Drew winced when her hand touched his swollen cheek.

“Oh, Drew, forgive me,” she breathed, replacing her hand with her lips.

When he had had another portion of her sweet passion, he leaned back again.

“I will forgive you everything for a forfeit, my dearest love.”

“What is that, my lord?” she asked, wiggling in his lap until he held her still.

“Your forfeit is that you will marry me as quickly as is humanly possible.”

“Are you certain, Drew? I love you to distraction, but do you love me enough to forget the past?”

“What past? I can only think of my future now, and if you are not in it, then it doesn’t exist. I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”

“Oh yes, my darling Drew! I thought you would never ask!”