Against Their Wishes

Chapter 20

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Later in the day, Olivia and Lady Willington arrived back at the house from their trip in to town. Lord Willington was still absent from the house, but they were told to expect him in time for dinner. There were a couple hours before dinner so Olivia decided to take a walk around the grounds. She took note of the time so that she would not arrive home late once again and send Lady Willington into a frenzy with worry. She had just walked out of view of the house when she felt a tug on her arm. She was about to scream before she saw that it was Gregory who had twisted her around.

“Don’t do that,” she cried, smacking his arm. “You gave me a fright!” Gregory looked a little sheepishly.

“I am sorry, I was not thinking, but there is something I wish to speak to you about,” he told her, aware of how such an action might affect her after last night.

“Oh?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, listen, I know that I said we could never be anything more than friends, but I have changed my mind,” he paused as he heard her sharp intake of breath. “I do not just want to be your friend any longer. After yesterday, I realized how much I have come to care for you. I do not know how it happened but happen it did,” he confessed. Olivia stared at him with wide eyes. That was the absolute last thing she had expected him to say.

“Do you mean it?” she asked, still slightly unbelieving.

“Yes, every word,” he sincerely replied.

“But what happens when you change your mind? You tend to be very fickle, Gregory.” Instead of getting upset, Gregory laughed.

“Yes, I suppose I am, but I mean what I am saying, Olivia. Last night, when I just spent the night holding you…it was one of the best nights I can remember, and that isn’t a trick and it isn’t a lie. It is the truth, and those feelings that you brought up in me? I don’t ever want them to go away,” he openly confessed. Olivia stared at him in awe, nearly unable to comprehend what he had just told her.

“What happened to just wanting to be friends?” Olivia questioned. She knew that she was being pushy and it might backfire on her, but she needed to know that he knew what he was saying. She would not be able to handle them starting a relationship and him then deciding that it was no longer a good idea. She needed to make sure he understood what he was saying to her.

“I know what I said, but I no longer believe in it. You were right when you said we would both be happier if we tried at a relationship. It is worth the risk because I do not know if I would be able to control myself around you once we are wed,” he admitted. “Somewhere along the way, we both lost the youthful pettiness we had once shared, and pettiness is all it was. We never took the time to get to know one another and so the only thing that formed was childhood triviality.”

Before Gregory could comprehend what happened, Olivia rushed to him and crushed him into a hug. Gregory laughed before bringing his arms around to pull her even closer. Olivia snuggled her face into his shoulder as she breathed in deeply. He had a scent purely his own, and it drove Olivia wild inside. She could not believe that he had told her what he did, but she could not be happier.