A Lord for Olivia by June Calvin Page B

wasn’t far to the barn, and Edmund halted just at the door, as he stood to have his head knocked if he tried to enter atop the hay. He slid down, and the young boy who had charge of the team took the wagon inside.
    Not pausing to brush himself off, Edmund hastened back down the hill to see whether Jason was injured or just angry. As he moved around the second hay wain, he saw severalpeople, including Olivia Ormhill, frantically pawing through a large mound of hay. Abruptly Jason’s head popped up, quickly followed by the rest of him, looking more like a straw man than a young squire. He wiped his hand over his face, struggled to his feet, and grasped Olivia by the shoulders.
    Edmund started to move faster, fearing the young man’s anger would cause him to harm his sister. Jason shook Olivia and said something to her that Edmund couldn’t hear, and suddenly they were both laughing. Then Jason stooped and picked up an armload of hay, throwing it at her. Soon Olivia was only slightly less covered with hay than Jason, and the sight of them made Edmund laugh, too, in amusement as well as relief.
    Joining elbows, brother and sister turned toward him. “Well, my lord, it seems as if you have won your share of the bet,” Jason said, catching Olivia closer to his side. “My sister will make you an excellent teacher. Do you see that you are an excellent pupil.” He winked at Edmund on the side away from Olivia’s view. Edmund smiled and took the proffered hand.
    â€œThat I will,” he promised, looking at Olivia to see how she felt about the turn of events. She was still smiling as she nodded her acceptance. Mischief kindled in her expressive eyes.
    â€œI collect you are vastly relieved to have won your way free of any obligation to marry me, Lord Edmund.” She looked down at her hay-covered costume. “I must seem even less of a bargain just now!”
    He grinned. “No, indeed, Miss Ormhill. Hay becomes you. I find myself snatching defeat from victory when I look upon such a fetching sight and realize you might have been mine!”
    â€œFustian.” She smiled slyly at her brother. “It seems to me that Lord Edmund is not dressed appropriately for the occasion, do you not agree?”
    Jason squinted at Edmund. “Indeed! But we can rectify the situation. Shall we?”
    As of one mind, they scooped up armsful of the hay andthrew them at him. The golden shower briefly obscured his view. When he could see again, he returned the favor.
    Abruptly Olivia stopped, merriment fading from her face. Edmund followed her gaze and saw an elegantly turned-out rider approaching down the country lane on a handsome roan gelding.
    â€œOh, no,” he heard Lavinia mutter. She rushed up to her niece and began brushing hay from her clothing.
    â€œJason, Olivia, what can be the meaning of this?”
    â€œLord Corbright.” Olivia drew herself up, combing at her hopelessly hay-bedecked hair with shaking fingers.
    â€œFrank, you’ve arrived just too late to see the result of a famous wager,” Jason crowed. “Come, join us for lunch and we’ll tell you all about it.”
    Edmund was surprised at the cordiality in Jason’s voice toward the man who had jilted his sister. He was even more surprised to realize who the man was.
    Corbright surveyed the trio with an ambiguous smile playing across his lips. “Throwing yourself into the role of farmer again, Olivia? You look most charming in the part.”
    Olivia pasted a smile on her face. “Thank you, my lord. Gallant as usual. May I make known to you Lord Edmund Debham?”
    Lord Corbright had barely glanced at him before, doubtless taking him for one of the estate workers. Now he stared at Edmund insolently and for an unconscionably long time before acknowledging the introduction. Edmund returned his perusal calmly. He knew this overdressed gentleman, though he had not been Lord Corbright at the time