Lady Olivia To The Rescue (10 page)

“Mind? It will be delightful to have a gentleman along,” said her aunt.

He looked at Olivia with what she was sure he felt was a speaking look and asked, “And you, my lady? Do you have any objections?”

She managed not to laugh. “Not at all, sir.”

They turned as the door opened, and Witchell announced, “Lord Hardcastle, Miss Featherstone, and Miss Fallon.”

The puzzle was forgotten. Minutes later, Witchell supervised the footman who carried a large silver tea tray into the drawing room. When the butler returned a moment later, he announced three more visitors, including Mr. Jenson.

“I say, this dreary afternoon is turning into a wonderful tea party,” said Aunt Amy. She moved to the middle of the sofa to allow Mr. Jenson room to join her and Miss Fallon. “Witchell, more cups, if you please.”

“I do hope you don’t mind my dropping in,” said Mr. Jenson. “I was coming to call on my patient, and I wouldn’t have disturbed you, but I met the young people coming up the front steps, and…”

“You must never apologize for dropping in on us, Charles.”

He almost dropped the teacup she was handing him. Blushing, he stammered, “Thank you, Miss Hepplewhite.”

“I used to be simply Amy,” she said softly.

Glancing at her aunt, Olivia smiled, forgetting to pay attention to her conversation with Tony. Was it possible that Mr. Jenson was the young man from her aunt’s past? It would explain a great deal about the way she had always treated the unfortunate doctor.

“Olivia, I asked you a question.”

“I am sorry, Tony. I was wool gathering, I’m afraid. What was it?”

“Nothing important. I only wanted to know when your two young people would be ready to go down to Castlebrook.” When she frowned, he said, “The brother and sister who are going to work for me?”

“Oh, Martin and Winnie. Anytime would be fine. Only tell me when, and I will let Mrs. Priddy know. You know I truly appreciate this, don’t you, Tony? They have only each other now and being together means the world to them. You are such a dear for taking both of them.”

He smiled down at her. “You know I will always have a soft spot for you and your charitable proposals, Olivia. And Miss Featherstone feels much the same. She is such a sweet girl.”

“I’m certain she is,” murmured Olivia.

“Mr. Pendleton,” announced Witchell.

Olivia watched as her aunt rose and went to greet the newcomer, leaving a frowning Mr. Jenson to his own devices.

“Will you excuse me a minute, Tony?”

“Certainly,” he replied, and Olivia crossed the room to take her aunt’s place on the sofa.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Jenson. How good of you to call on us. I know how busy you are.”

“I…why, thank you, Lady Olivia. How is your maid doing?”

“It is little short of a miracle. I have never known anyone so sick to recover so quickly. It must have been your excellent medical care.”

He smiled at this and shook his head but said, ‘Thank you.” His eyes strayed to her aunt. “I don’t think everyone in this household thinks as highly of me as you do.”

“Of course she does.” Olivia covered her mouth with her fingertips. “I meant, of course we
all
do.”

Forgetting the rest of the assemblage, the doctor took her hand. “If only I could believe she did feel like that about me.” He dropped her hand and sighed. “I know it cannot be true. She has never forgiven me for…and truth be told, I have not much changed in all these years. I used to drive my wife to distraction—always missing my dinner, forgetting her birthday. I wasn’t a very good husband.”

Olivia patted his hand and said, “I am sure she did not think that. You mustn’t be so hard on yourself, Mr. Jenson. And perhaps this time…”

“Lord Sheridan,” said Witchell, causing Olivia to spring to her feet. She sat down immediately, then blushed a rosy pink.

“Is anything the matter?” asked her companion.

“What? Oh, no. I had, uh, forgotten something, but now I have remembered. I…it can wait. You were saying?”

From the threshold, Sheridan watched her unusual behaviour with surprise. He had never seen Lady Olivia be anything but unflappable in the social arena. The thought that his arrival might be the cause of this unnatural phenomenon made him want to turn and run. Instead, his glance swept the room, and he spied his friend, Richard, speaking to Pendleton and Amy Hepplewhite. They greeted him cordially when he joined them.

“It seems the entire world has gone mad, running around and visiting in this horrid weather.”

“We are glad that you decided to join us, too, Lord Sheridan,” said Amy.

“As for me, I could not bear waiting for a break in the rain to leave my rooms,” said Richard. “I had already read the only book I own, and I refuse to play an old woman’s game, like Patience.”

“So he came here to help this old woman put together the wonderful puzzle you gave me, Mr. Pendleton,” said Amy. “It will have to wait, however, as we have all this amusing company to while away the afternoon.”

“I have always thought that the company of like-minded people is by far the best way to spend one’s time,” said Mr. Pendleton.

“And are we all like-minded?” asked Sheridan.

“Indeed we are. We are all alike in wanting to escape a dreary day all alone,” said Pendleton.

“That is true enough,” said Sheridan. “I think I will go and have a cup of tea.”

“Yes, do. Olivia will pour for you.”

Sheridan strolled over to the sofa, speaking to Lord Hardcastle on the way. When he stopped in front of Olivia, she smiled nervously.

“Good afternoon, Lady Olivia, Jenson. Might I trouble you for a cup of tea, Lady Olivia?”

“Here, let me move out of the way,” said the doctor. “I should go and see my patient.”

The doctor rose, leaving them alone in the gathering. The other guests chatted in clusters here and there, but no one paid any attention to them. Olivia’s hand shook as she poured the tea, and Sheridan couldn’t help but smile.

“Has the weather given you a case of the megrims, my lady? Perhaps I should call the good doctor back to attend you,” he teased.

This quip did not appear to amuse Olivia in the least because she glared at him. Sheridan sipped the tepid liquid and watched her over the rim of the delicate cup.

After a moment, she smiled and said, “La, sir, I am quite well.”

Her expression reminded him of the bird-witted Miss Fallon, and he wanted to shake her.

She heaved a sigh and breathed, “It is just that I am flustered by your handsome face. Your nearness makes my heart…”

“A plumper if I ever heard one!” All of a sudden, he smiled, and she responded in kind. Leaning closer, he said, “Let us not allow things to become awkward between us, my lady. I know you are too kind a person not to forgive me for my boorish behaviour last night, especially when I tell you that I know it was a mistake. What is more, I promise that it shall never happen again.”

“I am glad to hear it. The more I thought about you telling me what I might or might not do, the more I realized how ridiculous it was. You have no power over me to tell me when and where I may practice my good works.”

As she spoke, Sheridan’s brows rose in astonishment. “What are you talking about?”

“Why, your boorish behaviour, when you told me I couldn’t go to Vauxhall anymore to… What were
you
talking about?” she demanded, her brows drawing together. Her expression reminded him forcibly of the night before, in the arbour when he had resisted the urge to take her into his arms again. It was out of the question now, though it would have stopped this foolish conversation.

Taking a deep breath to control his temper, he said, “I was talking about that blasted kiss. It should never have happened, and I apologize. And as I said a moment ago, I promise you it will never happen again.”

He waited while her emotions paraded across that expressive face. After a moment, she put in place the smile he so abhorred and said, “Do not worry, Lord Sheridan. I have no intention of ever letting that odious performance happen again. Now, if you will excuse me, I must consult with Mr. Jenson about the health of my maid. Good day.”

She left the room. The rain had stopped and the sunlight, breaking through the clouds, gleamed into the elegant drawing room. The brightness, however, had fled with Lady Olivia, and the rest of the guests followed soon afterward.

As Richard bowed over Amy Hepplewhite’s hand, he said, “What time this evening?”

“Nine o’clock. I am looking forward to it, Sir Richard.”

“Me, too. Until nine.”

Once they were on the street, Sheridan fell into step beside Richard, his mood a direct contrast with the sunlight.

“What’s the matter, old chap?”

“What? Oh, nothing. I was only thinking of Lady Olivia.”

“A delightful thought, no doubt.”

“Delightful? Hardly that. The woman is enough to drive a man mad.” At the gleam in his friend’s eyes, Sheridan explained hastily, “Not that sort of mad. I mean truly mad. Do you know where I happened upon her last night?”

“I would say that wherever one happens upon such beauty is in itself a place of wonder and beauty, but I can see that such a poetic assertion would only get your back up. Therefore, I will simply ask, where?”

“At Vauxhall.”

“Which is where I waited for you for at least an hour, but we shall return to that in a moment. Why is the fact that you met Lady Olivia at Vauxhall so unusual?”

“She was strolling, by herself, through the darkened pathways. At first, I thought she must be waiting for someone.”

“An assignation? Hm, that alters my opinion of the good lady considerably,” said Richard.

“No, it was not like that at all. She was talking to a light skirt, trying to convince the creature that she should leave her profession and find a new life.”

“As what?”

“I don’t know, and neither must the girl, for she fled when I arrived. Anyway, Lady Olivia helps these sorts of girls learn a skill and gives them a place to live and so on. She said she has already had success with one or two. Have you ever heard anything so daft?”

“Daft? I would say it is admirable. And I will say again, that my opinion of the good lady was been altered—for the better. There is more there than meets the eye, though what meets the eye is quite lovely.”

“Would you be serious for a moment?” said Sheridan.

“Very well. Behold me, completely serious. What did you do when you met her? I know what I would do if I were fortunate enough to meet that particular lady in a darkened lane, but I fear you are not as bold as I am.”

“No, of course not,” lied Sheridan, remembering those velvety lips on his. Shaking his head, he said, “I made her promise not to do such a dangerous thing ever again.”

“And did she promise?”

“Yes, but quite reluctantly, and just a moment ago, she was going on and on about it, as though she had never made such a promise. She said I had no right to demand such a promise of her…”

“As you do not, because you are not related to the lady.”

“I know, and l am afraid that she will try again. To make matters worse, she mentioned last night that she would have more success in this venture if she could find someone to take her to a brothel where she could meet them all together.”

Richard’s booming laughter caused passers-by to stare, but he didn’t seem to care. Clutching at Sheridan’s sleeve, he regained control of himself and said, “And are you going to help? I am certain you know of one or two likely places.”

“That is what Lady Olivia said,” grumbled Sheridan. “She wanted me to take her…me!”

The absurdity of this suddenly hit him full force, and his own laughter spilled forth. For a moment, the two gentlemen found it impossible to continue their stroll until they had had their fill.

Still gasping, Richard said, “You know, Sheri, it really is an admirable sentiment.”

“Perhaps, but I think it is born out of misplaced sentiment. If Lady Olivia had a husband to keep her occupied and preferably several children in her nursery, she would not get involved in such a hare-brained scheme.”

Richard stopped and stared. “Are you telling me that you are going to take the post?”

“Me? Now you are dicked in the nob. I would no more wed the lady than…I would wed you! The last thing I have ever wanted was another wife, especially one like the last one! What would I want with another who is so tied up with London society? No, I intend to help the lady find a husband. I will be doing a service to both Lady Olivia and the rest of unsuspecting London.” Drew continued along the pavement.

Following after, Richard said, “A husband for Lady Olivia, eh?”

Sheridan stopped in his tracks. Though he gave his companion a sharp look, he said nothing. Whistling, Richard walked away.