Lady Olivia To The Rescue (5 page)

“I did very little, really,” protested Sir Richard. “Your Miss Featherstone is very lucky to have such steadfast friends as you and your charming aunt.”

“But Miss Featherstone is a charming young lady,” replied Olivia, ignoring the warmth in his eyes.

“But l am being rude,” said Mr. Thomas. “I should introduce you to Sheri here. This is Lord Sheridan, perhaps you have met.”

At the same instant, Olivia and Lord Sheridan said, “We have.”

Olivia, realizing her tone had been less than cordial, smiled at the marquess and added, “That is, we have run into each other a time or two.”

“Oh, yes, at the ball a few nights ago. Quite so,” said Sir Richard.

“Quite so,” replied Lord Sheridan, his gaze somewhere over the top of Olivia’s head.

Olivia wanted to stamp her foot, but she fixed her smile on her face and glanced back at the dance floor, remarking, “Isn’t this a pretty setting for a ball?”

“Very pretty,” said Mr. Thomas.

“Candlelight, paint, a floor. A typical ballroom, surely,” said Lord Sheridan, his dark eyes challenging hers.

“But quite spacious, and the music is…”

“Music,” he added, fixing his gaze on hers.

She continued to smile and looked away. Not by so much as a heaving bosom did she let him know that he had nettled her.

“Ah, time for the next set. If you will excuse us?” said Mr. Thomas, offering Olivia his arm.

“Only if I may have the pleasure of the next dance with you, Lady Olivia,” said Sir Richard.

“I would enjoy that immensely,” she replied, taking Mr. Thomas’s arm and walking away.

“What a perfect ninny,” said Lord Sheridan, just loudly enough for her to hear.

Olivia ignored it and him. If he had taken her in dislike for some reason, there was nothing she could do about it. Besides, why should she wish to change the opinion of such an odious man?

Then she was in Mr. Thomas’s arms, waltzing around the floor without a care in the world. When the music ended, she was glad to see Sir Richard approaching her, away from the piercing eyes of Lord Sheridan.

“What a wonderful night,” he said, when the country-dance brought them together.

‘Then you must not be as cynical as your friend, Lord Sheridan,” said Olivia.

Bending close to her ear, he said, “No one is as cynical as my friend, Sheri.”

“What is it that makes him so…”

“Surly?”

They separated, and Olivia hoped that he would pick up their conversation where they had left off. She was not disappointed.

“Sheri can’t help it. He has lost his ability to see the best in others. His vision is too clear cut.”

She chuckled and asked, “Must one have blinders on to enjoy living?”

“Most definitely. Either that, or one must dance with a beautiful lady at least once every single day. Myself, now, I don’t need those blinders at all.”

This was said with a speaking glance that made Olivia giggle.

When they next came together, he had put on a long face and moaned, “You doubt my words?”

“I think your words are delightful nonsense, and I am very entertained but not taken in, Sir Richard.”

He clasped his hand to his breast and said, “You wound me, good lady.” She made a face, and he added dramatically, “Never fear. I shall come about. I shall simply work harder to persuade you of my sincerity.”

“A labour of impossibility,” she said.

“A labour of love,” he whispered with a wink.

She laughed, her heart light and cheery. Glancing about her, she saw the Marquess of Sheridan greeting his friend, Lady Thorpe. There was that flash of a smile again—the type of smile that could make a lady forget how maddening the man could be. She wondered if the widowed Lady Thorpe and Lord Sheridan were… Olivia swallowed the lump in her throat that this thought brought with it.

“They are only friends,” said Sir Richard, claiming her hand once again and reading her mind perfectly.

“I…I don’t know what you mean,” she said.

“Sheri and Maddie grew up together. They are only friends.”

Her nose in the air, she said, “I am certain it is no concern of mine. That is, I did wonder. Lord Sheridan is so very unhappy, I thought perhaps he and Lady Thorpe...”

“No hope for that. What about me? I grew up with them, too. Are you not worried that Lady Thorpe and I…”

“I assure you, Sir Richard, I have not thought of it at all, much less worried about it.”

The music stopped, and she took his arm.

His expression woebegone, he heaved a sigh and said, ‘Just my luck.”

“What is, sir?”

“That you have not given me any thought at all. Ah well, perhaps someday…”

“You are being absurd, Sir Richard.”

“I do try, my lady. I really do try.” He grinned and handed her to her next partner.

Olivia passed from one partner to the next, engaging in perfectly amenable conversation. This was what she was bred for, what she revelled in. The occasional glance at the disagreeable marquess did nothing to lower her spirits as she danced and laughed.

The supper dance was announced, and Olivia realized she had forgotten her original reason for attending the ball that evening—to persuade Mr. Pendleton to part with some of his money for the new school. She had watched him enter the ballroom and then detour to the card room, but that was the last she had seen of him.

Supper was announced, and she found herself on Tony’s arm. Miss Featherstone had not felt up to attending, so Tony was very happy to escort Olivia to supper.

“Have you seen Mr. Pendleton?” she whispered.

“Not at all. Wait a minute. Isn’t that the old miser over there, coming out of the card room with your aunt on his arm?”

“So it is,” said Olivia, giving a little wave to her aunt, who towed the wealthy old man toward them.

“Good evening, Mr. Pendleton,” said Olivia. “Have you met Lord Hardcastle?”

“No, no reason to have met the boy, is there? How d’you do, my lord?”

“Very well, thank you, sir. Delighted to make your acquaintance.”

They strolled into the dining hall and began to fill their plates at the buffet.

When they were finally seated, Mr. Pendleton said, “I see you have enlisted your aunt’s help in this latest bid for my fortune, young lady.”

“Bid for your fortune?” said Olivia, nearly choking on her asparagus.

“Do not play the simpleton with me, my girl. Your aunt did her best to do me out of my fortune in the card room. I finally had to make her my partner to prevent her from lining her pockets with my gold. And then she told me she wanted me to help build that orphanage for you.”

“A school for orphans and other poor children. A place where they could become good citizens, sir, and contribute to the good of society.”

“A pretty speech, but why should I care what becomes of a group of unruly urchins?” The toothy old man watched her like a cat playing with a mouse.

“I would be happy to show you why, sir. You are welcome to accompany me to the school where the children now live and learn. You will see what a difference it has made to all of them.”

He cackled at this and shook his head. “Heaven forefend, Lady Olivia! I will give you the money you request, if only to prevent you from dragging me anywhere to witness your good works.”

“Thank you, Mr. Pendleton. And should you change your mind and ever wish to see…” He shook his head decisively, and Olivia retreated with her victory intact. “Very well, then I will simply say thank you.”

They were soon joined by several other couples, and the conversation became general. Olivia was having a delightful evening, and only occasionally thought of her sick maid at home or the dour Lord Sheridan.

When she chanced to look around, she could tell that he and his friends were also having a merry time. Their conversation seemed to consist of one person speaking in an undertone and the rest of their company erupting into laughter. The next time, another of their group would speak, and the same thing occurred.

To Olivia, their behaviour bordered on the rude.

She watched surreptitiously as their host, Lord Grant, strolled by and paused to chat with them. He was smiling as he walked away, and Olivia chided herself for being so judgmental.

Tapping her arm, Mr. Pendleton asked quietly, “Why are you so interested in that group over there, Lady Olivia?”

“I am sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“You weren’t.” Nodding toward Lord Sheridan’s group, he said, “They call themselves the misanthropists, you know. They take their pleasure in disparaging others. They find society lacking, but unlike you, they do nothing to remedy its ills.”

“I…I had heard the term, but I wasn’t quite certain why they were called that.”

“Just a bunch of unhappy people, if you ask me. I may not be a jolly sort of chap, but I don’t dislike my fellow man. I just prefer my own company most of the time.”

Olivia turned her smile on him and said, “We are glad you chose to join us this evening, Mr. Pendleton.”

“Because of my money?”

“No, because we—my aunt and I—like your company.”

He sat back and fairly beamed at this. Olivia felt a twinge of shame. She did like Mr. Pendleton, but would she have liked him so well if he had been poor? What if he had turned down her request? How hypocritical of her to vilify Lord Sheridan and his friends when she was no better. She must try to be more tolerant.

“Olivia, Mr. Pendleton has suggested a ride into the countryside tomorrow afternoon, to Richmond, if the weather holds fine,” said her aunt. “A marvellous idea! Shall we make it a picnic?

“If that is what you ladies want, why not?” said the old man, giving them all a view of his toothy smile. “Shall we say eleven o’clock? Or is that too early for you young people?”

“Not at all, sir,” said Tony. “Might I bring Miss Featherstone? I have an, uh, appointment in the morning at her house.”

“Ah, sits the wind in that corner? Then, of course, you must bring Miss Featherstone. And you, Lady Olivia, will you be bringing a beau?”

“No, I have no one to bring,” said Olivia.

Glancing over her shoulder, she met Lord Sheridan’s sardonic gaze. With a slight nod, he turned back to Lady Thorpe and made a comment. The entire group glanced at Olivia and laughed.

She turned completely and met his hard gaze without flinching. A moment passed and suddenly that irresistible smile appeared. How could she help but answer it?

Then it was gone, and she was very sorry she had wasted a smile on such a cold fish. Olivia turned back to her dinner partner, catching the last of Tony’s joke and laughing a bit too heartily.

She wanted very much to glance again at the irritating Lord Sheridan and toss her head at him in disdain, but somehow, she knew the gesture would serve no purpose. How could she ignite a spark of remorse in such a heartless man?

More friends joined their small group, and Olivia soon forgot Lord Sheridan and his little band of misanthropists. Before she knew it, dinner was over. Mr. Pendleton, having begged the honour of sitting out the next dance with her and her aunt, led them back to the ballroom.

After a few minutes of quiet conversation, Aunt Amy looked longingly at the card room.

“I believe your aunt is wanting to play another hand of cards, Lady Olivia. Would you be insulted if I escorted her to the card room?”

“You two run along. I am promised for the next set, and I shall be fine here on my own.”

Rising, her aunt said, “If you are certain, my dear.”

Mr. Pendleton rose, too, and offered his arm to her aunt.

Olivia’s toe tapped out the beat of the music, and she smiled as she watched the dancers. Tony was partnering one of their other friends, and they nodded as they passed.

“I fear I owe you an apology, Lady Olivia.”

She started at the sound of his voice and choked. Clearing her throat, she said, “I cannot imagine why Lord Sheridan.”

He lifted the tails of his coat to join her on the bench but hesitated. “May I?”

She moved her skirts, and he sat down, carefully placing his gold-handled cane against his leg before he said, “I was rude in the dining room. I found it so odd that you and old Pendleton seemed to be getting on so well.”

“Odd? There were several of us dining together and enjoying a pleasant conversation.”

“Yes, but when you look around at one of these things, these balls, it is uncommon to see a wealthy older man courting a wealthy young lady.”

Olivia shook her head and chuckled. “Courting? It was hardly a case of courtship. Even if it were, the alliance of two wealthy households is nothing out of the common. I think you must live in a very different world from me, my lord.”

“No, I simply see my world for what it is—filled with people who wed for money or position, people who will step over a starving man and never notice he is there. I live in a very cold and indifferent world. Why do you think all these people are here tonight?” When she didn’t answer, he continued, “They are here because they want something. They want to better their own position in this avaricious society we live in.”