Lady Olivia's Undoing (17 page)

Olivia left the morning room and headed
upstairs. The musicians played a lively reel and couples danced and
twirled around the parquet. Olivia pasted a smile on her face and
entered the ballroom. She had no desire to speak with anyone and
avoided her friends in the dowager corner, although she would have
to speak with Joanna, Robert’s mother at some point. Perhaps when
she was away from the crowd.

Olivia strolled along the outskirts of the
dance floor looking for Davingdale. She hoped he and Ophelia would
be there this evening and not boycott the ball because of Penny and
William.

There, by the far corner, she saw Davingdale
and Robert standing with Fiona, Ophelia, William, and Penny. Penny
had come! Olivia wanted to run over and throw her arms around Penny
in an embrace. However, that could lead to another screaming fit
and Olivia did not need that complication, especially in front of
four hundred people. Olivia turned her back and walked away.

The music ended and couples left the dance
floor. Olivia noticed Bella walked with her hand on Edward
Perrington’s arm. Bella stood on tip-toe and said something in
Edward’s ear. Edward smiled and kissed the top of her head. Now,
that could not be a good sign. Was the foolish girl trying to break
her engagement? And if so, for what reason. As the musicians struck
the opening notes to the next song and couples crowded the dance
floor, Olivia lost sight of them.

Elizabeth Berringbourne waylaid Olivia and
they spoke briefly. Several other friends stopped to chat, and as
the conversation turned to the Season, Olivia slipped away
unnoticed. She prayed the Patent Committee would hand down their
judgment
after
the Season ended. She could not bear the
thought of her name on everyone’s lips.

Her cousins, Beatrice, along with Constance
and Mary, met her at the entrance to the ballroom.

“Where have you been?” Beatrice demanded. “We
have been searching for you for nearly an hour.”

“Forgive me,” Olivia said. “I have had
several things to take care of. How are you, darling? Mary.” She
kissed them both on the cheek.

“How do you do, Olivia?” Mary seemed
triumphant that she had garnered Beatrice’s company before
Olivia.

“Very well, Mary, thank you. Are you having a
pleasant time?”

“Oh, yes,” Mary said, smiling widely. “This
is a very lovely evening.”

Constance took Olivia by the arm and turned
her away from the others. “I want you to know that I spoke to
Reginald about your predicament and he said he would take care of
everything.”

“You did
what
? How could you?” Oh,
this was too much. “Constance, you had no right.” The last person
she needed meddling in her affairs was Reginald Leighton.

“Olivia, you do not understand. Reginald said
he knew just how to help. He was very happy about it as well, so I
do not think you have to worry any longer.”

Olivia bristled. Of all the damned foolish
things for Constance to do. If, somehow, Reginald could make the
Patent Committee go away, Olivia would be beholden to him for the
rest of her life.

“I do not know why you are so overset,”
Constance whined. “If Reginald can help you keep the title, I do
not see why you are not happy about it.”

“
Shh
. Lower your voice,” Olivia
whispered. “I do not need this information circulating the party.”
Reginald was up to something if he wanted to help her. Blackmail
most likely. He would help her keep the title, and take a monthly
sum from the estate.

Constance pouted. “I was only trying to help.
I thought you would be pleased.”

Oh, no. The second to the last thing Olivia
needed tonight was for Constance to have an
episode
.
“Darling, forgive me. My nerves are overset. Penny and William are
arrived, and I have been wondering if I should go over. Thank you
for asking Reginald. I’m sure I will be grateful for anything he
will be able to do.”

Constance smiled. “Would you like me to speak
with Penny? Perhaps I can judge her feelings about you and if she
would be receptive to your company.”

It wasn’t a bad idea, but not necessarily a
good one either. However, it would keep Constance busy. “Yes, oh,
yes, dearest. That would be wonderful.” Olivia pointed toward the
balcony windows that were open. “They are standing over there.”

Constance smiled. “I will let you know
directly.”

“Thank you,” Olivia said.

Constance, armed with Beatrice and Mary by
her side, walked away.

“Lady Olivia?” a male voice said.

Olivia turned. Randolph Culpepper, the Earl
of Greenleigh, stood with a smile on his face.

Olivia hugged him, which surprised them both.
“Greenleigh, how are you? Where is your lovely wife?” Greenleigh
and Illora Ryder had married at the end of the summer.

“She is with her friends.” He took her arm
and led her to a private alcove. “I know this is not the time or
place, but I must tell you, I have heard rumblings about the state
of your title. Are you all right?”

Olivia batted her eyelashes to keep the
instant tears from forming. “Thank you, dearest. Your concern is
very much appreciated. My nephew Charles is looking into it and
will hopefully have some news soon.”

“About the house…” Greenleigh said.

Olivia cut him off. “You received my bank
draft for the lease, did you not?”

“Oh, yes. That is not the issue. I have just
received word that the party who owns the house will be returning
in June.”

“June? I thought he was away for years.”

“He has been. Unfortunately, he has become
ill, and wishes to return home.”

“I see.” Olivia could not see. Where would
she go now? She loved that little house.

“Lady O, I know of several houses to let in
Town, or further afield if you so desire. Perhaps if you would like
we could…”

“Thank you, Greenleigh. That is very kind of
you. However, I am set about to traveling and will not return for
quite some time. But now that I know about the house, I will make
sure to return by April.” Her lies about traveling were getting
easier to tell.

Greenleigh raised his brow. “There is
something you are not telling me, Lady O.”

Olivia smiled. “There are several somethings
I am not telling you. Be that as it may, I’m sure you will figure
them all out.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Thank you,
Randolph. You are the very best of men.” She looked out over the
dance floor. “Now go and dance with your wife. Enjoy the party. I’m
not sure there will ever be another at Caymore.”

Greenleigh took her hand, kissed her gloved
fingers, and then walked away.

Six months, that was all she had at St.
Anne’s Court. She would make the most of them while she waited for
John to return.

Manning rushed over to her. “Your Grace, you
must come quickly. There is a small commotion downstairs.”

“What is it?”

Manning leaned over and whispered in her ear.
“A young lady was just found in the morning room in a state of near
undress with a man who is not her betrothed.”

“Who is it?”

“I do not know. I was only told to find you.
The mother is nigh onto hysterical.”

She glanced at Manning. “Yes, very well, lead
the way.”

Downstairs outside the morning room, Olivia
found Beatrice and Mary huddled around Constance, who could not
seem to catch her breath.

“Bunny, what has happened?” Olivia asked.
“Constance, whatever is the matter?”

Olivia glanced into the morning room and saw
Bella…and Edward Perrington. Edward’s cravat was loosed, his hair
disheveled. Bella’s lips were bruised and her gown undone from its
ties. Had Bella no idea of the ramifications of her actions.

“Perrington?” Olivia asked.

“Lady Olivia,” he said, seemingly non-plussed
that he had been caught with his proverbial pants down.

“Bella?” Olivia asked.

“I am in love with him, Cousin,” Bella said.
She wore a look of defiance. It was obvious she was not ashamed of
herself or her predicament. “I love Edward, not Stephen.”

Constance wailed outside the room. “Your
father…how will I ever tell your father?”

“You have nothing to tell him,” Bella said.
“Edward and I are running away to Gretna.”

Olivia looked at Edward. Not bloody likely.
Edward’s face wore the expression that he would not marry her
unless there was a gun placed to his head.

Andrew raced into the room. “Your Grace,
Manning needs you upstairs immediately.”

Now what? Olivia turned to Edward. “I hope
you know what you have gotten yourself into, my boy.”

She followed Andrew up the stairs. The
ballroom was silent. Someone was standing on the platform with the
musicians speaking to the crowd. It was Reginald. He must be ready
to announce Bella’s engagement. Wouldn’t he be surprised when he
went downstairs.

As Olivia made her way through the crowd,
Reginald called out to her. “Oh good, you are finally here. I
wanted to make sure you heard this.” He turned back to the crowd.
“As I was saying, after a long intensive search of nearly twenty
years, we have finally found...”

Behind her, a tray of glasses crashed to the
floor and then an old man’s voice cried, “Your Grace, you’ve come
home.”

The crowd turned and gasped.

Olivia spotted her old butler, Summers,
weeping, the tray of smashed drinks at his feet.

And then, her dead husband, Fitzhugh, walked
across the room.

The crowd parted to let him pass. Was that
the man she had seen outside the Bainbridge Hotel? As the man moved
closer, Olivia could see a deep bruise along his left cheek. Or was
that the man Ariana had introduced her to – Bella’s fiancé? What
was going on? Could they be one and the same? She turned back to
Reginald.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Lords and Ladies, may
I present the new heir to the Caymore title, Mr. Stephen
Summerville.”

Olivia opened her mouth but no words came
out. The room tilted to the left. She grabbed onto a man’s arm to
steady herself. The room swayed again, and then it went black.

Olivia heard hushed voices. What had
happened? She opened her eyes. In her bedchamber, her closest
friend Joanna, Duchess of Cantin, sat beside her bed. Manning
hovered in the doorway. Her cousin Beatrice stood next to her
dresser.

“What is happening?” Olivia asked. And then
she remembered. Reginald had found Fuzzy’s long lost son.

“Olivia, are you all right?” Joanna asked.
“How do you feel?”

Her mind was a mass of churning images all
jumbled together. When it finally settled, one man stood out.
Reginald. “How did I get here?”

“Manning carried you upstairs,” Beatrice
said.

“Where is Reginald?” Olivia asked.

“Downstairs, dearest,” Joanna said. “He is
waiting to speak to you.”

“Well, he can wait forever and a day. I will
not be speaking to that turn-coat.” Oh, yes, Constance had assured
her that Reginald would help her with the title. That bloody
bastard. If she had hated him before, she loathed him now.
“Manning, ask Lord Hargrave to leave this house.”

Reginald pushed past Manning and entered the
room. “I beg your pardon, Olivia. It is
you,
who must leave.
This is Stephen’s home now and I do not think he wishes you to be
in it. After all the years you kept him away from his father.”

“He will have this house over my dead body.”
Olivia rose from the bed. “How dare you make a fool of me. Get out!
Get out before I have you bodily removed.”

Reginald laughed. “I would like to see you
try. I have waited nearly forty years for this moment, Olivia. You
are finished as the Duchess of Caymore. Finished I say.”

“You have no proof that man is Fitzhugh’s
son,” Olivia spat.

Reginald laughed again. “You saw the reaction
from the crowd. Stephen Summerville looks
exactly
like my
uncle. Even your old butler thought he was Fitzhugh returned from
the grave. I need no more proof than that.” With that, he stormed
from the room.

Olivia lay back on the bed. This could not be
happening.

“Livvy, drink this.” Joanna held a glass of
water out to her.

Olivia shot a look at Manning. “Mr. Manning,
a glass of brandy if you would be so kind.”

Manning nodded and left the room.

Beatrice sat on the edge of the bed. “Olivia,
are you all right?”

“No, Bunny, I am not all right. That vile
snake Reginald has just completely ruined my life.” Olivia began to
tremble violently.

“Olivia, shall I call the doctor?” Joanna
asked.

“No. There is nothing wrong with me except
perhaps I shall explode. How dare he? How
dare
he make me
look like a fool.”

“Liv,” Beatrice said. “If anyone looks like a
fool, it is Reginald. How dare he, is right. No one will believe
his assertions about that man. As for looking like Fitzhugh, that
does not signify anything. Everyone has a
doppleganger
.
Summerville could be a paid actor, a charlatan Reginald found on
his trip to America. I’m sure no one will believe his claim.”

Manning returned with a glass full of
brandy.

Olivia smiled at him. “Thank you, Mr.
Manning. Tell me, who remains downstairs?”

“Only your immediate friends and family.
Everyone else has gone.”

“Reginald and Constance?”

“Departed, Your Grace.”

“If you would be so kind as to inform
everyone I am keeping to my bed. I wish to rest.”

“Very good, Your Grace.” Manning closed the
door behind him.

“What are you going to do, Olivia?” Joanna
asked.

“I cannot begin to tell you.” Olivia took a
sip from the glass. Its slow burn melted away some of her fears.
But what if Stephen Summerville truly were Fitzhugh’s son? The son
she had turned her back on. Reginald had probably already informed
him of what she had done.