Lady Olivia's Undoing (5 page)

Charles seemed taken aback. “I beg your
pardon. Where does this come from? He left you everything, Olivia,
you know that. Well, everything that is not tied to the title.”

“Charles, I have been thinking that if I
hadn’t interfered with all Penny’s changes at Caymore, she may not
have lost the baby. Therefore, I wish to know if there is enough to
purchase a dower house? I plan to leave Caymore to Penny and
Will.”

Charles looked surprised, but only said, “I’m
sure if it warrants, we could scrape together twenty thousand
pounds, but I would have to check with the attorneys.”

“Subtly, Charles. Ever so subtly. I do not
wish to have my linens aired before their time.”

Charles nodded. “Of course.”

Olivia left Charles and bade the coachman
take her past William and Penny’s on St. James Place. Lights burned
low in the front parlour. Should she stop? Would it be intruding?
Olivia shook off the impulse and told the driver to take her
home.

At Caymore House, John met her in the salon.
“How was your day?”

“Very well. I think, and yours?”

“Yes, very well. Uneventful. I have cleaned
my room for Manning to use whilst here. Andrew seems to be getting
on very well. He has a very keen understanding of how a house
should work. You will be impressed with him I think.”

“Is that so?” Olivia leaned back in her
chair. “Tell me, have you given any more thought to marrying
me?”

John snorted. “Have you gone mad?”

“Charles is looking into my finances. He
believes I may have twenty thousand pounds. Will that be enough for
my dowry?”

“We should not be discussing this here.” John
glanced at the door. “Anyone may step in.”

“I do not care anymore.” Olivia sighed. “I am
sick and tired of living this lie. I want to tell the whole world
who you are and how much I love you.”

“Olivia, please. There are other forces at
work here besides your heart. Lives are at stake because of who I
am.”

“Yes, I know. And I am truly becoming ill
over just exactly who you are. All this skulking about. What is
going to happen if you are killed? Will I ever know? Or will they
just sweep it under the carpet as another of those unexplained
battles that no one had better remember. I am sick to death of this
war. I am sick of you going away. I am sick of being who I am.
John, you must marry me.”

“Why? So you may collect my pension if I do
meet my Maker?”

“Do not be daft. I will sell my jewels if
needs be, so we may live in a comfortable manor out in the wilds.
We will never have to be in London again, and die happy and
contented lives.”

John bunched his brows together. “Are you
sure you are well? Liv, when was the last time you dined?”

Olivia swatted her hand at him. “I am
perfectly well.” A great sob escaped and she cried into her
handkerchief.

John waited for her to finish weeping before
he said, “You need to rest. You have had three great shocks during
the last two days. Now please, for me. I will not be able to bear
thinking of you weeping after I’m gone, and I prefer to see you, as
I love you, my amiable, lovely Livvy and remember
that
image
when I’m in Spain not some hideous, blubbering fishwife. I should
not like to see you distressed. Take a rest. I shall wake you in an
hour.” He held out his hand to her.

Yes, she would go upstairs. There was a
dinner tonight on her schedule. Perhaps she should send her
regrets. She said to John, “Who is my dinner tonight?”

“The Duke of Marlborough.”

Olivia sighed. Oh yes, the perfunctory
holiday dinner with the family. “Shall I see you before I go?”

“Yes, if you wish.” He stopped her at the
door and kissed her. “You are the most maddening woman.”

“Yet you love me anyway.” She trailed off his
kiss and opened the door. On her way upstairs, she thought about
the crush tonight would be. She hated these occasions. Not that she
didn’t like her family, but all of them together under one roof was
the worst Shakespearean drama one could encounter without sparing a
coin. And since she remained wealthy, beautiful, and unmarried, she
was usually the talk of the party.

However, to all who knew her, she had
remained faithful to her one and only true love, Fitzhugh. The
romance she had with Fitzhugh Leighton was a lovely story she had
cultivated over the years. The truth was he was a lonely old man
who wanted a pretty, young wife, and would do anything to keep her
happy. Fitzhugh spoiled her beyond measure, giving her jewels and
furs for no particular reason. All that he wanted was a son in
return. And she could never give him one. He begged Olivia at the
end, for her to find his misbegotten heir, to tell him, he had a
father. Olivia refused. She placated Fitzhugh with stories that she
could not find him. That boy would try to claim the title and take
away everything Fuzzy had given her.

Olivia entered her room and closed the door.
She took two steps toward her bed, turned around, and locked the
door. She leaned into her chair as she bent to take off her
slippers. If the Patent Committee took away the title, who would
she be? Mrs. Olivia Leighton? Olivia, formerly the Duchess of
Caymore? Would she still be referred to as Your Grace? She had no
idea.

A part of her understood what she would give
up if she left Society for John. Leaving the demands of Society of
her own accord was quite different from having the Committee put
her out of it. With the title still intact, she would not lose her
respectability. However, if the title was taken from her, she would
be nothing. Yet an equal part of her longed to be rid of those
burdens.

Olivia drew the coverlet and slipped under
it. As she nestled into her pillows, she thought of all she had
done for her family, for their place in Society. She had gone along
with their desire for her to marry Fitzhugh, giving up a man she
had truly loved. She would not do it again.

Olivia woke with a start from a dream about a
baby. A candle shed a small light in the semi-darkness. She glanced
at the clock. Half-six. She slept longer than she ought, but she
must attend that dinner.

Olivia pulled the bell just as John appeared
beside the armoire.

“I was just coming to wake you,” he said.

“I must go tonight, but I shan’t stay long.
Perhaps until eleven.” She unlocked her door.

John backed into the recessed panel. “Yes,
all right.” He closed the wall, just as Jennings opened the
door.

“Your Grace,” Jennings said. She held two
fresh gowns in each hand. “These have just come up.” She nodded to
the emerald velvet gown. “This would look lovely tonight.”

Olivia picked up the hem. Clean. The last
time she had seen it, six inches of mud ringed the bottom. “Yes.
You’re right, dearest. That will do very well.”

Jennings walked to the armoire, opened the
door, and hung up the three remaining gowns. She laid the velvet
across the bed. “Would you like me to draw your bath?”

“Yes, very well. But I shan’t wash my hair.
Tis too cold to go around with a wet head. I should catch my
death.”

Jennings smiled. “Very well, Your Grace.” She
stepped into the water closet and turned the spigots over the
tub.

“Dearest, I think my diamond necklace
tonight, not the emeralds.” She had never felt comfortable in the
emeralds. They were a gift to Fuzzy’s first wife.

Jennings picked up Olivia’s hairbrush. “I
heard Lady Penny and Lord William are staying at St. James Place.
Did she say why?”

Olivia shook her head. “No, she did not. I
can only surmise it is because of the nursery.”

Jennings nodded. “Is she well?”

“She looks very well. I found Honoria has
been with her through it all, and there this afternoon as well. I
can only surmise this house holds too many memories.” What if Penny
never came back? Olivia could not imagine it. Where else would they
go? They were poor as paupers. They could never afford to take
their place in Society. They
must
live at Caymore.

“The water is ready, Your Grace.”

“Thank you, Jennings. You are such a
comfort.” Olivia patted her hand. She would have to remember to get
her something extra special for Christmas this year. Jennings was a
true and faithful friend.

At the Duke of Marlborough’s palatial town
home, two-and-seventy people dined on roasted pheasant, duck,
salmon, roasted beef, pork, assorted potato dishes, and casseroles,
as well as several other courses. Olivia felt overstuffed and
under-stimulated. The conversation at her Uncle’s was dreadful. If
it were not for her cousin Bunny, whom she had not seen in several
years, she would have fled right after the first course.

Beatrice “Bunny” Gaines and her husband,
Admiral of the Fleet, Rupert Gaines, were staying in London through
the holidays. They were expected to partake of a Christmas goose at
his nephew’s new house in St. John’s Wood.

“That sounds lovely, Bunny,” Olivia said.
“You must give the Captain and Amanda my best. I sent a present for
the baby, of course, but I have not been round to see them yet. I
thought it best to wait for an invitation.” Captain Richard Gaines
and his new wife, Amanda, had been blessed with a healthy baby
girl.

“Amanda is certainly not a woman to stand on
formality. I’m sure she would love to see you anytime. What are
your plans on Christmas?”

Olivia glanced at the ceiling, trying to stay
tears. “I do not know.” She gripped her cousin’s arm. “Penny lost
the baby and has moved out of Caymore because of the nursery. They
are staying in William’s old bachelor home at St. James Place.”

Beatrice’s eyes grew wide. “Oh my dear
Olivia, I am so very sorry. Dinner is at three o’clock if you would
care to join us at Richard’s. Unless of course, you have a
different
engagement.” Beatrice whispered in Olivia’s ear.
“I must tell you, I heard Gilly has made an exceptional appearance
in Town and enquired after you.”

“Gilly?” Olivia snorted. The Marquess of
Gillyford had pursued Olivia relentlessly after Fuzzy’s death. Not
wanting anything other than to get his hands on Fitzhugh’s fortune,
Olivia refused his advances. When he did not take no for an answer,
she had no recourse but to embarrass him in front of Society. He
disappeared and hadn’t been seen since. “Well, he can return to
Scotland. I have no interest in him.”

“Uncle seemed to think it was a good
match.”

Olivia wanted to scream. As a grown woman,
she could not allow her family to manipulate her again. Olivia
loved John and wanted to marry
him
. Bunny knew most of
Olivia’s secrets, except the one about John. Her cousin wouldn’t
understand.

Beatrice patted Olivia’s arm. “Dearest, are
you all right? I shan’t have to worry with you being all alone for
Christmas.”

“No. I am very well situated, thank you.”
Olivia wondered if that were so. Quiggins was leaving. Penny
wouldn’t speak to her. Reginald would be in her house. Olivia
shuddered. Just the thought of the man made her skin crawl. How
could Constance have borne it all these years? “Constance and the
girls are coming for the holidays.”

“When do they arrive?” Beatrice asked.

“Any day now. She sent a letter two days
before they sailed, so I’m presuming they will arrive shortly.
Unless Reginald brings them to Cornwall beforehand. Nevertheless,
I’m sure I shall hear from her quite soon.”

Beatrice waved to her husband across the
room. “Rupert is ready to heave anchor from Plymouth I think. This
war is taking its toll on him.”

“Where will you go?” Olivia asked. “Not to
some forsaken tropical island. I will never see you.”

“No. Though I might presume very close to
London. Rupert is enamoured of Richard and Amanda’s brood. With the
baby makes four. He loves the attention from Richard’s older boys.
Rupert remembers Richard fondly at that age. The Navy is all he has
ever known, so I think the children will be a good diversion for
him.”

“When do you think Rupert could be persuaded
to retire?” Olivia asked.

“As early as spring. I dare say he loves
those children.” Beatrice smiled as her husband joined them.

“You have a happy face,” Rupert said to his
wife. “What are you two gabbing about? You both look as though you
have a great secret.”

Olivia smiled. “Bunny has just told me your
weakness.”

“Chocolate in my coffee,” the Admiral said.
“Yes, I feel like a lad in leading strings again. But…” He patted
his stomach. “It makes the morning that much more tolerable.”

Olivia said, “I dare say I have never tried
it. I think I shall.”

The clock in the hall chimed ten o’clock.

Olivia turned to Beatrice. “Dearest, I must
go now, but it was…” she leaned in to kiss her cousin on the cheek…
“Lovely to see you. Where are you staying?”

“The Bainbridge for now. We shall see how it
goes along.”

“Say you will come for my Boxing Day Ball. I
shall deliver an invitation on the morrow. I had no idea you would
be in Town. Do come.”

“Oh, yes, you know I would be delighted,
Livvy. Must you really go so soon? We have barely spoken. Do not
leave me here all alone.”

Olivia laughed. “Dearest, we have not left
each other’s sides all evening. And you cannot possibly be alone in
this crowd. Look,” Olivia pointed through the crowd, “here comes
Cousin Mary. Now you will not be alone. I doubt very much that
Uncle even knows I’m here, but if he should ask, tell him I was not
feeling well.”

Beatrice sighed. “Very well.” She kissed
Olivia. “Run along then. Do let me know when Constance arrives. I
shall help keep her entertained for you.”

“You are the very best of women, Bunny.”
Olivia kissed Rupert on the cheek and walked to the front parlour
to retrieve her coat. The footman went out to call for her
coach.