Laura Matthews (12 page)

This aspect of the situation had never occurred to Olivia and it only made her feel the more wretched. Noah watched her hands clench spasmodically in her lap, and he crouched beside her to take them in his. When she lifted her eyes to meet his, he said gently, “Let us acknowledge that we’ve both shown some temper today, and that we’ve both said things best left unsaid. I have no wish to terminate our engagement, Olivia, so the decision is yours. Don’t base it on what has passed in this room today, though. I realize that to a woman of your birth and spirit I may seem overbearing sometimes; I doubt it is a matter which I can change. Only know that it is not a reflection on you personally, but rather a pride in Welling Towers and my family which has been instilled in me from my earliest days.”

Olivia attempted to speak, to thank him for his understanding, but her lips trembled so that she was not able to do so. He put his arms about her and held her to him until the involuntary shivers which beset her stilled and she became calmer once more. Against his shoulder she whispered, “You can forgive me for what I’ve said?”

His hand stroked her hair and he replied ruefully, “So long as these resentments do not reflect your feelings when you’re your ordinary, sensible self, Olivia.” He held her at arm’s length and studied the sad gray eyes. “If it’s a source of pain to you that your birth is better than mine, well, then it would not be advisable to continue our plans. I cannot believe it is so, however; and you would have to be very convincing to persuade me,” he said ruefully.

A wan smile rewarded his attempt at lightness and she moistened her lips. “I do not regard it, Noah, the difference in birth. The resentment I feel at my own dispossessed position is real, but unavoidable, and too much discussed already. I don’t wish to break our engagement,” she concluded over the lump in her throat.

“I’m glad,” he said sincerely as he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. “May I remind you that I wish you to be open with me? If you had spoken earlier of your irritation at my manner we might have spared ourselves this painful explosion,” he offered gently.

“It would be difficult to tell you such a thing,” she admitted seriously, “but I shall try to remember in future.”

“Am I so unapproachable?” he asked, surprised. “My mother and Julianna seem to have no hesitation in discussing my shortcomings with me.”

“My position is not the same as theirs.”

“Olivia, your position in this household will soon be the most important one, in spite of the fact that you’re most recently come. There will be no one to whom I owe more attention, more consideration. I do not fear that you will abuse the position at their expense, but I pray you will use it as you should to your own advantage. You are a little afraid of marriage, aren’t you?” he asked suddenly.

“Yes, a little, but I dare say I’ll become used to it.”

“I feel sure you will,” he replied, his eyes dancing.

Chapter Eleven

Olivia was accompanied by Lady Lawrence and Julianna on her trip to Stolenhurst. She did not look forward to her own visit, but she was pleased on her arrival to be greeted most warmly by the staff. They made a great fuss over her, and she realized they were ashamed of their behavior before her departure.

Her days were spent in arranging for the dispatch of her belongings, and in rides with Julianna about the estate. Lady Lawrence accompanied them on some farewell calls Olivia wished to make, more out of duty than affection. They stayed a week and Olivia bid good-bye to her childhood home with less regret than she would have imagined possible only two months previously. It seemed unlikely to her that she would visit it in future when Lady Elizabeth held sway.

While Olivia made her journey to Stolenhurst, Noah set off for London, where he kept lodgings for his frequent visits. On the morning after his arrival he sought an interview with Olivia’s brother Peter.

“Didn’t expect to see you in town so soon, Noah. Tired of the chit already?” the Earl asked as they shook hands.

“No, Peter, I am not tired of her. I have come to settle the matter of her dowry with you.” Noah took the chair to which his host casually waved him.

“Oh Lord, you cannot expect me to be interested in that. I shall give you my solicitor’s direction, and you may arrange the details with him. I’ve spent a damn sight more time than I’m willing to contemplate on my own approaching nuptials.”

His theatrical grimace hardened into a frown. ‘The good Lady Elizabeth is proving more trouble than she’s worth, I’ll wager. Her dear mother weeps copious tears at the mere mention of Elizabeth leaving her home, and her father is the hardest-nosed businessman I’ve ever met. Should have been in trade! He’d have made a fortune.”

“And is Elizabeth still determined on her course of revenge against Lila?”

“She never swerves by an inch. Most stubborn woman I’ve ever met. And the upshot of it is that I never see the lovely Mrs. Dyer at all, since I must ever dance attendance on Elizabeth. I’ll be glad when the wedding is over, and I can safely go my own way.”

“I want you to remind Lady Elizabeth that her vindictiveness is damaging to my future wife, Peter. There are to be no more aspersions cast on Olivia’s name.”

“Damn it, Noah, I have no say in the matter. Olivia should have thought of her reputation before ...”

Noah’s brow was threatening. “Before what? You know perfectly well that there was nothing improper in our behavior that night. If Elizabeth must pick a quarrel with her cousin, let her do it over something unconnected with Olivia.”

“There won’t be any more talk after you’re married, so what does it matter?”

“Sometimes I marvel at your lack of sensitivity, Peter. Your sister is not deserving of the gossip about her, and you have made no effort to stem it. More, you allow your own fiancée to damage Olivia’s reputation. I won’t have it.” His cold eyes raked the Earl, who squirmed under his gaze.

“Very well, I shall see what I can do, but I doubt I’ll be very successful. Elizabeth is a termagant. I can’t see what good it’s going to do me to be rid of Olivia when I’m saddling myself with such a wench,” he declared incautiously.

Noah’s jaw set firmly, and his eyes flashed fire. “There’s no comparison between Elizabeth and Olivia, Peter, and I will thank you to make none. Your sister has a courage and dignity far beyond her years. You’ve treated her shamefully, but she can still hold her head up.”

“Oh, she would show you her best side, of course. Wait until she nags you about your spendthrift ways or the suffering shopkeepers in the village who have not been paid. Every lark becomes a monstrous crime in her eyes and she will wail about the poor squire whose pigsty you have destroyed. Pigsty be damned! No more than half a day’s work to replace it, but she’ll march around the house for a week with those big gray eyes full of reproach. You’re welcome to her, Noah!”

“I’m glad to have her, Peter,” Noah retorted as he rose. When Peter handed him the slip of paper on which he had written the solicitor’s direction, he sketched a bow and took his leave. Insufferable, pompous ass, Noah thought, with not a care for anyone but himself. For the first time he realized that he was indeed glad to be marrying Olivia. He might well have foolishly settled for some enticing maiden who possessed none of his fiancée’s admirable qualities. She was young, yes, but she had a stature of her own. He need have no hesitation about her joining the Lawrence family.

Noah was rather surprised, when he repaired to the solicitor’s office, to find that Olivia was well dowered by her mother and grandmother. The settlement which they drew took much less time than usual owing to Noah’s determination to do generously by her. His provision of an allowance of considerable proportions caused the solicitor to raise his brows in protest. “Really, Sir Noah, it is not wise to allow so much money in a woman’s hands. They rarely know what to do with it, and it leads to unfortunate excesses.”

“In this case it will probably lead to assistance of the village school,” Noah remarked dryly, “but I will bear your words in mind, and speak with Olivia about it.”

The solicitor shrugged his disapproval but made no further protest. “The documents will be ready for you to sign in two days’ time. Shall I have them sent round to you?”

“No, I shall come here if you’ll see that the Earl attends as well. As Olivia’s guardian he must approve of the arrangements.”

“He could not fail to do so, given such an advantageous settlement for his sister.”

“Which he is unlikely to appreciate,” Noah muttered with asperity before he departed.

When he had previously left London for Norfolk to break the news of Peter’s engagement to Olivia, he had departed from Lila Dyer somewhat reluctantly, for he retained a measure of guilt associated with the occurrences at Stolenhurst. In addition, Lila was being harassed by her own cousin, and it made her position more precarious than at any former time. She had waved aside his concern and sped him on his way, undaunted by the spiteful nature of Lady Elizabeth’s attack.

Noah in his role of betrothed man was very discreet in setting about seeing Lila on this occasion. There had been a brief reply to his letter advising her of his engagement, and she showed no reluctance to welcome him to her charming townhouse on Wimpole Street. Seated in a gold and white parlor in a gown of emerald green, she looked beautiful and it surprised him to realize that he had not really missed her while he had been away. But then, he had been rather busy.

“You look lovely, dear Lila, so I need not ask if you have been well.” He smiled as he kissed the hand she offered him.

“Very well, Noah. I congratulate you on your engagement. It’s unfortunate Elizabeth should have made things so difficult for Lady Olivia because of me.” She sighed and twisted a ring on her long, shapely hands. “You would have thought Elizabeth would have softened when Peter offered for her, but since she has not, I foresee a long division between us. I cannot forgive her her treatment of the child.”

“Olivia would protest your considering her a child,” Noah replied wryly. “She has called me to account several times on that score.”

“I should think she will make you a good wife, Noah. There is an innate dignity about her which will match well with your pride.” She gave a mischievous grin. “You have not promised her fidelity, I take it.”

“No,” he replied seriously, “we have discussed ours as a convenient marriage. But I have promised discretion.”

“Very fitting,” she laughed, but she continued to twist the ring on her finger with an unusual absorption.

Noah became conscious of her nervous movement and leaned forward to take her hand. “Have you something to tell me, Lila? You need not hesitate.”

She made a whimsical gesture. “You have been occupied for some weeks and I imagine you will be so for several months more at least. There is a viscount who ... attracts me just now, and I have been... seeing him. I am much in demand, Noah, for the Monster has cleared the streets of their usual complement of women.”

“Do not speak so of yourself, Lila, or I will think Elizabeth has some influence over you.” He studied her face for a moment, and squeezed her hand reassuringly. “You were kind to see me to explain, my dear, and I wish you every happiness.”

“You make it sound as though I were getting married,” she replied crossly.

“Nonsense. You are determined on a life of happiness outside of marriage, and I have every expectation that you will manage it. I regret that our association must end; I’ve enjoyed it.” He placed a fleeting kiss on her lips.

“I’ll miss you, Noah.” And there was indeed a hint of moisture in her eyes as she watched him stride from the room.

Although a crisp wind whipped down Wimpole Street, Noah did not hasten as he headed for Bond Street. For a time he paused before a printseller’s, and again at the hat-maker’s, but he generally ignored the silk mercers and china sellers until he realized that it behooved him to return with a gift for Olivia.

Now that he had decided on such a course, the only shops he passed were tea-dealers and razor-makers, but his progress was absent-minded at best, and he did not despair of a goldsmith or perfumer before he reached his lodgings in Bruton Street. What caught his eye, however, was a lady’s workbox, in rosewood, decorated with engravings. One of the views bore such a resemblance to the lake at Welling Towers that he pushed open the shop door and entered.

The young assistant who came to serve him praised his choice, as he might have expected, but suggested that m’lady might prefer the spinning wheel instead. Noah regarded the toy dubiously; it would make a charming ornament to Olivia’s sitting room, no doubt, but its essential uselessness would not recommend itself to her.

The workbox, on the other hand, was not only charming, with its unusual design and standing on four tiny gilded feet, but it would see service. His hesitation prompted the assistant to claim knowingly that young ladies were more pleased with fripperies than everyday items.

Was Olivia so different from other young ladies that she would prefer a useful (though beautiful) item to a charming toy? Noah could not be sure, but his instincts drew him to the workbox. He lifted it to more closely examine the engravings, and when he saw that the oval one on the lid portrayed a dark-haired maiden in a forest, he had no further doubts. “I shall take this.”

He tucked the wrapped parcel under his arm with a certain satisfaction and strolled the remaining distance to his lodgings, where he was informed that a Mr. Thomas awaited him in the drawing room. Lifting a quizzical brow he asked, “Someone I know, Robert?”

“I think not, sir, but he was most anxious to see you and hinted at some sort of official business, though his card shows no indication.” The valet offered the card as he spoke.

There was no more than the name, but Noah agreed to speak with the visitor and shrugged himself out of his greatcoat with Robert’s assistance. The man he found in the drawing room was unremarkable for any facial or physical characteristic, and Noah felt sure he had never seen him before. “Mr. Thomas? I am Noah Lawrence. How can I be of service to you?”