Laura Matthews (14 page)

“And you shall have it, Olivia. Are you afraid to kiss me?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will give you a choice, my dear. Is that not generous of me?” His eyes sparkled with amusement. “To earn your twenty you may kiss me or you may tell me for what purpose you wish the money.”

Olivia regarded him stormily and then turned away to head for the door saying haughtily over her shoulder, “I will make my intended purchase on tick, Noah, and pay for it when I next receive my allowance.”

He overtook her before she could leave the room and gripped her arm with a firm hand. “Oh, don’t be so stuffy, Olivia. I was merely teasing you; I have your twenty pounds right here.” He pulled out his purse, withdrew the money, and pressed it into her hand. “It is just that I am very curious about what you intend to purchase.”

“You will know next week.”

“Will I? And I will not disapprove?”

“Certainly not. Why should you think I would purchase something of which you would disapprove, Noah? You do not intend to keep a record of all my purchases, do you?” she asked crossly.

“No, my dear, but I consider it highly mysterious that such an expensive purchase is one whose bill you will not have sent to me.”

“I do not wish for you to pay for it. This twenty pounds I can look on as my own, a reimbursement of monies I have spent on a wardrobe for you. Do not think I am ungrateful for my new clothes, Noah. They are lovely, but I would not have bought them were it not for your mother’s insistence, and then I would have had the twenty pounds I needed.”

Noah shook his head bemusedly at her rationalization. “If that is the way you see the matter, I am sure I owe you a great deal more than twenty pounds.”

“Oh, no,” she protested, aghast. “Perhaps it would be better to consider it an advance against my next allowance.”

“For God’s sake, Olivia, let us forget the matter,” he said exasperatedly. “It is your money now. There is no need for an accounting of it now or in the future. I beg your pardon for making such a fuss over it.”

Olivia was not proof against his disgruntled apology. She stood on tiptoe and placed a hesitant kiss on his lips. “Thank you, Noah.” Before he could react to her gesture she had disappeared from the room, to leave him staring astonished at the closing door.

* * * *

From the window of the Small Library Noah watched Olivia ride toward Welling the next morning after breakfast. He knew she was headed to make her purchase, and his curiosity was still high, but he shrugged and returned to the papers on the library table, intent on completing matters at the Towers before the wedding and honeymoon.

Olivia arrived at the shop shortly after Mr. Higgins put back the shutters. He had promised her that if she decided on the leather hassock he would have it delivered on the morning of her wedding, suitably tied with a red ribbon, as her bridegroom’s wedding present. There had never been any question in her mind that it was precisely what Noah needed for the Small Library, but she was intent on paying for it herself. In spite of the trouble she had gone to for the twenty pounds, she felt it infinitely superior to having Noah receive a bill for his own present.

“This is a surprise, mind you,” Olivia warned Mr. Higgins. “Please make no mention of it to anyone at the Towers.”

His round face wreathed with a smile as he assured her that not a word would pass his lips. When he ushered her out of the shop, she found Julianna riding past, and she had a momentary suspicion that Noah had sent his sister to spy on her. Olivia was immediately ashamed of such a thought, for her friend was obviously bound for her usual music lesson and was delighted to have Olivia ride with her as far as Mrs. Trambor’s cottage. Of course Julianna’s natural curiosity prompted her to inquire Olivia’s purpose at the shop, but she received only a vague reply which nonetheless drew no further comment from her.

On her return to the stables Olivia found Noah discussing the preparations for their honeymoon trip with the coachman while he waited to ride with her. He mounted Emperor and politely asked her in which direction she wished to proceed.

“To the lake, I think. I’ve not seen the swans in some time now.” Olivia cast a glance at him from under her eyelashes. It was difficult to tell what kind of mood he was in.

“You’ve carried out your commission in the village?” he asked cheerfully.

“Yes, thank you. It took but a moment, and then I rode with Julianna to her music lesson.”

“I’ve seen Alexander Cutler ride home with her from her lessons occasionally,” he offered conversationally, his gaze intent on her.

“Yes, he does. No doubt they meet in the village.”

“I think it far more likely he waits for her at Mrs. Trambor’s gate,” Noah replied dryly. When Olivia made no response he continued, “Yet he very seldom comes in to call, if I am not mistaken.”

“No,” she replied vaguely, “I have not seen him at the Towers in some time.”

“Would you say, not since I have been in residence?”

“I could not say, Noah. If you have some interest in the matter, I suggest you discuss it with Julianna.”

He accepted her rebuke with equanimity, but he was not ready to drop the subject. “I cannot like him, Olivia. He has no substance. I don’t mean that he’s not well-heeled, but that he is a frippery sort of fellow. Would you be willing to honor me with your opinion of him?” he asked coaxingly.

Olivia watched the swans glide gracefully about the lake before she responded. “He reminds me of my brothers.”

“I doubt you could have issued a more blighting condemnation.” He studied her for a while before he frowned and commented, “I don’t like to speak with Julianna about him. He’s fascinating to her and I cannot say anything without putting up her back. It would not do to force her into a rash decision. I’m sure she knows Mother and I would not be happy with a match in that direction and she’s not of age. Have you talked with her about Alexander?”

“As little as possible. If she feels everyone is against her, she’ll have only him to turn to.” Olivia met Noah’s eyes only briefly, but there was complete understanding between them. “Perhaps she’ll meet someone interesting in London,” she suggested, though she had no more hope of the possibility than either Noah or Lady Lawrence did.

“Perhaps. Shall we walk around the lake?” When she nodded, he dismounted to assist her from the mare, and tucked her hand under his arm. Cautiously, he said, “I would never ask you to bear tales about Julianna, Olivia, but if you should ever learn that she was contemplating any rash action, I hope you would not leave her to her fate. I have no wish to play the tyrant and in a year I will have to allow her what choice she makes, but for now I must follow the dictates of my conscience and protect her as I can.” He stopped and turned to her. “Can you understand how I feel?”

“Certainly, and I would not abandon her to such a fate over any misguided scruples in connection with our friendship, Noah. I’m very attached to Julianna and I wish to see her happy. It is impossible for me to think that her comfort lies in that direction, but when she’s of age I hope you won’t make her miserable with your disapproval if she is still determined on Alexander.”

Noah reached down to pick up a pebble and skim it across the water, where it made ever-widening circles. “I’ll give her what support I can. There might come a time when she needs to know that her family is behind her.”

Olivia nodded and they continued their walk in silence. The March sunlight glinted off the water and from the opposite bank they looked back on the horses and across the lawns to the house. “I’m fond of Welling Towers,” she remarked suddenly, almost to herself.

Noah smiled at her, his eyes full of pride. “It is a source of never-ending pleasure to me. The estate has been in my family for a dozen generations, and each one has succeeded in improving it. We’ll do our share.”

His enthusiasm was infectious and she turned sparkling eyes up to him. He caught her hand and drew her into a stand of trees where he kissed her and she tentatively responded. Pleased with her effort he hugged her affectionately and murmured, “I think we will suit very well, Olivia.”

Chapter Thirteen

The morning of their wedding dawned sunny and crisp, and Olivia arose from her bed with nervous anticipation. She walked to the window to survey the early spring landscape with its promising patchwork of green and brown. A shiver passed over her frame and she had darted back to her bed when there was a tap on the door.

Marie entered at her summons, her face glowing with an excited smile, and set down a tray with chocolate and toast while she chatted. “You could not have a better day for your wedding. Lady Olivia. Such a bustle as there is in the kitchens. Miss Julianna is already astir and asking whether you are in need of her company. Lady Lawrence is as calm as ever, of course, and Sir Noah is with some friends in the breakfast parlor. Shall I send Miss Julianna to you?”

Olivia agreed that she would welcome her friend’s presence and gave a sigh of relief when the maid left. Julianna was as full of the importance of the day as Marie had been, and every bit as talkative, but, recognizing Olivia’s subdued aspect, she did not press her for responses to her rhetorical comments on the wedding and the glorious weather. The ceremony was to be early, followed by a lavish breakfast, and Julianna began the lengthy process of assisting Marie to dress her friend, before she slipped away to don her own gown.

A profusion of black ringlets framed Olivia’s face and escaped onto her shoulders from under the broad-brimmed, low-crowned chapeau of taffeta with straw lace. Her gown of white brocaded silk was trimmed with flounces, and its train fell from the modest neckline in back. Noah had sent a family heirloom—a stunning diamond necklace—which she wore about her throat.

Anxiously she studied her reflection in the dressing glass and allowed that, although Marie exaggerated, she did indeed appear presentable. Lady Lawrence arrived to escort her to the carriage, and bolster her flagging spirits. Julianna, dressed with quiet elegance, whispered her encouragement, and Olivia soon found herself seated in the carriage for the brief drive to the village church.

Noah appeared to advantage in a plum velvet coat with an embroidered waistcoat and cream-colored knee breeches. His warm smile made it possible for Olivia to steel herself to being the object of everyone’s attention. Her brother Charles, tardily arrived but solemn for once in his life, gave her away with every sign of respectability.

Lady Lawrence, having assured herself that all was as it should be in the church, bestowed a benevolent smile on the couple and acknowledged to herself, not for the first time, that it was after all an excellent match and she was well pleased with her daughter-in-law.

Watching them not as practically, but from her own romantic point of view, Julianna beamed with happiness. Here was the sister she had never had, and she loved her dearly. And her darling Olivia was the most fortunate of women to be marrying Noah, the kindest and best of brothers.

Very little of the impressively read service penetrated Olivia’s consciousness; her hand shook when Noah placed the ring on her finger, and he pressed it sympathetically. Suddenly this man was her husband and there was no going back. There was nothing to go back to anyhow, she thought with a sigh, and then she smiled at him when he led her down the aisle to the carriage waiting outside the church. She could trust him to take care of her; perhaps even in time to care for her a little.

But everything was moving so fast. Too soon they were toasted at the breakfast banquet; too soon she was changed into her traveling costume; too soon she was alone with Noah in the carriage bound for the Cotswolds.

“I have arranged for accommodation at the Blue Boar in Cambridge for the night,” he told her. “If we make an early start in the morning, we may reach Buckingham tomorrow night and stay at the Swan and Castle. With any luck we will reach Roger’s estate by the third night.” She acknowledged this information with a nod, her head turned to gaze out the window. “Would you like me to read to you?”

Olivia was touched by the thoughtfulness of the gesture and turned to him. “That would be enjoyable, Noah. I find it difficult to read in a moving carriage.”

His voice reading
The Exiles
was deep and soothing to her overwrought nerves, and when she fell asleep he marked the place and cradled her against him. She slept so soundly, undisturbed by changes of horses or the clamor of busy inn yards, that he was able to withdraw another book from the traveling bag and peruse it at his leisure. The last of the day’s light was fading from the sky when she awakened to find his arm about her shoulder.

“I beg your pardon. I didn’t mean to sleep,” she apologized as she attempted to sit upright once more.

He reluctantly removed his arm and assured her that he perfectly understood her exhaustion. “It is another hour before we reach the inn, Olivia, but there’s food in the hamper if you wish.”

It was more curiosity than hunger which caused her to lean over and lift the lid of the hamper. “There is enough here to feed a dozen people!” she exclaimed. “Shall I hand you something?”

Noah settled on a pork pie and, although she had not intended to eat anything, Olivia found she was ravenous and helped herself to a Queen cake, and then another, followed by an apple. Noah laughed and commented, “For a moment there I thought perhaps you were hungry.”

When Olivia had swallowed the last bite she retorted, “I did not eat at the wedding breakfast as though I were not to see food for another week.”

“I was fortifying myself for the demands of the day,” he protested, his eyes full of humor. Even in the dim light he could see that her face paled, and he gently cupped her chin and lightly touched her lips with his. He was not surprised that there was no response; prudently he proceeded to regale her with stories of Cambridge, which was now but a short distance away.

The landlord himself led the way to their rooms at the inn, and Olivia noted with trepidation that although there were two of them, only one contained a bed; the other was a dressing and sitting room. Without attempting to consult his panic-stricken bride, Noah approved them and ordered a light meal sent up. Olivia wandered about the sitting room distractedly twitching at the curtains in an effort not to meet his eyes. Noah settled into a comfortable chair and watched her restless pacing for a few minutes before he spoke.