Laura Matthews (5 page)

“I would have helped you to solve the problem if you had come to me.”

“Would you?” She sighed and pushed her hair back from her eyes. “What could you have done, Noah? You don’t wish to marry me, only to amuse yourself. I don’t begrudge you that, how could I? And it wouldn’t be in keeping with my nature to sequester myself in the countryside for half a year, only to have the problems of finding someone to adopt the child. No, I saw only one solution and I acted on it. I’ll be more careful in future though, for this has not been pleasant.” She gratefully accepted the glass of water with its few drops of laudanum which he offered her.

Noah sat silent, his eyes trained on her face but his mind abstracted. It was impossible for him to know if he would have offered to marry her. More likely he would have chosen one of the other solutions, perhaps not the one she had chosen; but that would merely have been for his own peace of mind and not hers. “Your cousin doesn’t know of this?” he asked at length.

“No, and I don’t wish her to. You don’t think Lady Olivia will speak of it, do you?” she asked anxiously.

“Certainly not. I wouldn’t have brought her into it if I had understood what was happening, Lila, but she was very discreet throughout and assures me that the footman and doctor will be likewise. She didn’t allow any servants to be called but did what was necessary herself.”

“She doesn’t have an easy position at Stolenhurst, I imagine,” Lila remarked. “It’s unfortunate her aunts are too selfish to take her away from here.” Her voice had drifted into silence and she fell asleep a moment later.

When Olivia was summoned to her brother’s library the next morning, she was surprised to learn that he had not joined the morning’s hunt. She was even more surprised to find Sir Noah there with him. The solemnity of their faces alarmed her, and she turned immediately to Noah to ask anxiously, “She is all right, is she not? There were no further problems?”

“No, no, she’s feeling fairly well this morning, Lady Olivia, thanks to your assistance. It would seem there is gossip spreading through the house, though,” Noah offered by way of beginning the discussion.

“I assure you I have spoken with no one,” Olivia said stiffly.

Peter slapped a hand down on his desk. “The gossip is not about Mrs. Dyer, Olivia; it is about you. That silly new abigail of yours has been blathering in the servants’ quarters about Noah coming to you in the dead of night with no more on than a dressing gown and that you did not return to your room for several hours.”

“It will do no harm, Peter. Staffer was on duty last night, and surely he can set their minds at rest by informing them that it was necessary to call the doctor in the middle of the night.”

“There is a very large house party in residence, Olivia,” he snapped at her, “and every one of their servants has been spreading the tale to them. Having been up all night, no doubt Stafler sleeps during the day. Our aunts were beating on my door before I was out of bed this morning. Your reputation is damaged beyond repair,” he said smugly.

“Ah, I understand now. You have sent for me to congratulate me.”

“Mind your tongue, hoyden! No one will believe your prudish principles now, my girl, and there is nothing for it but for you to marry Noah.”

Olivia stared in disbelief. “You have finally slipped your moorings, Peter. What do I care what your friends say of me? I would rather be shunned by that bunch of hypocrites than not!”

Noah interposed to say gravely, “It’s not only these people, Lady Olivia. The tale will spread to London with them. I have assured your brother that I am prepared to marry you, since it was my thoughtlessness which compromised you.” A muscle in his jaw twitched, but his eyes did not waver from hers.

“Well, I am not prepared to marry you, Sir Noah. I will not have
my
life ruined to save face with anyone.”

“You will have to marry him,” her brother roared, his face red with anger.

“And I tell you I will not. No one can force me to marry him, never think it!”

Noah rubbed his temples thoughtfully before speaking to the glaring brother and sister. “I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation, Lady Olivia. Not only did the abigail see me, but your companion and the library cataloguer as well.”

“They are not likely to spread gossip throughout the household,” was her stubborn reply.

“Miss Stewart has already informed me that she is leaving Stolenhurst today,” Peter announced with a theatrical gesture of despair.

“Oh, for God’s sake, Peter, we are not in one of your plays now. I will speak with Miss Stewart. It is no more than a misunderstanding which can be set right,” she said, but she allowed Noah to draw up a chair for her and seated herself wearily in it.

“I tell you, Olivia,” Peter rasped, “that once such a rumor is started there is never any ridding yourself of it. You cannot continue here among my guests without an announcement that you are to marry Noah.”

“Nonsense! I will not be forced into a disagreeable marriage just to spare your blushes, Peter. I have blushed often enough for you, and you may do the same for me now. The whole situation is absurd, and the sooner you attempt to set matters to rights in a logical way, not in this havey-cavey fashion that serves to validate such ridiculous rumors, the sooner it will be over.” Olivia rose, ignored her brother’s blustering threats and left the room, closely followed by Sir Noah.

“Stay, Olivia,” he said authoritatively when the door had closed behind them.

“I wish to hear no more on the subject, sir. I have done nothing wrong, and I will not act as though I had.” Olivia’s eyes sparkled with a mixture of anger and frustration.

“Nevertheless, your situation here will be very uncomfortable,” he pointed out.

“It could not be less comfortable than being married to you.”

“It would, though, you know. You could lead a very pleasant life at Welling Towers, away from your brothers and all the annoyances you spoke of last night.” His voice was persuasive, his eyes serious.

“What is it you want, Sir Noah? Are you afraid that your own reputation will suffer by these rumors of a liaison with a young, unmarried gentlewoman? I should really like to understand how you could agree to such a scheme.”

“I have unavoidably damaged your reputation, child,” he said stiffly, “and I wish only to do the honorable thing by you.”

“I find that difficult to believe and totally unnecessary. Mrs. Dyer is a gentlewoman, and you were perfectly content to damage her reputation.”

“There is no comparison between the two cases. You are an innocent child, and Mrs. Dyer is an experienced woman of the world.” Noah drew his hand through his hair in exasperation. “No one thinks particularly ill of Lila for her... activities; but it would not be the same with you. At least promise me you will think on it, Olivia. The disdain you could meet with today might change your mind.”

Olivia turned abruptly from him and disappeared up the staircase, as he watched her with a mixture of chagrin and doubt. Perhaps she
could
weather the storm that was bursting about her, but it did not seem fair that she should have to, piled as it was on her usual load of care. He would rather adopt her as a sister than as a wife, he thought ruefully, but the situation would not allow for that. What was worse was that the child was right; he did not wish it to be rumored that he had seduced her.

Chapter Five

Miss Stewart’s door was locked as usual, and Olivia called to her as she tapped. The door was opened hesitantly and the companion looked past Olivia to make sure there was no one else in the hall before she bustled the younger woman into the room and relocked the door.

With the first amusement she had felt all day Olivia scolded, “There is no need to lock the door when I am with you, Miss Stewart. Peter tells me you are leaving Stolenhurst today.” The room was scattered about with trunks and boxes into which growing mounds of belongings were being loaded even now. “I can but assume that this has something to do with last night.”

Miss Stewart’s face paled, and she seemed incapable of speech. Olivia took her hand and pressed it reassuringly. “You must not think that there was anything improper in my going with Sir Noah, my dear. One of our guests was most dreadfully sick
,
and I went to do what I could for her. The doctor was sent for and seemed satisfied with her condition. She is much better this morning.”

“No, no!” the companion exclaimed pitifully. “I know you would do nothing wrong, Lady Olivia, but I must leave at once.”

“You have had no word of troubles in your family, have you?”

“No. That is, I long to see them again. Yes, I feel I must see them,” Miss Stewart hastened on.

Olivia regarded her perplexedly. “Then you intend to return to Stolenhurst?”

“No, no, never!” the companion cried with a shudder.

“Miss Stewart, my dear,” Olivia said, taking the woman’s hand and seating her on a chair before she knelt in front of her. “Please tell me what the problem is, why you’re leaving. I don’t understand.”

Miss Stewart’s flustered hands waved about in the air. “I cannot say. You will please indulge me, Lady Olivia. I would rather just leave with no more ado.”

“But of course you shall if I cannot convince you to stay,” Olivia said briskly. “I shall miss you, my dear. It is not that one of my brothers has been bothering you again?”

The pale face whitened further. “No, I promise you they have not. Do not question me further, I beg you.”

Olivia shook her head drearily. “Of course not, ma’am. I’ll help you pack if you’re intent on leaving.” There remained nothing further to be said to the frightened woman, so Olivia spent the next hour carefully avoiding the subject while she assisted in gathering together all her companion’s belongings, the trinkets and clothing accumulated over the last six years. When the trunk was full and the portmanteaus had been strapped, Olivia left her for a moment to order the carriage brought round. She took the opportunity to slip into her room and secure some money before returning to Miss Stewart.

It seemed incredible to Olivia that twenty minutes later she was waving a farewell to the woman who had been a constant resident in her home for so many years, and that she did not know why the companion was leaving. There was no doubt in Olivia’s mind that Miss Stewart had said no more than the truth when she exonerated her of any improper conduct the previous evening, but that left her at more of a loss than ever to explain the departure.

No sooner had Olivia returned to the drawing room than her aunts descended upon her in a fury of disgust. They paid no attention to her explanations of the night’s actual occurrences, but insisted that she no longer existed in their eyes.

“Never,” Aunt Davis proclaimed righteously, “has there been such a scandal in our family. I thank my lucky stars that this has opened my eyes before I took you into my own home to contaminate your cousins with your disgraceful behavior.”

Aunt Moore nodded an accompaniment to Aunt Davis’ ravings, which lasted the better part of an hour, long before which time expired Olivia despaired of bringing them to an understanding of the truth and desisted in the attempt.

The rest of the day was a nightmare no less chilling. Olivia was ignored at meals and shunned by all in the reception rooms with the lone exceptions of Lila Dyer and Sir Noah. Even her own brothers would not speak to her, would not stand by her in this hideous mess. At times she could feel the tears pricking at her eyelids, and her chin quivered uncontrollably; but she refused to give in to the ostracism she faced.

Lila Dyer, looking pale and seated most of the day in the drawing room, spent hours speaking with people in an attempt to furnish them with the truth, but they had rather believe the worst. Little gatherings would break off talking when Olivia approached, and would not open their circle to her. Eventually she escaped to the stables, only to see the reproach in the eyes of the staff there.

The despondence she had begun to feel did not lift under the influence of an exhilarating gallop across the meadows nor during a ride through her favorite part of the estate. The wind felt bitterly cold, the sky threatening with its snow-filled clouds, but she did not wish to return to the house where she would once again have to face those dreadful accusing stares. Finally she put her head down against the mare’s neck and sobbed bitterly.

Noah found her in this condition and his heart ached for her. When he had wiped her tears, he said gently, “Let me take you home to my mother, Olivia. You need not marry me; but you will not suffer so there, and you can return to Stolenhurst when Peter has gone to London.”

“I am afraid of your mother,” she gulped.

Noah laughed with real amusement. “There is no need to be, you know. I’ll explain the situation to her, and I assure you she’ll treat you well. Julianna would welcome a friend for she is often bored in the dead of winter when she cannot be outside so much.”

He studied Olivia’s uncertain face carefully. “I could take you there in the morning; it’s no more than a four hour journey even in this weather, if it doesn’t snow too heavily. Olivia, you’ll only be needlessly hurt if you stay here while Peter’s house party is in progress.”

“And will you return to Stolenhurst?”

“I shall be guided by your wishes.”

“Very well,” she sighed, “I’ll go with you, Sir Noah, but just to spend a few days there. It’s kind of you to offer after I’ve been so rude about refusing to marry you. I’m sure you feel the same undesirability as I do on the subject and would not misconstrue my words as being ungrateful for your attempt to save my reputation.”

“Never,” he responded with a grin. “And, Olivia, in view of the connection between our families, I must insist that you call me Noah.”

She managed a tremulous smile as she nodded her agreement. Their ride back to the stables was silent, and when they entered the house, Olivia headed directly for her room. James Evans appeared on the stairs, and she turned her troubled, questioning gaze on him. Would he cut her, too? But no, he offered a sad smile and stopped to speak with her. It was such a relief to be acquitted by someone other than the participants of the night’s incident, that she was soon chatting away as though he were her best friend. When she paused for a moment, he apologized for keeping her and Miss Stewart up so late the previous evening.