Laura Matthews (3 page)

“I should think only three or four more days, unless there are further book rooms of which I have not been advised.” He looked at her enquiringly, but she shook her head. “Your brother has quite a valuable library and a very interesting one.”

“It’s a source of delight to me and I hope Peter won’t contemplate disposing of it, but I am afraid he may. Is it difficult to sell an entire library?”

“No. Mr. Whittaker has had gentlemen walk into his establishment and ask for just that. They don’t care about the content particularly, you understand, just that it is the sort of library that a gentleman might have in his “home.”

Evans waved an encompassing hand to indicate the whole of Stolenhurst. “The library from an estate such as this, which has taken years to accumulate and includes many rare works and first editions, is in demand, and those who can afford to pay for such a thing pay very well.”

“You don’t think that the library might be as much a part of the Bolenham entail as, say, the furnishings?” Olivia asked diffidently.

Evans considered her thoughtfully. “It is as likely as not. Your brother would have to indicate that it is not, in order to sell the volumes. He should consult with the family solicitor, or perhaps he already has.”

“I would doubt it, but I will make a point of suggesting it to him.” Olivia considered the people mulling about the room and said abruptly, “Forgive me for discussing your work when you’re at your leisure. Allow me to introduce you to some of my brother’s guests.”

Olivia took care to introduce the young man to those members of the party who could advance him in his profession and who would not disdain his acquaintance. She was aware that Peter’s eyes followed her mockingly as she went about the room, but since he made no attempt to intercept her, she paid no attention.

Charles and Samuel probably didn’t even remember who the young man with her was, and they would not have taken the trouble to question her in any case. Although they were both older than she, and as determinedly self-indulgent as their older brother, they were not so immune to Olivia’s remonstrances as Peter was. However, Mr. Evans soon excused himself with a grateful smile to his hostess and returned to his cataloguing, while Olivia continued to circulate among the house party, avoiding only Sir Noah.

Chapter Three

Seventy-five people sat down to dinner that evening at Stolenhurst, and Mr. Evans was not one of them. Olivia had approached her brother about his issuing an invitation for the library cataloguer to join the rest of the house-party, but Peter had been disobliging. “There is no need to include Evans at dinner, Olivia; he would be out of place.”

Olivia had thought it more likely that she herself would feel out of place with his friends, but had made no further comment. As she had had the arranging of the seating, she put the doleful Mr. Carson on her right and the Stolenhurst chaplain, Mr. Winkles, on her left.

The soft wood floors shone after their scrubbing with silversand, and the sand-colored walls with their stippled panels glowed in the profusion of candles. Conversation filled the room until the din gave Olivia a headache. She watched the servants in their crested livery pass an amazing variety of dishes amongst the company and noted that Peter had once again sent to London for another service of plate.

An involuntary sigh escaped her—there was no end to his extravagance—but perhaps it was allowable for his coming of age. There really had been no need for the new raw silk ruched curtains, though, as their predecessors had hung for less than two years.

Olivia did not rise to withdraw with the ladies until her brother had given her a curt nod, and then she did so with only partial relief. There was no one among this group to whom she could speak with pleasure, even though the group contained two of her aunts, who would dearly love to bring her out this spring if only they were not too busy with their own affairs. A faint smile lifted the corners of Olivia’s full mouth as she recalled their comments on the occasion of that discussion. It was not that she wished to spend several months in either of their houses, but Peter had proposed it, more to rid himself of her presence, she suspected, than to give her the pleasure of a season.

Her aunts had professed great affection for her, assured her that nothing would give them more joy than to see her welcomed into London society--and firmly denied that they were capable of such an endeavor. Aunt Davis was far too much the pinch-penny to ever give it serious consideration and Aunt Moore was far too indolent to contemplate such an enterprise without suffering palpitations.

Peter had made no further attempt to find a suitable chaperone for Olivia, so his sister assumed that she would spend the spring and summer at Stolenhurst as usual. The thought did not unduly upset her, but she would have welcomed a change of scene. Much as having her brother’s friends in the house could distress her, there was little society in the neighborhood to engross her interest when she was there alone, especially during the London season.

Lady Elizabeth approached her, tugging her cousin along for support. “Are we to have the pleasure of seeing you perform in Peter’s play this evening, Lady Olivia?” she asked archly.

“No, all of the necessary parts are filled, Lady Elizabeth.”

The young lady toyed with the ringlets at the nape of her neck and remarked proudly, “Peter has promised that I shall be understudy for the female lead in
The Romp
which is to be performed later in the week. He knows that I am able to learn such speeches with the greatest ease and has promised to work with me during the next few days. One never knows when Mrs. Goodall’s voice may give out, or she may come down with the flu.”

Olivia regarded her with barely concealed astonishment. “You would wish to take such a role, Lady Elizabeth?”

“I would do what I could if the success of the play were in jeopardy,” Lady Elizabeth replied stiffly. “Peter feels I would handle the role admirably.”

Mrs. Dyer gave a snort of derisive mirth. “I cannot believe he is serious, Elizabeth. When has he seen you act? I remember your parts in our Christmas plays as children, and I would not say in all justice that you were an outstanding success.” Her expressive face revealed her doubt, but at the same time she squeezed her cousin’s arm in a conciliating gesture.

“Well, I have read some parts for Peter, cousin, and he was all admiration,” Lady Elizabeth remarked, her eyes demurely cast down.

Olivia merely nodded encouragingly, but Mrs. Dyer let out a peal of laughter which attracted the attention of the men as they entered the room. Peter and Sir Noah joined the small group where they stood near the fire.

“Has Lady Olivia been entertaining you, Lila?” Sir Noah asked sardonically with an amused glance at his hostess.

“No, no, it is Elizabeth, Noah. She was telling us of her readings for Peter’s theatricals,” Mrs. Dyer explained as she moved to allow him to take a place beside her.

Peter flushed with annoyance, and sent a glare at his sister, though it rightly belonged to Lady Elizabeth, who was smiling beatifically at him. His tone was rallying when he said, “More’s the pity you will not be able to judge for yourselves the talent Lady Elizabeth shows for comedy. I am convinced she would outshine us all.”

Olivia took the opportunity to drift away from the group and approach her aunts. Her Aunt Davis, intent on her discussion with Aunt Moore, did not see her niece approach and was speaking unguardedly. “You may take my word for it that Lady Elizabeth will get him, and a good thing, too, for Olivia is far too young to manage a household of this size.”

Indignation rose in her niece, since she had managed the household with no help from her aunts for the past three years, but she gave no indication that she had heard the comment as she asked kindly, “Do you intend to join the theatre party, my dear aunts, or shall I have some card tables set out?”

Aunt Davis regarded her suspiciously but merely asked, “What do they perform this evening?”

“The Midnight Hour.”

“Humph. Why can they never put on something acceptable? Such a charming theatre, and no expense spared on it or the scenery and costumes,” she sniffed with a derogatory glance at her nephew, “and they never choose a play which is proper.”

“I shall have the card tables set up in the Red Room, Aunt Davis. There will no doubt be a number of partners to be had.” Olivia escaped from the two sour-faced matrons to undertake the task, and subsequently slipped off to her room, since she would not be needed during the evening.

She came upon Mr. Evans on the staircase, and smiled merrily at him. “I have escaped,” she confided. “Do you go to attend the play?”

“Your brother has requested that I assist backstage,” he replied, his face blank of expression.

“He has no right to make any such request! Surely you do not mean to accede to him. There is no lack for servants to manage the dressing, make-up and scenery backstage.”

Evans gave her a distorted smile. “The Earl is currently paying for my services, Lady Olivia, and I would find it difficult to disoblige him.”

“Well, I would not,” she snapped. With an imperious finger she summoned a footman. “Please be so kind as to inform Lord Bolenham that I have need of Mr. Evans’s attendance this evening and that he will not be at leisure to help at the theatricals.”

Evans watched the tall figure until he entered the drawing room before he spoke. “I appreciate your concern for me, ma’am, but there is no need to irritate your brother. It is a small matter, after all.”

Olivia shrugged. “If it is indeed a small matter to you, you must please yourself,” she said crossly. “Peter did it to annoy me, Mr. Evans, because I asked him to invite you to join the party at dinner. Where did you eat?”

“In my room. You must not think that I mind, ma’am, though I find it most generous of you to have made an effort on my behalf. I am well-acquainted with the awkwardnesses inherent in my position,” he said softly.

Olivia studied him for a moment on the candlelit staircase. He had the manners and breeding of a gentleman; she could not be wrong in that. His curly black hair caught the light and his intent blue eyes returned her gaze steadily. “I have a mind to ask Miss Stewart to join me for tea in the old schoolroom, Mr. Evans. Perhaps you would care to join us?”

“Who is Miss Stewart?” he asked curiously.

“She was my governess and has stayed on to be my companion, though she spends most of her time hiding from my brothers when they’re in residence,” Olivia admitted ruefully. “She’s an attractive woman of thirty, but as meek and self-effacing as one can find. My brothers terrify her with their loudness, to say nothing of their perpetual attempts to... well, never mind, it is not a serious thing with them. A mere joke because of her timidity, but she finds it difficult to accept it as such. Would you care to join us?”

“Nothing would give me more pleasure, Lady Olivia.”

She explained where the schoolroom was located and appointed to meet him there in half an hour. Miss Stewart’s room was located across the hall from the schoolroom—a spacious apartment, and her only complaint was that it was so far removed from Olivia’s own suite, and Olivia might not hear her if she called for help.

Although almost sure that her brothers meant no real harm in their mock attempts to seduce the governess, but rather to amuse themselves at her horror of their attentions, Olivia had made sure that the governess was provided with an ample lock to her door, one which had no duplicate key in the steward’s room. Anything less would have meant an immediate departure from Stolenhurst, Olivia was sure, and she was fond of Miss Stewart in spite of the fact that the woman showed very little spirit, and provided only mundane conversation for her younger charge.

When Olivia had identified herself and Miss Stewart had cautiously unlocked the door, the younger woman issued her invitation, prefacing it with the information that her brothers would be occupied in the theatre for the evening. Thus encouraged, Miss Stewart agreed to join Olivia and Mr. Evans, and they settled in the comfortable chairs at the south end of the schoolroom while a fire was laid for them. Evans appeared as the tea tray was borne in and wondered that he had never before met Miss Stewart, since he had been resident at Stolenhurst for two weeks now. If she did indeed hide from the Fullerton brothers, however, it would explain her absence, as they had been here for the whole of his stay.

The small party was most welcome to each of its guests after the various rigors they had undergone while Peter prepared for his coming of age festivities. Olivia had been too busy to spend much time with her companion, and Miss Stewart had stolidly refused to leave the schoolroom floor with Peter, Charles and Samuel in the house.

Miss Stewart, even with her hair drawn severely back and dressed in the most inconspicuous manner, was obviously a fragile beauty, never cut out to be a governess in any household, much less her present situation. She was fascinated by Mr. Evans’s description of his work of cataloguing the libraries of various country houses for his employer in London, and she became quite animated in her desire to learn more. Evans was enthusiastic in his efforts to satisfy her curiosity and to impress Olivia with his expertise on the subject. The clock on the mantelpiece of the schoolroom had not been wound in years, and the hours passed without the participants being aware of the time.

* * * *

Sir Noah sat with Lila
Dyer and Lady Elizabeth at the performance of
The Midnight Hour.
The little theatre, modeled on the old Opera House in the Haymarket, was rumored to have cost Peter sixty thousand pounds, and Noah had no doubt it was the handsomest and best-appointed small playhouse in existence, but he could not understand Peter’s extravagant indulgence in such a venture.

Adjoining the theatre there was a large foyer where refreshments were served to the guests between acts, and Lila and Lady Elizabeth, for all they had been there before, exclaimed at the innumerable manifestations of expense in the decorations and armorial bearings emblazoned on every side. Peter acted his role that evening with spirit and
élan,
and accepted the subsequent praise as his due. While Lady Elizabeth flattered Peter, Noah successfully urged on Lila the merits of retiring early for the night.