Laura Matthews (6 page)

“It was an enjoyable time,” Olivia confessed, “but do you know that Miss Stewart left today? I could not understand her reason, but she does not intend to return.”

“Most unfortunate. I fear you’ll sadly miss her company,” Evans replied politely.

“Yes, I’ll miss her, but I’m going away tomorrow myself for a few days.”

His disappointment was patent, and it cheered her considerably. It would seem that
someone
cared for her whereabouts. She could not assign the same motives to Sir Noah, but she was willing to accept the visit to his home as the best solution he could presently find for the dilemma into which he had inadvertently hurled her. Her conversation with Evans was interrupted by her brother’s approach; Evans quickly bowed and slipped away.

“Noah informs me that he has invited you to Welling Towers, Olivia,” Peter announced. “I hope you’ll think better of your decision about marrying him while you’re there.” When Olivia said nothing, his anger mounted and he snapped, “You’ll disgrace the family if you don’t.” Still Olivia said nothing. “You don’t plan to attend the masquerade ball this evening, I hope.”

“No,
Peter.”

“I shall wish you a pleasant journey now as it is unlikely I’ll be up when you leave.” He turned away from her to return to Lady Elizabeth.

“And I shall wish you a happy birthday since I shall not be here,” she replied softly and did not wait to see if he would make any reply but continued her journey to her room.

While Olivia stayed in her room packing, the masquerade ball for more than one hundred guests took place in the ballroom, and nearly every other room on the floor as well. Under her direction the main room had been decorated with festoons of hothouse flowers, and the ball did not begin until eleven. By the time supper was served at one, Olivia was fast asleep, but her name was on many lips over the champagne and lobster.

Noah and Lila continued their endeavors to erase the stain from Olivia’s reputation, but their efforts met with small success. Immediately after supper Lila, looking pale after the strains of the previous four and twenty hours, announced to her escort that she intended to retire.

“I’ll see you to your room,” he offered, and they left unnoticed in the crowd. When they reached her door he stayed her a moment. “I’m taking Lady Olivia to Welling Towers in the morning, Lila. I may be directly back or I may stay there for a few days.”

Lila gave him a quizzing look. “Is there significance in this gesture, Noah?”

“I’ve offered to marry her to save her reputation, but she’ll have none of me,” he admitted with a crooked grin. “Still, I cannot but think she will be better away from this house party, and I feel responsible for her predicament.”

With a toss of her head Lila dismissed the gossip. “They’ll find something more interesting to talk of in a few days, Noah. I am wearied with trying to convince them of the truth of last night. It’s a pity to see the child suffer, though, through no fault of her own.” She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. “Everyone here is well aware of your involvement with me and wouldn’t think two moments of this latest start if she weren’t the Earl’s sister.”

“Yes, and Peter is being a hypocrite about the whole thing. She doesn’t have an easy life here, I fear; and I hope to convince her to stay for some time with Julianna. I’ve promised to go or stay as she pleases.”

“It will be a boring party without you, Noah.” Her eyes crinkled into slits of mirth at his expression.

He turned her toward the door as he reached to open it. “You’ll need some time to recover, my dear,” he remarked with a wicked smile and a pat on her bottom. She stepped into the room but turned toward him again smiling encouragingly, and he drew her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. “I’ll be in touch, Lila, if I don’t return to the house party, and you know where to reach me if you should need me.”

“You must feel no further responsibility for me, Noah,” she said seriously, a hand resting lightly on his chest.

“It is not responsibility I feel for you,” he mocked, “but lust, you brazen hussy.” She giggled when he kissed her again. As he set her aside at last he said more sedately, “I don’t seem to have done very well by you, Lila.”

She touched the diamond necklace which encircled her throat, and smiled impudently at him. “I have nothing to complain of, Noah. I’ve had enough of conjugal fidelity for a lifetime, and I intend to enjoy myself now that I’m a widow. So long as I enjoy you, I’ll see you. When it’s over, we’ll go our separate ways with no regrets.” She raised an eyebrow enquiringly and reminded him, “That is how we began, is it not, and how we plan to continue?”

Noah nodded, but a frown creased his brow. “You don’t look to marry again?”

“Never,” Lila retorted emphatically. “This freedom suits me perfectly. Why should I turn over my fortune to some man who will gamble it away? Or keep my bed for one man the rest of my life? I can be discreet enough to maintain my position without limiting my choice, Noah. Today I find you very attractive, but next month—who knows? It’s the same with you; I doubt you would deny it.”

“No, I don’t deny it. Today I find you
very
attractive.”

She slipped out of his renewed embrace and taunted, “You must leave now, sir, for I am exceedingly fatigued.” Her tinkling laugh pursued him to the door as he obediently departed. “Good-night, Noah, and a pleasant journey.”

Chapter Six

Since Noah had sent word to his home the previous day, Olivia found they were expected, though his tall, tight-lipped mother was not exactly welcoming. They sat down to a midday meal shortly after arriving, and Noah entertained his mother and sister with tales of the house party, omitting any mention of the events which had led to his bringing Olivia to Welling Towers. Julianna, two years Olivia’s senior, was intrigued by her arrival and longed to get her alone to find out more. She had an opportunity directly after their meal was finished when Noah indicated that he wished to speak alone with his mother.

Julianna directed Olivia to a charming parlor on the first floor where they were seated on comfortable gray velvet love seats facing one another. The young ladies had met twice previously but only briefly, and they eyed each other circumspectly.

“I was so pleased to hear that Noah intended to bring you for a visit, Lady Olivia,” Julianna began. “You don’t mind leaving your brother’s coming of age party?”

“No, I’m relieved,” Olivia admitted. “I suppose Sir Noah is telling your mother the circumstances which led to my visit, and you must be curious as well.” She proceeded to explain as delicately as she was able the events surrounding Mrs. Dyer’s sickness, and the subsequent misunderstanding in the household.

Julianna’s eyes widened with concern and she murmured, “You poor dear. Why, I should die of embarrassment! How thoughtless of Noah to put you in such a situation!”

“It was unintentional and stemmed from his concern for Mrs. Dyer.”

“Humph,” Julianna snorted, then asked eagerly, “Is she pretty—Mrs. Dyer?”

“Extremely. Have you never met her?”

“No, though I expect to when I am in London in the spring. She was in mourning last year when I was there; and though I may have seen her the year before, I did not know who she was.”

Julianna seemed to think better of her curiosity and changed the subject. “I understand your brother has built a theatre at Stolenhurst which is acknowledged to be the finest anywhere. Have you taken part in his productions?”

“When there was a need for me, and I have often coached the players in their speeches. Have you an interest in the theatre?” Olivia regarded her companion with some trepidation, for her experience with people bitten with the desire to act was not wholly felicitous.

Julianna considered the question for a moment. Her brown hair differed from her brother’s by only a degree of lightness, but her eyes were hazel where his were brown. She was as surprisingly tall as her mother, though neither of them had attained Noah’s lanky height. Julianna’s eyebrows moved expressively when she spoke. “I have never acted, you know, but sometimes when I read a play I feel very involved in it. Do you not feel very dramatic when you read some moving speech of Shakespeare’s?”

Olivia laughed. “Yes, but that is not the order of play Peter presents. His standard selection is
The Confederacy
or
The Romp.
A few months past I was Mrs. Sullen in
The Beaus’ Stratagem,
and I found it very unnerving.”

They had not noticed the door of the parlor open to admit Noah, who startled them now by announcing, “But she acted it extremely well, nonetheless.” His eyes danced with amusement and Olivia knew he was remembering that Peter had brought
him
to her bedchamber to congratulate her on her performance. When she flushed and clenched her hands in her lap, he said apologetically, “I know you do not enjoy such works, Olivia, and I will not tease you about it. Has Julianna managed to wrest from you all your secrets?”

His sister indignantly declared that Olivia had been more than willing to explain why she had arrived so unexpectedly at Welling Towers, an admission which only made Noah laugh and shake his head mournfully. “My mother hopes you’ll join her in the Winter Parlor, Olivia. I’ll take you there if you wish.”

Olivia had a moment of misgiving, but automatically rose, since she really had no choice. Noah imperceptibly shook his head at his sister’s questioning look, and she settled back in her chair, resigned. When they were in the hall Noah regarded Olivia curiously and asked, “Are you really afraid of my mother?”

“She reminds me of my grandmother with those piercing eyes and pursed lips. I feel she thoroughly disapproves of me, though I don’t believe I have given her any reason. When Grandmama was alive I used to think that she could tell when I had gotten into mischief just by looking at me. Your mother is like that, too.”

Noah nodded but replied, “It’s a trick some people have, Olivia. If they make you feel guilty by appearing to know more than they do, you usually confess to it without their having to lift a finger. I admit it was disconcerting when I was young, and I was forever apologizing for some misdeed before ever Mother could have heard of it. You will find such people hold little power over you when you develop a confidence of your own.”

He could see that he had offended her by his reference to her youth and quickly continued, “I think you will like Mother when you get to know her. She is opinionated,” he remarked dryly, “but seldom unfair. In this case I have received the brunt of her censure, as was only proper, and she understands that you were not at fault.” He paused before the heavy oak door of the Winter Parlor. “Do not let her bully you, Olivia.”

“You are not coming in with me?” she asked anxiously.

“No, she would only dismiss me, my dear. She wants to be private with you and assess your feelings. You have only to be honest with her, as you were with your brother and me. I will be in the Small Library if you want me.” He smiled his encouragement and opened the door for her.

The room into which he ushered her was of moderate size, its walls painted a warm toffee with dragged brush work, and its silk draperies of a slightly lighter shade framing windows overlooking the park. There were Chippendale mahogany bureau bookcases on either side of the fireplace, whose mantelpiece held some remarkably fine Bristol Delft. Between the windows was a handsome walnut bracket-timepiece above a folding mahogany spider-leg table. On a rosewood table with revolving top and fitted drawers lay an open book and an unfinished piece of embroidery. It was one of the most comfortable, quietly elegant rooms Olivia had ever seen.

Lady Lawrence was seated on a white velvet sofa under a Beechey painting of the king, and she beckoned Olivia to join her. “That will be all, Noah,” she said, and he offered her a cheeky smile as he withdrew. She murmured, “Impudent fellow,” but her tone was indulgent, and she turned her attention to Olivia.

“Sit here by me, Lady Olivia. I’m distressed to hear what problems Noah has created for you.” She did not look the least distressed to Olivia.

“He had no intention of harming me, ma’am. I feel sure it will all be forgotten soon enough.” Olivia seated herself on the edge of the sofa and attempted to look at ease.

Lady Lawrence regarded her with pursed lips. “You are wrong, Lady Olivia. It is the sort of
on dit
which will be passed from person to person because it involves you, the sister of an Earl.” She made no effort to conceal the distaste she felt for Peter. “Your brothers have earned a most unsavory reputation which will merely lend authenticity to such gossip. I presume Noah told me the truth when he said there was no foundation to it.”

The older woman’s accusing stare very nearly unnerved Olivia, who swallowed painfully before she spoke. “I am sure your son told you the truth. The only dealings we had that night were in aid of... a fellow guest who was sick.”

“You need not be delicate with me, Lady Olivia. Noah has told me the
whole
story, I assure you, though it does him no credit. I am surprised that you did not succumb to the vapors under the circumstances,” she said with a small nod of approval, just barely discernible by her companion. “However, you must not think that a damaged reputation is forgiven overnight. In this case, the aura of it may cling to you always. You would do better to accept my son’s offer of the protection of his name.”

It was difficult for Lady Lawrence to say this, for although she truly felt it the proper course of action, she was not at all convinced that she wished her son to marry into the Fullerton family. She really knew very little of Olivia and was used to thinking of her as a part of the unwholesome household at Stolenhurst. “I think you have rejected the solution out of hand and should give it more thought.”

Olivia studied the gray-haired matron for some moments before replying. “It would solve one problem merely to create others, ma’am. I am convinced you mean well, as it cannot be a match you would ordinarily approve, but I believe it would be a mistake.” Suddenly Olivia smiled mischievously and asked, “Would you do so in my place?”