“Francie!”
“It hardly matters. You will need the respectability of marriage to weather the storm to come.”
The inevitability of another scandal pressed in on Livvie. A weight that was too heavy for her to bear alone. Once Lady Peabody’s lips were loosed, her mistake would spread through the country and then on to London like wildfire. Did Tobias truly wish to wed her? She thought of the animosity between them and winced. No, he would not. She was without connections and had nothing to recommend her.
“Perhaps a scandal can be avoided. We are, after all, in the country and we were not seen doing anything.”
Francie hurried over and clasped her hands. “Dear Livvie, please think on my brother’s offer. I assure you, Lady Peabody will spread the gossip of what she saw and the scandal will be terrible. Though he is…he is different from other men, he is honorable. Mother and Tobias are awaiting us.”
Livvie allowed a small smile to touch her lips. It was all she could manage. She tried to see the benefits of marriage to the earl and her mind was frightfully blank. They exited her chamber and walked at a brisk pace downstairs. Holding her head high, she marched down the hallway. Many of the guests were still at the ball and in the card rooms. She could hear the faint din of laughter and the soft chords of a waltz floating up from below. When they reached the library, she lifted her hand to knock and hesitated. The dowager countess’s voice rose. “Why are you being so stubborn, Tobias?” she asked, a hint of admonition in her words.
“I’ve been told it’s my nature to be pigheaded. It is why I have such support and success in the House of Lords,” he said drily.
“And what if she deliberately trapped you? My cousin’s estate isn’t doing well and she only comes with two thousand, and from what I have seen of her wild ways, it is entirely possible.”
Livvie stiffened in outrage.
“I do not care for such things,” Tobias countered, mild annoyance evident in his tone. “This conversation is a waste of time as my mind is my own and it has decided on marrying Lady Olivia.”
Her heart eased a bit.
“She is without decorum or any proper polish to become the Countess of Blade.”
Francie gasped. “Oh, Livvie, do not take her words to heart, Mamma is…”
Then Tobias spoke, “Yet she will be the new countess. You will also make arrangements to open up the dower house for your future residence.”
There was a flurry of sounds and Livvie managed to lurch back as the door was flung open and then slammed. The dowager countess vibrated with anger, and Livvie’s heart broke a little more. The countess gave her a bitter look of tearful condemnation.
“Come along, Francie. It is terrible manners to eavesdrop. I taught you better.”
She gripped her daughter’s arm and walked away without acknowledging Livvie. It was certainly ridiculous to feel such hurt but she did. She lifted her hand to knock once again and faltered as another voice spoke.
“Is it Lady Olivia’s character that has the frown on your face, or the countess’s disapproval?”
She stiffened.
“Mother’s disproval has no bearing on my decision. She will cry and rant bitterly that I have no respect for her nerves and tender feelings, I daresay she will even faint a few times. Women use tears and fainting spells solely to manipulate and bend a man to their will, and Mother is an expert. She will be leaving Grangeville Park for the dower house within the week, for I do not have the tolerance for the tantrum I can predict she will unleash.”
“Ah, so it’s the beauty. I know you have no aversion to marriage, so what could be your possible objection to such a charming beauty?”
He thinks me a charming beauty?
“Unfortunately, she is not the tractable and biddable sort of female.”
There was a low chuckle and murmur she was unable to ascertain.
“You must admit it, man, Lady Olivia’s charms are delightful. You would be bored with any other young lady, especially the tractable sorts.”
There was a low grunt from Tobias.
“I think I will send the hoyden to the farthest estate of mine, in Scotland…hell, maybe the West Indies,” Tobias drawled with amusement coloring his tone.
A strange numbness spread in her chest. The wretched, insufferable man. Narrowing her eyes, she rapped her knuckles on the door, then entered without waiting for a response.
…
Grayson launched to his feet as Olivia stalked into the library. Relief filled Tobias that her face wasn’t wet with tears and that she’d possessed the strength to return below stairs instead of sequestering herself in her chamber with smelling salts.
“I would not marry you if you were the last man in England,” she said by way of greeting.
Tobias smiled.
She turned to his brother and dipped into a shallow curtsy. “How charming to see you again, Grayson.”
“Lady Olivia, I offer you my heartiest congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.”
She gave him a pointed glare, before she softened with a beautiful agreeable smile. His brother flushed and tugged at his cravat. “Thank you, Grayson, though such sentiments at this time are unwarranted. I would appreciate a private audience with the earl,” she said with such charm that Tobias frowned, instantly suspicious.
Grayson grinned and after a short bow toward Olivia, exited.
She clasped her arm across her middle and faced him, her eyes alight with defiance. “If a carriage could be ordered for me, I would appreciate the kindness. At dawn, I would return to my stepfather’s estate.” Her gaze did not meet his, instead she glared at the point above his left shoulder.
Her lips were delightfully swollen from his kisses. It was still evident they had been cavorting. Yet she was refusing his hand. He’d known she was not the type of woman to succumb to persuasion, and instead of it filling him with irritation, he admired her.
“I will return with you and have a word with Lord Bathhurst,” Tobias said smoothly.
Her flashing eyes snapped to his. “You truly cannot be entertaining marriage between us.”
“Yes.”
“My lord, I—”
“Tobias…Olivia. I believe we can dispense with all formalities after all we’ve shared, don’t you agree?”
Looking slightly overwhelmed, she nodded. “Very well, Tobias. We do not like each other.”
“We did well enough in the linen closet.”
Her cheeks went red, and she glared at him. “I still cannot marry you.”
“You are being silly,” he said when he wanted to rattle her. Did she not realize how precarious her situation was? “Are you delusional about your current position in society?”
She gave a disdainful flick of her head. “I am fully aware. We were not seen embracing intimately. Lady Peabody and your mother only observed me strolling down the hallway with you a few paces behind. Hardly damning. It does not require you to sacrifice your bachelorhood to a lady you deem to be your inferior and who you have no tendre for.”
Tobias almost smiled. Hardly damning. Olivia was ruined and trying to act blasé. Being pretentious did not suit her. He could see the curl of fright in her eyes, and something more. He could not place the emotions that trembled on her lips or caused the soft sheen glistening in her eyes, but it made his heart soften, halting the blistering retort. He sucked in a harsh breath when he realized it was vulnerability.