She chuckled, then sobered. It was then he spied the wariness in her eyes and understood. He had been struggling to find his equilibrium since she had entered his life, how unsettling things must be for her as well. He now had a wife…and he was at a loss as what to do with her. His days were structured to write, manage his estates, write motions for parliament, practice his fighting forms, and, if he needed, visit a lover in London. A tightness settled in his chest. Olivia was truly his wife. He had to learn to share his time and interests.
“Mrs. Potter gave me a tour of the estate. I tried to tell her I have been living here for weeks, but she was not deterred. Grangeville Park is very happily situated and it is a wonderful estate.”
Five years ago, the estate had been crumbling. He’d spent thousands of pounds to restore it to such beauty, and he liked the admiration he spied in her gaze. “Thank you.”
“I was advised by Mother to take an interest in several charities. I find I am very keen on the idea,” she said with a smile. “But I have no notion where to start.” She cleared her throat. “Would you…would you like to take a stroll through the gardens and discuss the merits of which charities would benefit from my patronage? I confess, I do not like the dowager countess’s recommendation, and I shall not heed her advice,” she said with evident pleasure.
“A stroll?”
“It is a beautiful day out.”
He considered her. “I am involved in a project with the Marquess of Westfall. We are working on building homes and schools for the more poor and destitute of our society. Buildings are being constructed as we speak. There is one that will be finished in a few weeks. It would be good if you could produce some paintings to brighten the house.”
Pleasure lit her eyes and the smile she gave him was so brilliant, he was rendered momentarily speechless.
“That would be wonderful, Tobias. And when you say the more vulnerable of our society…women and children?”
“Yes…those who were rescued from brutal situations. Orphans. The homeless. Invalided soldiers.”
There was a sharp knock on the door. “Yes?”
The knob twisted and their butler, Ferguson, entered with what appeared to be a letter on a slaver. “This was left for you by Lady Francie, my lord. She gave strict instructions that it was not to be delivered before ten a.m.”
Tobias took it, and the butler excused himself. He retrieved the letter opener from his desk and slit the seal. He read the note, then read it over again, sure it must be a jest on Francie’s part.
“Tobias, is all well?”
Dear Tobias,
Please do not berate me too harshly when you receive my missive. I instructed it to be delivered when I was well away from the estate, and in truth, by now I am sure I am Mrs. Browning. I’ve run away to Gretna Green with Mr. Jasper Browning, your steward.
Tobias was even more certain now that this could only be an elaborate ruse. He glanced at his wife. “Did you put Francie up to this nonsense?”
Olivia’s brow arched. “I have not seen Francie since last night, and I assure you, I have not put her up to anything.”
The confusion in his wife’s voice had foreboding slithering through Tobias. “Her note is dated yesterday.”
Olivia leaned over. “May I?”
He nodded and she plucked the note from his grasp. She started to read and then paled alarmingly.
Cold fury surged through his veins. This was not a jest. “Read aloud,” he bit coldly, pointing to where she should resume.
The hands holding the letter trembled. “Tobias, I—”
“Aloud, countess.”
She shifted with perceptible uneasiness. Smoothing the edges of the paper, she read, “I love Jasper, but I knew you would not hear of my affections for him. He is romantic, a poetic soul who loves everything about me. I’ve been in love with him for several months now. I had doubts, but in confiding in Livvie, I saw how much I must follow my own heart and to not be misled by society’s opinion or my family’s dictate to wed a gentleman of their choice. Jasper is the man of my dreams and I have followed it. Livvie assured me if I married my heart, you would not be cruel enough to remove me from my inheritance. I only pray that she is right. I have her love and approval, and upon our return, I pray to have yours and Mamma’s.”
His wife’s fingers tightened on the letter, then she glanced up. “Oh dear.”
Oh dear?
…
Cold rage leaped in Tobias’s eyes, riveting Livvie to the spot. Instincts told her the remainder of the morning would not unfold how she had imagined—strolling by the lake while discussing what’s next in this unexpectedly thrilling but very frightening adventure they’d embarked upon.
Oh, Francie, what were you thinking?
He gave her a sharp, impatient look. “I await your explanation, wife.”
She had never seen him this angry before, and for some unfathomable reason, his quality of stillness made her unaccountably nervous. She walked away from him, needing the space from his imposing presence to think. God, what had Francie been thinking? To elope?
“I knew Francie was in love with someone and that she was worried about your reaction. I thought he was a younger son of a lord or an impoverished lord. I…I never imagined he was your steward.”
Tobias strolled to the side mantle and poured himself a splash of brandy, which he downed in one swallow, then he poured another before walking over to his desk. He lowered himself onto the edge with his legs sprawled. Livvie was not fooled. She could feel the tension vibrating from him. She was grateful for his restraint.
“My sister is now ruined and you encouraged her in her fancy,” he murmured.
“The letter says they are to be married,” she said softly, though her heart was twisting. How would they weather the scandal to come? What if someone had recognized her before they were married? Livvie pressed fingers to her pounding forehead. Even when they were recovered it would be perceived as a disaster. The daughter of an earl married to a commoner.
She met Tobias’s gaze and faltered. He was glaring at her with accusation and what seemed like contempt. “Their marriage—”
His hard mouth curved faintly. “And are you naive enough to believe marriage will render my sister respectable after she slipped away in the night with…Mr. Browning, a man who is obviously a debauched fortune hunter, unchaperoned?” The glass filled with amber liquid snapped between Tobias’s fingers, betraying the depth of his fury. With cool aplomb, he dusted away the shards, placed the remnants of the broken glass on the desk beside him, then withdrew a handkerchief and cleaned his bloody fingers.
Her heart jolted at the controlled anger evident in his actions. She looked to the broken crystal and swallowed. The rumors she had heard hinted at a terrible temper, though she had yet to see it. Not that she believed him to be good-natured and amiable, but certainly not as fearsome as a few of the ladies had hinted at behind their fans at the last ball. In fact, the man before her now appeared as if his emotions were locked away in a cold, remote place inside of him. “You’re bleeding, Tobias,” she said as ruby drops settled on the peach carpet.
“It’s negligible.”
She glanced up into dark eyes. “Let me assist you.”