The Forsaken Love of a Lord (17 page)

“You should have seen your face when Curtis said my name,” he remarked, his voice thick with mischief.

“You should have seen
yours!
” she shot back, teasing.

“I thought my fate was sealed, that you’d hate me forever, and I had only just admitted to myself that I was falling for you. Curtis would come back from every ball and tell me all you had said, you know,” he confided with a wink.

“Foul!” Olivia drew back slightly and pushed his shoulder good-naturedly.

“Oh? And, madam, how do you call
that
unfair when you had his undivided attention regarding myself?”

“Oh, well… that is different,” she replied with a saucy grin.

“How?” he inquired as he reached out and pulled a loose curl and wrapped the golden strand around his finger.

Olivia grinned at the intimate gesture. “I’m not sure how… but it is.”

“I bow before your logic.” He winked.

“Ha.”

“Regardless, I cannot tell you how my heart soared when you didn’t draw back from me, but smiled. You smiled when you heard my name. It was the most glorious moment, and from then on I knew I needed you.” He ended with whisper, drawing her close by the curl still held gently by his fingers. Kissing her softly, he whispered, “You taste like hope.”

“Hmm. You taste like freedom,” she murmured back, smiling to herself as she savored the searing kiss he gave her after her admission.

It was quite some time later that they returned to the Pierce townhome. Olivia couldn’t help but glance continually at the man who would be her husband in a few short days.

Rather, few
long
days.

Saturday couldn’t come soon enough now that she knew his heart belonged to her. Oh, he hadn’t said he loved her, but she could taste it in his kiss, could feel it in the caressing and possessive grasp he’d had of her hand the entire carriage ride back to her home.

And she knew her actions spoke the same.

The glorious elation followed her like personal sunshine throughout the remainder of the day, till her mother asked for a private audience after supper.

Immediately a thick cloud of foreboding darkened the light.

Assuming it was the
talk
, the one reserved for maidens just before their wedding night, Olivia found herself anxious and feeling exceedingly awkward. This was not a conversation she wished to have with her mother.

Their relationship was one of strain, of differing opinions on almost everything. Where Olivia valued honesty, her mother valued whatever would end her in good graces with those around her. It wasn’t a horrible trait, yet that slight dishonesty seemed to trickle down into other areas of her life, including her relationship with her husband and daughter.

It was with this strained spirit that Olivia walked into her mother’s private parlor. After knocking softly, she entered after her mother bade her to come in. The room was softly lit with candles, and a fire crackled in the hearth. The room wasn’t overly large, so Olivia only took a few steps before she took the seat her mother silently gestured toward.

“I assume you have made some deductions as to why I asked for a private conversation,” her mother asked, her tone quiet. She still wore her dinner dress, and appeared the stately lady of rank she indeed was, yet as Olivia met her gaze, she rather wished that the woman before would break habit and be more of a nurturing spirit.

“Yes, Mother,” Olivia replied politely.

“Then I’ll not ease into the conversation.” Her mother shifted, though it wasn’t awkward as if she were uncomfortable with the topic at hand. Instead, it was a dismissive gesture, as if the entire conversation was a waste of her precious time.

Olivia swallowed forcibly, dreading her mother’s take on what Olivia was expecting to be a tender and passionate experience.

And she wasn’t wrong.

Thankfully, her mother had taken the easier road and simply stated that what she needed to know, she’d simply learn from her husband.

Relieved that the conversation and private visit were nearly over, Olivia began to seek her leave, but her mother wasn’t finished.

If only.

“I feel it my duty to warn you, however,” her mother began, causing a shiver of uneasiness to tickle her spine.

“Of?” Olivia asked.

“Lord Langley. He was quite smitten with your sister. Over the moon. Of course, she was far more… refined than you, my dear. It was simply a natural reaction on his part.” She shrugged delicately.

Olivia’s heart began to hammer.

“Men like Langley are always after what they cannot have. You were unreachable, so he sought you. He won, his cards played quite well, I must say.” She examined her nails. “However, I want you to be cautious. I wish I would have said as much to Marybelle. Perhaps then she would still be with us.” Her mother sniffled.

As if every betrayal that Marybelle had done wasn’t damnable.

“I’m sure that Langley told you his whole sordid tale, but, my dear, there are a few details I’m sure he omitted.” She leaned forward. “Your sister tried to reason with him. She dared him to live a little freer, and he rejected her. Slowly, he pulled each thread of the tapestry of color that was your sister’s lifeblood, effectively sucking her dry till she had to find a way to break away. When the opportunity presented itself, she, desperate, grasped at it and ran, hoping to find freedom from the prison that had become her life.” Reaching out, her mother leaned forward and patted Olivia’s hand softly. “I wished to protect you from the same fate, which is why I demanded you keep your distance from Langley, yet I failed. And now, your fate is sealed. And there is nothing I, nor you, can do about it. But there is hope.” She offered a secretive smile.

Olivia’s stomach turned at the twisted delight in her mother’s expression.

“I’m sure that after Langley feels as though you’ve been thoroughly conquered, he’ll find other ways to divert his attention, leaving you free to do the same. If your sister would have waited a little longer then maybe… ah, I repeat myself.” She shrugged. “Besides, it’s not as if you hold a candle to your sister in beauty. I’m sure he’ll tire of you much quicker, dear. Not to worry.” Her mother made a dismissing gesture with her fingertips and then raised her eyebrows in question when Olivia didn’t move immediately. “That will be all.”

Effectively dismissed, Olivia stood and walked numbly to the door. As she exited and made her way toward her room, her mind tried to comprehend all that her mother had said. It wasn’t as if she fully believed her mother’s sordid tale, but she knew better than to only look at one side of the story.

Had Marybelle been betrayed as well? Had Langley played a part on her betrayal, simply because he had driven her to desperation?

And worse, would he find that after he had, indeed, secured Olivia as his wife, would the chase be over and his affections turn cool?

Was she fated to be locked in a one-sided marriage?

These thoughts swirled around in her head, stealing the joy of the earlier moments with Lord Langley. They stayed with her long into the night — the second to last night before her life would be irrevocably altered.

CHAPTER TWELVE

E
DWARD AWOKE WITH THE
most delightful idea. More than anything he wished to see his betrothed, and what better way than to have a picnic in Hyde Park? Women loved picnics, did they not? It was a romantic gesture! He mentally patted himself on the back for thinking of such a great overture, tossing aside the earlier self-accusation that he was out of practice when it came to the fairer sex. If anything, Olivia’s passionate kiss yesterday proved his fears obsolete.

This was a love match, plain and simple.

Of course, he had yet to say the words, but he didn’t want to appear too hasty in speaking them; rather, he wanted her to hear him avow his affection in a way that would leave no seed of doubt lingering in her heart or mind. And truthfully, he wished for the same.

Because, of the two of them, he was the one unworthy of her.

Yet she wanted him, and if he were correct, she even possibly loved him.

The day could not get any better! That was, unless it skipped a full twenty-four hours and was his wedding day somehow.

He chuckled to himself.

Tomorrow, tomorrow and she’d be his and would be waking up beside him. No more sleeping alone, betrayal a cold bedfellow.

No, rather a warm and lush woman would torment him long into the night.

It was a blessed thought.

After his valet dressed him and he had broken his fast, he made his way to the Pierce residence. Though it was uncharacteristically early, he felt no second thoughts as he knocked on their door and handed his card to the inquiring butler.

In short time, he was taken to a blue receiving parlor and left to wait, having been informed by the butler that Miss Olivia would be down in a few minutes.

The grandfather clock ticked the moments away slowly, far too slowly for his liking. And at last, the door opened and Edward felt himself straighten then stand in expectation of seeing his future wife, radiant.

However, he did not see his future wife, rather his future mother-in-law.

“Lord Langley,” she greeted warmly, though her eyes never lost a calculating gleam that made his stomach clench. It had been the same way with Marybelle, as if Lady Pierce was utterly unable to view him without conniving in some way.

“Lady Pierce.” He bowed crisply. “And how are you this fine morning?”

“Very well, though I must comment on how early it is.” She raised an eyebrow as if chastising him.

“Indeed, for that I ask your indulgence. I found I couldn’t not wait another moment to see your daughter,” he replied honestly.

“La, it hearkens back to years ago, does it not? Rather it was a different daughter you were pining after,” she replied lowly as she gradually made her way around the settee, her hand caressing the back cushion as she walked. The movement was odd. As she were trying to draw attention to herself.

“Actually, with all respect, I find little in common with my presence in this parlor several years prior,” he replied, all the while watching her, instinctively feeling the need to be on guard.

“Two daughters… one man. It begs the question…” she murmured quietly with a seductive tone.

Edward was immediately on alert as she continued to advance toward him, her eyes focused, honing in on him like a target.

“Lady Pierce, I assure you that any questions you have are entirely inapplicable to my presence here, or yours for that matter. Rather, I ask that you notify your daughter that I’m here and, in the future, would please refrain from having any private audience with me? Have I made myself clear?” Edward leaned forward, his gaze narrowing as he spoke, leaving no room for confusion.

She tsked her tongue, and shrugged as if severely disappointed and only flirting about it. “You have mistaken my intentions.” She pouted. “I’m simply trying to see to your hospitality since you are a favored guest.” She raised an eyebrow and continued to take small steps toward him.

Edward was torn between wanting to flee from her presence and hold his ground.

As blessed providence would have it, Olivia entered just as the moment of decision to fight or flee arrived.

“Please forgive my tardiness, Lord Langley.” She curtseyed prettily, though her welcoming smile was lacking warmth. Her keen gaze took in her mother’s position and its close proximity to her guest.

Edward had automatically assumed that Olivia’s presence would have caused her mother’s advance to halt and that she would retreat.

Not
the case.

Instead, she held her ground, almost posing as if affirming her position beside him.

It was beyond disturbing.

Edward immediately backed away and strode to greet his betrothed. “A lovely morning made even brighter by seeing you,” he murmured for her ears only and kissed her wrist softly, inhaling the rosewater fragrance.

“Thank you.” Her gaze warmed as she smiled, but just as quickly, the expression faded as she quickly glanced away and to her mother.

It was abundantly clear that they needed to be away from Lady Pierce’s presence with speed.

“Would you favor me with a turn in the park?” he implored her softly.

“Y-yes,” she answered. And though her answer was anything but excited, he’d take any form of agreement at the moment.

Perhaps if they simply got away, he could see what was clouding her gaze. He sensed doubt, insecurity, and fear.

All emotions he was far too familiar with for comfort.

Yet his experience was serving him well in this aspect, that he could identify it within his future wife.

Surely that was a blessing?

“Do take Polly with you, dear,” her mother commented, her voice far closer than the several paces away where he had left her. Sure enough, as he turned he noticed that she had silently crept up closer during his soft interlude with Olivia.

“Of course, Mother.” Olivia nodded, without the usual joy and expressive nature he’d come to expect from her.

Something was definitely amiss.

“I’ll be just a moment.” Olivia took her leave, no doubt to change into a walking dress.

Women and their attire… he’d never comprehend.

And, blast it all, it left him alone with Lady Pierce!

“I believe I’ll wait out front for Miss Olivia,” he remarked as he turned to leave.

“You can run, but you’ll never hide. You tried, but it did not work, my lord. It will never work. And when Olivia is no longer of use to you… who will that leave? Only me.
Me.
” Her tone was thick with implications.

Edward didn’t spare her a backward glance but strode from the room feeling dirty, abused, and utterly disgusted. Was that what the woman believed? Truly? No wonder Marybelle had gone mad.

Her mother was just as senseless.

Yet as he exited the Pierce residence, he had the fleeting insight: what if Marybelle was coached? What if her mother had played a role in the whole debacle?

He didn’t have much time to think on it as Olivia soon appeared, a prim-looking maid tagging behind her.