The Seduction of Lady X (8 page)

So had her mother. “Isn’t he lovely!” she’d exclaimed in the coach on the way home.

“He seems very nice,” Olivia had agreed.

“Nice! He has twenty thousand a year, Livi. You must think of that. It is so important that you marry well. I’ll not always be here to care for Alexa, so you must. We can scarcely rely on this one to make a suitable match, can we?” she’d asked, and had laughed as she patted Alexa’s knee.

Alexa, who was twelve at the time, had taken great offense to that. “I shall never marry!” she’d declared. “I’ll not have a gentleman tell me what to do!”

“I suspect you will marry,” Lord Hastings had said. “But rest assured you will scare off anyone with twenty thousand a year.”

“Livi, my love, I know that the marquis will offer for you,” her mother had said excitedly. “He seems taken with you and he has just come into his title. He needs to be about the business of producing an heir. Now then, you must always present yourself as demure and obedient,” her mother had counseled. “Mind that you do not argue. Make him feel pleased.”

Olivia blinked back a burn of tears at the memory. God knew how hard she had tried to please her husband, but it was impossible. Even in the days before he’d grown to despise her, he’d had no use for her. He had never given her the same sort of warm smile that she received from Mr. Tolly each day. Frankly, Edward had never really seemed to see her at all.

But Mr. Tolly . . . God help her, Olivia wouldn’t have cared if he’d had only five hundred pounds a year, she would still desire him above all others. She’d been seduced by his warmth and kindness, his ready smile. She’d been captivated by his bright light in her otherwise abysmal life.

She thought back to a few weeks ago, when the icy grip of winter would not let go of Everdon Court. She’d gone to the hothouse to collect some flowers to brighten her sitting room and give her a hint of spring. She was examining the potted flowers when Mr. Tolly had come in search of Mr. Gortman, the groundskeeper.

“Madam,” he’d said, tipping his hat and flashing a smile that charmed her to the tips of her toes.

She had been unconscionably thrilled to see him. “You must help me, Mr. Tolly,” she’d said instantly. That was her way of keeping his company as long as she might—she asked for his help. She held up two flowerpots. “Yellow? Or white?”

He had looked at the flowerpots. “Red.”

“Red?” She’d laughed and looked around her. “But there is no red.”

“Ah, but there is,” he’d said with a sly wink. “You are not acquainted with Mr. Gortman as I am. Come.” He’d taken the pots from her and put them aside, then took her hand and laid it on his arm, escorting her outside to a small shed just beside the hothouse. It was warm inside the shed; off to one side, the coals in a small brazier glowed. But it wasn’t the brazier that had made Olivia gasp with delight; it was the red flowers. There were pots and pots of them: geraniums, cockscomb, dahlias, and miniature roses.

“Mr. Gortman plans to replant the small reflecting garden,” Mr. Tolly explained.

“It’s beautiful!” Olivia had said appreciatively. It was a small room full of the promise of spring. “Do you not think so, Mr. Tolly?”

“Yes.” He’d said it instantly, softly, and Olivia had turned around to him. But he was not looking at the flowers—he was looking at her in a way that had sent a shiver deep through her veins.

But the moment quickly passed as he moved to the door and held it open for her. “I shall inquire of Mr. Gortman for you. I am certain he would be delighted to make an arrangement for you.”

She’d wondered if perhaps she’d wanted so badly to see something in Mr. Tolly’s expression that she’d imagined it. “Thank you, but I could not possibly impose. He has taken great care to grow them for a particular reason.”

Nevertheless, the following morning, Olivia had awakened to a vase of red flowers on her vanity. “Where did these come from?” she’d asked her maid.

“Mr. Gortman sent them up, mu’um,” Nancy replied.

Olivia had been as pleased as if he’d sent her diamonds, and thinking of it now, she couldn’t help smiling to herself.

“What are you thinking, Lady Carey?” Edward asked, startling Olivia from her thoughts. She reluctantly turned her attention to her husband. He was seated at the head of the table, holding the Bible in one hand, drumming the fingers of his other on the table.

“Pardon?” she asked.

“I cannot imagine that Scripture puts such a lovely smile on your face. You have never struck me as the sort of woman moved to happiness by the good word.”

Olivia didn’t speak; she hadn’t heard a word he’d said.

“I should like to know what you think of the passage.”

He knew very well she’d not paid him any heed. Olivia sighed. “I beg your pardon, but I was not listening.”

Edward cocked a brow in amusement. “Quite obviously. And why not, Olivia? Do you find me tedious? Am I so uninteresting to you?”

“Not at all,” she said, and thought quickly how to smooth over his ruffled feathers. “I’m afraid my thoughts have been occupied with concern for my sister these last few days.”

“I see,” Edward said, nodding thoughtfully. “Your
sister
holds a place of greater significance than your husband in your thoughts.”

“On this particular occasion, yes,” Olivia brazenly agreed.

Edward arched a brow, peering curiously at her, as if surprised that she would admit it. “I am sorry if she causes you distress. But it would seem that your distress is even more reason to banish her from our lives.”

“She is my sister,” Olivia said. “I want her here with me, as any sister would. She is in an awful predicament, Edward. She will be shunned and ridiculed and disparaging things will be said of her. All she has is her family.”

Edward sat back, studying her. “That is precisely the reason we cannot have her here, and well you know it. The association with her would taint
this
family’s reputation.”

“I understand,” Olivia said carefully. “But I thought perhaps no one would need to know.” It was a slim hope that he might agree, but a hope nonetheless.

But Edward rolled his eyes and said, “You are either naïve or simple. Frankly, I cannot believe you would even ask this of me. If you were a loving wife, you would seek to remove this blight from our lives by any means possible. If you truly loved me, you would have sent her away instead of bringing her to me. It’s as if you forget who I am.”

“Of course I haven’t, Edward. I brought her to you because I thought you would be very unhappy to hear of it otherwise.”

He shook his head. “You have a mountain of excuses at hand. If you won’t send her from us, I shall do it for you. I will make sure that she does not disgrace us ever again.”

“But Mr. Tolly has offered to give her his name.”

Edward snorted and turned a page of his Bible. “She is comely, your whore of a sister. I am certain he looks forward to the pleasure he will find in his marital bed.” He glanced up at her. “Pleasure I have been denied in mine.”

Olivia’s face flamed. She couldn’t look at him.

“Tolly knows what he is about,” Edward said laughingly.

“Did I hear my name?” Mr. Tolly asked, striding into the room at the moment with his easy smile.

Olivia could feel the tension instantly leave her.

“Ah, Mr. Tolly!” Edward said, his smile brightening. “Thank you for coming. Sit, and allow Lady Carey to do something useful and pour you tea. Olivia?”

Olivia bit her tongue and obediently rose to pour tea for Mr. Tolly.

“I was just asking my wife’s opinion on some Scripture,” Edward said as she moved to the sideboard.

“I did not mean to interrupt,” Mr. Tolly said.

“You did not interrupt,” Edward assured him.

Olivia poured the tea and turned around; Edward’s eyes were locked on her. He chuckled. “In fact, my dear wife confessed that she had paid little heed to my reading. What do you make of a wife who blatantly ignores her husband’s Scripture reading?”

Olivia set the tea before Mr. Tolly. “Thank you,” he said, and glanced up at her with a ghost of a smile.

“It is my pleasure.” She took a seat directly across from him; his gray eyes remained intent on her.

“I was reading from Ephesians, Tolly. Are you familiar with the disciple Paul’s letters to the Ephesians?” Edward asked.

Mr. Tolly grinned. “Not as familiar as I ought to be, I’m afraid.”

If he were married to Edward, he would have been exceedingly familiar with the chapter. Edward often selected his readings from the gospel of Paul.

“If you will indulge a man and his wife a bit of spiritual readings, I shall continue,” Edward said, as if he were the Archbishop. He lifted the Bible and read, “‘Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife.’” He lowered the Bible and smiled coldly at Olivia.

Mr. Tolly glanced uncomfortably at his teacup and lifted it to his lips.

But Olivia smiled brightly at her husband. She despised him, but she despised being ridiculed in front of Mr. Tolly even worse. “A fine reading, my lord. You should consider the pulpit.”

Edward scowled. “Now that you have given me heed, my dear, perhaps you will be so kind as to tell me your interpretation?”

Olivia knew very well what she risked by challenging him, but she was past the point of caring. Let him banish her, too—it would be a blessing of sorts. Let him hit her—it could be no more painful than his company. “My interpretation?” she asked, as if pondering it. “Oh, I hardly know, my love. But I think you are very eager to tell me what my interpretation should be.”

Mr. Tolly choked on his tea.

Edward’s eyes darkened. He leaned back, studying her. “I think you need to be reminded that the gospel cautions that a wife should revere her husband.”

“Does it?” Olivia asked with a doe-eyed look, then shrugged lightly. “I recall very little of the verses, really . . . Except,” she said, lifting one finger, “I do recall the verse that says a husband should render the wife due benevolence.”

Mr. Tolly’s coughing suddenly worsened. “I beg your pardon,” he said hoarsely and stood up, walking to the sideboard.

Edward, predictably, was not the least bit amused. “I think you mean to provoke me.”

“Not at all!” Olivia said sweetly. “I
never
mean to provoke you.”

Edward’s lips disappeared into a thin line.

“If I may, my lord,” Mr. Tolly said as he returned to the table, “there is much we have to accomplish before your departure.”

“Departure?” Olivia asked.

“Yes,” Edward said tightly. “Departure.”

Olivia resisted the urge to leap for joy. “Where are you going?”

Edward suddenly stood. Mr. Tolly stood, too. “I am to London. And before you inquire, I shall tell you straightaway that you are not allowed to come.”

If she hadn’t despised him, Olivia might have kissed him. “I would not dream of burdening you with my presence,” she said sweetly.

Edward tossed down his linen. “Mr. Tolly, please endure the company of my wife for a few moments. I find I am in the need of a bit of air before we begin,” he said and, looking pointedly at Olivia, he strode out.

Mr. Tolly remained standing until he’d gone, then turned about and looked at Olivia, a soft smile on his face. “Ephesians,” he said as he resumed his seat.

“We are very select in our readings here. But never mind that—Mr. Tolly, I have been desperate to speak to you.”

“Of course.”

She leaned forward and stretched her hand across the table. “You
cannot
mean to marry Alexa! I cannot allow it.”

“Of course I—”

“No, no,” she said, shaking her head. “It was very chivalrous of you to offer, and God knows I cannot thank you enough for it.” She spoke quickly, certain that Edward would appear at any moment. “But I will not allow you to saddle yourself with an unwanted marriage and wife for the rest of your life.”

“It is—”

“Are you
mad
?” she whispered, glancing nervously at the door. “There is
no
life, no happiness in marriage to someone you cannot love. Your heart was pure, and you meant a kindness, but you and Alexa cannot make such a grave mistake. Think of it,” she begged him. “Don’t you want to marry a woman you
love
?”

Mr. Tolly’s jaw clenched. He swallowed hard. Olivia believed she understood him—he’d offered in haste and he regretted it. In a wretched moment, he’d seen a woman in distress and he’d believed, as Olivia had, that all would be lost for Alexa if someone didn’t step in to prevent it.

“Mr. Tolly . . . you have been so good to me,” Olivia whispered. “Alexa has ruined her life, but you cannot allow sympathy for her to ruin your life forevermore. My heart breaks for my sister, truly it does, but she and I cannot drag someone as good as you—”

Mr. Tolly suddenly reached across the table and covered her hand with his, squeezing gently. His touch startled Olivia right out of her thought. She stared down at his hand, twice as big as hers, at his fingers wrapped securely around hers. “You will make yourself ill,” he said low. “And surely you know me well enough to know that I am not an incautious man. You must understand that I did not make such an offer lightly. I need a bit of time to think of another way that she and I might avoid it and yet save her reputation—and yours.”