To Catch A Spinster (The Reluctant Bride Collection) (13 page)

“I keep having boys! Four boys in a row! Even God could not be so cruel. I deserve a girl, surely.”

“And what if this one’s a boy?”

“Don’t curse me, Olivia. If this one’s a boy, Marcus will be sleeping with his horses.”

“Mmm. And you’ll have another. Mother didn’t learn her lesson until she had six. I doubt you’ll give up before then either.”

Prudence groaned. “Every night I pray to God that I will do anything,
anything
, if He’ll just make sure this one is a girl.”

“Then how can He refuse. Come, Prue. I have a seat all set up for you in the pasture.”

Prudence swatted her. “Just wait until you start waddling around. I’ll not hold my glee.” Prudence eyed her. “Is your Mr. Jenkins coming today?”

“He is not my Mr. Jenkins.”

“I think the lady doth protest too much. He is certainly no one else’s. He only dances with you at balls, I hear. Two dances, then poof.”

“I’m going to cut out Mary’s tongue.”

“Tut-tut. Does your Mr. Jenkins know how violent you are? Oh, never fear, dear. I certainly won’t tell him. He’ll find out soon enough after the wedding when you lock him in his bedroom so you can paint in peace.”

Was she never to live that down? She had been in braids when she had pulled that little stunt.

She changed the subject. “Have you heard if Eugenia is coming today?”

“She said she would try, although she is feeling a little under the weather.” Prudence winked. “I believe a wedding-night baby is on the way.”

“Egad. Two sisters expecting at the same time? How will we ever survive.”

“Mmm. At least I’m almost done. I feel bad for Mary though. She laughed it off when Amelia became pregnant right away, but it has been four years now. What will she think when she hears about Eugenia?”

“Probably the same thing I thought when I heard she was getting married. Rot her. The youngest should never do anything before the eldest have had their turn.”

Prudence chuckled. “I would have given you my monthly allowance if you’d said that to Eugenia when she was getting married. Perhaps I’ll mention it to Mary.”

Luncheon was served picnic-style. Cold ham, diced potatoes, and light wine. The men and children sprawled in the grass; the ladies sat in chairs.

Eugenia stood up and announced that, yes, she was in the family way.

Mrs. Blakesley clapped her hands, the men congratulated Landon, and Mr. Blakesley said, “We can never have too many babies.”

Olivia snorted. If this family had anything in excess, it was babies.

Mary entered the melée with, “Rot you, Eugenia,” and everyone turned to stare at her.

Prudence hid her chortle behind a very loud cough that turned into a real fit. Olivia pounded her on the back.

Eugenia fingered her lace collar. “I’m sorry, Mary. I don’t mean to be cruel but just because you can’t have a baby doesn’t mean everyone can’t be happy for me.”

Mary looked unperturbed. “I can have a baby, you twit. I simply wanted to tell everyone first.”

Prudence stopped coughing. “Are you truly?”

Mary patted her tummy. “Around Christmastime.”

Mrs. Blakesley jumped from her chair and ran to hug Mary. “A Christmas baby!”

Marcus leaned toward Rufus and whispered, “About bloody time. Prudence wanted me to see if you needed any tips,” and Rufus turned bright red.

Prudence narrowed her eyes. “I don’t remember you being ill at all.”

Mary smirked. “Not a stitch. Felt better than ever.”

“Rot you.”

Mrs. Blakesley frowned at her. “Prudence, language!”

Olivia rubbed her forehead. “Three sisters? That’s half the Blakesley bunch. I hope one of you has a girl. Poor little Margaret is surrounded over there by seven boys.”

Eugenia stamped her foot. “Hello! I’m pregnant as well, Mama!”

Mrs. Blakesley hugged her. “I know, dear. And we are excited about that as well. It’s just we’ve been waiting so long for Mary.”

“I don’t see why that makes any difference.”

Prudence sighed. “That’s because you’ve never learned the art of anticipation, Eugenia. The longer it takes, the better it is. That’s why Olivia’s wedding is going to be the best of the bunch, because we’ve all been waiting so long.”

Mrs. Blakesley speared her third oldest daughter with the
look
, but it was too late.

“Rot you, Prue.”

Eugenia sat beside Olivia. “Is your Mr. Jenkins coming today, Olivia? I should think we’d all like to meet him.”

Mary hid a snigger behind her hand and Olivia glared at her.

“No. And he’s not my Mr. Jenkins.”

“Really? The way Mary tells it, the engagement is as good as announced.”

“Mary is a twit.”

Mrs. Blakesley clapped her hands. “That is enough, girls! There are children present.”

Little Richie peeked out from behind his father’s chair and said, “Twit.”

Prudence leaned over and whispered, “Don’t worry, Livvy. He didn’t learn that from you.” She pointed a finger at her eavesdropping child. “Run off and play with your cousins, Richie.”

“But when are we going to give Aunt Livvy her surprise?”

Her father jumped up. “Quite right. Shall we go get it, Richie?”

“Yes!”

Olivia turned to Mary. “And have you all known about this surprise?”

Eugenia grinned. “Of course we have. And I’m surprised Mary didn’t let you in on it.”

Olivia was surprised, too. Mary shrugged. “I would have told you if I’d thought you wouldn’t like it.”

“That is comforting.”

Mrs. Blakesley swatted at Mary. “Oh, it’s quite exciting. I think, Olivia, that you will be over the moon.”

Richie ran across the lawn, waving a small wrapped package, Grandpapa trailing behind him.

“I’ll have to assume it’s not breakable.”

Little Margaret and six other little boys came running over to sit by Aunt Livvy.

Richie held the gift in his hands. “You must wait for Grandpapa.”

“Thank you. May I hold it?”

Prue shook her head. “Don’t give it to her until Grandpapa is here. We don’t want her cheating.”

“Mama says no, Aunt Livvy.”

“Well then, what does it feel like?”

A chorus of yells and boos greeted her question and she sat back, grinning at her family. It wasn’t even her birthday. A thought crossed her mind that it had something to do with Nathaniel and she nearly groaned. What would her family do when she broke off their agreement and never saw him again? Hang her, most likely.

Mr. Blakesley resumed his chair. “Go ahead, Richie. Let her open it.”

Richie solemnly handed her the gift and Olivia felt through the wrapping. She bent it in half, and looked up.

“It feels like a magazine.”

The children yelled at her to open it, and so she unwrapped it. She looked at for a moment in consternation.

“It’s my monthly star magazine. Have you renewed my subscription?”

Mrs. Blakesley leaned forward. “No, silly. Open it.”

She opened it and read the contents page and felt the blood drain from her face.

“My article,” she whispered. “They published my article.”

Mr. Blakesley leaned forward. “With drawings! Look at the article, my dear. Everything is in detail. Quite extraordinary. None of the other articles have drawings half so well done.”

“You sent in my article to be published after they’d already rejected it?”

“And look, Olivia,” Mrs. Blakesley leaned forward,” with your own name, not some silly fake one.”

She looked up at her family, all smiling and happy for her, and bit back her retort. Not some silly fake name? This was exciting? The entire world was going to laugh at her. Oh, her family thought it fun that she studied the stars, but it wasn’t going to impress anybody else. It would just make them laugh harder.

“Thank you.”

Prudence nudged her. “Come, Olivia. Is that all you have to say? Your name! In a respected journal.”

Olivia looked down again, scanning her article, eying her drawings. She had hoped one day to find her work accepted. But the article had needed more work. And she definitely wouldn’t have used her own name!

“It’s overwhelming. I can’t think what to say.”

Her father smiled. “Let the poor girl get her head around it. It’s not every day the Blakesley name is put in print.”

Marcus slapped his knee. “Well, pass it ‘round. Let us have a look at it.”

The children gathered around him and they loudly exclaimed at the drawings.

Her father winked at her. “Well done, Livvy.”

Olivia smiled, wondering how big a debacle this would create.

Mary slipped her arm through Olivia’s and steered her towards the trees. “You hated it. Even I thought you would be excited.”

“You thought I would like having my name bandied about?

“Oh, Olivia. No one will care a fig if you’ve published in a magazine. I doubt anyone will even know.”

“Did none of you think this would cause a stir in society?”

“Olivia, no one but you reads those dreadfully dull tomes. And no, I don’t think it will cause a stir. Why should it?”

“Because I am already odd man out, that’s why.”

Mary eyed her. “Are you worried about your Mr. Jenkins reaction?”

“Aaargh! He is not my Mr. Jenkins.”

Mary laughed. “Of course not. Anyway, everyone in the family is quite proud of you. Especially Papa. And I know you don’t care at all what society thinks of you anyway. We shall simply see if Mr. Jenkins is worthy of you, shan’t we?”

O
livia heard the murmurings as soon as she entered the ballroom. She hissed at Mary, “See. No one will care a fig, my ars-”

“Miss Blakesley, tell me is it true? Do you write for a magazine?” Miss Emily Mayes fluttered her fan. Oh, to confirm this scandal would be the height of the season.

“I fear I don’t know what you are referring to.”

Miss Mayes slipped her arm through Olivia’s and walked her round the ring of on-lookers. “Well, according to Papa, there was an entry in this month’s star journal done by a Miss Olivia Blakesley.”

“Hmm. I would like to see that. But Miss Mayes, it’s not an uncommon name. Perhaps there is another Olivia Blakesley.”

“Who is batty over the stars?”

“That is a bit of a coincidence, but I assure you, I would never send an article to a magazine.” Under her own name.

Olivia took a deep breath, biting back her anger. How dare her family do this to her. Was it not enough to be the black sheep of the family, did they have to advertise that fact?

Mary came to rescue her, expertly slipping between Miss Mayes and Olivia.

“Miss Mayes. Have you heard the news?”

“Indeed I have. Although Miss Blakesley is playing dumb.”

Mary looked confused for a moment, then waved her hand. “Oh, that. Diverting isn’t it, that there could be two Olivia Blakesley’s nutty over the stars? But have you heard about Caroline Drew? She has gone to the continent!”

Miss Mayes sucked in her breath. “No!”

Olivia slunk away, thankful for Mary and her gossip for once in her life. Poor Miss Drew’s exodus to the continent during the season could only mean one thing in the eyes of the
to
n. Poor Miss Drew had been ruined and she was leaving to hide the evidence. For one brief moment Olivia felt a little sympathy nausea for Poor Miss Drew. What if Olivia needed to escape to the continent?

Dear Lord.

“Hello, my dear,” a soft voice murmured behind her.

She turned unsteadily. “Mr. Jenkins.”

One eyebrow arched at her, funning her attempt at formality. “I thought we were passed all that, Olivia.”

She shook her head. “I have begun to rethink my actions in light of this latest news.”

“Come, Olivia. You don’t think an article in a scientific journal would make me think less of you?”

For an instant her anger resurfaced. “My damn family.”

Nathaniel chuckled. “Indeed, it must be slightly embarrassing for you, but you seem to be handling it. And, in all truth, the article doesn’t surprise me at all. I think you are capable of anything.”

“I don’t think that was a compliment, Nathaniel.”

He squeezed her hand. “You should take it as such.”

“But that wasn’t what I was rethinking. Poor Miss Drew has made me consider our agreement.”

“Aah.”

“Yes, aah. What if-”

“My dear, Miss Drew’s situation and your own have nothing in common. If the unthinkable happened, then I would simply kidnap you and tie you to a horse until we had reached Scotland.”

Olivia’s mouth dropped open and she stared at him. Why, he seemed quite cheerful about the prospect.

“Mr. Jenkins! You would do no such thing!”

“I would. I’ve been considering it already.”

Olivia had nothing to say to that.

“Shall we dance, my dear?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Nathaniel.”

“Oh? Do you think attracting everyone’s attention back to yourself after being so fortuitously diverted by Miss Drew is a better one? I shudder to think what rumors would circulate if we did not dance together. A falling out, perhaps? Or do I disapprove of my future wife having her name published? I can think of no better way to acknowledge your accomplishment, my dear.”

Olivia narrowed her eyes. “You have a serious flaw, Mr. Jenkins.”

He bowed, his eyes twinkling. He swept her on to the dance floor, holding her at a respectable distance.

“Your brother-in-law is glaring daggers at me.”

She sighed. “I will have a word with him. I am sorry, Nathaniel.”

“I don’t think speaking with him will alleviate the situation, Olivia. I have taken advantage of you, I must make repairs. Or perhaps you would tell him that you took advantage of me? He might not believe you, but it is a generous offer.”

“You are being uncommonly cruel tonight.”

“I apologize. I am uncommonly frustrated. I was told you were stubborn, but I had not expected to find a mule in so becoming a bonnet.”

Olivia gritted her teeth. “And I had not expected to find a jackass in hat and tails.”

He quickly covered his guffaw with a large cough, smiling his apologies at the other couples.