Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

O livia was stymied. All her senses were shouting at her, warning her to listen to Lord Frontershire and keep her mouth shut, but her head was reminding her of how concealing this truth now would only lead to trouble in the future.

She looked around those gathered, and as her eyes rested on the faces of each person, she saw a mixture of conflicting emotions. Some people sent sympathetic looks in her direction. Others, especially a flock of young ladies, made their loathing for her actions apparent.

Her mother stared at her with wide, hopeful eyes. And the Dowager Countess of Langford simply gazed squarely back at her, waiting for either Olivia or Lord Frontershire to speak. But then, as her eyes drifted onward, they snagged on the scowling countenance of Lord Ridgewell.

Heavens…I did not know he could produce such an expression.

It seemed like ages ago when he proposed to her in the ballroom and told her he meant to make her his wife. But now, he was staring at her as if she were a loathsome creature that slid upon its belly, crawling across the earth, scavenging for food. She shuddered involuntarily, and as she did, Lord Ridgewell nodded and then backed out of the room.

He must've read something on my face. He must know how I gave into my baser desires.

Even though Olivia had not kissed Lord Frontershire, she had treasured and welcomed each touch of his lips. And had the door not sprung open when it did, she would have gladly pressed her mouth to his and allowed him to do whatever he pleased with her.

A shockwave tore through her body as she briefly relived those moments they had just spent together. And when she recovered from the sensation, she slowly tilted her head to the side and looked at him.

Well…what should we do?

Lord Frontershire met her gaze, and as he opened his mouth to speak once more, she prayed that he would not paint her in a harsh light. She knew someone would have to answer for this situation, and for once, she was glad to have the silver-tongued devil, Lord Frontershire, serving as her mouthpiece.

"You all have read the situation correctly," he said just loudly enough so that his announcement could reach all the eager listeners still in attendance. "Lady Olivia and I were in this room…alone together and…"

Olivia had nearly forgotten that her mother was clutching her hand until she tightened her grip, squeezing Olivia's fingers so forcefully, that the middle and ring fingers pinched together. She had to swallow a yelp so that she did not attract attention to herself. As she did so, she snuck a quick look at her mama, and that's when she saw tears rolling down those soft cheeks.

"Mama," Olivia whispered, no longer caring how Lord Frontershire would spin their situation, "do not be vexed. Do not…"

"But who will have you now?" Mama whimpered. "I…I saw…or I thought I saw what the two of you were doing and…"

Her mother sniffled mightily, and Olivia turned to shoot a helpless look at Lord Frontershire.

Please…please do not say another word. Do not make matters worse for me or my mother.

Just as she was breathing a sigh of relief and turning once more to attend to her blubbering mama, Olivia was surprised to hear Lord Frontershire resume his speech.

"What you now know, my friends," he said loudly, "is that Lady Olivia and I were brought to this place by design…because of the scheming Lady Emerton…but we did not intend to be here." He paused. "What you do not know is that once we found ourselves locked in, our feelings for one another presented themselves, and we determined that we must act." He cleared his throat. "I have asked Lady Olivia to be my wife, and she has happily consented."

She was stupefied. A great many things had happened this week, but this moment was unlike all that came before. She did not wish to marry Lord Frontershire. Even if no one else in the ton would have her after this debacle, she did not think it would suit to make a match with a man with whom she only shared one thing in common: a lusty attraction. She knew that he had sparked the same kind of feelings in other women, and she would not ever be able to trust a man such as him.

But then, he surprised her further by saying, "Lady Olivia is an honest, chaste woman, and nothing would make me happier than tying myself to such an honorable creature."

Lord Frontershire's words had been filled with kindness, and she recognized that even his actions were motivated by a sense of duty. He might not have remained mute when she had silently begged him to, but she should not have expected as much. He was not the type of man who stayed quiet when there was something to be said.

In offering to marry her, Lord Frontershire had saved Olivia and her mama from disgrace. And while she could not be elated by his announcement, she could take heart in knowing that he respected her enough to do the right thing.

A man I can tolerate. That is what Mama first suggested. But Lord Frontershire… is he such a man? Can we build upon this one nicety? Will I be able to tolerate him…forever?