Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Nothing seemed to help Marcus. He'd never felt that distractible, or unfocused, in his life. He tried to concentrate on some business papers, but his mind kept drifting to the evil scandalmonger, and how powerless he felt to do anything about the situation.

He knew that those in the ton would treat him no differently, but the impact on Olivia and Jocelyn would be catastrophic as they could easily become social outcasts.

He missed his cousin Colin, who was still in Buckinghamshire. Colin's mother, Marcus' Aunt Lydia, was recovering well after a fall from her horse. She'd been briefly knocked unconscious, and no one had been sure initially about the severity of the injury. It had been a relief to hear that all was well with his aunt at Granville House.

He'd been for a swim in the Serpentine, he's ridden Hector up Rotten Row, cantering past the other riders, but nothing helped him concentrate. He thought he might go to Angelo's Fencing rooms, but it was getting late.

A knock on the door, and Mr. Farthing, his butler, entered with a serious expression on his face. "The Earl of Riversmead is here, and says it is imperative he speaks with you."

"Riversmead? That would be Lady Olivia Sherwyn's uncle?"

"Indeed, that is the case, My Lord."

"Well, you'd better show him in. I suspect I know what has prompted this call."

Except he didn't, and what the earl had to say shocked him to his core.

The elderly Lord Riversmead took a seat opposite Marcus. "Lord Hatfield," he greeted Marcus.

"Call me Marcus. I'm very aware of the untrue rumors circulating about your niece and myself, and assume that is why you are here?"

"Despicable lies. Olivia denies anything untoward happened and I believe her," said Harold.

"She is a very special person, and I have spent time with her, and enjoyed her conversation. However, I can assure you there has been nothing untoward between us."

"I've had my lawyer looking into this matter and the trail dries up. I'm sure you are aware of the identity of the chief suspect?"

"Lady Cressida Lantham?"

"Exactly. She was caught in the act of spreading slander at Jocelyn's coming out ball. However, my solicitor's enquiries have come to a dead end."

Marcus nodded for Lord Riversmead to continue.

"Whoever began the rumors lit the fuse and stood back. The powder keg of lies has exploded across the ton . My niece, and my great niece, face ruin," explained Lord Riversmead.

"Surely it can't be that serious?" Marcus replied.

"They have had no invitations, and no callers, with the exception of the Marquis of Hastings, for several days."

Marcus winced at the mention of Colin's rival in love.

"Even Viscountess Marianne Leighton, who is Jocelyn's sponsor, has been cut dead by several acquaintances. Thankfully she is a true friend to Olivia and will take no notice of these fair-weather friends."

"I had no idea it had escalated this far," Marcus with surprise.

"We had hoped it would be a storm in a teacup, but the rumors are still circulating and becoming embellished as they pass from mouth to mouth," Lord Riversmead told him.

"And these scandal sheets?" asked Marcus.

"That's one place where I have had some success," confided the earl. "Rawlings, my solicitor, tracked down the owner of the press and we prevented a further circulation of more extreme gossip. In fact, I take that word back. I refuse to call this gossip, because it is evil… criminal slander."

"Please let me know if I can assist with your enquiries in any way," said Marcus. "If it is a case of finance or manpower …"

Harold shook his head. "I very much fear, and I have thought this through from every angle, I very much fear that the only way to retrieve my niece's reputation is through matrimony."

"Marriage?"

"A marriage is the only way to prevent long lasting damage," explained Lord Riversmead. "I see no point in beating about the bush. I am here to ask you to do your duty and marry my niece, Lady Olivia Sherwyn."

Marcus stared into space. It was as if he hadn't heard the words, but they were slowly sinking in. The elderly aristocrat opposite him was deadly serious.

His brain raced through the possibilities.

There was logic in the earl's plan. It might be that he was the only man who could marry his niece. The spurious rumors, still spinning around town, were ruining Olivia and Jocelyn by association.

Maybe I should marry Olivia?

The difficulty was that Olivia had been haunting his thoughts for the last week. He felt his pulse beat faster, and a strange connection between them whenever they met. It was almost as though there were a fine web of gossamer thread spun around them.

It felt right though, and every time he left, he knew he wanted to return and see more of Olivia. He wanted to lose himself in her mesmerizing blue eyes and gaze at her face for hours. He trembled, though no one noticed, as he felt the thrill throughout his body when she was close to him.

He realized he was in the middle of trying to sort out his own feelings, his emotional and physical reactions, to this wonderful young lady. It is very possible he would even have considered marrying her. He just was not ready for that today.

He was angry too, angry that Lady Cressida could manipulate lives to such an extent that he and Olivia could be forced into marriage.

If this crisis had not happened, then I would have called on Olivia after the ball. In effect we've been prevented from getting to know each other by this scandalmongering.

"Your Lordship?" came the Earl of Riversmead's voice.

"I'm sorry," he responded., "I was lost in my own thoughts. This is heavy information and a life changing proposition. I'll be honest with you, you've taken me by surprise. I can't say yes or no this evening."

"But…"

"No, wait, your Lordship, I'm not saying ‘no' to your plan. I admit I feel trapped and coerced into this by the scandalmonger. Whatever happens I'm determined that she will get her comeuppance.

"I have to consider this plan and I need time for that. I hardly know your niece. I like her, but I had not yet thought to offer for her hand in marriage."

Even as he spoke the words, he knew that he was not being honest with himself. He'd known Olivia, his Cendrillon, since that strange meeting in the forest glade. He did not need to share that with her irascible uncle though.

I should be allowed to have some control over my own life . He smiled at the earl and offered to refill his glass with fine Madeira wine.

"Stay for supper," suggested Marcus to the Earl of Riversmead. "We have much to discuss, and I want to know everything that Rawlings' men have uncovered." He stood and went to the door, calling to Mr. Farthing to set an extra place at the table in the dining room.

As they ate together Marcus found he rather took to the very individual Earl of Riversmead. He knew, from what Jocelyn had shared with Colin, that her great uncle was prone to bouts of temper and watched every penny in the household expenses. The word miser had come up more than once and Marcus could believe it.

Yet at the ball he had stepped out with his great niece in fine style, even though it was clearly outside of his comfort zone. He had to admire the man.

They talked about the renovations at Silverton while eating white soup and moved on to roast pheasant with creamed celery.

"I do apologize, I told the cook to prepare a lighter meal this evening, so there is limited choice."

"It's a pleasure to have good, fine country food," replied the earl, clearly enjoying his dinner.

Marcus signaled his footman to bring in beef pot pies. He noticed the earl's eyes light up, and knew he'd made the right decision asking him to stay and take supper.

"Tell Rawlings that I'll provide money and men to further his investigations. Let's give him whatever he needs."

"I'm glad to hear that. I'm meeting him tomorrow at 11 o'clock. Would you like to join me?"

"Absolutely. I'll be there."

As the dishes were cleared, and sweet wine poured to accompany a light lemon syllabub, the earl took conversation back to his plan for a marriage.

As soon as he mentioned the need for a match, Marcus felt his stomach tighten. He knew that his reluctance was due to feeling forced into a marriage by an unscrupulous young woman.There was also a feeling of excitement at the possibility of seeing Olivia again. He hadn't seen Olivia for a week, and he knew he needed to see her face again soon.

He needed time to think and let the gossip recede. At this moment it was a simmering cauldron of vicious rumors.

"I need to think about this, Your Lordship. It's all very sudden. However, I'm not ruling this out, but I do need time to think. I have a proposal."

"I'm listening," said the earl, sipping his wine and sitting back to hear Marcus' proposal.

"I'll ask my parents to invite Lady Olivia and Lady Jocelyn to stay at Belvedere Abbey. I suggest we arrange this very soon. I don't feel I've had a chance to get to know Lady Olivia, and let's be honest, marriage is a big step, and I'm sure Lady Olivia would value time to get to know me, and my family, too.

The earl looked at him and nodded. "Very well. Invite my niece and great niece to stay at Belvedere. I'll assume that, unless there are specific reasons for you not to, which come up during this visit, you will make an offer for Olivia. It's clear that these rumors are false, but that unfortunately many people still believe them."

The earl looked intently at Marcus, and Marcus knew he meant to fight for his family honor, and rescue Olivia and Jocelyn from this predicament. "We both know Olivia is innocent and she has already gone through considerable trauma in her life. Jocelyn, it seems, is at risk of being ruined simply by association. I cannot stand by and see my nieces ruined."

***

On the other side of town, Lady Cressida prepared to retire for the night. Yesterday she had enjoyed a soiree, and tonight there had been dancing at Almack's Assembly rooms.

That was where she began to feel triumph that her plan to discredit Lady Olivia Sherwyn had been successful.

Gossip flew around Almack's that Viscountess Leighton had been formally asked by her sponsor, Lady Golightly, not to attend any functions at Almack's.

Cressida gazed into the mirror and knew she was beautiful. She had no disfigurement. She hid no scars.

There was no need for any of her grandmother's charms tonight. Everything was in place and working well. Soon Lady Olivia Sherwyn would be back in the shadows, hiding away in the country, and no one would see her disfigured face in society again.

She held her head high and laughed, before blowing out the candle and retiring to bed.