Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Marcus took a different route to London for the last part of his journey back to Tewkesbury Crescent. He abandoned the Great North Road, choosing instead to canter and gallop across the fields, and enter the city close to the royal parks. Hector enjoyed the journey, and they often stopped at the streams wending their way down towards the river Thames.

Every time he sat by a stream, gazing at the flowing water, his thoughts carried away to his enchanted Cendrillon, and the day they met. Now he had further memories, and a contentment about the engagement he had been unsure about. He remembered when the Earl of Riversmead had called to demand an immediate engagement.

I wonder when we'll be married. Late summer perhaps? Or maybe linked to the Harvest celebrations?

Marcus assumed the wedding would be in the chapel at Belvedere Abbey, but there was a possibility it might be at Silverton Hall. The earl had told him the renovations were nearly complete, and the family planned a grand re-opening.

I must remember to ask Olivia where she would like the ceremony to be.

He noticed a red squirrel daring to come close to him, hoping for a crumb of bread perhaps? The blue sky promised the warmth of a summer day, and he laid down on the grass, smelling the heady fragrance of the summer's day, while the sun warmed his face and body.

I miss the sun and the light in Tuscany. As soon as we are married then Olivia and I can travel to Tuscany to the villa.

For the first time in many years his heart felt light, and he savored the pleasures of a ride through the countryside on a summer's day.

Lord Ludlow was due to arrive at Tewkesbury Crescent later in the day. He's going to be stunned to find I'm betrothed before he is.

As he arrived at the mews behind his townhouse, he insisted on helping the grooms care for, and cool down, Hector.

Leaving Hector and walking round to the house he heard a welcome bark, and Hera appeared, bounding towards him and then sitting expectantly, tongue lolling out. Reaching down, he ruffled the spaniel's ears and felt its raspy tongue licking his hand.

"You and James got here before me then," he said to the dog. Sure enough James followed Hector out from the garden door of the house.

"We were looking out for you, My Lord. We arrived a couple of hours ago."

"With Lord Ludlow? All's well with him?"

"Yes, we took the turnpike south to London, and it proved to be a speedy journey."

Farthing, the butler, ran out to greet him, accompanied by two footmen. "Welcome back My Lord. There is a meal prepared to serve as soon as you are ready. Cook has prepared a beef wellington to celebrate your return."

"Cook knows my favorite meals. I'll be down very soon. I'll just change out of my riding gear."

As James helped him out of his riding boots and leather coat Marcus felt the first signs of muscles tightening after the long ride. "I think I'll take a hot bath after supper," he told James.

"I'll get that set up for you, My Lord."

"Thanks James. I feel the need of a hot soak in a tub. Have you heard anything more about the gossip which was circulating about me and Lady Olivia?" he asked.

"It's not good. There's been no new gossip, but the original slurs are still circulating. Cook told me that the baker's boy had mentioned it when he delivered the loaves yesterday." He paused before continuing. "Rumor has it that someone paid a great deal of money to make sure this gossip reached the farthest corners of the city ."

Marcus took a deep breath, and shared his news with his valet and confidante. "I'm to be married James."

James almost dropped the clothes brush he was using on Marcus' velvet frock coat. "Married?"

"Indeed yes."

"May I ask the name of the fortunate young lady?" he continued.

"Of course. Lady Olivia Sherwyn," he confided. "She's a strongly independent minded young lady, who has already faced much tragedy in life. I can't leave her facing ruin in society."

"I think you will be happy," said James, and Marcus knew he was sincere.

"I suspect you may very well be right there James. It isn't what I planned, but I think she will make a wonderful countess."

"We all liked her at Belvedere Abbey. That's only true of a few guests," he laughed.

"We need to set a date, but it will happen very soon."

***

Next morning Marcus and Lord Ludlow set off to call at Swanbourne Place.

"You've been on tenterhooks all morning," Marcus joked to his friend.

"I had to leave so suddenly, and all I could leave was that letter. I don't know how Lady Jocelyn felt about that," replied Colin.

"Your mother had an accident and was close to death. She will understand you had to leave immediately. We're all glad she made a full recovery."

"It's remarkable," confided Colin. "Though I'm not sure she should be mounting a horse again this soon. I had to hold my breath while she walked her horse around the paddock this week."

"I don't believe your mama could live without her ride every day. She's a renowned horsewoman in the county."

"I know. I'm still concerned she will take another fall. But as she said to me, the last time she fell was in her twenties and she hasn't fallen since."

"Lady Jocelyn will understand about the accident. And you've written to her since that first letter?" asked Marcus

Colin grew quiet and looked away. "I haven't been in touch since I left London." he said almost inaudibly.

Marcus spoke automatically, and without thinking. "Colin, you idiot, you mean you didn't write or send a note once?"

"I didn't, and even when I knew she was at Belvedere Abbey, I held back. I thought she might wonder why I had written but didn't come to visit. I can't explain it. Now we're talking about it, I can't see any logic to my actions. I think I was more distracted by Mama's accident than I realized."

"Of course you were. Aunt Eleanor was unconscious for several days. You were distraught. We all thought she might die."

Marcus clapped Colin on the back. "Come on, let's go and find your Jocelyn. We're invited to stay for dinner at Swanbourne Place."

As they walked along the pavement, in the warm early summer sun he felt a spark of excitement at seeing his Olivia again. His Olivia sounded so right.

"Olivia and I are engaged," he told his cousin.

Colin stopped walking and stared at him. "Engaged? To Olivia?"

"Why does everyone find this so hard to believe?"replied Marcus.

"I don't find it hard to believe, I'm just surprised it hasn't been announced. Is it because of the gossip? You're doing the truly decent thing, and marrying her to save her from ruin," suggested Colin.

Marcus knew that had been the impetus for his offer of marriage, but he knew it was far more than that.

"It's true that her uncle, the Earl of Riversmead came and asked me to consider marrying Olivia. I told him I wasn't sure. The reality is that nothing happened between us, well nothing of the magnitude of that gossip sheet, and I refused to be forced into marriage in that way."

"Go on," encouraged Colin.

"I always felt something for Lady Olivia, from our very first meeting I've felt drawn towards her. I love her. I didn't realize it was love, but I love her with all my heart, all my being," continued Marcus.

"Then congratulations cousin. I am already looking forward to the wedding. Your father and mother will be delighted, I'm sure."

"Mother hoped I'd marry Lady Cressida."

"Thank the stars that you didn't. We all know she is the gossipmonger," replied Colin.

"And I suspect frustrated ambitions and jealousy to be the motivation behind her trying to ruin Olivia," added Marcus.

"We're almost there. Here we are, both going into the same house to meet the young ladies who have stolen our hearts," said Colin with a grin.

A footman showed them in and then Mrs. Jennings came to greet them with a wide smile of welcome. "Lord Hatfield and Lord Ludlow. How pleasant to see you both. I hear your mother is fully recovered?"

Lord Ludlow nodded. "We were extremely concerned, but Mama has rallied and proved the doctor wrong."

"The Viscountess Leighton, Lady Olivia and Lady Jocelyn are at home. The earl is out on business but will return for dinner. I'll show you through."

And there she was … hazelnut locks with a scattering of tiny strands of ribbon, like colorful cobwebs, draped through her hair. Her day gown of coral pink swayed around her body as she came to greet him.

He took her hands in his and felt that connection, and he knew he had been missing her, ever since he took leave of her at Belvedere Abbey. They were back together again, and he felt as if he had returned home.

She bobbed the formal curtsy, he bowed, and her eyes met his with a welcoming smile.

Lady Leighton came to welcome him, and she took Colin aside to enquire about his mother. Lady Leighton took Colin's hands in hers and led him to sit beside her, to tell her about his mother's recovery. She beckoned Jocelyn across to join them.

Olivia suggested they go across to a window seat, pointing out the view of the roses, scrambling over an arbor, blooming in the garden beyond.

"Your uncle has invited us to stay for dinner," he told her.

"I know. Cook has been busy all day, and understands you enjoy beef wellington, so she has prepared that especially for you."

"I must tell her how much I appreciate her kindness," remarked Marcus.

He glanced across at Colin sitting with Jocelyn and Marianne. "He's nervous about meeting your niece again," Marcus whispered. "He had to leave at such short notice, just when they were becoming close."

"She will be glad to see him again." She paused, and fiddled with her pearl grey feathered fan before looking up at him. "We have had many visits, and gifts of flowers from Lord Hastings. I believe he has the intention of offering marriage. So many friends abandoned us when the gossip mill started to spread false information, but Lord Hastings has been steady in visiting throughout."

"I gather the gossip is still circulating," Marcus told her.

"It is indeed. Whoever is stoking the fire of hatred against me is still working very hard. However, I find that the situation has changed considerably since we returned from Belvedere."

"News of our engagement?" asked Marcus.

"No, My Lord, I've kept that secret close, as we agreed. I believe only our close family are aware of our betrothal. It is an entirely different and totally unexpected development," said Olivia.

The door opened, and Mrs. Jennings ushered in four gentlemen from the top drawer of the ton, including Sir Jonathan Ellington, whom he recognized with a gasp of surprise.

"I'll explain later," whispered Olivia, "but I am surprised how quickly news of a large fortune can spread. For some weeks we had no visitors, and now it is as though Mrs. Jennings is never off her feet showing suitors through to our drawing room."

Marcus sat in stunned silence while the gentlemen formed a group around Olivia. They were each vying with each other in trying to be entertaining in their conversation. This was serious wooing. He'd been in society long enough to recognize it when he saw it.

I thought I was visiting my fiancée to talk, and begin to plan a wedding by the fall. Instead, I've walked into some circus ring of suitors vying for Olivia's attention.

He took an unusual dislike to Sir Jonathan. He knew the man by sight and considered him as veering toward being a dandy. His cravat was so intensely ruffled that it must take his valet several hours to dress him each morning.

He gazed at Olivia with what resembled total devotion, and compliments dripped off his lips one after the other.

"You must not say that to our dear Lady Olivia," crooned Sir Jonathan. "I know for a fact that she prefers to take tea at Fanshaw's Coffee Emporium, rather than Drake's Cafe."

Can this conversation become any more inane? I cannot believe I am sitting here listening to this drivel.

He stood, bowed, and took his leave to join Lady Leighton, who had left Colin and Jocelyn to talk.

"You're surprised to see so many gentlemen callers?" she guessed. "I saw the look on your face."

"I'd anticipated a quiet conversation with my betrothed, and instead I find myself part of a group of lovesick clowns," replied Marcus.

A giggle escaped the Viscountess's lips. "That description is very apt. We have had about twelve suitors so far this week."

"The ones today are fashionable and rich. They all seem intent on wooing Olivia. I wish we had announced our betrothal last week."

"You must be wondering what has changed," remarked Lady Leighton.

"I admit to being somewhat perplexed. Please, Lady Leighton, enlighten me. How has my betrothed, who last week was ruined, suddenly become the catch of the season?" enquired Marcus.

Lady Leighton gestured for Marcus to sit with her on a comfortable velvet covered sofa. He relaxed, glad that he had escaped from the circle of suitors. Lady Leighton reached forward and poured him a cup of steaming hot tea, then poured herself the same. The delicious scent of fragrant yellow China tea, rose from the delicate porcelain teapot. He held the cup close to his nose and inhaled the fragrance.

"Thank you. I needed some refreshment," said Marcus.

"I shall tell you about my dear friend's change in circumstances. It's come as quite a surprise to us all. You will be aware that we thought Olivia had little fortune. She had expected to be comfortable financially but after her brother Frederick's death she was told she had nothing but a small stipend," explained Lady Leighton.

He nodded, encouraging her to continue.

"She will tell you herself later, I'm sure, but she discovered a few days ago that she does indeed have a sizeable inheritance which had very specific conditions. It seems she could only be made aware of it on her twenty-fourth year," continued Lady Leighton.

"Very individual and unusual arrangements," commented Marcus.

"Indeed. It seems her father didn't want what we see today," she lowered her voice even quieter. "At the age of twenty-four he knew she would have enough experience to make her own decisions." She smiled at him warmly. "Your betrothed has a considerable fortune."

"I'm delighted for her. It does indeed give her wider choices." he said with genuine happiness that Olivia was no longer penniless.

At the same time, he became aware of an arrow of fear that she might no longer need their engagement. He had been uncertain, and felt reluctant at almost being forced into marriage. Yet once he had proposed, and Olivia had accepted, he had felt pure joy.

I don't want my engagement to end, he realized. It's what I want more than anything. He closed his eyes for a second, I hope I will still be discussing wedding plans with Olivia after the other guests have left.

He felt a little disoriented during the remainder of the visiting hours. He snatched a word with Colin as he passed. "Is all well with your Jocelyn?" he asked.

"More than. I believe she has had a proposal of marriage from Lord Hastings, but she has not accepted him yet. You were right, I should have sent letters and kept in touch while I was at Granville. I am so lucky that nothing has changed. I know she feels the same."

"I'm glad," replied Marcus, wishing he could be certain that things were unchanged between Olivia himself . Seeing her surrounded by serious suitors was not what he had expected today.

He watched her smile encouragingly, responding with comments to keep the conversation flowing. Olivia sparkled as she smiled, nodded, and listened attentively. Although he felt a small pang of envy about her attention to these suitors, he found himself in awe of the way she spoke with them. The reserved Olivia, always self-conscious of her appearance had transformed into a confident hostess.

Supper was pleasant, formal but with a small group. Viscount Leighton, and the Earl of Riversmead, joined them. Marcus was relieved none of the gaggle of suitors joined them for the meal.

"I must thank your cook for this beef wellington," he told the earl. We used to call it something else at Belvedere Abbey, but I like this acknowledgement of the duke."

"The house staff here likes you, Marcus. They don't yet know of your engagement, but they know you tried hard to protect Olivia's honor. That means a lot to them," replied the earl.

Marcus looked across at Olivia, and she caught his gaze and smiled, lips rosy and her eyes sparkling in the light of the sconces and candle flames. He watched as she chatted animatedly to Viscount Leighton and the earl. Something had changed from when he first met Lady Olivia Sherwyn. She shone somehow, looking poised and confident, and he felt another sudden pang of uncertainty

They dined on Uncle Harold's favorite white soup, Cook's special beef wellington, followed by mutton pot pie, and a light elderflower syllabub. He looked at the amber liquid in the crystal glass, sipping the cognac, and hoping against hope that he might finally get to spend some uninterrupted time speaking with his fiancée.

Finally, he strolled onto the terrace with Olivia next to him. "The scent of the roses is lovely," he commented as they walked along the winding garden path.

"All credit to my mother. She extended the rose collection at Silverton Hall and brought many of her specimens here to the townhouse." Olivia reached to touch the velvet petals of a white rose, which looked ethereal in the moonlight.

"I don't know if your mother realized she was creating a sheltered clair de lune garden. It is truly lovely." As are you, he thought, but somehow he was unable to tell her that, uncertainty holding him back . I'll have the gardeners at Belvedere create a rose called Olivia. I think a dusty coral pink with a heady, scent of cloves permeating its petals.

"I'd put the letter from Mr. Rawlings to one side. My head was filled with the gossip sheets, and the vindictive attempt to oust me from the ton. Lady Cressida, or whoever it was drove that campaign, succeeded. I have no doubt that without my sudden, unexpected good fortune that I would still be hiding my face, wondering what had happened to me."

"Even then, as Lady Hatfield, you could hold your head high in society," remarked Marcus.

"I know," she replied.

"And Sir Jonathan? I saw him this afternoon, I admit to some surprise," asked Marcus.

"Our families go back many years. The estates neighbor each other and we grew up together as children. I cannot hold a resentful grudge forever. He had his own reasons for ending our engagement," explained Olivia.

The pang of fear magnified as Marcus wondered if Olivia had been holding a candle in her heart for her ex-fiancé. She is reconciled with Sir Jonathan? He's gained her favor.

He looked at the moon shining brightly above, illuminating the garden with an eerie light. He glanced at Olivia's face as she continued to tell him her reasons for forgiving Sir Jonathan for abandoning her.

I need to leave. I need to release her and give her freedom from her obligation to marry me. We did the right thing holding back on announcing our betrothal to society.

He took an inward breath, reluctant to speak, listening to Olivia telling him the extent of her fortune.

" So much has happened in such a short time," he said at last. "I am delighted to know about your inheritance. It gives you freedom and independence in life to make your own choices."

"I know. I would not even be here today if Uncle Harold had not insisted I take a season in London."

"I think it is important that you have space to consider your direction in life. We didn't declare our betrothal. There are very few people aware of our, erm, arrangement. I believe it only right and proper to offer to release you." He bowed with forced formality, while his pulse raced, and his thoughts spun around his head.

"We were forced into our engagement by the gossipmonger's atrocious actions. I want to be fair, and let you take your time to think and look around you. You might find someone else with whom to share your life." Marcus could feel a stab of sadness as he continued saying the words he felt he needed to say.

He saw Olivia flinch and take a sharp inward breath.

"Very well, My Lord, if that is how you want it to be. I'll tell uncle that we are to carry on with keeping our betrothal a secret for now," she replied, her tone seeming preoccupied and distant.

He felt his breathing ease. He's been aware of a racing fear, coursing through his body, tightening his muscles as he expected their betrothal might end. He remembered his resistance, when Olivia's uncle had insisted he make the proposal. He'd felt pushed into a corner, and determined not to be forced into making an offer due to circumstances beyond their control.

Marriage was for life. There had to be love, passion and desire. He'd never believed in the coldness of those formal, arranged marriages where enough of love might follow to make the arrangement tolerable.

The irony was that he hadn't realized the depth of the connection, that pure, flowing love between them, because he had been angry about the gossipmonger forcing the path to marriage. The scandal was irrelevant, he'd already been on this pathway to a lifelong love with Olivia.

Sitting in the drawing room he'd felt true fear that the engagement might end. The situation might have changed, now that Olivia was rich. Overnight she had become a catch of the season for every eligible bachelor in town. Yet they were engaged, and he determined that they would stay engaged. He knew that moment in the woodland where he had proposed to his Cendrillon and she had accepted was filled with love and desire on both parts.

The evening had not gone as he hoped. He'd thought there would be happy, shared planning of their new life together. Instead, a continued secret betrothal, and he felt relief that they were still bound together in that formal arrangement.

As long as the engagement continued, they could spend time together most days, and he had to believe that with continued contact the feelings between them would only strengthen.

For a few minutes he'd thought Olivia might walk away from him that very day. As long as they were engaged there was a chance that they would marry, and he knew now with certainty that this was what he wanted more than anything else.

As they walked back to Hargrove House, he shared with Colin how the evening had not gone as planned.

"I felt I was honor bound to give her the option to choose elsewhere," Marcus confided.

"I see your reasoning, but I've also watched you and Lady Olivia together. There is a spark between you. You both seem to come alive in each other's company. I truly believe this will come right in the end," Colin reassured him.

"We said we would talk again in a week's time. Until then I need to stand back while Olivia is surrounded by simpering suitors who ostracized her before she became rich. Now her disfigurement is irrelevant."

"An agonizing wait," agreed Colin.

"And your proposal to Lady Jocelyn?"

"I've given her every indication that my intentions are honorable, and I'll propose as soon as a suitable time and place arises," confirmed Colin.

"Shall we go for a swim in the Serpentine?" suggested Marcus. "Sometimes it's the only thing that revives my mood. If I can feel cool, cold water covering my head and body and swim across the lake it might help me shake off this mood."

"It's always been your way of getting rid of anger. That and galloping across the heath at a furious pace. I wish I had your stamina."

"We're trained as gentlemen to keep our feelings in check, under tight control, but today I knew I was near to letting my true feelings show. I wanted to take each and every suitor by the scruff of the neck and eject them from that drawing room." He took a sharp inward breath. "Especially that obnoxious Sir Jonathan Ellington. He reminds me of a weasel, you don't notice them until there is carnage in the chicken coop."

"Well, I could do with some fresh air and a swim myself. Let's return and collect James, he'll appreciate a dip in this heat."

Marcus was determined to carry on, and forget about the turmoil and thoughts spinning around in his mind. He would continue to meet Olivia whenever possible and hope the connection that he knew was strong between them would continue to strengthen.

A dip in the icy water of the Serpentine lake seemed the right way to end the day.