Chapter 13

In spite of her efforts to keep warm throughout the night, Olivia had indeed woken up quite unwell.

As she stirred from her slumber, a dull ache pulsed behind her temples, a reminder of what had happened the night before. With a soft groan, she pushed herself upright, her head swimming with a foggy haze as she blinked away the remnants of sleep.

Gingerly rising from her bed, she made her way to the window, drawing back the curtains and wincing at the sunlight. Opening the window, she found that the air was cool and smelled wonderful.

Olivia felt a sense of calm wash over her. There was something about the garden in the early morning light that seemed to soothe her troubled mind.

She slipped out of her room and made her way to the garden, the damp earth cool beneath her bare feet. The ground was still wet from the rain that had fallen throughout the night, the droplets clinging to the leaves and petals. Finding a secluded spot beneath the shelter of a sprawling oak tree, Olivia settled onto the soft grass, her headache fading into the background.

There was a chirping beside her, and she turned to see a sparrow watching her and making small hops to move around.

"Are you aware that you have wings, Mr. Sparrow?" She asked, "It is quite a wonderful gift to have. Why, if I had wings like yours I would…"

Would she truly fly away?

She watched the little bird a while longer, and eventually he did fly off and leave her behind. Sighing, she rolled her head back onto the damp grass, closing her eyes.

As lunchtime approached, Olivia roused herself from the solace of the garden, and made her way back to the house, the familiar path now etched into her mind. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of her thoughts pressing down upon her with relentless force.

The duke would no doubt be furious with her.

As she reached the house, Olivia paused for a moment, her hand resting against the cool wood of the door. In that brief moment of hesitation, her mind drifted back to the duke, his stern demeanor, his disapproving gaze, the constant tension that seemed to simmer beneath the surface of their interactions.

With a shake of her head, Olivia pushed the thoughts aside, banishing them to the recesses of her mind as she focused on the task at hand. She couldn"t afford to dwell on the duke and his inability to like her.

Stepping into her bedchambers, Olivia began to dress herself for lunch, selecting a simple gown in shades of blue and green that complemented her features. As she smoothed the fabric over her frame, her mind wandered once more to the duke, his image lingering in the recesses of her mind like an unwelcome guest. Perhaps that was exactly how he saw her.

Despite her best efforts to push him aside, Olivia couldn"t shake the feeling that settled over her whenever she thought of him. There was something about the duke, something that both intrigued and repelled her in equal measure, like a puzzle with pieces that refused to fit together.

As Olivia and William sat at the dining table, the air between them heavy with unspoken tension, their lunch proceeded in a stilted and awkward silence. Each bite seemed to carry the weight of their unresolved conflict, the clink of silverware against porcelain echoing like a distant drumbeat in the cavernous room.

"Do you mind?" He asked, after a particularly loud clang.

"Not particularly," she whispered.

"Excuse me?"

"I said do pardon me," she lied.

It was not worth the hassle, even if she did dislike his demeanor.

Olivia cast a wary glance in William"s direction, his expression as unreadable as ever. Immediately after he had snapped at her, he seemed to recognize his mistake and relax once more, but that did not aid her. She knew that she should say something and break the silence, but the words caught in her throat.

Pride, she thought, my own foolish pride.

But before the tension could escalate any further, the heavy wooden door swung open with a soft creak, revealing the figure of Virginia as she entered the room, her face alight.

"Good afternoon, my darlings!" Virginia exclaimed, her voice ringing out like a bell in the quiet room as she made her way to the table, "I hope I"m not interrupting anything important?"

Olivia and the duke exchanged a wary glance, both unsure of how to respond to Virginia"s cheerful intrusion, but before either of them could utter a word, Virginia was already bustling about the room.

"Of course not, Mother," William replied, his tone polite but tinged with a hint of annoyance at his mother's fussing, "We were just finishing lunch."

Virginia chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she took her seat at the table.

"Well, in that case, I won"t keep you in suspense any longer," she said, her smile widening as she glanced between Olivia and William.

She approached them with an air of excitement, barely able to contain her enthusiasm as she cleared her throat to speak.

"So, I have been thinking about Scott's visit," she began, "And William, I know that you are rather apprehensive about being the one he sticks to whilst he is with us, and so I set about finding a solution, and I"ve had the most marvelous idea!"

Olivia glanced up from her plate, her curiosity piqued by Virginia's animated demeanor. She was hardly ever like this. To be sure, she would have her moments of joy and they were becoming more and more frequent, but they had never gotten this far. It was more usual that she would exclaim her idea, not have all of this build up to it.

"What is it, Virginia?" she asked, her interest evident in her tone.

Virginia beamed at Olivia before turning her gaze to William, who regarded her carefully. Ignoring his apparent apprehension, she continued.

"Well, I was thinking, why don"t we host Scott and his friends? It"s been far too long since we"ve had any guests, and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to bring a bit of joy and excitement to Bolton Manor! Not only that, but, William dearest, he shall be so entertained by his own friends that he shall leave you quite well alone."

At the mention of a house party, William"s expression soured, a visible shudder running through him at the thought of such a gathering. But Virginia pressed on, her enthusiasm undeterred by his obvious discomfort.

"It would be a wonderful chance for us to socialize and enjoy each other"s company. What do you think?"

Olivia exchanged a glance with the duke, silently communicating their shared apprehension about the idea.

To put it simply, Olivia did not wish to see Scott. She missed the days when there was only hers and Virginia, passing their days as peacefully or energetically as they wished. It was easier then, with no thunderous dukes and ‘darling' little brothers to contend with.

But ignoring her reservations, they could see the genuine joy and excitement shining in Virginia"s eyes, and she couldn"t bear to dampen her spirits. It would only be for a while, and, more than that, the duke seemed completely against it.

Virginia would have enough of a fight as it was.

"It sounds like a splendid idea, Virginia," Olivia replied, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she played along with Virginia"s enthusiasm, "I"m sure it will be a wonderful event."

The duke offered a tight-lipped smile of agreement, his reluctance still evident in his demeanor, but he knew that he couldn"t refuse Virginia"s request, not when her heart was so set on the idea. Neither of them could; she never asked for anything.

As Virginia excitedly shared her idea for a house party, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, the duke's expression soured. The very notion of hosting a gathering seemed to fill him with a sense of unease, his mind undoubtedly conjuring images of crowded rooms and forced social interactions. Olivia wondered why this was, and if it ran deeper than simply not wanting to spend time with strangers.

Sensing his hesitation, Olivia glanced at him, her own reservations about the idea echoing his reluctance. But as she caught his eye, a silent understanding passed between them.

Do not ruin this for her, she pleaded silently, Just smile and nod and be angry later.

With a subtle nod of encouragement, Olivia turned her attention back to Virginia, her voice filled with a feigned enthusiasm as she echoed Virginia's excitement.

"That sounds like a marvelous idea," she exclaimed, "A house party would be just the thing to liven up the estate and bring some much-needed cheer to our lives. Would you not agree, Your Grace?"

"Oh, to be sure," he grumbled, but this seemed to satisfy Virginia.

"I"m so glad you agree, my dear," she replied, her smile widening with delight, "Well, if there are no issues, I'll send the letter to Scott right away. It will be a splendid affair, I"m sure!"

As soon as Virginia bustled out of the room to send the letter, William turned his attention back to Olivia, his gaze piercing.

"What are you playing at, Miss Staunton?" He asked, "You seemed just as reluctant about this idea as I am. Why the sudden change of heart?"

Olivia met his gaze head-on, her expression carefully neutral as she considered her response.

"I"m simply trying to support your mother," Olivia replied, her voice steady, "You know how much hosting this party means to her, and I couldn"t bear to see her disappointed."

William raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced by her explanation.

"And what about you?" He pressed, his gaze probing, "Do you truly believe that hosting this is the best course of action, or are you simply appeasing my mother to avoid confrontation?"

Olivia hesitated, her mind racing as she searched for the right words to convey her true feelings without revealing too much. She knew that she couldn"t afford to betray her own reservations about the house party, not when the duke was already suspicious of her every move.

"I won"t deny that I have my doubts about the house party," Olivia admitted, "But I also recognize that it"s important to your mother, and I"m willing to do whatever it takes to make her happy, even if it means stepping outside of my comfort zone. You might do well to do the same."

William studied her for a moment, his gaze unreadable as he processed her words. Olivia held her breath, waiting for his response, unsure of what to expect. But to her surprise, William offered her a small, begrudging nod of approval, a flicker of understanding passing between them.

"Very well," he conceded, his tone softer than before, "Just be careful. We don"t know what sort of guests Scott will bring with him, and I"d hate to see you caught in the middle of any unpleasantness."

"Why do you care?"

"Because as long as you are living under my roof, you are my responsibility."

Olivia nodded begrudgingly in acknowledgment, grateful at least for his concern. Though their relationship remained fraught with tension and misunderstanding, she couldn"t deny the sense of solidarity that had begun to form between them. It was almost nice, though it would have been better if they could go more than five minutes without snapping at one another.

"Your Grace," she said suddenly, her voice soft but determined, "I can"t help but wonder about Scott. If we"re to marry, shouldn"t I know more about him?"

His expression tightened at her question, his features contorting into a mask of discomfort as he shifted uneasily in his seat. For a moment, he seemed reluctant to respond, his gaze fixed on some distant point in the room as he searched for the right words.

But Olivia refused to let him off the hook so easily, her gaze steady as she waited for his answer. She knew that he was avoidant, but she needed to know and he was the only one that would be honest with her, as pessimistic as he would be whilst doing so.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping with resignation as he met Olivia"s gaze head-on.

"Scott is... complicated," he admitted, his voice tinged with reluctance, "He"s a rake, Olivia - a notorious womanizer who has spent most of his life indulging in every vice imaginable."

Olivia"s heart sank at his words, apprehension forming in the pit of her stomach. She had heard rumors about Scott"s wild antics, mostly from Virginia vehemently denying them, but to hear William confirm them so plainly sent a chill down her spine.

"I won"t lie to you, Olivia," William continued, his voice heavy with regret, "I am a lot of things, but I shall never be a liar. Scott may not be the best husband. He"s never shown much interest in settling down or taking on the responsibilities that come with marriage. He"s... unpredictable, to say the least."

Olivia"s mind whirled with a flurry of emotions as she absorbed his words. The thought of marrying someone like Scott filled her with a sense of dread.

"Then why would you put me through all of this?"

"Because for all of his faults, he is not cruel," he said firmly, "I am the first person to note my brother's shortcomings, but he is at least kind. That is enough for you, is it not?"

Taking a deep breath, she met William"s gaze with steely determination, her resolve unwavering despite the uncertainty that lay ahead.

"Yes. I suppose it will be sufficient. Thank you for your honesty, Your Grace," she said, her voice steady, "I may not know what the future holds, but I can do it. I would do anything if it made your mother happy, I hope you know that."

As Olivia left the room, her mind buzzed with a tumult of conflicting thoughts and emotions, each one vying for her attention. The mention of Scott had ignited a spark of uncertainty within her, casting a shadow of doubt over her hopes for the future. She had imagined so many futures for herself, and this had not been one of them.

Then again, she was all too aware of what people thought of her, too. Was Scott truly the rake that rumors painted him to be, or was there more to him than met the eye? And if Eleanor"s warnings were to be believed, what did that mean for Olivia"s future as his bride, if he even wished to have her?

As she wandered the halls of Bolton Manor, lost in thought, Olivia couldn"t shake the feeling of unease that lingered within her, a nagging sense of apprehension that refused to be ignored. She had always prided herself on her ability to see the good in others, to find light even in the darkest of places, but now, faced with the uncertainty of Scott"s character, she found herself questioning everything she thought she knew.

With a heavy sigh, Olivia pressed a hand to her temple, willing the relentless whirlwind of thoughts to cease. Her headache had returned in full force, that much was sure. She knew that she couldn"t afford to dwell on her doubts, but try as she might to push them aside, the questions continued to haunt her.

Lost in her own thoughts, Olivia drifted aimlessly through the corridors of Bolton Manor, her mind consumed by the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Though she longed for clarity and reassurance, she knew that would only be possible if she met him. In that respect, she was glad that he would have friends of his joining. He would be as at ease as possible, meaning he would be as true to himself as possible.

All the better for measuring his character.