Chapter 7

Olivia seethed with anger.

How dare that man speak to her that way? Who did he think he was? Her mind supplied the answer almost automatically: he was the master of the house. But that didn"t make her any less furious.

The nerve of him, thinking he could dictate her life, her future, without so much as a consultation. She had half a mind to give him a piece of her mind, to tell him exactly what she thought of his high-handedness. And yet, a part of her knew that confrontation would only lead to more trouble. Her priority had been Virginia since the day she arrived, and that would not be changing for anything.

Keeping her son happy would keep Virginia happy, and so she would bite her tongue. Taking a deep breath, Olivia tried to calm the storm of emotions raging within her. She couldn"t let William"s arrogance get the best of her. She was stronger than that, stronger than him. He was a duke, to be sure, but that did not make him anything more than a man. He was not threatening or intimidating or imposing; he was human, plain and simple.

But as she retreated to her chambers, the anger still simmered beneath the surface. She hated him and all that his arrival had brought, but again she couldn't do anything about it. The worst part was that she could have, had she not been so determined to make Virginia's life easy.

As Olivia seethed, she sought solace in the familiar embrace of the gardens. With each deliberate movement, she channeled her frustration into the soil, plunging her tool into it over and over until it finally subsided.

"Looks like we"ve got a fine day for gardening, Olivia," Mr. Thompson remarked, appearing from behind her.

"Oh! Good afternoon, Mr. Thompson. My apologies, I am simply trying to-"

"Release some frustration?" He suggested, "I must admit that I noticed from several feet away."

"It is just that… I find it rather therapeutic, don"t you?"

"Of course, there"s nothing quite like a bit of dirt under your fingernails to clear the mind," he chuckled, "Just ask my lovely daughter."

Rose, a lively little girl, bounded over with a basket of freshly picked flowers.

"Look what I found, Miss Olivia!" she exclaimed, holding out a vibrant bouquet of daisies and sunflowers, "I thought the dowager duchess might like them. Do you think she will?"

"Oh, Rose, they"re beautiful!" she smiled, "She shall adore them, I am sure of it."

As they worked side by side, Olivia once more began to think about the duke, and the anger bubbled inside her once more. Her movements became more frantic and less controlled, and the gardener quickly took note of it.

"Something is troubling you, isn't it Olivia?" He inquired gently.

Olivia paused in her work, her hands stilling.

"It"s the duke," she admitted, "I cannot stand him. His arrogance, his high-handedness. I just can"t stomach him, but for his mother's sake I cannot do anything about it."

"The duke can certainly be a difficult man to reckon with," he nodded, "I believe he even knows as much himself. But you must understand, Olivia, he"s had a difficult upbringing. He never quite learned how to handle conflicts calmly, if you catch my meaning."

"I suppose I hadn"t considered that," she admitted, "I do not see how a woman that is as loving as his mother could have a son so… so much like him."

"It"s not an excuse for his behavior, mind you," he reassured her, "You know that I am not the sort of man to do that, but perhaps it"ll help you understand where he"s coming from."

As they resumed their work, Olivia mulled over Mr. Thompson"s words, feeling a new sense of empathy. In and of itself, knowing that he had had a difficult childhood was not enough for her; she had had her own, after all, but there was something in the way Mr. Thompson spoke of the duke that made her stop seeing a loathsome recluse of a man and see a young boy.

Making her way back inside and lost in her own thoughts, she rounded a corner and collided with none other than the very gentleman she was so desperate to avoid.

"My apologies," she muttered, stepping back and avoiding his gaze.

But before she could slip away, William"s voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Wait," he said, his tone firm yet tinged with a hint of urgency, "We need to talk."

"I believe we have talked quite enough, Your Grace."

"Please, Olivia."

"Your Grace, I doubt that you have anything to say to me. You do not wish to be bothered. Allow me to not bother you."

"It is for my mother's sake," he said, and she already knew that she would no longer say no, "I wish to speak with you about a matter pertaining to her happiness, and I know that you care about that as much as I do."

More, she thought, but it was not worth saying aloud and having another argument.

"Very well," she sighed, "But the moment the conversation is no longer about your mother, I will leave."

Reluctantly, Olivia followed William into the drawing room. As they stood facing each other, William cleared his throat.

"First of all," he began, his voice measured as he met her gaze, "I"ve come to realize that I may have misunderstood your position here."

Olivia arched an eyebrow, her skepticism evident as she studied him closely. She knew full well that he wasn"t offering an apology, but it was likely his own version of an apology and so she gave him some grace.

"Go on," she prompted with cautious curiosity.

"I see now that you"re more than just a guest," he admitted, "You"ve become an integral part of this household, and it"s only right that you should be treated as such."

Olivia"s eyes narrowed slightly, her guard still firmly in place as she listened to his words.

"This has nothing to do with your mother, I shall remind you."

"But it does," he argued, "You were right, you have been her closest friend, and you bring her a great deal of happiness. I want to return the favor, and offer you something that will bring you as much contentment as you bring her."

"And what exactly do you propose in that respect?"

William took a step closer, his gaze unwavering as he met her eyes.

"I propose that we work together," he declared, "If you can help me adapt to life here, and find a way to make it up to my mother, then I shall help you in return."

"And how do you believe you can help me?"

"You wish to be a wife, do you not?"

She took a step back, her breath in her throat.

"No, Your Grace."

"You mustn't be angry with my mother," he said carefully, "but she has already betrayed you. She told me what happened, and how eager you had been to enter society. I can help you do just that, even with the scandal."

Olivia considered his offer for a moment, weighing her options carefully. While she remained skeptical of his motives, she couldn"t deny the potential benefits of having the duke on her side. She was not best pleased that Virginia had so willingly told the duke such a private matter, but she also knew that had it not been her, a servant would have done so eventually.

"You are doing this to be rid of me, aren't you?"

"No, I am doing this because I pity you."

"Then how do you propose I continue my friendship with your mother?"

"You shall both be ladies in high society. You will be surprised by how many soirees shall be held that allow the two of you to see each other."

"And how do you propose I find a suitor in the first place? I am ruined, Your Grace. Marriage shall never be an option for me, and I made my peace with that long ago."

"I will find you a suitor," he shrugged, speaking matter-of-factly.

Olivia"s skepticism only deepened at William"s proposal.

"You"ll find me a suitor?" she repeated in disbelief "And what makes you think you"re capable of such a task?"

"I have my ways," he replied, "Trust me, Olivia. I"ll find you a suitable match, someone who will appreciate you for who you are."

Olivia"s lips curled into a skeptical smirk, her doubts still lingering in the air between them.

"And what makes you so sure?"

William waved her off dismissively, his confidence unwavering.

"Let"s just say I have a few tricks up my sleeve," he replied with a knowing grin, "Do we have a deal?"

"Very well," she conceded, "But let"s be clear, Your Grace. I won"t be swayed by empty promises or false pretenses. If you truly want to help me, then prove it with your actions."

"Agreed," he replied, his voice tinged with resolve, "I"ll do whatever it takes to see you married off, Olivia. You have my word."

Later, as Olivia contemplated the implications of her agreement with the Duke of Bolton, she wondered just what she had agreed to.

She couldn"t shake the memory of her mother"s failed attempts to find her a suitable match, the countless evenings spent enduring awkward social gatherings and stilted conversations with potential suitors who were more interested in her dowry than in her as a person, before a single ball had even taken place. The thought of entrusting William with such a monumental task filled her with a sense of trepidation. After all, what did he know of her hopes and dreams, her desires and aspirations? And even if he knew what they were, who was to say he would care?

Yet, as she weighed her options, Olivia couldn"t ignore the flicker of optimism that burned within her. Perhaps, just perhaps, this alliance with the duke could offer her a chance at a future she had only dared to dream of - a future filled with love, companionship, and all of the freedoms afforded to a married lady.

There was one person that could help ease her mind on the matter, although she couldn't yet tell her exactly why she was so concerned with it in the first place.

In the quiet confines of Virginia"s chambers that evening, Olivia broached the delicate subject of marriage, her voice tentative as she sought guidance from the Dowager Duchess. She wanted to know, above all, if there was even a point in being a wife in the first place.

"Virginia," she began, her words measured, "I"ve been thinking about marriage, and I wanted to know what you thought about that."

Virginia regarded her with a knowing look. She knew all too well the complexities and challenges of marriage, having endured her own troubled union until her husband"s passing. She had never told Olivia the extent of it, but she knew that it was not a marriage of love.

"I understand your apprehension, Olivia," Virginia replied softly, "Marriage can be a daunting prospect, especially when one has witnessed its darker side firsthand."

Olivia nodded in agreement, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.

"I"ve seen the toll it took on you, Virginia," she admitted, her voice tinged with concern, "And I can"t help but wonder if it"s a risk I am even willing to take in the first place."

Virginia reached out to place a comforting hand on Olivia"s arm, her touch gentle and reassuring.

"Not all marriages are like mine, dear," she assured her, "There are many who find love and happiness in marriage, who support and cherish one another through life"s trials and tribulations."

"But you did not have that."

"No, but do you know something?" She replied gently, "When my late husband passed, in spite of everything, I couldn't help but think that everything was worse than it had been when he was alive."

"That cannot be right," Olivia protested, but Virginia simply nodded at her.

"It was a constant in my life. He may not have loved me, but he always provided. He was always there, and then one day he no longer was. That one thing that I had always known had disappeared, leaving me completely alone until the day I had you come to stay with me."

Olivia tried to understand what the dowager duchess was telling her, but she could not quite do so.

"Besides," Virginia smirked, "Why are you so interested in marrying?"

Olivia hesitated, her mind racing as she searched for a suitable response to Virginia"s question. She knew she couldn"t reveal the true reason behind her sudden interest in marriage - the tentative agreement she had made with the Duke of Bolton - without betraying William"s confidence.

"It"s... it"s nothing, really," Olivia replied, "I suppose the presence of a young man in the household has made me question certain things, that"s all."

"I see," Virginia replied, her tone gentle and understanding, "Well, just remember that whatever path you choose, I will always be here to support you. Your happiness means a great deal to me, and you mustn't allow my enjoyment of your company to stop you from living the life of your dreams."

Olivia nodded gratefully, a sense of relief washing over her as she realized that Virginia had accepted her explanation without further inquiry. Though she knew she couldn"t confide in her about the true nature of her arrangement with William, she was grateful for the Dowager Duchess"s unwavering support and understanding.

"Thank you, Virginia," Olivia said softly, "Your support means more to me than you know."

She lay in her bed that night, unable to sleep due to a realization that she couldn't shake.

She had both a duke and a dowager duchess on her side.