Chapter 22

Olivia had not seen Xavier in a fortnight.

The day after she’d rejected his offer of marriage, Dr. Valentine appeared at Westbrook House to see to the care of the children. Valentine had returned each day and even though the children were improving, only about half of them had left their beds and started to enjoy being outside and return to their assigned chores.

It would take some time, that she knew. This was not an illness that one quickly came down with or were quick to recover from. Olivia was just thankful that none of the children had died, which too often happened with chincough.

She did learn from Dr. Valentine that Xavier had settled in to seeing patients and worked from sunrise to sunset, to the point that Valentine was becoming concerned. From what she understood from Xavier’s family though, he had worked just as hard, and long into the evenings, when he was pursuing a cure for illnesses of the mind.

“We must attend the Willoughbys’ ball this evening,” Victoria insisted as she stepped into Olivia’s office. “They have supported Westbrook House from the beginning, and we need their continued patronage.”

Neither Olivia nor Victoria had attended a societal event since the children first became ill. As they were now recovering, there was no need for her to remain in every night and it was time that she returned to sleeping in her own bed in the house she shared with Victoria.

“Must we?” She blew out a sigh, even though Olivia already knew the answer.

“We must. We cannot expect people to support us financially if we are never seen.”

“Yes. Of course.” She rose from her desk then blew out the candles and turned down the lamps. “We will dine at home and attend the ball.”

Olivia also took a short nap. She was so exhausted having not slept a full night in weeks. It would be good to be back in her own bed. Perhaps dreams of Xavier would not visit her there.

However, the ball did not go as either she or Victoria anticipated. In fact, as soon as they stepped into the ballroom, whispers began behind fans and gentlemen studied her with more interest than ever before.

“Perhaps we have been gone from Society for too long,” Victoria whispered.

“It would appear so,” Olivia murmured.

Oddly, no one approached, which had never been the case before, and Olivia began to grow uncomfortable under their scrutiny and feared approaching any other guest for fear of being given the cut direct.

What could they have done to invite such censure?

“Perhaps we should leave,” Olivia suggested quietly so that she could investigate why they were being so scrutinized.

“Olivia and Victoria,” someone called with cheer, and they turned to find their friend, Eliza Weston, approaching, quite happy to see them.

Thank goodness they had one friend in the room.

She greeted each sister with a hug and kiss on the cheek. “I will make an excuse for the three of us to leave,” she whispered.

“Why must we leave?” Victoria asked quietly.

Eliza raised an eyebrow and looked at Olivia. “Do you not know the gossip you have stirred?”

“Obviously we do not,” Olivia quietly answered.

Eliza laughed, and loud enough to draw the attention of those near.

“Will your reputation not be harmed by speaking to us even though I have no idea what we have done?” Victoria asked.

“Oh, it was not you, but Olivia and Dr. Sinclair.”

The twins gasped and Olivia grew cold as if her blood had been drained. For a moment, she suffered dizziness, then steadied herself. It was not possible that anyone at this ball knew the truth outside of Victoria. None of the women at Westbrook House would have spoken out of turn, even if they had met someone in Society, nor would Xavier, of that she was certain.

“I do not understand.”

“We should speak of this away from the ball,” Eliza said.

“No. We will speak of it here. I must know what I have done,” Olivia insisted.

Xavier stepped into White’s and looked around to those gathered. It was Valentine who told him that he must return to Society because he’d heard some disturbing rumors regarding Xavier and Lady Olivia. When Xavier demanded to know what was being said, Valentine could only tell him that people were saying Lady Olivia’s recent behavior proved that she had been influenced by the women she had taken in.

When pressed, Valentine could give no further details because they’d not been told to him. He’d simply overheard two gentlemen speaking.

Had it not been for his need to repair what damage had been done, it was likely Xavier would have returned to his home after working all day, which had been his habit.

Many of the gentlemen within were acquaintances, though not friends. He had few of those because ever since he left university, his studies had taken up much of his time. Now he wished there was at least one person who he could claim as a confidant.

It was then that he spotted Dr. Liam Talbot, also the son of an earl, who had decided to be a surgeon as well, and not simply a doctor in Society. He was seated at a table with his twin brother, Oliver. Both were known to Xavier and had attended school with his younger brother Micah, making them only three years his junior. There was a time when both Liam and Oliver could be found visiting his family estate with Micah, and this often occurred while they were on break from Cambridge.

The two were probably the closest that he had of friends in White’s and he made his way to their table.

The two also moved about in Society so hopefully they might know what rumors were being gossiped about amongst the ton as it related to him and Olivia.

“Sinclair, it has been a long time,” Dr. Talbot greeted him.

“Yes, well, I have been caught up with my research and studies.”

“Please, join us.” Oliver gestured to a chair and Xavier was thankful for the invitation as it would have been quite awkward to simply exchange pleasantries and then be left to find a place to sit and drink by himself.

Oddly, it had never bothered him so much not to have close friends, but he had little patience or time for Society when his work had been so important and now, he was beginning to wonder if that had been a mistake.

“Thank you.” He settled into a chair and when the servant came around requested a brandy.

“Rumor has reached me that you are now with Valentine and seeing patients regularly,” Dr. Talbot mentioned. “Have you given up your pursuit in understanding the mind?”

“It has been set aside for now.” Xavier wasn’t certain if he would ever return to it in the same manner as he once had but wasn’t truly ready to let it go completely.

“Rumor has it that you had been spending a good deal of time at Westbrook House and with Lady Olivia Westbrook in particular,” Oliver said as if hinting at an impropriety.

Yes, there had been one, but he was certain that nothing had been said outside the walls of Westbrook House.

Was this the rumor that Valentine had mentioned? How was it possible that anyone knew. Those women are loyal to Olivia.

“I was, that is true,” he answered honestly. “My presence is no longer urgently needed.”

“Urgently needed?” Dr. Talbot asked with a frown.

“Yes, chincough.”

Dr. Talbot sat back with alarm just as the brandy was placed before him. Xavier then went on to explain how each of the children at Westbrook House had come down with the ailment and that he and Lady Olivia had done their best to treat the illness based on what little the medical community knew. “For nearly a fortnight I slept on the settee, often awakened in the middle of the night to see to a child in distress, only leaving long enough to wash and change my clothing. Little sleep was to be had with so many ill.” He then frowned. “Or possibly three weeks.” He dismissed the last comment with a wave. “It does not matter. We did not lose a child and they are all in various stages of recovery.”

“What of Lady Olivia? I’m to understand she remained at Westbrook House as well,” Oliver offered.

Is that why there were rumors? Because he had spent nights there.

“She keeps a chamber so she can remain in the event of illnesses or emergencies. I believe she too was summoned from her slumber nearly as often as I was.”

“Perhaps you should let those who like to gossip the most know, though it likely will not make a difference,” Dr. Talbot suggested.

“Why? What is being said?”

“That you were often seen leaving in the morning with your cravat untied and your appearance less than proper only to return later once again put to rights. It was a pattern, which had been noticed, then remarked upon, and those with nothing better to occupy their minds came to the conclusion that you and Lady Olivia were carrying on an affair.”

“As in my mistress?” he demanded.

“Those with small minds blame it on the fact that she’s been influenced by the creatures she has taken into the house, and that it was only a matter of time before her morals slipped,” Dr. Talbot answered.

“It makes no difference to us,” Oliver. “We are only informing you of what Society believes.”

“I will have you know that nothing untoward has occurred between Lady Olivia and myself. I was there as a surgeon to treat gravely ill children. She was there as one of the owners of Westbrook House and concerned with their welfare and care. To suggest that our relationship was anything more is not only an insult to her, but myself as well.”

Xavier usually never yelled, but what he was told angered him deeply. Further, he knew that it wasn’t his reputation that had been sullied but Olivia’s.

He may have told a slight lie, but he would not ever mention to anyone of their one night of passion.

Xavier picked up his brandy and drained it, anger flowing through his veins when he realized there was nothing but silence around him. Slowly he looked about. He must have yelled louder than he intended. However, if it brought an end to the speculation and gossip, he did not care that he had acted out of character.

“Make certain that your wives and mothers know the truth,” he said just as loudly. “I will not have Lady Olivia’s name or Westbrook House besmirched in any manner and I can assure you that she is every bit the respectable lady now as she was before those children became ill. Further, I’m insulted that anyone would believe that I would ruin her.” He slammed his glass down on the table and marched from White’s.