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Francie hurried over to Livvie’s side and gripped her hand.
Lady Peabody squared her shoulders. “Your father—”
“You will hold your tongue in all matters relating to my intended,” Tobias bit out with dangerous softness. “Or you will experience the full measure of my displeasure, Lady Peabody.”
His mother’s lips trembled and disapproval flashed in her gaze, and even Lady Peabody appeared stunned. Of course, it was expected that he would walk away, for Olivia was inferior to him in connections, wealth, and bloodlines. There was no doubt the second that Lady Peabody had her first drawing room meeting, the gossip would start to circulate. Olivia would be irrevocably ruined because of his loss of control. Scandal would touch the Blade name because of his weakness.
“There was no announcement,” Lady Peabody said primly.
“I’ve just made it,” he said flatly.
She gasped, and his mother paled.
“Tobias—”
“Mother, please,” Francie interjected. “Livvie and I will be downstairs shortly. She must freshen up.”
Olivia’s face was so pale he feared she was in danger of fainting. Without waiting for the dowager countess’s response, Olivia walked past them with her head held high, but he could see the fine trembling of her hands at her side. Regret twisted in his gut like a knife. Once again his loss of control over his passions had ruined someone’s life, and invited scandal to his family. Intolerable. He had to make it right.
“You cannot think to marry her, Tobias,” his mother gasped quite dramatically, affecting a swoon. Lady Peabody rushed to offer her shoulder as a prop.
He remained unaffected by her theatrics. “Should we take this someplace private?” he asked smoothly, strolling past them. A few minutes later, he entered the library without encountering any more guests. He should have allowed Olivia to leave the closet alone, then sought her out after he was sure the guests were abed. Though she would have still been ruined, considering her disheveled and ravished appearance. They would simply not have known the gentleman to affix the deed to. Somehow, he knew that she would never have revealed his name.
The door closed with a slam and he repressed a sigh. His mother would not do anything to temper her wayward emotions.
He faced her. “What of Lady Peabody?”
His mother flushed. “She is my dear friend, and I have asked her to be as circumspect as possible. She has retired to her chamber, no doubt from the shock of witnessing such licentiousness.”
Tobias smiled and he was aware of its unpleasant nature from his mother’s wince. “Lady Peabody will not open her mouth and breathe a word of what she believes she witnessed. If she makes any steps to ruin Olivia, I will ensure her husband will be closed to all investments from my circle.”
He moved over to the mantle and poured brandy in a glass, which he consumed in three long swallows.
His mother moved farther into the library, anger evident in her posture. “You go too far, Tobias. Such threats are not necessary.”
“I haven’t even begun.”
She dealt him a considering glance. “If you are going to extend your influence and squash all scandal, there is no need to insist on marrying Lady Olivia. You are a Blade, and she…she…” After a heavy sigh she said, “You are ill suited. She is inferior in wealth and connection. She is too opinionated and rebels against my directions in how a young lady’s carriage and elegance ought—”
“Mother?”
Anger flushed her cheeks at being interrupted, but thankfully she did not release her vitriol. “Yes, my dear?”
“I will marry her.”
She frowned. “No one knows, Tobias, you do not need to be honorable,” she said in a long-suffering manner. “You have proven you can walk away from gossip unscathed and society will still love you. Surely we can successfully deflect—”
“No.” Never would he have imagined weeks ago that he would make an announcement that he had offered for Olivia’s hand, but he knew how far he had taken his madness. There was the possibility of a child…
Christ.
His mother’s hand fluttered to her throat. “But what of Lady Willa? She is perfect for you, Tobias.”
“I have no interest in her. You like her because you are of like mind. Whatever resentment you feel toward Olivia is because you cannot control her. And I know you, Mother, you despise that which you cannot manipulate.”
The door jerked open and Grayson entered. He faltered, glancing from Tobias to his mother. “I did not realize the room was taken,” he said softly, as was his way whenever he was in the company of the dowager countess. His mere presence normally sent her into fits of anger and fainting spells, all in hopes of manipulating Tobias to send his father’s by-blow from his life.
“Well come in,” she said. “Perhaps you can speak some sense into your brother. He is insisting on marrying a young lady who is very unsuitable for our distinguished title.” An invitation that indicated how truly rattled she was at the thought of him marrying Olivia. His mother had never been civil to Grayson before.
