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Tobias walked to the oak desk and sat on the edge, droning out his mother’s voice as she launched into her version of the damning event. He needed to concentrate on how to convince Olivia to be his countess, a feat he was sure would require a most arduous effort.
Chapter Nine
Livvie had been thoroughly ravished by a man reputed to be ruthless and cuttingly cold, yet he had burned with wild passion and it had all been for her. She had been so painfully alive for a glorious few minutes and now she was ruined. Tobias had kissed her, and all her thoughts had dissolved under his sensual mastery. She suddenly felt a swell of pity for all the debutantes who had fallen for the seductive charms and kisses of a seasoned rake. How weak she had been to his touch, but how wickedly delightful it had been to be in his arms.
The raw, painful emotions tearing through her were wholly unexpected, and it was not because she had been caught in such a thoroughly compromising position. It was the idea that Tobias could have touched her with such care, such tenderness, such passion, and he did not even like her. She had been seduced by a scoundrel and she had allowed him. Her mind raced from one frightening thought to another. She was entirely without prospects and was most assuredly ruined.
Was she no better than her father?
She pulled herself together with an effort of will. With quick motions, she caught her mess of hair into a simple chignon. She had already changed into a pale peach gown and slid her feet into more comfortable slippers, moving with quick efficiency, and doing her best to ignore the tenderness between her thighs. There would be no delaying speaking with the earl and his mother. With a heavy heart, she stood up from the chair in front of her dressing table.
Francie was waiting patiently by the door, her eyes alight with sympathy. “My brother is willing to do the honorable thing, but I can see from your expression you are going to be stubborn.”
Livvie flinched. The ton considered Tobias a prime catch. He possessed wealth, connections, and power. She had given him her virtue in a rush of blind passion, and dare she admit it, she liked the man. He disliked her intensely, and the very idea of forming a lifelong commitment without any tender sentiments or regard was heart wrenching. She desired him, but her esteem was not returned. How could she endure such a marriage?
Her papa had not been contented with her mother and he’d been unable to live without his mistress when it should have been Mamma he felt such intensity of emotions for. What if she had a similar marriage? What if Tobias disliked her so intensely he would take mistresses when they married? The pain and humiliation would be unendurable.
“Tonight was the first time your brother has ever been anything but coldly polite. I am still at a loss as to what happened. One minute I wanted to kick his shin…and then the next all I wanted was for him to never stop kissing me,” she confessed softly.
Her friend’s eyes widened and a blush climbed her cheeks. “Was that all he did?”
“Francie!”
“It hardly matters. You will need the respectability of marriage to weather the storm to come.”
The inevitability of another scandal pressed in on Livvie. A weight that was too heavy for her to bear alone. Once Lady Peabody’s lips were loosed, her mistake would spread through the country and then on to London like wildfire. Did Tobias truly wish to wed her? She thought of the animosity between them and winced. No, he would not. She was without connections and had nothing to recommend her.
“Perhaps a scandal can be avoided. We are, after all, in the country and we were not seen doing anything.”
Francie hurried over and clasped her hands. “Dear Livvie, please think on my brother’s offer. I assure you, Lady Peabody will spread the gossip of what she saw and the scandal will be terrible. Though he is…he is different from other men, he is honorable. Mother and Tobias are awaiting us.”
Livvie allowed a small smile to touch her lips. It was all she could manage. She tried to see the benefits of marriage to the earl and her mind was frightfully blank. They exited her chamber and walked at a brisk pace downstairs. Holding her head high, she marched down the hallway. Many of the guests were still at the ball and in the card rooms. She could hear the faint din of laughter and the soft chords of a waltz floating up from below. When they reached the library, she lifted her hand to knock and hesitated. The dowager countess’s voice rose. “Why are you being so stubborn, Tobias?” she asked, a hint of admonition in her words.
“I’ve been told it’s my nature to be pigheaded. It is why I have such support and success in the House of Lords,” he said drily.
“And what if she deliberately trapped you? My cousin’s estate isn’t doing well and she only comes with two thousand, and from what I have seen of her wild ways, it is entirely possible.”
Livvie stiffened in outrage.
“I do not care for such things,” Tobias countered, mild annoyance evident in his tone. “This conversation is a waste of time as my mind is my own and it has decided on marrying Lady Olivia.”
Her heart eased a bit.
; “She is without decorum or any proper polish to become the Countess of Blade.”
Francie gasped. “Oh, Livvie, do not take her words to heart, Mamma is…”
Then Tobias spoke, “Yet she will be the new countess. You will also make arrangements to open up the dower house for your future residence.”
There was a flurry of sounds and Livvie managed to lurch back as the door was flung open and then slammed. The dowager countess vibrated with anger, and Livvie’s heart broke a little more. The countess gave her a bitter look of tearful condemnation.
“Come along, Francie. It is terrible manners to eavesdrop. I taught you better.”
She gripped her daughter’s arm and walked away without acknowledging Livvie. It was certainly ridiculous to feel such hurt but she did. She lifted her hand to knock once again and faltered as another voice spoke.
“Is it Lady Olivia’s character that has the frown on your face, or the countess’s disapproval?”
