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She handed him her coat and then walked briskly down the hall. At her father’s study, she knocked twice, then waited.
“Come in.”
With a smile, she opened the door. “Good morning, Father.” Livvie untied her bonnet strings.
Her father pushed from behind his desk and walked over to engulf her in a warm hug. “You did not send word you were coming.”
“Mother sent over a note. I’m sure she is quite aware and wanted my visit to be a surprise for you. It’s quite convenient that we live in such close proximity and I shamelessly took the opportunity to pay you a visit.”
His eyes widened in undisguised alarm. “Good God, you did not leave your husband, did you?”
She chuckled. “No, Father, I simply wanted to see my family.”
He patted her shoulder. “Come, luncheon will soon be served and it will be pleasant for all of us to gather once more. William is here as well, with Lady Louisa. They return to Town next week.”
Distaste curled through Livvie, and she strove to show an unaffected mien. She had not seen William since the occasion when he had accosted her. Of course, he would have heard the news she was now a countess. Should she now tell her father, since he had recovered, of the despicable manner in which his son had acted? She looped her hand through his arms as they exited the study and made their way to the gardens. “Are you well, Father? It has been over a week since we last spoke. Are you on the mend?”
“Dear girl,” he said with a smile. “I daresay I should stop referring to you as dear girl, you are a countess now.”
“Oh, pish, Father.”
He chortled and her heart lifted with happiness. To think that three months ago she had thought she would lose him to death.
“I am recovering quite well, my dear. Your mother, bless her heart, is with me every step of the way. It was just last week that I put away the walking stick. I still tire and do not indulge in long walks, but in no time, I shall be mended in its entirety.”
“I’m glad.”
He patted her hand where it rested against his arms. “Tell me, Livvie, are you happy?”
She cast him a quick glance. “Of course.”
His shoulders relaxed. “I am relieved. While Lord Blade is not an unpleasant man, he has a reputation of being cold.”
Her heart twisted. “Father, I—”
Her sister’s shrieks of joy were an effective distraction from further conversation. With a light laugh, Livvie pulled away and ran down the well-tended pathway that led to the garden to greet Ophelia and her mother. They spent a pleasant hour together chatting about the gossip in the area, namely the momentous occasion of Squire Wentworth marrying the Dowager Duchess of Wolverton last week in a small, intimate ceremony at Rosette Park. The vicar had also been caught in an awkward situation with the butcher’s daughter and was being pressured by the bishop to take her as his wife. Surprisingly, he was staunchly denying any wrongdoing and refusing to offer for the girl. His congregation was not taking kindly to the news, as most were insisting he marry the girl. It was feared that he would lose his position.
Laughing, Livvie gasped, “I never thought the vicar had it in him.”
“It is rubbish if you ask me,” her father growled. “The vicar had his arm on the girl’s shoulder as she cried. It’s his duty to offer comfort when needed. There is certainly no cause for a marriage as her family is demanding.”
“They were alone in a closed vestibule. I daresay her papa is doing the right thing in demanding the vicar to act with honor,” her mother sniffed.
“By the by, Livvie, I have in my possession the latest volume of In the Service of the Crown. The delivery came yesterday. I thought with your hasty wedding and everything, you would not have gotten a chance to place your order,” her father said with a wink.
She almost combusted on the spot. “It is here?”
He smiled indulgently. “Yes, my dear.”
She jumped to her feet from the garden bench, and hurried away to the house. His laughter followed her as she all but ran through the hallway to the library. She swept inside and hurried over to the large oak desk where a small brown parcel was atop it. With impatience, she tore through the package and a smile burst on her lips when she spied the familiar leather volume. The door to the library closed with a snick and she spun around.
“Oh, Father—” Livvie’s words faltered and she instinctively retreated a step.
William. Her stepbrother leaned against the door watching her like a silent predator.
“Why have you closed the door?” she asked with cool aplomb.
“I saw you from my window when you arrived. I watched you in the gardens with Father. How you glowed. You look ravishing, Livvie. I can see you are a woman now,” he said thickly.
