Page 87 of Waiting for Love

“Come in, Mr. Carroll,” Mama said. “Don’t let us chase you away.”

“I don’t mean to interrupt.”

“Nonsense. You have to eat.”

He nodded and entered. Olivia watched him pour his coffee. Cream, no sugar. Two bread rolls, jam, and a sweet bun. She knew he’d take the sweet bun upstairs for Hannah. She pulled her gaze away. Two days. He was leaving in two days.

Peters entered with several cards and a few letters on a silver tray. He handed it to Jasper. He had a sparkle in his eye and although he stepped to the side, he didn’t withdraw from the room.

Jasper grabbed the top piece of paper and tore it open.

“Crispin?” Mama asked. Olivia held her breath.

He nodded. He skimmed a few lines and then read aloud.

“Family, I am alive, by the Grace of God. We are going to Paris—better late than never. Rumor is Wellington is to be a duke and to be named the ambassador. I suppose my French will improve. I count on Olivia’s having broken at least twelve hearts by now. I would hope she might wait for my return before wedding, but since I do not know when that will be, I will tell her NOT to oblige me. Follow your heart, Livvy-pet. Yours, etc., Major Taverston. Postscript: Arthur? Heartfelt congratulations.”

Jasper set the letter down. He looked deflated. Olivia saw the same sorry look on everyone’s face that she felt on her own. Even Peters’s. Crispin was still in France. He was not coming home.

“He is alive,” Vanessa said, looking around the room. “And he will be back.”

Everyone nodded and murmured and tried to look pleased.

Benjamin coughed. “That last. Can you read that again?”

“Arthur,” Jasper said. “Smug congratulations.”

“No. Before that.”

Jasper picked up the letter again. “Follow your heart, Livvy-pet. Yours…” He looked up at Benjamin. Then he laughed. “Major Taverston. Major. He has been promoted. Again.”

That jollied everyone else, but not Olivia. She didn’t care if he was a major. She wanted him home.

And she wanted to be home. With Benjamin. But Chaumbers wasn’t her home anymore. And Benjamin would never be hers.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

After this last bit of business, Benjamin would be done with his London tasks. He could leave straightaway, except that his new shirt and jacket would not be ready until the next afternoon, and he could not start a lengthy journey so late in the day. Not with Hannah.

He didn’t know what he’d been thinking, ordering new clothes.

The longer he stayed in London, the more he watched Olivia draw away from him; the sadder she appeared, the more determined he was to go. If he did not, he risked pulling her into his arms and begging her to elope—and there was nowhere to run away to.

He carried a handful of papers to Jasper’s study. The door was open, but this time, Benjamin heard no voices coming from inside. He stood in the doorway and cleared his throat. Jasper looked up from his desk where a few books and pieces of paper lay spread before him.

“I hope I’m not disturbing you, my lord.”

Jasper shook his head and waved Benjamin in. His mouth twisted as though he were about to say something sarcastic, but he said only, “What do you need me to sign?”

“Payments.” He set the sheets in front of Jasper. “The caterer. Orchestra. And the mason fixing the cellar.”

Jasper’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “Already? Bills don’t usually come—”

“Bills come. They are just ignored. Your books would be a lot tidier if you’d pay people—”

“Yes, yes. Another of your pet peeves. Show me where.”

Benjamin pointed and Jasper scrawled his signature without looking at what he signed. The room blurred for a moment and Benjamin had to press his fingers hard against the desk to stave off dizziness.