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“But we have guests, Mama…”
“Now, Olivia.”
Confused, bewildered, Olivia allowed her mother to tug her toward the same downstairs sitting room where she had lately been locked away with Miss Dorrington.
Miss Dorrington, who was staying with her sister, Mrs. Brown, who lived in a cottage on the far side of the village, close to where last night Olivia had climbed aboard the hired coach with Nic and Abbot’s help…
Olivia’s steps slowed, and stopped. Her breathing quickened. Belatedly, it came to her. Miss Dorrington, Mrs. Brown, her mother’s white face, the two men and their odd behavior…this was about her. Her reputation was compromised. And if Miss Dorrington knew about last night, then it wouldn’t be long before everyone else in Bassingthorpe knew, too.
Olivia turned from her mother’s urgings and faced the two men, trying hard to gather her usual air of calm about her. But she felt shocked and numb, and it was made worse when Theodore couldn’t seem to meet her eyes.
Nic had no trouble, and she watched his mouth curl faintly at the corners. “I see by your expression that you have some inkling why I am here, Miss Monteith.” He limped forward and took her hand in his, gazing down at her pale, slim fingers between his masculine ones, as if they could tell him what to say. “I would go down on my knees, but if I did I doubt I could rise again.”
“Lord Lacey, I don’t want…You mustn’t…” she stammered desperately. No, no, she didn’t want him to propose. Not like this. Not because he had to. It was all wrong…
“Lord Lacey!” her mother shrieked faintly.
“Lacey, you have no right!” Theodore blustered. “I was here first.”
But Nic wasn’t about to be stopped by anyone.
“Miss Monteith. Olivia. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Desperately Olivia searched his eyes, but they were dark and unreadable, and she couldn’t begin to tell what he was thinking. Part of her wanted so much to say yes. This was what she had planned toward—making Nic her husband was her goal. She’d sworn to hunt him, and hunt him she had, and now he was hers.
Only he hadn’t come here of his own will, and knowing he’d been coerced into a marriage he didn’t want was like a dagger in her heart. She wanted him, yes, but not at any cost, not like this.
“Lady Lacey…” she began, her voice trailing off.
But, unlike her, he knew what she was thinking. “My mother is agreeable to the marriage. In fact it was she who suggested I make my feelings known to you as soon as possible.”
What was he really saying? Olivia asked herself feverishly. That Lady Lacey had given him an ultimatum? Marry or else? Olivia snatched her hand away as if his fingers were burning hot. “No. I—I cannot marry you.”
He looked nonplussed, and then a frown snapped his brows together. “You said you wanted to marry me, Miss Monteith. Do I now understand that you are refusing me?”
“Miss Monteith has every right to refuse you,” Theodore interrupted, looking like he wanted to cheer. “Don’t you dare try and bully her, Lacey.”
“Keep out of this,” Nic said between his teeth.
“I will not. I have come to speak and I am determined to do so, although this wasn’t how I hoped…Well, never mind.” Theodore turned to Olivia. “Will you marry me, Miss Monteith? Will you consent to be my wife?” He beamed at her, relieved to have spoken the words at last.
Mrs. Monteith turned her head stiffly, from one gentleman to the other, and back again. “Two proposals,” she said in a trembling voice. “Goodness gracious me, Olivia. Two marriage proposals before luncheon. If I may advise you—”
But Olivia had no intention of hearing any more advice. “Mr. Garsed, you do me a great honor, but I must refuse,” she said, ignoring her mother’s soft groan of disappointment. “I have no intention of marrying anyone at the present time.”
“You were seen,” Nic said impatiently. “It’s all over the village. You have no choice but to marry one of us.” He glanced disparagingly at Theodore, then back at Olivia. “And I am thinking that it had better be me.”
“You!” Theodore roared. “Why you? She’d do better with a snake! I can make Olivia happy. You will destroy her. You’ve already destroyed her reputation. A man like you and an innocent like her…why, the prospect is nauseating.”
“That’s probably the rich food your chef is serving you. Change to plainer fare and you’ll feel better.”
Theodore looked as if he might explode.
“I’m n
ot marrying either of you!” Olivia burst out. “Please, both of you, just go away!”
Her mother caught her arm, but Olivia wrenched away and dashed up the stairs. She wanted the sanctuary of her room. She wanted peace and quiet and time to think.
