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“Then perhaps that will teach you a lesson,” Isadora said with a raised brow. “Now go get yourselves cleaned up and come back downstairs immediately. You are keeping us from a nice, genteel dinner with the duke.”
Olivia sighed heavily, but she couldn’t resist a quick glance at the man in question. Those obsidian eyes were boring through her with all the power of a lightning bolt. It certainly shocked her senses to the point any remaining mirth faded away to be replaced by something else.
Desire.
And then she took note of what he was wearing, and her fists clenched at her sides. She could hardly get her voice to work when she asked, “Are those… father’s clothes?”
She noted that her two eldest sisters didn’t say a word.
“I see,” she murmured. “In that case, I believe I shall respectfully decline joining you in the dining hall tonight and take a tray in my room.” She forced herself to bob a curtsy. “If you’ll excuse me?”
She made it all the way up the stairs before Araminta caught up to her in the hallway outside her room. “Olivia! What has gotten into you?” she hissed angrily. “I’ve never known you to be so blatantly rude to anyone before. In truth, you hardly even spoke two words to anyone you didn’t know, and now you would disrespect the duke when he has been nothing but kind—”
Olivia snorted. “You speak of disrespect when he is wearing ourfather’sclothes. Isn’t it bad enough that he should rip us from our very home, but now he should try to become him in truth?”
Her sister sighed heavily. “Don’t blame the duke when it wasmysuggestion that he utilize the wardrobe for his own use. What else shall we do with those garments but donate them to the less fortunate?” She gentled her tone. “You forget that I miss our father greatly. There are times I yearn for his council, but there is nothing I can do but mourn his loss and move on with my life. As should you. The duke has made you a very generous offer, and yet, if you continue to persist in this manner, I should not blame him were he to recant his proposal. Now please, if you only do it for me, go upstairs and change and come back downstairs. I think that once you get past your anger toward the duke, you will find that he is the best of gentlemen. Considering he was the one to rescue you from certain death just weeks ago, don’t you feel as if you owe him that, at least?”
Now Olivia did look at the ground. She had decided to go on an almost rebellious adventure with Calliope, and as when they were younger, they were generally scolded by Araminta and Isadora upon their return. This time was no different, except for the fact she was a woman grown and not someone who needed to be told how to act properly. She thought of her father and what he would say. No doubt he would be disappointed in her current actions.
“I will return in a few moments, Minty,” she returned quietly, and rushed into her chamber.
* * *
A quarter hourhad passed when Olivia headed for the parlor much more contrite than she had been earlier. She had never liked it when her sisters had scolded her, but she liked it even less when she pictured her father’s disapproving face. He would tell her, of course, that while she might not think it fair, the fact was that the duke was the rightful heir and she would have to accept it, no matter how difficult it might be to do so.
As she entered the parlor and found all of her sisters, the earl, and the duke waiting for her arrival, she dipped into a reverent curtsy. “I apologize for my earlier outburst, Your Grace. You may rest assured that no more theatrics will take place to spoil your dinner.”
In response, he walked forward and bowed deeply over her hand. “You honor me with your presence, Lady Olivia.” He lifted her bare hand to his lips and kissed the back of her hand softly. “I hope that you will take the place of distinction at my side.”
“Of course, Your Grace. Thank you,” she returned quietly.
He threaded her arm through his as they led the intimate group into the dining hall. Everything was very stilted, but proper as they all filed inside and sat down. As a round of footmen brought out the first course, Olivia kept her hands in her lap and her eyes downcast, preferring to stare at her plate, rather than her host. She still hadn’t yet come to terms with the fact he was wearing her father’s clothes, but instead of causing another fuss and looking as though she was a petulant child, she told herself to comport herself like the lady her father would be proud of, if he were here.
Then again, if hewere, she wouldn’t be in this strained situation now.
For a time, no one seemed inclined to speak. It was as if everyone had agreed that they wouldn’t make matters worse by trying to engage in an awkward conversation about the weather or the latest fashions. The one time that Olivia had dared to slide her gaze toward Calliope, she noted that other than her brilliant red hair, she was also more somber than usual.
“Lady Olivia.” She nearly jumped when the duke spoke her name. She lowered her spoon and looked at him as she waited patiently for him to continue. He wiped his mouth with a serviette and said evenly, “I thought you should know that I have removed my things to the ducal chamber as of this afternoon.”
Olivia gripped her silverware more tightly, but she merely said, “I see.”
“I know this may not meet with your approval—”
“Pardon me, Your Grace, but it is not for me to have an opinion on the matter. You are the heir by law and by right, so you should have the most honorable room in the manor.”
“Indeed.” He sounded as though he had something stuck in the middle of his throat. “I’m relieved that you are so accepting of the arrangement. I thought you might have been… upset.”
“It doesn’t matter whether I am or not, it is the way things are,” Olivia returned stiffly, but she added a smile at the end to soften her tone a bit. In truth, she wanted to run out the door screaming for all of the unfairness.
How much was one person expected to endure in a single evening? From a proposal, to the cruel reminder of her father’s death and her own precarious position within the house, she had nearly reached the limit of her patience. But she would do so, even if it killed her, because she was a lady. There would be plenty of time later, when she was in the privacy of her bedchamber, to lament this entire situation.
She set down her spoon when the second course was served, even though she had barely even touched her food until that point. But really, could anyone blame her for not having much of an appetite?
Again, not much was said when the second course was served, but when there was a break in the awful silence, it was the earl who spoke up. He posed a few questions to the duke, which was met with short, clipped responses. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who was in a sour mood and wished for the meal to come to its conclusion.
However, with one more set remaining, they had no choice but to act as though this wasn’t the most miserable thing they had ever had to endure.
Thankfully, the last course was served, and Olivia breathed a sigh of relief, for this torture was nearly at an end.
