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“If something is bothering you, perhaps it might be helpful to talk about it.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
He shrugged. “It’s up to you, of course. I was just giving you the opportunity to unburden yourself to a neutral party who will pass no judgement.”
She lifted a wary brow. “How can I believe that? You said you knew who I was, and also who my sisters were. Who is to say you won’t rush back to London and recant our chance meeting on the road?”
He lifted a dark brow. “You seem very distrusting for one so young.”
She squared her shoulders at that. She was tired of everyone believing she had no worthy opinions simply because of her age. “Perhaps I have good cause.”
He paused, his eyes roaming over her face with entirely too much inner knowledge. “I admit that the Bevelstroke sisters are known to me,” he returned smoothly. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t offer discretion when the occasion calls for it.” He glanced toward the roof of the carriage. “And considering the fact your trunk is sitting atop this hired hack, it leads me to the obvious conclusion. You’re running away. The question is why?”
Olivia’s eyes began to well up with tears, but then the guilt of deceiving her sisters was a difficult cross to bear. Not only that, but Minty’s words came back to haunt her.Dearest, you’ve always worn your heart on your sleeve.“I suppose you think I’m a horrible person for acting like a fleeing coward with simply a brief missive to explain my whereabouts. And on Christmas Eve of all nights.”
“I told you I’m not one to judge,” he returned gently. “I would be the pot calling the kettle black if I said I wasn’t departing the city at a rather inopportune time myself, and yet—” He spread his arms wide. “—here I am.”
She blinked away her emotion. “Then perhaps it isIwho should be asking why you decided to venture out on this night.”
He toyed with the edge of his greatcoat, as if she’d actually unsettled him. “I fear it’s a rather boring tale, not one of woe like I imagine yours to be.”
“Not particularly.” Olivia shrugged. “To be honest, I merely prefer the company of a book rather than others, thus I decided that London isn’t for me.” This time, she was the one to fidget with a fold in her cloak. “All of those people… bother me.”
Instead of chiding her for her ‘intelligent’ mind, as she’d expected, his deep voice rasped, “What have you read recently?”
“’The Canterbury Tales’by Geoffrey Chaucer.” Her lips curved upward slightly at the mere mention of the title. “It’s one of my favorites. I’ve read it several times because it makes me think of Marlington Hall, which is also situated in Canterbury.”
“It’s a wonderful piece of literature, to be sure,” he agreed. “I can tell that it is very important to you.”
“It is.” She decided there was no use lying, as it was the truth. “Being forced to leave everything behind to a usurper with no compunctions about taking over a wonderful estate like Marlington Hall is what upsets me the most. My father’s heir will arrive, if he isn’t already there, and won’t see the beauty he has been gifted.”
He studied her intently for a moment, and then said, “And what makes you so confident that this new gentleman will not care for the estate the same as you have?”
“He cannot, because he has not experienced any of the memories there.” She continued speaking, but her thoughts were far off in the distance. “He doesn’t know that there is a chip in the wooden banister from the time Callie accidently struck it with a cricket bat, or the glass pane that had to be replaced when we had a terrible storm, and a tree branch broke through it. Isa stayed up with me all night because I was so distraught. And then there was—” She abruptly stopped. She realized she’d allowed herself to get carried away by the powerful nostalgia of her memories. She lifted her chin slightly. “So, now you know why I had to leave. Marlington Hall means more to me than any voucher from Almack’s.” She blinked back the emotion that threatened to return. “The day I walked out that front door, it was the first time I wish I had been born male so that I wouldn’t be forced to give it up.”
* * *
I’m veryglad you weren’t.
Miles just stopped himself from saying the bold statement regarding her sex aloud. “I will agree that it’s unfair that ladies have such disadvantages when it comes to inheriting,” he said gently. “But at least your sisters are trying to do something about that, to show society that it can be possible to live independently without the confines of marriage. Since you appear to feel so strongly about the same issues, I’m surprised you weren’t more determined to stay in London and make your own stand.”
She tilted her head to the side. “You don’t disagree with what they are doing? I daresay most of society is quite aghast at the thought of any sort of independence in women, and it isn’t just our male counterparts that feel this way.”
He noted that she didn’t include herself in the role of her sisters. “Not at all. In fact, I commend them. The only way things will change for the better is if someone takes control of the present situation. If it wasn’t for people daring to push past boundaries, we should have no sort of future at all. The world is moving and shifting around us all the time. I have no doubt that the actions of the Bevelstroke sisters will begin to gain more notice and they will soon have the support they might currently be lacking.”
“I hope so,” she murmured in return. “But something tells me it will be left up to Isadora and Calliope to absorb that responsibility on their own.”
“You think that Lady Araminta will be offered for soon?”
“I do,” she concurred. “I should think the Earl of Somers will ask for her hand, if he hasn’t already, and I see no reason why she shouldn’t accept. She loves him and I am extremely happy for the union.” She dropped her eyes to her gown once more, and he lamented the loss of that enchanting gaze. “Whatever you might think, Mr. Stone, none of us are against marriage. We just thought we should get a say in our future without society planning it out for us. My mother died on the birthing bed, and I can’t say I wish to suffer the same fate.” She shivered.
“And you think history will repeat itself if you marry?”
She shrugged. “I can’t say, but I’m not sure I wish to take the chance.” She lifted her gaze back to his. “It doesn’t matter now. Once word reaches thetonthat I’ve set out on my own without a proper escort, my reputation will be ruined, but I don’t care. The only thing of interest to me is returning home.”
Miles tapped his finger against his thigh. “You don’t imagine the new heir might have issue with that?”
“It doesn’t matter if he does. He will have to toss me out in the snow before I’ll leave.”
