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“You always told me I could choose my husband,” she cried. “And now you are telling me I mustmarryhim? A complete stranger and a common man to boot?” She stamped her foot. “I will not do it!I will not!”
“Olivia,” soothed her mother. “Hush. No one will force you against your will.”
Olivia turned to her mother. She was crying now. “I want to marry for love, Mama,” she said, in a broken voice. “I want a marriage like you had with Papa.”
“I know, my love,” said her mother, in a gentle voice. “Your grandfather is simply suggesting the possibility. That is all. I have no objections if you were agreeable, but no one is going to force your hand. You are free to choose.”
Olivia sniffed, turning to her grandfather. “Is it true? You shall not force me?”
“It is true,” said her grandfather. “I would never force you into marriage, Olivia. But there are sound reasons for such a marriage. Will you let me tell you what they are?”
Olivia sunk down into her seat. “I suppose.”
The Earl nodded. “Very well. It would mean that you become Countess, as I said. A title which you deserve. I cannot give you the earldom, but it is the next best thing.” He paused. “It would mean that your home is still here, Olivia. The home you love and that you deserve, as well. It would also mean that your mother could remain here, which is something I know she desires. Please do not dismiss it out of hand.”
Olivia sniffed again, wiping the tears from her face. No one was forcing her. And she knew that her grandfather was only trying to do the best for her and her mother. It was not his fault that she could not inherit everything. It was the fault of the laws of the land who would not let it happen because of her sex. Even though she was the closest living relative to him.
He was trying to get around those laws, to still give her as much as he could. He had always given her everything. He had tried so hard to make up for the loss of her father and brother. He would give her the world if he could. Her heart swelled with love for him.
But still… the thought of marrying Captain Fletcher was deeply troubling. Shedidwant to marry for love. And the man was so arrogant. How could she submit to it, let him become her lord and master, all for the sake of this house? A man who had told her bluntly that she had no power to influence anything.
A man who had told her to do her worst. Such a man would lord it over her, try to control her. Break her spirit. A man who was not even worthy of the grand title of Earl of Weaver. What else had he said to her?
I may just have your entire future resting in the palm of my hand.
Her blood stirred with anger again. The arrogance of him. He was no gentleman. She would bet her last shilling that he wasnotthe fine man her grandfather thought he was.
“I do not like him,” she said, her heart beating fast. “He is too confident. Too sure of himself. Apart from that, I do not love him. I do not evenknowhim.” She bit her lip. “I want to keep our home, for Mama most of all, but I do not know if I can do it, Grandpapa.”
Her grandfather nodded. “You do not know him, as you say. Could you try to get to know him and then see how you feel on the matter? Perhaps your first impression was not good, but I think him a fine young man.”
Olivia frowned. “I want to marry for love. I cannot force myself to fall in love with him, Grandpapa.”
Abruptly, an idea came to her. An idea to ward off the possibility of this unwanted marriage. It might just buy her some time to find the love match she desperately wanted.
She took a deep, ragged breath. “The London season is coming up soon. Will you let me have it and see if I meet anyone who takes my heart? I promise that I shall consider your proposal if I am given some freedom first to find my love match. And I need an assurance from you that you will not stand in my way to marry that gentleman if I do.”
Her grandfather sighed. “Of course, Olivia. I would never stand in your way if you meet someone you love and wish to marry, as long as the gentleman is suitable in all other ways.” He hesitated. “I agree to your terms.”
“It shall all work out, dearest,” said her mother, putting an arm around her. “Do not distress yourself. Put it out of your mind entirely. The Season is coming up, and I want you to enjoy yourself. Do not feel pressured in anyway.”
Olivia leaned into her mother, taking comfort from her. It was all such a shock. She had not been expecting any of this when they had left London just this morning. Her mind was still whirling from it all.
First, she had been told a stranger was inheriting the earldom and her home. And then that her grandfather wanted her to marry him.
It was not supposed to happen like this, she thought in despair.I was supposed to find my one true love. Just like my mother did with my father.
She took a deep breath. At least they were not forcing her to do it. But the fact remained that there were compelling reasons for her to consider it. The most compelling was that her mother would keep her beloved home. The home in which she had lived with her husband and borne her children. The home in which she had watched her husband and only son die. They were buried in the graveyard near here. How could she deny her mother the comfort of spending the rest of her days here?
She knew that Mama would never pressure her. And Grandpapa had promised the same. They had said it was her decision alone. What was she going to do if shedid notfind her love match? Because she did not think she could stand the guilt of refusing to marry Captain Fletcher if so. It would be like she had thrown away everything that might have saved them.
