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Chapter 12
Olivia walked into the parlour of their London townhouse. Emma and her mother were already seated, both concentrating on their embroidery. They both smiled at her as she sat down with a heavy sigh, rolling her eyes.
“I declare that I am exhausted already!” said Olivia. “And the season has barely begun. How many engagements have we been to this week, Mama?”
Henrietta pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Three garden parties, two dinner parties, an evening at the opera and a picnic at Vauxhall Gardens,” she said eventually. “Am I missing anything?”
Emma smiled. “Yes. The cruise down the Serpentine on the boat when it started to rain.”
“How could I have forgotten that?” laughed Henrietta. “Yes, ithasbeen a very busy week indeed, but you knew what to expect, Olivia. It is the reason we have come to London, after all. Are you losing your stamina already?” She could not quite keep the thread of hope out of her voice.
Olivia straightened. She was tired but she did not want to leave London yet. It was just that she had forgotten how much of a whirlwind a Season in the capital could be. Especially as more of the ton arrived and the invitations kept piling up. Only this morning another five invitations had arrived in the mail. Her mother had not even opened them yet—their calendar was already full, and Olivia knew it would be hard to squeeze in anything else.
And tonight was going to be the culmination of the first week here. A grand masquerade ball at the home of Lord and Lady Carnevale. They had rented their costumes which were being pressed upstairs now. Olivia’s weariness vanished abruptly as she thought about it. The entire ton were going to be there, she just knew it. And that meant a full dance card and the chance to meet more eligible bachelors, one of which might just be the love of her life.
She had tried to not feel disappointed with who she had met so far. The bachelors were all pleasant enough chaps and always treated her respectfully when they discovered she was the Earl of Weaver’s granddaughter, but none of them stirred her blood, not even a little.
And that made her panic ever so slightly. The clock was ticking, and she must find a love match soon or else the threat of marriage to that usurper, Captain Fletcher, might be a real possibility. She did not know how long she could hold out without the guilt of doing the right thing by her family overtaking her.
Olivia smoothed out the creases in her gown, trying not to contemplate the dreadful possibility. Both Grandpapa and Mama had insisted they would not force her hand but she knew how much it meant to both of them.
But the thought of marrying that arrogant, insufferable man still made her blood boil. She had not clapped eyes on him since he had left Essington Manor three weeks ago, but it was as if it were yesterday somehow. The time when her whole world had turned upside down.
“I am very excited for the masquerade ball this evening,” she said suddenly, trying to foist the thought of Captain Fletcher out of her mind. “I hope that we are not going anywhere this afternoon so we can prepare properly for it.”
Her mother nodded. “I have made sure we have no afternoon engagements. I thought it would be good to rest before we dress for the ball. It shall take us awhile to prepare as you say, Olivia. It is going to be a long night and we need to be refreshed and have our energy up.” She did not sound pleased at the prospect.
Olivia nodded, suppressing the small sliver of guilt that she felt. Mama did not like social activities, or London, but she was trying her best to do her duty by Olivia as always.
Emma leaned forward again, fixing Olivia with a thoughtful look. “I do not know whether I should tell you this, dearest, but I have heard a whisper that Captain Fletcher is in London and has leased a house here for the season.” She hesitated. “He has been seen at a few events, introducing himself as the heir to the Earl of Weaver as his entrée.”
There was a sudden, tense silence. The only sound in the room was the ticking of the mantel clock. Henrietta bit her lip, staring at her daughter, waiting for her reaction. Emma looked a bit worried now and somewhat regretful that she had spoken of the matter. She had confided everything about the appalling situation and Captain Fletcher to her best friend, of course.
Olivia’s heart started to pound in her chest. Anger corroded her blood. Even the mere mention of that man set her off, as if his name was tinder to the flames. She could not believe the audacity of the man. The utter nerve. Who did he think he was?
She rounded on her mother. “Did you know he was here and that he is buying his way into good society on our name?"
Her mother hesitated. “I did know, Olivia. He is doing it with the blessing of your grandfather. In fact, your grandfather recommended a house for him to lease. They have been in constant contact since Captain Fletcher left Essington Manor three weeks ago.”
Olivia was furious. A dull stain of red colour spotted her cheeks. “I see,” she said, in a tight voice. “Will it be likely we shall run into him at events, then? Should I be prepared?”
“It is possible,” said her mother, in a cautious voice. “Do not look so furious, child. I repeat there is no pressure on you to marry the man. But you know the vested interest your grandfather has in him so of course he is doing his best to help him find his place within good society. Hewillinherit the earldom one day, after all.”
“I do not need to be reminded of that fact,” said Olivia tartly. “Why, Grandpapa has a new favourite. Very soon he shall not be paying me any attention whatsoever.”
Emma looked uncomfortable. Her mother gazed at her sharply.
“Stop being so petulant, Olivia,” she said. “I have always said your grandfather spoilt you, but I never thought that you would act in such a sulky way over this. You know why your grandfather is helping him. How can you be so resentful of the earldom having an heir when we thought all hope was lost?”
Olivia felt ashamed. Shewasbeing petulant and grumpy about the whole thing, but she just could not help it. That man infuriated her. She loathed the thought that he would inherit the title.
A fact that was true, even if there was no marriage between them. Her grandfather had told her as much before they had left Essington Manor for London again, assuring her that there was no pressure to marry him, but he would very much like her to keep her mind open to the possibility.
Her eyes filled with helpless tears. Shedidfeel like she was losing her grandfather in some way, as if his attention was slipping away from her now that he had found an heir. He had accompanied them to London for the Season but they rarely saw him. He was out all day and now she knew the reason why. He was with Captain Fletcher.
She knew how ridiculous she was being. They were out all day themselves at various engagements. It was not as if she could spend much time with Grandpapa anyway. They had come to London for the express purpose of socialising.
And so that I might find a love match,she thought fervently, before it is too late.
