by Lucy Adams
“Astonishing,” he breathed, gathering himself and walking quietly down the hallway, hardly able to take in all that he had learned that evening.
Chapter Eight
“My lady?”
Olivia looked up as Betty came into the room, her hands twisting together as she looked at Olivia with frightened eyes.
“Yes, Betty?” she asked, feeling a knot of tension pull tight in her belly. “Is something wrong?”
Betty swallowed hard, her face still a little white. “It is Lady Margaret,” she said, her voice barely louder than a whisper as though she were too afraid to speak aloud. “She has become gravely ill.”
Olivia blinked in surprise, looking at her maid in astonishment. “Gravely ill?” she repeated, as though she suspected she had misheard her maid. “What can you mean? Only last evening she was at Lord Entington’s ball and appeared to be in excellent spirits.”
“I am aware that she behaved quite as normal last evening,” Betty said softly, “but she is now as pale as death and has not recovered consciousness.”
Olivia’s heart missed a beat. “She is unconscious?” she repeated, getting up from her chair and feeling a sense of urgency fill her. “Where is she? I must go to see her at once.” Whilst there was no great love between herself and her cousins, Olivia knew that she could not simply allow her cousin to linger in her sick bed alone. No doubt Lady Louisa would be quite fraught with anxiety and Lady Dayton would be sitting by her daughter’s side, and Olivia too would have to join them.
“Lady Dayton is afraid that such an illness is catching,” Betty said, holding out one hand to stop Olivia and betraying, for the first time, the reason for her fear. “It took Lady Margaret so quickly that she is now afraid that the rest of us might also succumb.”
Sitting back down slowly, Olivia looked into her maid’s face and felt her heart begin to pound furiously. There was no need for her maid to explain why she was afraid, for such a dreadful, swift illness might take a hold of anyone else in the house, given that they were in close proximity to Lady Margaret.
“She has asked both yourself and Lady Louisa to remain away from Lady Margaret’s rooms,” Betty finished, appearing a little less shaken now that she had told Olivia everything. “I thought it best to tell you at once, Lady Olivia.”
“I thank you,” Olivia murmured, pressing one palm lightly against her forehead as she attempted to think clearly but still felt herself overcome by shock. Her head rose sharply. “Do they think she will die?” She looked steadily at the maid, who had gone back to wringing her hands. “Betty, do they think that my cousin is close to death?”
Betty shook her head, bit her lip, and then closed her eyes. “The doctor has been sent for,” she explained. “Lady Margaret was only discovered less than an hour ago. Lady Dayton thought that she was simply tired and had chosen to stay in bed a little longer.”
“I see,” Olivia whispered, one hand over her heart as a sense of dread overtook her. “Then the doctor will see what is to be done, I am sure, but Lady Margaret did look so very pale, and I fear that she may…she might…” Betty closed her eyes tightly and shook her head, clearly unable to finish the sentence.
“I must go to her still,” Olivia said, trying to set aside her fear and do what she knew was her duty. “She should not be left alone.”
Betty took a breath and came closer. “My lady, Lady Dayton has gone to sit with her daughter,” she said, clearly trying to convince Olivia to stay away. “Such is the love for her daughter that she has chosen to accept whatever might come from sitting by Lady Margaret’s side.” She swallowed hard, reaching out to set one hand on Olivia’s shoulder. “Please, try not to worry. I know you want to go to see Lady Margaret, but you must stay away from her. I could not bear it if you became ill also, Lady Olivia.”
Olivia swallowed hard, memories flooding her of her late father. This was precisely what had occurred with him, for he had become ill suddenly—and within a few days had travelled from life to death. They had never known what had caused it. The doctors had done what they could but had told her that the cold weather, her father’s age, and a weakness within his heart had combined together to bring about his death. Closing her eyes, Olivia ran one hand over her eyes, trying to convince herself that her cousin would not die, for surely she was stronger than Olivia’s father had been, and indeed much younger. As much as she did not feel in any way close to Margaret, she was still her cousin, still family, and Olivia certainly did not want her to linger in this illness.
“I am sure she will recover,” Betty said, sounding entirely unconvinced. “You need not think the worst, Lady Olivia.”
“I-I must go.” A strange urge to leave the house, to walk about London in an attempt to calm her fears suddenly captured Olivia’s heart and mind. “I will return, of course.” She rose, relieved that she had chosen to dress and prepare herself well in advance of this afternoon’s calls. Calls which she now presumed would be canceled.
“You must have a chaperone,” Betty protested weakly, clearly aware of all that Olivia now felt and feared. “I would come with you, of course, but–”
“Lady Dayton will not remove from Margaret’s side, and I presume that Louisa will not wish to walk from the house for fear that something else might occur,” Olivia said, the urge to leave growing all the more desperate. “Betty, might you find a maid to accompany me? You need not tell Lord Dayton or Lady Dayton of my absence. I am sure they will not even think of me, given what has occurred with Margaret and their urgency in waiting for the doctor. And,” she finished, seeing the maid looking less than convinced, “I shall not be long.”
Betty sighed heavily, looking at Olivia with an uncertainty in her eyes. Sighing, she spread her hands. “If that is what you would wish, then I will have someone here to accompany you in a few minutes,” she said, as Olivia nodded. “I would go with you but Lady Dayton has asked me to ensure Lady Margaret’s lady’s maid is confined to her quarters for the next day or so, and I need to make sure she has everything she requires.”
Olivia frowned. “Why is she confined to quarters?” she asked, walking with Betty to the door. “For what cause?”
“To be quite certain that, should she also have the same malady as Lady Margaret, she has not been going here and there throughout the house,” Betty explained, as Olivia hurried down through the hallway. “I will have to look after the girl.”
“Just be careful,” Olivia said, hardly able to even allow her mind to think on what might happen should Betty become ill. “I do not want you to become unwell also. I do not think I could do without you, Betty.”
“Of course you could,” Betty said, reassuringly. “Now, you just get your bonnet and gloves and I’ll fetch that maid for you.”
Olivia sighed heavily and nodded, feeling an ache in her throat and trying to swallow it away. She had to walk for a time, had to think about what had been said and perhaps to pray for her cousin. A maid soon appeared, Olivia’s bonnet and gloves were pulled on and, just as she stepped outside, a carriage rolled up and came to a stop just outside Lord Dayton’s home.
Lord Monteforte stepped out, turning to speak to the driver, and then, as he looked up at the house, he caught sight of her.
“Lady Olivia!” he cried, striding towards her with a broad smile. “Are you about to step out this fine afternoon?”
She could not smile and, as he drew closer, the smile faded from Lord Monteforte’s face. “I cannot permit your entry, Lord Monteforte,” she said, her voice hoarse as she lifted her eyes to his. “I apologize.”
“Good gracious, Lady Olivia,” he said, one hand stretching out towards hers before he pulled it away, perhaps realizing that it was not appropriate to do so. “What is the matter? You look quite upset.”
She swallowed, tears pricking in the corners of her eyes. “My cousin,” she managed to say, her throat working furiously. “She is…she is unwell. My father—” She stopped dead, one hand pressed against her heart as she
fought to keep her composure. “My father passed after a very similar illness, and I am afraid for my cousin.”
Lord Monteforte stared at her for a moment, before he took a step back and cleared his throat. “I would be happy to take you wherever it is you need to go,” he said, a little gruffly. “I am terribly sorry to hear about what has occurred with your cousin. Might I take you somewhere?”
He clearly thought that she was in search of some remedy for her cousin, and it was almost shameful to admit that she was simply taking a short walk in order to bring some sort of calmness to her tumbling, torturous thoughts.
“I am afraid that I am doing nothing more than taking a short walk, Lord Monteforte,” she said, dropping her head from mortification. “I should not have told you about my father, mayhap, but it is merely to explain just how much I am struggling at present with my thoughts.”
“I quite understand.” Her head lifted, her eyes meeting his clear hazel eyes and seeing a gentle understanding in his expression. There was a tenderness in his voice that filled her heart, making her tears begin to burn in her eyes again. “If you would permit, I would accompany you, Lady Olivia.”
She nodded, barely able to speak save for the burning in her throat. “I thank you,” she managed to say. “I would be glad of your company, Lord Monteforte, although I fear I will not be much good for you.”
He said nothing, only smiled and offered her his arm, which she accepted at once. There was something in his gaze that made her heart lift from its current state of fear, rendering her a little more able to take a hold of her thoughts.
“Lady Dayton is with Margaret,” she said, once they had walked a few steps. “But myself and Louisa are forbidden from entering the room. My aunt fears that it may pass to us.”
“How long has she been feeling unwell?” Lord Monteforte asked, his eyes searching hers. “Has it come on very suddenly?”
“Very suddenly,” she answered, shaking her head. “Last evening, she was just as you would normally expect, whereas today I am told that she is unconscious and deeply unwell.”
Lord Monteforte let out a long, slow breath. “That is dreadful news indeed.”
“We must pray for her to recover,” Olivia continued, a single tear dripping down her cheek. “I prayed so for my father when he was unwell, but he did not recover.”
“And you fear now that your cousin will not recover either,” Lord Monteforte said calmly. “I do not blame you for such fears, Lady Olivia, but I would urge you to have a little more hope. There will be a doctor able to help her, I am sure of it.”
Olivia shook her head. “Doctors could not help my father.”
Lord Monteforte pressed her hand with his free one, sending a rush of warmth up her arm and into her heart. “That is not to say they cannot to do so now,” he said, reassuringly. “There have been great strides forward in medicine. I am certain that you have nothing to fear, Lady Olivia. Truly.”
Taking in a deep breath, Olivia tried to let Lord Monteforte’s words wash over her and bring her a little relief. Her mind was clouded with memories, painful aches that stabbed her heart with a fresh agony. Her father had been taken so ill so quickly, and within a few days had been gone forever. What now if it was the same for Margaret?
“I hope you know, Lady Olivia, that I would be glad to continue to support you in this difficult time in whatever way I can,” he said gently, as she struggled to prevent any more tears from falling. “I am aware that now is not the moment to ask whether or not you have considered my request, but I would like to assure you that I am more than willing to be whatever it is you require at this present time.”
It was all Olivia could do not to lean into him, not to rest her head on his shoulder and let her tears begin to flow. She had gone from thinking him cruel and arrogant to now seeing the kindness within his heart and the willingness to support her in whatever way she required. The desire to share with him that, at the very least, filled her heart, and she found herself telling him what was in her heart.
“I will tell you this, Lord Monteforte,” she said, not quite able to look him in the eye. “I do not believe that you are cruel hearted, as I once thought.” Her tears still welling in her eyes, she sniffed indelicately, but forced herself to continue. “You are a kind man, Lord Monteforte. You speak with gentleness and tenderness, and I know that you are genuine in your desire to be of assistance to me.” Finally, she managed to look him in the eye. “I hear it in your voice, I see it in your expression, and I can feel it spreading out from within your heart.”
“You do not know how glad I am hear you say such a thing,” Lord Monteforte replied, pressing her hand again. “I am honest in my intentions, Lady Olivia. I want to do all I can to be a comfort to you, but only in whatever way you desire from me. I will not press you. I will not urge you nor try to convince you to accept my company or the like. If you wish me gone, then I shall go!”
She stopped suddenly, forcing him to do the same. “No, Lord Monteforte,” she said, with as much fervor as she could. “To have you go from me at this moment would only add to my distress. I would never ask you to leave. I would never even think of having you go.”
Lord Monteforte held her gaze for a long moment. Everything seemed to fade around her, the sounds of the other people on the street suddenly muted. Lord Monteforte’s eyes were swirling with hues of greens and browns, making her catch her breath all the more. There seemed to be nothing at all of importance other than those eyes that watched her with such intensity and yet, at the same time, with such infinite gentleness.
“Then I shall always be ready to come and stand by your side, Lady Olivia,” Lord Monteforte murmured, never once lifting his gaze from hers. “The only thing you need to do is ask.”
Chapter Nine
“So, what are you saying?”
Phillip let out a long breath, his head filled with all manner of thoughts. “I am stating that, from what I understand, Lord Dayton and Lord Cammish have an intention to remove the Prince from his present state.”
Lord Franks cleared his throat loudly, catching the attention of every gentleman in the room as well as Phillip himself. “What does that mean exactly?” he asked, a deep frown on his face. “You say that they wish to remove Prinny, but what exactly can they do? And how would they go about it?”
Phillip spread his hands, knowing that it was frustrating to have so few answers, but he could only express what he knew. “I believe that they might be considering one of the King’s other sons,” he said, making an assumption about what the two gentlemen might be intending. “Perhaps they think the next in line would be much more inclined to behave and to act the way they want.”
“Or that they might be easier to manipulate,” said one of the other gentlemen, making a loud murmur of agreement go around the room. “Perhaps, as the enemy of the King, they believe that the next in line will be someone they can use for their own advantage.”
“Making England weaker,” added in Lord Watt darkly. “Then I would suggest, Lord Monteforte, that you remain precisely where you are at present and try to find out all you can. Once you have knowledge of their plans, you must inform the rest of the League just as soon as you can.”
Phillip nodded. “Of course.”
“And then we will move to prevent them from achieving their intentions,” said Lord Franks, a clear anger in his voice. “For the King.”
“For the King,” Phillip echoed, as did all the other gentlemen. Looking about the room, he caught Lord Watt’s gaze for a moment, seeing how uncertain the man appeared. As the other men began to speak amongst themselves, Phillip rose to his feet and came closer to Lord Watt, who also stood.
“You must be careful,” Lord Watt murmured, a clear line of worry lining his forehead. “This is a very dangerous circumstance.”
“All the more reason for me to remain where I am,” Phillip answered, as Lord Watt nodded. “I must know what they intend.” He did not mention Lady Olivia, even though his t
houghts turned towards her again. She had been so very sorrowful and fearful when he had come across her just stepping out from the house, and what they had shared had been remarkable, bringing a fresh hope to his spirits. “Lady Margaret – that is, Lord Dayton’s daughter – has been taken seriously ill. I am not certain whether or not the meeting this evening will be of a particularly long duration. It may take me some time to discover the truth of what Lord Dayton intends.”
Lord Watt nodded, his expression still grave. “That is quite understandable,” he said quietly, as Phillip made to take his leave. “Who else is in the house, might I ask?”
Phillip hesitated, wondering why Lord Watt was asking such a question when surely he already knew the answer. “Lady Louisa is the younger sister, and there is also Lady Olivia, who is Lord Dayton’s niece.”
Lord Watt lifted one eyebrow. “That would be the young lady you were walking with two days ago?”
A little surprised that such a thing had been both noticed and brought to Lord Watt’s attention, he answered slowly, “It was. She was upset, and it was just by chance that I–”
“Do not let your unguarded heart affect your judgement,” Lord Watt interrupted firmly, making Phillip wonder if he had witnessed the moment he and Lady Olivia had shared. “And ensure you send word to me each and every day that you are safe and well. There is something about this situation that troubles me, although I cannot quite state what it is.”
