A Scandalous Pursuit

by Ava Stone

  It was so odd to suddenly be in the role of a step-mother. It was completely foreign to Livvie. Even growing up with the Averys, she and Cordie were the youngest, and she’d never had to take care of anyone before except herself. Recently she hadn’t even done a good job of that. “I shall ask Alex if it’s all right.”

  Caroline stopped walking and shook her head. “You’ll do no such thing. The man is besotted with you. Don’t give up what little power you have, Olivia. You’ll never get it back if you do. Make your own decisions and consult him only if necessary. Accepting secondhand children’s toys is something you can decide all on your own.”

  “I’ve just never done,” she explained, waving her arm in an all encompassing gesture, “this before.”

  Caroline smiled brightly. “I have all the confidence in the world that you will manage splendidly, darling.”

  Livvie wished she had half of Caroline’s faith in herself. After last night, she couldn’t seem to erase the images of her husband thrashing in his sleep or the echoes of his anguished cry that had awoken her from a rather peaceful sleep. She didn’t want to take the wrong step where he was concerned. She grasped Caroline’s elbow and pulled her into the closest parlor.

  “I desperately need your advice,” she admitted in a hushed whisper.

  Caroline’s brow furrowed, but she nodded. “Of course, Livvie. What has you so troubled?”

  “Alex.”

  “Did yesterday go badly?”

  An immediate blush stained her cheeks. “No.”

  Apparently more at ease, Caroline grinned. “On the contrary, it appears to have gone particularly well. Good for you, Olivia.”

  Livvie shook her head. “Not that, Caroline… That was amazing,” she added with a sigh. “But I’m rather concerned about something else. I think Alex suffers from terrible nightmares.”

  Caroline led Livvie to a chaise and they both sat. “Everyone has nightmares from time to time. It was only one night, Livvie. I agree, however, one’s wedding night it not the perfect time for such a thing. But I’m certain it’s nothing to get yourself worked up about.”

  “But it’s not just once. There was the night at Prest…” She hadn’t intended to tell Caroline about that night, but she’d already said too much. Nothing to do now but get on with it. Besides she was already married to the man. “There was a night at Prestwick Chase as well. That’s two nights, Caroline, and awful nightmares, both of them.”

  Caroline sat back in her spot, a deep frown etched across her brow. Finally she focused on Livvie. “Did you ask him about them?”

  Livvie shook her head. “When I tried to comfort him in Derbyshire, he barked at me. And last night…well, last night he insisted on separate chambers. But I heard him in the dead of night, Caroline, and the sound was heart-wrenching. He was already gone this morning when I awoke, and Gibson doesn’t know where he is.”

  Caroline folded her arms across her chest. “Something must be done about the state of this home, Livvie. Gibson should always know where his master is. To that end, I took the liberty of personally visiting a service yesterday. I looked at their books and have set up interviews for you this afternoon. Candidates for the positions of maid, footman, but most importantly nursemaid for Poppy will start arriving around one o’clock.”

  Livvie shook her head, completely frustrated. Important as all that was, it was not her most pressing concern. “Caroline, that wasn’t where I was going with this conversation. I am well aware that changes need to be made here, but I am most troubled about Alex at the moment.”

  With a worried smile, Caroline took her hands. “I know you are, darling. Which is why I think that you’re exactly what he’s always needed. How fortuitous your blunder in his wardrobe has turned out to be.” Then she sighed deeply. “Listen, I’ve known Alex more than a dozen years. He’s always kept part of himself hidden from even his dearest friends, unless you’re lucky enough to slide beneath his defenses undetected. He didn’t have the happiest of childhoods, and while I don’t know if that is what haunts him now, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is related.”

  Livvie leaned closer to her cousin as curiosity took control of her. “You know what haunts him.” It wasn’t a question. The answer on plain on Caroline’s face.

  Her cousin shook her head. “He needs to tell you himself, Olivia. His secrets aren’t for me to disclose, though I don’t think I know them all anyway. You’re his wife—”

  “Which is precisely why you should tell me,” she interrupted, annoyed beyond belief that Caroline wouldn’t give her the information she sought. What good was it having a cousin with the ability to extract information from anyone if she wasn’t willing to share what she’d learned?

  “Be worthy of his trust, Livvie. Let him know that he can unburden himself with you, that it’s safe to do so. If I tell you something out of turn, it will only cause problems for both of you. And that is the very last thing I want.”

  Livvie didn’t want that either, but she’d like some direction. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

  “I think you do. Support him, show him—”

  “Good morning, ladies,” Alex’s voice interrupted them from the doorway.

  Livvie leapt to her feet, blushing when he quirked at grin at her. “Alex.” She smiled back.

  He would never tire of that dimple. Alex crossed the floor, kissed his wife’s soft cheek, and inhaled the light lilac scent that always encompassed her. “Olivia,” he whispered huskily in her ear, wishing they were alone. Then he stepped away from her and kissed Caroline’s outstretched hand. “Lady Staveley.”

  Caroline tilted her head to one side, as if assessing him. “Cousin Alex. I am certain formalities don’t rule at Kelfield House.”

  Cousin Alex? He hadn’t actually thought about the ramifications of being Caroline Staveley’s relation when he’d decided to marry Olivia. Though looking at his seductive wife, Alex couldn’t imagine giving her up if even to distance himself from the vexing viscountess. He smirked at his new cousin. “I imagine a great many things will change at Kelfield House now that Olivia is here to rule over the place.” He drew his wife to his side and then sat next to her on an old, brocade settee, lazily draping his arm over her shoulders.

  “Yes, a great many things, indeed,” Caroline responded, still assessing him—which was unnerving. He hated it when she focused those all-knowing eyes of hers on him. Then she brightened with a smile. “I have decided to throw a ball.”

  “You have?” his wife asked gleefully.

  Alex cringed. He really disliked those sorts of societal affairs. One would think now that he was married he could avoid such things from here on out. Not that he had regularly attended balls or soirees before he was married either, but he wasn’t about to start now. He shook his head. “You know very well I don’t attend such affairs, Cousin Caroline.”

  Her hazel eyes turned dangerously dark. “Well, you’ll attend mine. After that little performance yesterday at St. George’s, Livvie will be lucky to be received anywhere. For a man who was supposed to be protecting her reputation, you’ve done an abysmal job thus far.”

  Alex hated that Olivia’s face turned white at her cousin’s proclamation. It couldn’t really be all that bad. He’d certainly weathered worse. Besides they were married. What else did those societal harridans want from him? “You’re exaggerating.”

  “Yes, because I’m so prone to that,” Caroline shot back tartly. She very rarely spoke tartly to him. Perhaps it was worse than he thought.

  Alex reached for Olivia’s hand. “Don’t worry, sweetheart.”

  At that moment there was a scratch at the door, and Alex was glad for the disruption. He’d never been so happy to see his butler. “Come.”

  Gibson opened the door and stepped inside with a letter on a silver salver. He nodded at Olivia. “Your Grace, this has just arrived via messenger.”

  Alex waved the man closer so Olivia could retrieve her letter without leaving his side.
She smiled as she picked up the heavy vellum. “It’s from Cordie.”

  The butler cleared his throat. “Your Grace, the messenger awaits your reply.”

  “Oh,” Livvie responded. Then she tore open the envelope and quickly scanned the note. “She wants to go shopping tomorrow, like we always do.”

  “That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Alex remarked, enjoying the radiant glow she suddenly had about her. “Feel free to buy whatever you like, sweetheart.” Preferably something sheer.

  Olivia hopped up and smiled at him and Caroline. “Let me jot off a reply, and I’ll be right back.”

  “Take your time,” Caroline offered with an indulgent wink.

  As Olivia quit the room, Caroline’s smile vanished and she pinned Alex with an irritated glare. “You are very fortunate that I adore you.”

  He sat forward in his seat, leveling the viscountess with a stern look of his own. “Out with it, whatever it is, Caro.”

  “I don’t know why you even agreed to marry her, if you were just going to turn around and ruin her seconds after your vows.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake! Melodrama does not become you.”

  Caroline’s glower darkened. “Alexander Everett, while you and Livvie were holed up here, I was out there.” She pointed vaguely toward one of the room’s windows. “And I am telling you, her reputation is in tatters. As she is your duchess, I’m expecting you to do everything in your power to correct that.”

  Damn! He certainly hadn’t intended that. He roughly rubbed his brow. “Dear God.”

  “Your actions no longer reflect only on you, Alex.”

  “I am well aware of that, Caroline,” he growled in frustration.

  “One wouldn’t know it by your reckless behavior.”

  “You’re very fortunate I adore you, Caro, or I’d throw you out on your ear.”

  She took a deep breath, and then spoke very calmly, “You will attend my ball, Alex. I’m dragging Masten back from Dorset for it, as well as Clayworth from Derbyshire. And every other stodgy fellow in England I can dig up will be there and no one will dare cut her. Not in my home.”

  The idea that anyone would cut her made Alex clench his teeth. He would strangle anyone who did so. “We’ll be there, naturally.”

  Olivia swept back into the room, smiling sweetly, and Alex motioned for her to retrieve the spot beside him. “Sweetheart, I was just telling our cousin we’d be thrilled to attend her ball.”

  “Truly?” she asked, her pretty hazel eyes twinkling.

  “And the theatre,” Caroline offered with a smile. “Astwick has offered me his box at Drury Lane tomorrow.”

  Drury Lane! Did it have to be bloody Drury Lane? Alex winced.

  “Macbeth is Staveley’s favorite,” Caroline continued, apparently unaware of the uncomfortable spot she’d just put him in. “It’s a bit morose for my taste, but the more somber the entertainment, the more respectable one appears.”

  Livvie was surprised at how easy it was to staff a ducal residence. Of course Caroline had, most likely, weeded out all the unacceptable prospects before they’d gotten to her. But all in all it was a very successful day. In the end, the most difficult position to fill was that of Poppy’s nurse. Never having been a parent before, she wasn’t quite certain what qualities were most important, and she barely remembered her own nurse.

  She’d met stern women, loud women, old women, and shy women of all shapes and sizes. But when Mrs. Bickle entered her parlor, Livvie knew she’d found the right woman for the position. The nursemaid was older, with streaks of grey in her otherwise black hair. She was plump with rosy cheeks and kind brown eyes that put Livvie at ease.

  During the interview, Poppy burst through the door and stopped in her tracks when her eyes fell on the older woman.

  “Poppy,” Livvie said with a smile, “would you like to meet Mrs. Bickle?”

  Her step-daughter nodded, and her pretty raven curls bobbed up and down. “But, Olivia, we haven’t had our tea party.”

  Livvie felt awful. She had told the child they could have one everyday if she wanted, yet she’d been so busy with hiring staff, she hadn’t spent any time with Poppy. She really should get to know the girl. “Of course, sweetheart. We’ll have it now.”

  When Poppy smiled, her whole face lit up. “Do you want some too?” she asked the old woman.

  “I would enjoy that, miss,” the nurse answered with a smile.

  After another amazing evening with her husband, Livvie once again drifted off to sleep alone. Though it shouldn’t have surprised her when Alex’s tortured cry from his chamber awoke her, it was still just as unnerving as it had been the previous night. She needed to find a way to help him and wished Caroline had given her some clue as to what was so troubling to Alex.

  During the short ride to the Avery townhouse, Livvie’s mind focused on the problem at hand. How could she show him she was trustworthy? How could she get him to confide in her? He rarely gave a straight answer to any of her questions about his past.

  The coach halted, and Livvie waited patiently for Coleman to lower the steps in front of the Avery townhouse. She nodded to the coachman and then climbed the steps to the Avery’s door, her mind still on Alex. Before she could even knock, Sanders, the Averys’ butler who Livvie had known practically all her life, opened the door and looked down his long nose at her, disdain etched across his ancient brow. “I’m sorry, Your Grace, but Miss Avery is not in.”

  Livvie blinked up at the tall, slender butler, knowing full well that Cordie most certainly was at home. They were supposed to go shopping, and Cordie would never forget. The stern look on Sanders’ face and the clipped way in which he spoke to her could only mean one thing.

  She was not welcome at Avery House.

  Not anymore.

  “I see” she replied, trying to keep her voice from cracking. “Well, please tell Cordelia that I called.”

  “Of course, Your Grace.” Then Sanders shut the door firmly in her face.

  Stunned, Livvie descended the Avery steps in a daze and walked back to her awaiting coach, the Kelfield coat of arms emblazoned on the side. She had thought that some people might shun her for her exploits with Alex, especially after Caroline’s dire words from the day before. But the Averys? She’d known them forever. Her whole life. They were like her second family.

  Coleman stood before her, concern in his coal black eyes. “Are you not staying, Your Grace?”

  Livvie pushed back the tears that were threatening to fall, and she shook her head. “No, Coleman, I’m not staying. Could you please take me home, instead?”

  The coachman frowned, but nodded. “Of course, Your Grace.”

  The short ride back to Kelfield House was terribly uncomfortable. She’d never known a day when Cordie wasn’t part of her life. It was so hard to imagine that she wasn’t allowed to see her dearest friend.

  Gibson opened the door and Livvie made her way to the nursery where she found Poppy and Mrs. Bickle looking over some books. Poppy’s childish giggle brought a smile to Livvie’s face, but she left the pair to go about their day. Alex was out, though she didn’t know where. Even in a house now fully staffed, for all practical purposes, Livvie was in the den of iniquity all alone. Not quite sure what to do with herself, she made her way to the music room and sat down at the pianoforte.

  She was unaware how long she sat playing Bach’s Air on String of G, when Gibson interrupted her by clearing his throat. Livvie stood up from the bench, staring at the butler. “Yes?”

  He stepped towards her and offered a note on a silver salver. “This just arrived for Your Grace, and the messenger is awaiting your reply.”

  Livvie could tell by the handwriting the note was from Cordie, and her heart swelled. She broke the seal and scanned the letter quickly.

  Dear Olivia,

  I do not even know how to begin. I am so dreadfully sorry about today, and I have been on the outs with Mama ever since she banned you. Unfortunately Kelfield’s overzeal
ous actions at your wedding have convinced Mama that I will be tainted if our friendship continues.

  My heart aches that I cannot see you, my dearest friend. Please tell me that you are doing well, as I miss you terribly and worry about you constantly. We shall have to find a way to meet without Mama’s knowledge.

  Your devoted friend,

  Cordelia Avery

  Livvie had never considered that her hasty marriage would have repercussions on Cordie, and she was furious with herself for not considering her friend’s future. She quickly went to her small study and dashed off a response to her most loyal of friends.

  My Dearest Cordelia,

  Please do not worry about me. I understand fully that Lady Avery simply does not wish for my indiscretions to tarnish your name, and truly I do not wish for that either. I am sorry I did not consider that before my visit today. I am certain the scandal of my marriage will soon die down and all will go back as it was before. At least I pray it will. We will just have to be patient.

  Yours always,

  Olivia Everett

  The two of them kept a messenger darting back and forth between the Averys’ and Kelfield House all afternoon.

  Olivia!

  Have you quite taken leave of your senses? How can you possibly agree with my mother on anything? Keeping us from visiting is unconscionable. You are my dearest friend in the world, and I hate that I cannot see you. Please say you and the duke are attending the Staveley Ball. I am certain we will be able to find a way to speak there.

  Anxious to see you,

  Cordie

  Dear Cordelia,

  I never thought I would agree with your mother either, but surely you do not wish for your association with me to reflect poorly on you. Upon further recollection, I seem to recall that even your Captain Seaton was standoffish towards you after my relationship with Kelfield was discovered. I do not want to be responsible for your heartbreak, my dearest friend.