by June Calvin
“Lord Corbright!” Olivia stood, hastily hiding the letter under another sheet of paper as she did so.
“Lord Corbright. Must you, Livvy?” He bent to kiss her. She dodged his kiss and stepped away.
“Why did you not tell me you were in London? I thought to have you join me in Scotland at any moment.” He smiled pleasantly down at her. “Naughty girl, to lead your fiancé such a dance.”
“You are not my fiancé, sir.”
“By that flush on your cheeks I see you are irritated with me. Come, take a drive in the park with me and explain why, for it is such a beautiful day I vow you must take the air.”
“What I have to say to you can be said here.” Olivia drew herself up, fists clenched.
He looked puzzled and worried. “So solemn.” He glanced at Lavinia. “Hullo, Aunt Lavvy. Pardon me for not noticing you before. So excited to see my sweetheart again, you see.”
Lavinia was on her feet, bristling. “How did you know of Olivia’s presence in London?”
“Why, I have just come from Beaumont, that is how. I returned to see what was keeping you. I have a message for you from Jason on me somewhere.” He began patting at his pockets.
Olivia felt the hair on the nape of her neck rise. Why would Jason send a message by Corbright? “Please be seated, won’t you? Aunt Lavinia, might I be private with Lord Corbright for a few moments?”
Lavinia reluctantly left the room. “I shall return in ten minutes,” she assured them.
“Gad. What have I done to make the pair of you treat me as a stranger?”
At that moment Olivia almost pitied him. He looked so worried. Perhaps he is sincerely attached to me, after all, she thought. I must go gently with him. She seated herself beside him on the sofa.
“Franklin, I—”
“Now that is better! My name never seems to suit me so well as when it falls from your lips.”
“Listen to me, please. I must remind you I that have not given you leave to regard me as your fiancée. I have held steadfastly to the position that we might be friends only.”
“But you did not mean it. As I told Heslington when he wrote me, I know a woman as true as you gives her heart only once.” He tried to take her hand, but she jerked it from him.
“I see I must be very plain with you. You are wrong, for I have given my heart again. I love Edmund Debham, and intend to marry him.”
This news did not stun Corbright the way she had expected. Instead, he merely laughed shortly. “So Heslington thought. I am grateful to him for writing me, for it is clear that Edmund has found some way to ingratiate himself with you. But whatever you feel, it is but a passing fancy.”
“It is not!” Livvy glared at him. “I love Edmund with all my heart. Please give it up, Franklin. My love for you died long ago.”
His voice was low and gentle. “I won’t accept that, Livvy.”
“You must.”
He regarded her silently for a long time. She held his eyes steadily, unwaveringly. At last he sighed. “So you won’t have me.”
“No.”
“I think you will change your mind. I had hoped not to have to give you this, but . . .”
She watched his hand go unerringly this time to the pocket inside his morning coat. With a sense of impending doom she saw him take out a thin sheet of paper, unsealed, and hand it to her. It had a reddish streak across the edge. She opened it and immediately recognized her brother’s handwriting, though the message was smeared in blood.
“My God! What is this!” Livvy recoiled away from Corbright, turning toward the window to make out the short message.
Dearest Livvy,
Do not be alarmed. I am somewhat bloodied but otherwise unharmed. The Swalen brothers have me. They say they are holding me for ransom. They have not named their figure, but say they will be in touch with you soon.
All my love,
Jason
Olivia put her hand to her mouth.
“Don’t cry, dearest. I am sure we can raise the ransom.” Corbright tried to pull her into his arms. She jumped to her feet and turned on him.
“You villain! Do you take me for a fool? You are behind this! The ransom is me, isn’t it?”
Corbright dropped his solicitous manner. “In a manner of speaking, yes. I would have liked to have your love, too, of course, but I will have your land. Yes, and your brother’s, too. And Lavinia’s, of course.”
She shook her head. “You know my father’s will. If I am forced into marriage—”
“Or afterward find it disagreeable, or even if your trustees have reason to suspect that you do so, your land goes to your brother.” Corbright stood, too. Suddenly he had never seemed so tall, and as he stood too close for comfort, that height became menacing. His eyes were cold, so cold they glittered like blue diamonds.
“But you won’t admit to being forced, and afterward you won’t admit to finding our marriage disagreeable. Your father thought himself very clever, Livvy, but he misunderstood one thing, something I only came to realize after I married: A real man can find a way to rule his wife, and rule you I will. If anyone, anyone, ever suspects you are less than delighted with our marriage, those you love will pay the price. Your brother will be released once we are wed. You will tell him I helped you raise the ten thousand pounds for his ransom. The Swalens will disappear, but others are in my employ. Any missteps on your part, and harm will occur to Jason, or your uncle or aunt, or . . . did I understand you to say you love Edmund with all your heart?”
She gasped.
“Ah, yes. Your very words. What pleasure it would give me to have his life snuffed out. And I will do it, Livvy. Never think to escape me. If you call upon the oh-so-brave Edmund for rescue, then Jason will suffer.”
Olivia tried to still the trembling that overtook every limb in her body, but could not.
“If you refuse me, or afterward complain of me, then as long as I have breath in my body, I will delight in tormenting you and yours. Not death for Jason, I think. Not right away. So young, so vibrant, so eager to travel. It will be difficult for him to travel with bullets through both knees, won’t it?”
“You are a monster. No, you are insane! Franklin, no amount of land is worth this. Nor any amount of revenge, for whatever reason you feel you are owed revenge. Think how miserable your life will be with a wife who hates you.”
“Not at all. You’ve read The Taming of the Shrew, haven’t you? Outward conformity to love is all I ask, just as Petruchio did. Who knows, you may even learn to love me again. For I mean to be a generous, considerate husband, Olivia.”
She snorted, anger steadying her. “Considerate!”
“Indeed, yes. In truth, I do not particularly enjoy bedding unwilling women. A weakness, I know. But there it is. I will bed you only until I have an heir and a spare. Then, if you are very, very good, I will allow you to live with your children.”
She pressed her hand to her chest, where her heart seemed about to scramble out of her breast. “You’ll fail, you know. My family will know you mistreat me then, for they know I would never desert my children.”
“Ah. Well, that is another plan of mine. Really, I should have been a military man, for I am a genius at tactics, if I do say so myself. Do you think for one moment that your brother would take your land or refuse to sell his own to me, if he knew his sister or her children were to suffer if he did not?”
Livvy swayed on her feet, and he caught her to him. It was in this posture that Aunt Lavinia found them as she entered the room, saying, “Your ten minutes are up, and . . . Livvy!”
Corbright turned around, his left arm firmly around Olivia’s shoulders. “Ah, there you are, dear Aunt Lavinia. You may wish us happy.”
Lavinia took one look at Olivia’s face and charged at him. “Oh, no you don’t. Get away from her, you beast!”
“Why, what can you be thinking of, to behave so uncivilly to your future nephew?” Corbright held her off easily with his other hand.
&
nbsp; “I see the tears on Olivia’s cheeks. She won’t have you, not willingly. Let her go!”
Corbright looked down at Olivia, squeezing her shoulder so painfully with his hand that she gasped and looked up at him. “Tears of happiness, aren’t they, my love? She is—we are—so happy that all our disagreements have been settled and we can be together at last. Isn’t that true, Livvy?”
Olivia turned great, tear-filled eyes to her aunt. “That’s true, Aunt Lavinia. I . . . I am quite ashamed of myself for doubting him. And I feel terrible about hurting Lord Edmund, as I know this will. You must explain to him for me.”
“That I never shall, for I don’t believe it. Not for a minute!”
Olivia knew she had to pull herself together and put on a performance worthy of a Siddons. She smiled at Lavinia. “Now, Aunt Lavvy, please. I am so happy, I wish my family to share in my happiness.”
“There. Didn’t I tell you?” Corbright released Olivia and nudged her toward her aunt.
Olivia reached out for the distressed woman and hugged her. “Please, please try to understand. I never stopped loving him. So much of what I did was based on the pain his marriage caused me, and a desire to repay him. But I know now how wrong that was.”
“And your fears about his real intentions . . .”
“All laid to rest. He has explained all.” She pulled back, looking pleadingly into Lavinia’s eyes. “Please,” she whispered.
Lavinia looked no less troubled, but stepped back. “If you are quite sure, my dear. But . . . but you won’t rush into anything, will you? I mean, only yesterday—”
Olivia half screamed, “Don’t remind me of yesterday. I am so ashamed. Oh!” She began to cry in spite of all her efforts. Corbright took her in his arms and patted her back.
“There, there. Edmund will get over it. He is young and handsome. I understand he has a very good chance at a much greater heiress than you, that Miss Benson. Doubtless he will be married before we are, if your family has its way.” He turned once again to Lavinia, wagging a finger at her.
“But I, for one, do not promise to let you have your way. We have been separated too long. I hope to persuade you to marry me as soon as may be. Now, my love, why do you not come for that carriage ride with me? Such a lovely day for late October. And we’ve a deal of talking to do, plans to make, haven’t we?”
Olivia looked up and forced herself to smile. “That would be delightful. I shall get my shawl.”
Corbright followed her out into the foyer and took her arm. “Let your maid bring it out to you. I want to show you my new pair of matched blacks. Lavinia, au revoir for now.”
Edmund returned to their town house from his visit to the War Office with information that did not much surprise him. He wondered if he should tell Olivia that the Swalens were deserters, wanted for numerous crimes, or if it would just worry her unnecessarily. After all, the two had not been seen since Corbright sent them on their way. He dashed up the steps, eager to see her, but found a distracted, distressed Lavinia Ormhill pacing the drawing room instead.
Lavinia cast herself into his arms, wailing, “Oh, it is terrible. I don’t believe it, not for a minute, but she said . . . Oh!” Her tears flooded his waistcoat as Edmund tried to coax her into some coherent speech.
“What is it, Aunt Lavvy? Tell me. Here.” He led her to the sideboard and poured a generous measure of brandy, then virtually forced it down her throat. She choked and gasped as he led her to the sofa. “Has something happened to Olivia? Where is she?”
“Oh, Edmund. I don’t know how to tell you this.” Lavinia gulped back another sob. “She has gone for a drive with Corbright. He has won her back.”
“Won her . . . If that pup Jason has been wagering again, I’ll hang him by his ears. But no. That can’t be your meaning. Livvy wouldn’t abide by any such wager, no more than she did when I—”
“That is not my meaning. Oh, dear boy. I know it will break your heart, but she said she loves him, always has. That it was all spite and revenge. That now he has answered all her doubts and they are to be married.”
Edmund stiffened. “I don’t believe it.”
“Neither did I, but she swore it was true. She . . . she hugged him, and smiled at him, and . . . she asked me to break it to you, to say she was sorry if you were hurt.”
“If I were hurt!” Heslington’s words came back to him then, as the taunts of his older brother always had, cutting him into ribbons too many times to remember. In the end she won’t have you, Eddie. Or if she does, she’ll be miserable. She loves Franklin, you know.
He slumped backward in his seat. Words would not come.
Lavinia longed to comfort him, but how to do it she did not know. “To think that only a few minutes ago she was composing a letter to Jason and my brother, to tell them of your engagement.” The clock on the mantel ticked into a painful silence. “It isn’t like Livvy,” she mused.
Edmund lifted his head. “No, it isn’t. If true, I can understand why she wouldn’t want to face me. But she will have to, eventually. I am not going to just slink away. I will hear this from her own lips before I accept it.” Just then Peter Barteau, red-faced and sweating, burst into the room.
“Where is Olivia?” he demanded.
“She is with your nephew,” Lavinia said bitterly. “She has decided to marry him, after all.”
“When did they leave?”
“Why, not fifteen minutes ago. Just for a short drive in the park, they said.”
“When did she decide to marry him? Last night it was—”
“I know. Apparently when she talked with him this morning—”
“I don’t believe it!”
“That makes three of us, Peter.” Lavinia sighed.
Edmund sat up straight. “Why did you rush in here looking for her in such a manner, sir?”
“Because I just learned that last week my nephew took out a special license to marry her. It has been granted, too. He collected it this morning.”
“How did you . . ?”
“I . . . never mind. I think we had best go and find them.”
Lavinia screamed, “He has a license with him?”
“This gets smokier by the moment. If he applied last week, he was far too sure of himself for any encouragement she had given him, at least that I am aware of.” Edmund looked at Lavinia for confirmation.
“Indeed, no. You know her suspicions! I don’t like to tell you this, Peter, but she even thought you a part of a plot for him to get all of the land in Norvale.”
“How?” Peter’s eyes narrowed.
“By marrying me.” Lavinia’s eyes stayed on Barteau’s face, hope mixed with fear.
“Balderdash! Don’t you believe a word of it! My nephew shall never see a penny of mine nor a clump of dirt from your land. Come now, Edmund. We must go after them. My curricle is at the curb.”
“Where do you think—”
“Saint George’s. He told the archbishop’s clerk that he was to be married this very morning at Saint George’s. How he has managed to get her to agree, I don’t know, but we must be sure she isn’t being forced.”
“Let’s go.” Edmund took Lavinia’s elbow, but she pulled back.
“No. You go ahead. Peter’s team will not go swiftly enough with the three of us in that curricle. I shall call for the carriage and follow. Just hurry and stop them, please!”
Chapter Twenty-one
“Was it always about my land?” Livvy asked Corbright as he tooled his curricle through traffic.
He shook his head. “Not entirely. You are a choice morsel, Olivia. And I do admire your mind. You will add luster to my project, quoting Greek to our visitors and dressing the part of an Athenian matron. But yes, since you ask, I always wanted your land. Otherwise I would have looked higher for a wife. The vision was originally my father’s, you see. He said Wren Hall was the key to the whole thing. The plan is to put a palace fit to entertain royalty right there, overlooking the valley and the best view
of the Parthenon.
“Even though he was made a baron, my father was still snubbed. But Prinny is a patron of the arts, especially architecture. He’ll be mad for this project. Wouldn’t be surprised if he wants to build his own palace nearby. I’ll be made an earl. You’ll be a countess, Livvy, and no one will look down on me again, ever.”
The fanatical look on his face as he spoke told Livvy more than she wished to know about his state of mind. The busy London traffic passed by in a blur as she listened to Corbright outlining the behavior he expected of her. She hardly knew where they were until they were nearly upon Saint George’s church. A small knot of people stood outside, obviously waiting. To her astonishment, she knew most of them, and the expressions on their faces told her it was she and Corbright they awaited.
“Oh, no! What is this? You cannot mean—”
“To wed you this very day? Indeed, yes. No more delays, remember. What delight I have had in planning this surprise wedding for you, asking everyone to keep my secret. Many skeptics claimed you would never show; I even have some substantial wagers resting upon your appearance. Now smile, Livvy, and act the excited, happy bride.”
“I can’t. Oh, I truly can’t. See, I am crying again. If you must marry me today, it should be in a place where we are unknown. Too many people here know me well enough to guess at my feelings.”
He scowled at her. “I believed you would come willingly. I truly thought you would want me. That hurts me, you know.”
“Think again, Franklin. Remember that you do have feelings, and they can be hurt. Do not saddle yourself with an unwilling wife.”
He shook his head, his mouth grim. “Too late to draw back now. I’ll have no more embarrassment at your hands, do you hear? Not to mention the wagers I would lose. Those tears are tears of joy, do you understand me? Unless you wish to cry tears of grief over your brother’s grave.”
Olivia shuddered all over. But she fixed a smile on her face as they drew even with some dozen members of the London ton. Cynthia Bowers stood closest to the curb, waving to her with a bouquet of flowers.