Josiah arrived, and the look on his face immediately changed the mood.
“What is it now?” Olivia held her breath. “Do tell me it’s not another stipulation we have not been informed of.”
“Nothing like that.” Josiah paused to chose his words. “The day after we left for Egypt . . . I’m not sure how to say this.”
“Do get on with it, Josiah.” She tried and failed to hide the impatience in her voice. “How bad could it possibly be?”
“It might well change everything.” He drew a deep breath. “Lord Newbury passed away. Your father has died.”
Olivia stared at the solicitor, his words echoing in her head. Sterling moved to stand behind her, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Oh dear,” Millicent said under her breath. “How very unexpected.”
“Not really, although I doubt it was public knowledge.” Sterling said. “He told me he was ill.”
“He had been dead for a long time, I think,” Olivia said quietly. “I have not spoken to him since my marriage.” She clasped her hands together and studied them, trying to dredge up some semblance of appropriate emotion. But there was nothing—not hate or resentment or regret. And certainly not love.
When she was a child, she had assumed her father had loved her if only because he was her father. As she’d grown older she’d understood that he would have much preferred a son to a daughter and attributed his disinterest to disappointment. When he’d traded her to save himself, she’d finally realized that she was not, nor had she ever been, anything but a commodity.
“My dear girl.” Millicent laid her hand on Olivia’s. “My condolences.”
First Rathbourne was gone, and now her father. In an odd sort of way, she felt as if she’d been holding her breath for a very long time and had at last released it.
“You said this might change everything,” Sterling said to Josiah. “What did you mean?”
“Lord Newbury left quite a substantial estate. Property as well as a significant fortune.” The solicitor met her gaze. “You are his only heir.”
Olivia passed a weary hand over her forehead. “And what do I have to do to earn that?”
Josiah shrugged as if he couldn’t believe his own words. “Nothing at all.”
Olivia stared at the young man, then shook her head slowly. “I don’t want it.”
“Don’t be absurd.” Millicent sniffed. “Of course you want it, it’s your birthright.”
“Nonetheless, I didn’t want anything from him when he was alive.” She raised her chin. “I want nothing now that he’s dead.” She looked at Millicent. “I daresay you know any number of worthy charities that might benefit from my father’s demise.”
“Well yes, certainly but . . .” Millicent paused to chose her words. “Sometimes, we learn more about a person when he has passed on than we ever did when he lived. Your father could have made other arrangements for his fortune, but he obviously wanted you to have it.”
“Olivia.” Sterling stepped around the sofa and knelt before her. “You might need this.”
“But I don’t want it.” Her voice rose in spite of her best intentions.
“Livy.” The firm tone of Sterling’s words matched the look in his eyes. “There is no need to make any decision now. You deserve this legacy every bit as much as you do Rathbourne’s. More really. And if we are not successful—”
“We will be.” Resolve rang in her voice.
“There’s no need now to continue to meet the stipulations of your late husband’s will,” Josiah said. “The inheritance from your father, while not quite as large as Lord Rathbourne’s, would enable you to have the life you want.”
“Independence, Livy.” Sterling stared into her eyes. “Your father has made that possible. He has at last freed you from Rathbourne.”
For the briefest of moments, a wave of sadness washed over her. Not for anything lost but for what had never been.
“It changes nothing.” She shook her head. “And I shall not begin a new life with failure. I shall not allow my late husband to have this last victory over me.” She drew a calming breath. “But you’re right. I shall make no decision now. In a practical sense, it would be foolish of me to act out of pride or . . . or anger.”
“No.” A hint of a smile touched Sterling’s lips. “That would indeed be foolish.” He rose and glanced at Josiah. “Do you have the information as to the last item?”
The younger man hesitated, then nodded. He set his valise on a chair, opened it, and withdrew the last envelope. He grimaced and handed it to her.
She took the envelope, tore it open without hesitation, and realized, for the first time, that the sight of her late husband’s hand did not disturb her. It struck her that at the beginning of all of this, she’d had doubts even if she hadn’t admitted them. Oh, not about the challenge set for her but about herself. About who and what she was and whether she did indeed have the strength to be who and what she wished to be. Regardless of whether she won or lost this game of her late husband’s, he no longer had any power over her. Obviously, Sterling wasn’t the only one who had been changed by their quest.
“The Ambropia seals,” she read, then looked at Sterling. “This sounds familiar.”
“And not surprising.” A grim note sounded in Sterling’s voice. “There is a set of three ancient cylinder seals that are believed to hold the key to the location of the lost city of Ambropia, commonly referred to as the Virgin’s Secret.”
Olivia raised a brow. “How on earth do you know that?”
“Gabriella’s brother was in possession of one seal, but it was stolen from him.”
“I remember.” Olivia nodded. “She and Nathanial spoke me to about this before my late husband’s death.”
“In her efforts to recover her brother’s seal, she learned Rathbourne had another, and the third was in the collection of the London Antiquities Society. When the seal was located, Gabriella gave it to the society, so both seals are now in its collections.”
“So to complete my late husband’s collection, we only need to acquire those two seals?” She glanced at Josiah for confirmation.
He nodded.
“Correct me if I’m wrong but Gabriella’s seal . . .”
“Now known as the Montini seal,” Sterling said.
“Was that recovered after my late husband’s death?”
Sterling nodded. “Yes.”
“Then he couldn’t possibly know that the location of both seals would be known.” She thought for a moment. “Which means, as far as he knew, there was no possible way for me to complete this collection.”
“There is evidence to indicate that he had sought to acquire the Montini seal by less than legal means.” Sterling paused as if reluctant to continue. “He admitted to Gabriella that he had hired someone to steal the seal. That effort, however, was unsuccessful. But, yes, as far as he knew, any attempt on your part to complete this last collection was fated to fail.”
“I see.” She smiled slowly. “Fate is certainly an interesting mistress and, at this point, I believe she is mine.” Excitement rose within her. By her count she still had twenty-two days to meet the stipulations of the will. “But we do know where the final items are, and, best of all”—she met Sterling’s gaze—“you are on the board of the Antiquities Society.”
“I am.” He and Josiah traded glances. “And in the eighty-some years of the society’s existence, it has never relinquished an item in its collection.”
Twenty-three
Livy stared at him. “Never?”
Sterling shook his head. “Not that I am aware of.”
“But surely, in this case—”
“The society is intractable about this issue. I believe it’s stipulated in the bylaws, as I’m sure Rathbourne knew,” Sterling said.
“There have been instances through the years where the society has been offered huge sums of money or valuable artifacts in exchange for an item in its collection, but to a
man, the board has never seriously considered it.”
“So this last collection is one I can’t possibly complete,” she said under her breath.
“Olivia,” his mother interrupted. “Even without fulfilling the terms of the will, you have achieved victory. You have the means now to do as you wish.”
“No.” Livy shook her head firmly. “Victory has been handed to me through no effort of my own.”
Mother cast her a sympathetic look. “If it’s your pride—”
“It is pride to a certain extent, but it’s more than that.” She paused to pull her thoughts together. “If I give up now, my late husband has succeeded in continuing to own my life even from the grave. If I do not see this through to the very end . . .” She shook her head. “This will haunt me for the rest of my days and eat at my soul. I know myself well enough to know that. It will be a constant reminder, and I will never be free.”
Livy’s gaze met his, and at once he understood. In her place he would feel the same.
“I shall arrange for a meeting with the society’s director for tomorrow morning,” he said.
Livy smiled, and his heart ached. “Thank you.”
Later that night, the entire family gathered for dinner, including Sir Lawrence, Gabriella, and Josiah, who could not keep his eyes off Reggie. His sister flirted with the young solicitor in a startlingly accomplished manner. It was a turn of events Sterling vowed to keep a close eye on. There was scarcely a quiet moment throughout the meal, with discussions leaping from Livy’s final acquisition to Reggie’s social activities to Quinton’s handling of the family’s affairs in his absence to Nathanial and Gabriella’s wedding plans. All in all, it was a somewhat raucous affair.
Livy had the seat beside him, and he watched her more than he followed the conversation. Watched her study his family’s reactions to one another and watched varying emotions flicker through her eyes. And watched her laugh. She did not laugh nearly enough. He would have to do something about that and ignored the thought that, until recently, neither did he.
During a particularly lively debate between Sir Lawrence, Gabriella, and his brothers as to the significance of a recent discovery of Asia Minor artifacts, he leaned close and spoke softly into her ear. “We can be a bit overwhelming. My family that is.”
“Overwhelming?” She turned toward him, her eyes wide. “I don’t find it the least bit overwhelming but rather quite delightful.”
He raised a brow. “Do you?”
“I do indeed. Look at them.” Her gaze swept the table. “Not one of them is afraid to say what he or she thinks even if they disagree with one another. In spite of the occasional heated nature of whatever the topic at hand, there is an undercurrent here not merely of respect but of affection.” She shook her head. “I have always envied you this.”
He chuckled softly. “This?”
“It’s a family, Sterling, with all of its quirks and foibles and even its disagreements.” She smiled. “It’s quite remarkable and most enjoyable. I am grateful to be a part of it, at least for tonight.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to invite her to be a part of it forever, but he held back. She no longer needed to marry anyone out of necessity, not that she would have done so at any rate. But until her quest was resolved, he would refrain from pressing her for a future together. Given he had already waited for a decade, he could wait another twenty-two days.
Sir Lawrence cleared his throat and rose to his feet. “I should like to make an announcement or rather, I suppose ask a question. I should probably do this privately but as your entire family is gathered, this seems appropriate. I spent many hours around this very table in my younger days, but I did not have the right to do what I wish to do now.” He met Sterling’s gaze directly. “I should like your permission to ask for your mother’s hand in marriage.” His gaze traveled around the table. Not one face showed so much as a hint of surprise. He smiled in a sheepish manner. “I see this is not unexpected.”
“It was my understanding you had already asked my mother to marry you,” Sterling said wryly.
“But she has not given me an answer, and I thought perhaps she was waiting for your approval.” He turned to Sterling’s mother. “So once again, Millicent, I have loved you for much of my life. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Goodness, Lawrence, you are persistent,” Mother said with a sigh. “I thought you knew the answer.”
The older man’s brow furrowed. “Do I?”
“Of course you do.” Mother favored him with a private sort of smile for him alone. “I should like nothing better than to marry you.”
Sir Lawrence stared at her for a moment, then grinned. “Tomorrow then? Or the day after? Or as soon as it can be arranged?”
She laughed. “Not tomorrow or the day after. This family already has one wedding looming in less than a month. But perhaps the day after that.”
He studied her. “I shall not allow you to change your mind, you know.”
“Nor shall I allow you to change yours,” Mother said in an offhand manner belying the affectionate look she cast at her newly betrothed.
Sir Lawrence sat down, and Josiah immediately cleared his throat and stood. “As we are requesting permissions, sir.” He addressed his words to Sterling. “While my father has been knighted, my family holds no hereditary titles, so this is somewhat presumptuous of me but—”
“But you do have excellent prospects.” Sterling smiled.
“Indeed, I do, sir.” An eager note sounded in the young man’s voice. “And I should like permission to call on your sister.”
Reggie grinned at the solicitor, then turned an overly innocent gaze toward her brother. Even in the short time she’d been out in society, Reggie had already accumulated suitors with the avid dedication of a seasoned collector of art or antiquities. Sterling doubted anything would come of allowing Josiah to call on her. In spite of the solicitor’s prospects, he currently had neither the means nor the position to truly appeal to his sister. And if, by some chance, affection did blossom between them, he was an honorable young man with a good head on his shoulders and a good future ahead of him. Reggie could do far worse.
Sterling nodded. “You have my permission.”
“And best of luck to you.” Quinton stifled a laugh.
“Thank you, sir.” Josiah breathed a sigh of relief and resumed his seat. Beside him, Reggie tried and failed to hide a smug smile. Poor boy. Sterling did hope Reggie would not break his heart.
“What about you, brother?” Quinton said idly, his gaze sliding from Sterling to Livy and back. “Do you have permission to ask or an announcement to make?”
“Yes, Sterling,” Nathanial added. “Surely you have something of that nature to share?”
“One would think, in the interests of propriety, given you have always been a stickler for such things and considering that you and Lady Rathbourne traveled a great deal together without benefit of chaperone . . .” Reggie pinned her brother with the kind of challenging look only an eighteen-year-old could assume. “That you should wish to do what is right.”
“We were not entirely alone you know,” Livy said in a casual manner. “Mr. Cadwallender was nearly always with us.”
“And I saw no evidence of improper behavior,” Josiah said staunchly.
“Nor did I,” Mother said, adding under her breath, “more’s the pity.”
Reggie ignored them and turned to Livy. “But surely you realize the appearance of impropriety is as damning to one’s reputation as the actions themselves.”
“This is neither the time nor the place for such a discussion,” Sterling said in his best Earl-of-Wyldewood voice.
“My dear, Regina,” Livy began. “I am not the least bit concerned about my reputation. However, it is not a position I advise, especially for someone of your age.” She shrugged. “When one has experienced marriage, and travel and one’s future has been the subject of a wager between men—”
Sterl
ing shot a quick glance at Josiah, who winced.
“—one has earned the right to behave as one wishes, within reason, of course.” Livy cast his sister a pleasant smile.
Reggie’s gaze slide from Livy to Sterling. “What wager?”
“It’s of no significance,” Livy said lightly, and sipped her wine.
“It’s not?” His gaze met Livy’s over her wineglass.
“No.” Amusement danced in her green eyes. “Not at all.”
Quinton narrowed his eyes. “You never answered my question.”
“The answer is no. I have nothing to ask; nor do I have anything to announce,” Sterling said smoothly. Or rather, he should say, not yet. Not for another twenty-two days. If nothing else, he had at least learned patience.
“What a shame,” his mother said under her breath.
A minute later the conversation thankfully shifted to another topic. He leaned toward Livy and spoke softly into her ear. “You’re not angry then? About the wager?”
She shook her head. “Not at all.”
He studied her carefully. “Why not?”
She smiled and turned to join in the discussion.
He directed his apparent attention toward the rest of the table, but his thoughts were on her. She wasn’t angry about the wager, indeed, she didn’t seem the least bit upset. Obviously, she knew that Josiah had conceded victory to him, yet she didn’t seem at all bothered by it. At a minimum, he had expected comments about his arrogance. He chuckled to himself. This turn of events was most interesting and surely a good sign.
After dinner Livy pleaded weariness and retired to her rooms. Sterling joined his brothers on the terrace for brandy and cigars. They talked of the sorts of things brothers talk about long into the night. With his brothers’ work taking them to the far reaches of the world, it was rare for the three of them to be together. And like anything rare, it was to be cherished. He wondered what it would be like to face the world without siblings, without family, as Livy had. Hopefully, one day soon, he could give her this.
Desires of a Perfect Lady Page 27