by Lucy Adams
Her cousins and her aunt and uncle had never considered her with the same sort of care and consideration that Lord Monteforte had done, and it was that behavior that had stolen her heart. The more she thought of him, the more she longed to be in his company. Her answer to his question as to whether or not she might consider courtship was now no longer unknown. She wanted to accept him, wanted to be close to him, wanted to consider a future with him. What her uncle would say, she could not imagine—for Olivia was still quite convinced that Lord Dayton had Lady Margaret in mind for Lord Monteforte, and besides which, the intention had always been for her cousins to marry first.
But none of this would matter or was worth her consideration if Lord Monteforte had suddenly changed his mind and no longer wished to court her. There was no easy explanation as to his absence, other than for her to think that he had decided he had been hasty in his eagerness to call upon her. But why then would he not simply have sent another note to explain himself?
“Oh, good gracious!”
Olivia stepped back in horror, her hands out wide as she stared down at the ground, to where four books were now lying on the ground, with one face down in a puddle. Hastily, she made to reach for it, only for the gentleman to cry out in loud exclamation and to scoop it up before she could do so.
“I must apologize, my dear lady!” he exclaimed, as the young lady beside him smiled kindly at Olivia, whose face was now burning hot with mortification. “I could not permit you to pick up the book when it was my fault entirely for—”
“I am quite sure that it was not your fault, sir,” Olivia answered honestly, not wanting the gentleman to claim responsibility for something she had done herself. “I was walking in a cloud of thoughts, not looking where I was going. I must apologize.” Her eyes lifted to the young lady, who was still smiling gently, a look of mirth in her eyes. “I should not have been so hasty in my steps. Might I pay for any damage?”
The gentleman shook his head. “Not at all,” he said firmly, being more than a little gracious. “They are all quite all right, I am sure of it.” He smiled at her again. “There is no need to concern yourself. Might I be so bold as to enquire your name?”
“Oh.” Olivia gave herself a slight shake, all the more embarrassed. “Yes, of course. Lady Olivia.” Managing a small curtsy, she looked at the handsome couple expectantly.
“Lord and Lady Watt,” the young lady said, her smile still warm. “Please, Lady Olivia, you must not concern yourself. It is quite all right, truly.”
“That is very good of you to say,” Olivia answered, finally feeling the heat recede from her face. “I was quite lost in thought as I have said and I—”
“You are the niece of Lord Dayton.”
Olivia blinked in surprise, turning to see Lord Watt staring at her, his eyes suddenly stern and the smile gone completely from his face.
“Yes,” she said slowly, as Lady Watt nudged her husband hard with her elbow, making him seem to recollect himself, for he turned his head away and he cleared his throat. “Yes, I am,” Olivia said again. “Are you acquainted with my uncle?”
Lord Watt hesitated then shook his head. “No, I am not,” he said, watching her keenly. “I am acquainted with Lord Monteforte, however, who is very well acquainted with your uncle, I believe.” Sharp eyes held hers, and Olivia felt a sudden shiver run down her spine. “You are acquainted with Lord Monteforte also, I believe.”
It was a statement rather than a question, and Olivia could only nod wordlessly, seeing how Lady Watt frowned, clearly a little displeased with her husband’s severe questioning of Olivia.
“It may be wrong for me to ask, Lady Olivia, and pray do not think me impertinent, but might I ask if you have seen Lord Monteforte recently?” Lord Watt asked, making Olivia’s stomach tighten with the intensity of his gaze. “The reason I ask is that he was due to call, and unfortunately did not appear. I am afraid he is unwell, or that some calamity has overtaken him that I am, at present, unaware of.”
Olivia caught her breath, suddenly feeling a deep sense of dread overtake her as she looked into Lord Watt’s eyes and felt his fear. “Might I ask when Lord Monteforte was due to call?” she asked, a little tightly. “Was it today?”
Lord Watt held her gaze for a moment then shook his head. “Yesterday,” he said quietly. “Yesterday afternoon. He did not appear and though I sent word to his house, there was no response.”
“I too have noted his absence,” Olivia answered quietly, feeling the same confusion in her own heart as was evident on Lord Watt’s face. “He was due to call on me this afternoon but has not done so.” She shrugged and looked away, a little embarrassed. “I thought he might have chosen to stay away or have changed his mind from his intentions, but mayhap I was wrong.”
Lord Watt pressed his lips together and shared a look with his wife that Olivia could not quite make out. There was an anxiety there, she was sure of it, but there was more depth to that look than she could understand.
“I sent a man to the staff last evening,” Lord Watt said slowly, as if trying to judge whether or not she was able to be trusted with such information. “But the staff informed me that he had quit the house and that, as yet, had not returned.” He lifted one shoulder. “In fact, they did not expect him to return until late that evening.”
“And have you checked to see if he has done so?” Olivia asked, unable to stop herself. “If he has not come back to his townhouse, then surely that speaks of some ill that has taken hold of him?”
Lord Watt glanced at his wife again, who was wearing a deeply troubled expression. He let out a long breath, whilst Olivia could not help but let her anxiety grow all the more.
“I think I should have done as you suggested,” Lord Watt muttered, looking a little upset with himself. “I should have gone to his residence this morning and spoken to him.”
“And if he was not at home?”
“Then…” Lord Watt shook his head, having appeared to have been on the verge of saying something more, only for him to then think better of it. “Then I would have put other plans in place. I will put other plans in place if it becomes clear that he is not at home.”
A surge of anxiety captured Olivia’s heart as she looked at Lord Watt, aware of how his deep frown and the lines on his forehead betrayed a deep sense of worry that he was clearly choosing not to verbally express. Something began to burn into her mind, a sense that all was not as it seemed. Lord Monteforte had absented himself from both his friend’s house and now his planned time with her – which meant that something was clearly wrong. Her heart began to quicken. Was he ill? Near death?
“Margaret,” she whispered, going white as she pressed one hand to her fluttering heart. “Goodness, please let it not be so.”
Lady Watt stepped forward at once and caught Olivia’s hand, whilst Betty took her other arm in order to steady her.
“Margaret?” Lady Watt asked, looking into Olivia’s eyes with deep concern. “What do you mean, Lady Olivia?”
Olivia drew in a steadying breath, forcing herself to remain as calm as she could despite the quaking of her heart. “My cousin has been stricken with a grave malady,” she told Lady Watt, seeing how the lady watched her with calm, steady eyes. “It took her all of a sudden, without any warning. She is still abed, unconscious, and now I fear that…” She could not bring herself to say it, her mouth working but no sound coming out.
“You fear that Lord Monteforte has been stricken with the same malady,” Lady Watt finished gently, patting Olivia’s hand. “Well then, Lord Watt and I shall go to Lord Monteforte’s home at once and search for him there. If he is unwell, I shall inform you immediately.”
“I-I must come with you,” Olivia answered hurriedly, seeing the slight flare in Lady Watt’s eyes. “If he is there, then I must be permitted to see him.”
Betty squeezed her arm gently. “I do not think that is wise, Lady Olivia,” she said quietly, forcing Olivia to look down at her. “We cannot remain away
from the house for too long for fear of what your uncle will say.”
“And I do not want you to find yourself in difficulty because of me,” Lady Watt agreed, letting go of Olivia’s hand. “But you can be assured that I will send a note to you almost as soon as I have discovered whether or not Lord Monteforte is at home.”
Olivia nodded, feeling as though she could not bear to stay away from Lord Monteforte’s home but knowing that both Betty and Lady Watt were quite right in their suggestions. “Very well,” she whispered weakly, feeling a ball of anxiety pushing through her, shaking her from within. “But I must know just as soon as you are able, Lady Watt. I…I care deeply for Lord Monteforte.”
Lady Watt smiled in understanding. “I can see that,” she said. “Have no fear, Lady Olivia. I shall write to you from his house so that you will not be held in suspense.”
Olivia tried to smile. “I thank you,” she said, pressing Lady Watt’s hand and feeling as though she had made a friend after what was only a very short acquaintance. “I will return home and await your note.”
It seemed an eternity for Olivia to wait for Lady Watt’s note to arrive. Betty had insisted that they go to the shops as Olivia had first intended, although Olivia had barely looked at anything on the shelves and had only purchased a new ribbon when Betty had reminded her of Olivia’s spoken intention to give it to Lady Margaret when she recovered. The bookshop had been quite forgotten as Olivia had turned home, hurrying along the street with such hasty footsteps that, by the time she reached her uncle’s townhouse, she was gasping for breath.
Betty had been red cheeked with exertion as she had followed Olivia up the stairs to her bedchamber, only for Olivia to be disappointed to hear that there was no note waiting for her. Since then, she had paced back and forth, her hands tightening together as she waited for news.
“I am sure that Lord Monteforte will write to you himself very soon,” Betty said, as she took a tea tray from another maid and brought it into Olivia’s bedchamber.
“But what if he does not?” Olivia asked anxiously, wringing her hands. “What if he is unwell…near death? What if I shall never again be able to speak to him as I have done so many times before?” A sudden fear made her throat close. “What if I shall never be able to give him the answer he has been seeking?” She stared desperately at her maid, as though Betty would somehow be able to give her an answer but knowing full well she could not. The fear that she would never be able to tell Lord Monteforte that she had decided she would accept his courtship, no matter what her uncle thought, began to well up within her, binding her tightly in shadow and making her visibly tremble. She opened her mouth to speak yet again, only for a small scratch at the door to catch her attention.
“Yes?” Half running to the door, Olivia practically snatched the note from the footman’s fingers, pulling it open and turning her back on him. She did not hear Betty dismiss the man, nor hear the door being shut tight. Instead, all she could focus on was the note in her hand. The note that told her there was no sign of Lord Monteforte at his townhouse and that the staff had not seen him since last evening. They had presumed he had come home during the early hours of the morning and, as such, had not roused him, but when Lord Watt had insisted, they found that Lord Monteforte’s bed was quite empty.
Lady Watt begged Olivia not to worry and promised that Lord Watt would take matters further. She assured Olivia that any news would be sent to her directly and tried to reassure her that Lord Monteforte would soon be found safe and well – but Olivia did not believe it. There was something wrong. Something deeply wrong, and even though Olivia did not know what it was, she could feel it within her very soul.
“You must not worry, Lady Olivia,” Betty said as kindly as she could, as Olivia sank down into a chair. She had not read the note, of course, but could tell from Olivia’s reaction that all was not well. “Lord Monteforte will return soon, I am sure.”
Olivia shook her head, feeling herself trembling. “The way Lord and Lady Watt looked at each other…” she said quietly, staring blankly across the room. “That said more to me than anything they said aloud.”
Betty sat down opposite Olivia, her expression greatly troubled. “What do you mean, my dear?” she asked, with all the tenderness that came from a long-established friendship with her mistress. “What can you be thinking of?”
“I…I do not know precisely,” Olivia answered, feeling a deep certainty sinking into her heart, “but I know that Lord Monteforte is not merely drunk in some card room somewhere or the like. Something is wrong. He is in some sort of danger or trouble, even though I cannot imagine what such a thing might be.”
Betty’s lips twisted, but she said nothing for some moments, looking into Olivia’s face and evidently seeing some evidence of the strength of feeling Olivia had. “I don’t know what you mean precisely, my lady, but if you believe there is something wrong, then might it not be best to speak to someone about your worries? Even your uncle might—”
Olivia held up her hand at once, a streak of fear racing through her. “No,” she said bluntly, suddenly recalling how Lord Monteforte had been taken by Lady Margaret to meet with her uncle as well as some other gentlemen. Was there any possibility that her uncle knew where Lord Monteforte was? She suddenly recalled the strange sense of anger she had felt coming from her uncle and her aunt when they had asked her, with a good deal of firmness, whether or not she had overheard anything that had been said on the night she had accompanied Margaret and Lord Monteforte to the library. “No,” she said again, as Betty looked at her in confusion. “I am not at all convinced that my uncle would be the best person to turn to.” Her eyes lifted to Betty’s face, her heart suddenly resolute. “I shall speak to no one—save for Lord and Lady Watt. I must write to Lady Watt at once and beg to speak to her when she has a few minutes to spare. I am sure my uncle would not mind me calling upon her.”
“I am sure he would not,” Betty agreed, knowing that Lord Dayton would be glad for anyone of high title to be acquainted with Olivia. “I only hope that you get the answers you need from her, Lady Olivia. It pains me to see you so distressed.”
Olivia managed to smile despite the fear curling in her heart. “I must hope that I am wrong about my fears,” she said softly, putting out one hand to rest it lightly on Betty’s shoulder. “But I thank you for your continuing consideration and care of me, Betty. I do not think I could live this life without you.”
Despite her intentions to remain as free from worry as she could, given that she had now written to Lady Watt, Olivia spent the rest of the day in a state of distress. She had barely eaten anything at dinner and even now did not feel like letting a single morsel pass her lips. There had been some good news however, for it seemed that Lady Margaret had recovered consciousness and was now sleeping. Lady Dayton had been relieved of her post almost forcibly by her husband, who had insisted that Lady Dayton spend an evening away from the house now that it seemed Margaret was to recover. He himself was to meet with a Lord Waterston with some other gentlemen, and he now encouraged Lady Dayton to be present with both Lady Louisa and Lady Olivia. Lady Waterston would host a musical evening whilst her husband dealt with whatever it was that the gentlemen were to do.
However, given that Olivia was not feeling at all inclined to go to any sort of soiree or the like, an idea had come to her almost at once. She had suggested that she remain at home by Margaret’s side, so that Lady Dayton could go out without worry. She had thought it an excellent idea, but neither Lord Dayton nor Lady Dayton had appeared as convinced as she. However, in due course, they had both decided to attend, although Olivia had been told not to go into Lady Margaret’s room for fear that she might then succumb to whatever it was that had held Lady Margaret so ill for so long, but only to stay near to the room so that if the maids who attended Lady Margaret required anything, or felt there was a significant change, Olivia would be able to take charge.
Thus, Olivia found herself wandering through the hal
lways of the townhouse, hearing barely any sound whatsoever. Her aunt had begged her to keep to the room next to Lady Margaret’s so that she might hear if Lady Margaret awoke, and whilst Olivia had promised to do so, she had not managed to keep such a promise, given that her mind was still so uneasy. Telling herself that the maids would be able to find her should Lady Margaret require anything, Olivia continued to meander slowly through the house, her brow furrowed and her lip caught between her teeth.
The ballroom opened up to her as she walked inside, her feet barely making any sound as she walked. Lord Monteforte filled her mind, for she practically felt his presence with her even as she walked. The fact that Lady Watt had not written to her in reply to Olivia’s letter only made her anxiety worse, fearing that there was still more that she herself did not understand. Her head began to ache as she walked through the house, almost feeling the growing darkness press in on every side, capturing her and holding her fast.
And then, she heard what sounded like a groan.
Her heart slammed hard into her chest, and she froze, her skin prickling with fear. Closing her eyes, Olivia took in a long, slow breath, telling herself that she was being quite foolish and that there was nothing to concern herself with. This townhouse very often made noises all of its own, especially if it had been very dry or very damp. She was just being foolish.
And then she heard it again. Her hand pressed to her heart as she waited, keeping her eyes closed for fear of what she might see, should she open them.
“Oh, there you are!”