Lady Olivia and the Infamous Rake

by Janice Preston

  Sir Horace hurried to Mama’s side and gently urged her away. ‘Allow Hugo and his Grace to deal with him, my love. Come, let us take charge of Lady Olivia. That is why Hugo asked us to follow him, after all.’ He shot a look at Hugo. ‘You were right. We asked the driver of the carriage waiting by the barn and he told us he was hired to drive a couple to London.’

  As Hugo had suspected, Clevedon’s plan had moved on from simply entrapping Olivia in a compromising situation. He had now planned to remove Olivia completely from the safety and security of her family until she was so thoroughly compromised there would be no way out other than for the couple to marry. Even a man as powerful as her father would have to concede defeat in those circumstances.

  Mama came to Olivia and coaxed her from Hugo’s embrace. He wanted to object, but Olivia was better off remaining ignorant of what would come next.

  Mama smiled at him reassuringly. ‘We will take her back to the house with us. She will be safe.’

  He watched them move out of sight, then pivoted on his heel to face Clevedon.

  ‘I shall see you, sir. Name your—’

  ‘Alastair!’ Cheriton’s hand was on his arm. ‘She is my daughter. I shall be the one to defend her honour.’

  Hugo steeled himself against the imperious demand in that silvery gaze. ‘You are too late, Duke. The challenge is issued.’

  Fury flashed across Cheriton’s face, but Hugo did not care. He thirsted for revenge. He would prefer to beat the man to a pulp, but it was decreed that a duel was the way by which gentlemen of their world settled their differences and he would not behave as other than a gentleman in this matter. Olivia deserved no less.

  ‘Your second, sir?’

  Clevedon swayed on his feet, shoulders slumped. ‘Sudbury. Yours?’

  Hugo raised a brow at Alex but, before he could respond, the Duke astonished him by saying, ‘I’ll stand as your second, Alastair. Least I can do.’

  He crossed to Clevedon and gave him a shove in the direction of the barn. ‘Take your bloody carriage and get out of my sight. Have Sudbury call on me at six tonight to make the arrangements.’

  As Clevedon stumbled away, Cheriton rubbed at his eyes before facing Hugo and Alex.

  ‘Now, will you two tell me what the devil has been going on?’

  Alex took a letter from his pocket and handed it to his father. ‘Livvy sent me this. I’ve been staying with Alastair at his house on Sir Horace’s estate. It is further along that carriageway.’ He pointed.

  Cheriton nodded and then unfolded the sheet of paper and read it, his brow furrowed. His chest rose and fell, and he closed his eyes for a second before fixing them on Alex.

  ‘You are in debt again? After everything...all the promises?’ He sounded weary, almost defeated, and Hugo’s heart went out to him. He might be one of the most powerful and wealthy men in the country, but the estrangement between him and his younger son—which Hugo knew existed, but still didn’t fully understand—clearly mattered a great deal to him. ‘That, I presume, is why you did not inform me you were staying near Brighton?’

  Alex’s face flamed. ‘It’s a damned lie! I owe Clevedon nothing and if Livvy had only had the sense to ask me instead of believing that bastard’s lies, none of this would have happened.’ The corners of his mouth turned down. ‘That’s typical. You always believe the worst of me.’

  Cheriton’s lips thinned. ‘Then I apologise. I do try not to do so.’ Hugo admired the Duke’s control of the temper that simmered behind his eyes and the effort it must have taken to humble himself in such a way, especially in front of a virtual stranger. ‘Please continue.’

  ‘Tommy delivered the letter and he told us Livvy hadn’t gone on the picnic ride with the rest of the family, but had then decided to catch them up. That sounded like a ruse to go and race Clevedon and Hugo here guessed that Clevedon had some plan to either compromise or abduct her.’

  Those silver-grey eyes narrowed as the Duke’s gaze shifted to Hugo.

  ‘I was aware Clevedon was getting desperate and that he had set his sights on Olivia’s dowry.’

  ‘Olivia?’

  Cheriton’s growl stirred Hugo’s temper. He was damned if he would cower in front of the man. If he wanted to call her by her given name, then he damn well would.

  ‘I have been looking out for Olivia ever since you dismissed my warnings about the man.’

  ‘Perhaps you should have tried harder. Told me exactly what Clevedon was capable of.’

  ‘Perhaps I would have, had I known,’ Hugo retorted.

  Alex cleared his throat. ‘Alastair,’ he said pointedly, ‘has just rescued my sister and your daughter, and he has been looking out for her and helping me while you have been distracted by other family concerns.’

  Again, Hugo felt sympathy stir for Cheriton who, he knew, had been beleaguered by family affairs recently when his sister’s half-Romany fiancé had been imprisoned at Newgate. Who could really blame the man for not realising what mischief was brewing in his young daughter’s life?

  ‘To continue,’ said Alex. ‘Tommy told me you hadn’t ridden out with the rest of the family, so I rode to fetch you while Hugo headed over to the course to try to intercept them and stop Clevedon from whatever he planned. I don’t know how come the Todmordens showed up, though.’

  Hugo shrugged. ‘That was luck. After Alex and I parted ways, I met Mama and Sir Horace coming back from town. When I explained matters, they told me they had seen a carriage waiting by the barn when they passed by earlier and I asked them to come with me to take charge of Olivia, to protect her reputation.’

  Cheriton hauled in a breath. ‘I appreciate your forethought and your consideration. I shall fetch Olivia now and take her home and I’ll send you word once we have arranged where you will meet Clevedon.’ His jaw firmed. Then he stepped forward and grasped Hugo’s shoulder. ‘Thank you.’

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Olivia held tight to her self-control until Lady Todmorden showed her into her private parlour and the butler had personally delivered a tea tray. But it took just one kind enquiry as to how she was feeling for her pent-up emotions to burst forth.

  Her ladyship clucked sympathetically and sat beside Olivia, putting her arms around her to hold her as she cried. As the flood of tears subsided, she pressed a sensible, man-sized handkerchief into Olivia’s hand and left her to mop up while she poured the tea.

  ‘There now.’ Lady Todmorden placed a teacup on the table beside Olivia. ‘You no doubt feel better for a good cry. I know I always do. And a nice cup of tea will set everything right, I am sure. All’s well that ends well, after all, my pet.’

  Tears leaked again and Olivia dabbed her eyes with the now very damp handkerchief.

  ‘It is all my own fault.’ She gulped and then hiccupped. ‘I was so certain I would be safe and win the race, and I thought I could save Alex.’ She bowed her head as she twisted the handkerchief in her lap. ‘Why didn’t I listen? I am such a fool. A wicked, headstrong, conceited fool. Hugo warned me about C-Clevedon, but I thought... I th-thought...’

  She felt the downward drag at the corners of her mouth as tears bubbled once again. She gritted her teeth hard and breathed strongly through her nose. She would not keep succumbing to bouts of weeping like some...some...silly milksop. But, oh, what a fool she had been indeed. When she thought about what could have happened... Sir Horace had pointed out the carriage that lurked unseen on the far side of the barn. She would never dare listen to that stupid, overly confident voice inside her head ever again.

  How could she have made such a ridiculous mistake? How could she have, so mindlessly, taken such a stupid risk? No wonder Hugo wanted nothing to do with her. And on that thought, she promptly burst into tears again and Lady Todmorden once again took her in her arms.

  ‘He thinks I am a s-s-silly little girl,’ Olivia wailed. ‘And he
is right. I am a f-fool and he is quite right not to l-l-love me. But I—’

  She stopped on a gasp as her brain caught up with her mouth and she recalled it was Hugo’s mother whose shoulder she was drenching with her tears. She pulled away, the shock of having said such a thing out loud stemming her tears more effectively than any kind words.

  ‘Now, now, my pet, I beg you not to work yourself into a lather over Hugo.’ Lady Todmorden gathered Olivia’s hands in hers. ‘I assume that you are talking about that reprehensible son of mine?’

  Olivia swallowed, willing her voice to remain steady. ‘I am sorry. I should not have said that. I was distraught. Please, forgive—’

  ‘Forgive you?’ Through slightly blurred eyes, Olivia saw her ladyship tip her head to one side, a satisfied smile on her face as she scanned Olivia’s face with her dark but bright eyes. ‘There is nothing to forgive, my pet. Young love is—as I remember it—brutal and heartbreaking at times and then, at others—’ her expression became wistful...nostalgic... ‘—it can make you feel as though you are soaring so effortlessly through the air your feet might never touch the ground again.’

  Despite Aunt Cecily’s constant reminders to Olivia to curb her curiosity, she could not help but ask, ‘Was that with Lord Rothley, ma’am?’

  Lady Todmorden started at her words and that wistful air dissipated.

  ‘No. I am sorry to say that my father believed that girls should be biddable and marry whomever they were told to marry. My young love had no happy ending, my dear, and Rothley—my father’s choice—was not a kind man, either to his young wife or to his sons. That is why, if you truly love him, I advise you to fight for Hugo. Your papa might disagree, but it is your life and you are the one who must live it.’

  Lady Todmorden’s spirit kindled Olivia’s hopes until they were dashed all over again as she remembered the truth.

  ‘It is hopeless. Hugo...’ She gulped back another bout of tears. ‘Hugo does not return my feelings.’

  A dull, hollow ache filled her chest. Then she stared as Lady Todmorden laughed.

  ‘Nonsense, my pet. Of course he returns your feelings. I have known that since I saw you both studiously avoiding one another’s eye outside Gunter’s Tea Room weeks ago.’ She took Olivia’s hand again, patting it. ‘Let me tell you, my pet. I have never seen my Hugo put himself out so much for anyone other than for one of his own family. Do not despair. Although...’ She paused and Olivia waited with bated breath. ‘I pointed out Cedar Lodge as we passed, do you recall?’

  Olivia nodded.

  ‘Be very certain that you are prepared to live in such a modest house. Hugo is not a wealthy man and after getting into debt in the past, I know he is determined not to do so in the future. He stands to inherit Helmstone eventually—although I hope not for a very long time—but you must be absolutely sure your love is strong enough to live a much more modest life than that to which you are accustomed.’

  ‘But I have a dowry—’ She stopped speaking as her ladyship raised her hand.

  ‘You have a very generous dowry, yes. I am aware of it. But my Hugo is a proud man and it can be difficult for such a man to accept a wife who both outranks him and is wealthier than him.’

  ‘That did not stop Lord Clevedon from wanting to marry me. Although in his case it seems my dowry was the only lure.’

  ‘Ah, but you see, my pet, Lord Clevedon is not an honourable man. But an unequal union...a disparity in wealth...can be most successful, even taking into account male pride. Only last year my niece—a wealthy peeress in her own right—wed the third son of an earl. Matthew had nothing of his own other than a business importing from the East and I have never known a couple happier and more content. Except for my Lucas and his Mary, of course.’ She beamed with maternal pride.

  Olivia pondered her ladyship’s words as she sipped her tea and willed her tumultuous emotions to settle. Hope had once again been coaxed into life. This time, however, she would not allow it to run rampant, but she would keep it under control. She would not try to persuade Hugo to reveal his true feelings—although she prayed that her ladyship was right about them—but she would wait patiently for him to finally admit them to her. Then, and only then, would she do as Lady Todmorden advised and she would indeed fight with every fibre of her being to persuade Papa to accept Hugo as a suitable husband for his only daughter.

  The sound of hooves outside brought both Olivia and Lady Todmorden to their feet.

  ‘They will not bring Lord Clevedon here, will they?’

  Olivia’s stomach knotted—she did not know if she had the courage to face him, even if Hugo and Papa were both there.

  ‘I am sure they will not bring him anywhere near you, my pet. But, just to make sure, I shall ask Sir Horace to check.’

  She left the room and Olivia went to the window. Alex was outside, mounted on an unfamiliar horse, holding the reins of both Conqueror—Papa’s horse—and Sprite. Olivia heard the low murmur of voices and then the door opened and she turned to face it. She had hoped Hugo might come, so that she might apologise to him and thank him again, but the doorway remained empty behind Papa and Lady Todmorden after they entered. Those treacherous tears threatened to erupt again, but she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She was a duke’s daughter. She would take responsibility for her mistakes and stupidity, not attempt to avoid blame by crying.

  ‘I am sorry, Papa.’

  She felt she should say more but, really, she could find no words to excuse her actions. Papa shook his head at her and smiled ruefully. He opened his arms and she ran across the room and into his embrace, love for him flowing through her.

  ‘Come on, minx. Let us get you home.’ He pulled back and looked down at her. ‘Are you up to riding, or shall I ask Sir Horace for his carriage?’

  ‘No. I shall ride.’ Olivia smiled at Lady Todmorden. ‘Thank you—and I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused.’

  ‘It was no trouble, my pet.’ Lady Todmorden kissed her on the cheek and whispered, ‘Courage, my dear. All will be well.’

  They met no one else on their way out of the house. Papa lifted her on to Sprite and mounted Conqueror and then all three of them rode along the carriageway that led back to the Dyke road.

  ‘I have everyone’s agreement that the details of today will not be spread abroad,’ said Papa. ‘But I hope you have learned your lesson, young lady.’

  ‘Yes, Papa.’

  ‘You are not to go out without me or your stepmother, or your uncle and aunt, for the remainder of our stay in Brighton and I shall instruct two maids to watch you at all times. Is that clear? I will not have you take any further risks.’

  His voice shook on those final words and guilt clawed at Olivia—she knew how he fretted over safety after what had happened to her mother, yet still she had put him through this.

  ‘I understand, Papa.’

  They rode in silence until they reached the neat brick house that Lady Todmorden had earlier pointed out to Olivia. It was set back from the carriageway in a forecourt bounded by stone piers and wrought-iron railings. A massive cedar tree dominated the neatly scythed lawn to the side of Cedar Lodge.

  Hugo’s home. Where was he? Why had he not come to her, to see that she was all right? That familiar ache swelled her throat again, but again she controlled her emotions.

  ‘I shall leave you here.’ Alex reined his horse close to Sprite and reached across to squeeze Olivia’s shoulder. ‘You’re a troublesome brat, but I’m glad you’re still here with us and not halfway to London with that bas—’

  ‘Alexander!’

  ‘Scoundrel,’ he amended, with a wink at her. ‘I’ll come and see you tomorrow, Liv,’ and with that he set his horse into a canter up the driveway to the Lodge.

  Olivia scanned the windows, but the house was too far for her to see if Hugo was looking out. She swallowed, raised her chin
and sent Sprite into a trot, back towards Brighton. Papa, seeming to sense her mood, trotted Conqueror alongside but, other than a few searching looks, he said nothing more until they arrived at the house. Thankfully, the rest of the family had not yet returned from their picnic ride—she was amazed that such a momentous event in her life had taken place in such a short time—and therefore had no idea of the drama that had taken place.

  ‘I suggest—’ said Papa, not unkindly ‘—that you go straight to your bedchamber and you remain there until the morning. That will back up your story that you were not well; the fewer people who know about this the better, even within the family. I shall ask Cook to send you a tray later on.’

  Exhaustion and guilt and the need to just be alone robbed her of any argument or of any desire to question Papa about what had happened to Clevedon. She could not even think of him without a shudder. She climbed the stairs, pulled off her clothes and crawled into her bed, curling up into a tight ball.

  There would be time to think later, when she was not so very, very weary.

  * * *

  Hugo paced the drawing room at Cedar Lodge, pausing only to look out of the window each time his circuit took him past it. Finally, he could see them: the Duke, Alex and Olivia. She was riding Sprite and respect for her courage filled him anew. Most other women would be swooning on a sofa after such an ordeal, even without that vicious slap. Fury erupted again, but he tamped it down. He would get his chance tomorrow and, by God, it would give him the greatest satisfaction to put a ball in that bastard.

  After Clevedon had gone, Hugo’s first instinct had been to ride straight to Helmstone to assure himself that Olivia was all right. The Duke, however, had made it abundantly clear he must stay away—and the more he thought about that edict, and the way he had meekly submitted, the fiercer his resentment grew. At the time it had seemed best to give Cheriton the time to sort his family out, but now...