A Taste of Temptation (32 page)

Olivia looked from the trap door to the yew trees. “How would he know about this secret shaft?”

“That’s easy to explain,” Andrew said, pulling her into his arms. “He used to come to London twice a year to go over the account books with me. He always stayed in that room. He could have been looking under the bed for a stocking or a shoe and found the door.”

“And Ellie hadn’t been working for you long when I came. Hawkins must have had her apply for a job at your house.”

“That’s why she was begging you to let her stay when Whibbs was ready to turn her off. She had to stay so she could help Hawkins.”

“Oh, I can’t believe I fell for her lies.”

“Olivia, don’t worry about that. We’ve all made mistakes.”

Olivia snuggled deeper into the comforting heat of Andrew’s arms. She pressed her nose into the warmth of his neck and said, “What do we do now?”

Andrew kissed the top of her head as he held her tightly. “We go back inside and plan a trap for Willard Hawkins.”

8

O
livia sat restlessly
in the parlor with her needle-work in her lap. The room had been scrubbed clean and the scent of beeswax and lemon polish had replaced the smell of burned fabric. She had already sent the housekeeper out to purchase new fabric so more draperies could be made for the window.

The day was passing slowly. Olivia had done more pac-ing than sewing and reading put together. It was her job to spend the day at the house and keep an eye on Ellie.

It was Andrew’s line of reasoning that Hawkins would know that the house didn’t burn down last night and that he would come see Ellie to find out what was being said about the fire or possibly to plan other mischief. Andrew wanted everyone going about their day routinely, which meant he had to be away from the house, but not very far.

Andrew had a Runner hiding in the garden watching the outside trap door. Another man was stationed just outside their garden waiting to signal Andrew, who was waiting in a hired coach down the street, if Hawkins showed up.

Thompson had been stationed inside the house in Andrew’s book room, pretending to be going over his account books, but Andrew made it clear to the man his only mission was to keep Olivia safe should Hawkins make it inside the house.

“Countess.”

Olivia looked up from her sewing to see Ellie standing in the doorway. “Yes?”

“Lady Lynette is here and wondering if you might be available for her to visit.”

Olivia studied over it for a moment. She started to say no, thinking there might be trouble if Hawkins showed up.

But Andrew said for her to follow her routine as much as possible, so she decided not to send Lynette away.

“Yes, of course, show her in.”

A few moments later Lynette walked into the parlor.

The first thing Olivia noticed was that Lynette was wearing the facial cream that covered her birthmark.

“Lynette, how lovely of you to drop by,” Olivia said, putting her sewing aside. She rose from the settee and the two ladies hugged.

“I’m sorry to stop by again without previous arrangement,” Lynette said with a big smile on her face.

“Don’t be silly. Have a seat. I’ll have some tea brought in.”

“No, none for me, thank you. I don’t have the time today. I have so much to do, but first things first.”

“All right,” Olivia said, glad Lynette wouldn’t be staying too long, but curious as to why she had come. She sat down beside Lynette.

“I came over to tell you that I won’t be stopping by anymore.”

Olivia stiffened at the shock of Lynette’s words, yet she was confused by the smile on her friend’s face. “I don’t understand. Did I do something wrong?”

“No, no. You did everything right. I won’t be stopping by because I won’t be in London. This morning the Marquis of Musgrove Glenn asked my father for my hand and my father agreed. I’ll be moving to Sussex with my husband.”

Chills of excitement pebbled Olivia’s skin as she grabbed Lynette in another tight hug. “I’m so happy for you. How wonderful. So very wonderful! Tell me how it all happened.

Did you know he was going to ask for your hand?”

“No, no, of course not, but it is a dream come true. My father called me into the parlor this morning and the Marquis was there. Father told me that the Marquis had asked for my hand, and if I agreed, he would give me a few minutes alone with him so he could make a proper proposal.”

“And he did?” Olivia asked with her smile as big as Lynette’s.

“Yes! He told me he has always been fond of me. Can you believe that? He’s always been fond of me.”

“Of course he has, Lynette. You are special to many people.”

“He asked if I would be happy married to him and taking care of his children. I told him of course I would. I love children. And then he asked if we could marry without waiting so he could quit the Season and get back to his family. We’ll be married next week.” Olivia took hold of Lynette’s hands. “Lynette, I don’t know what to say except to extend my very best wishes for a long and happy marriage.”

“Thank you, Olivia, and thank you for helping me believe in myself.”

“I didn’t do anything. You just told me the Marquis has always been fond of you.”

“He said that when he saw me last night with my birthmark covered it was like looking at a new woman, like he was seeing me for the first time. But this morning he realized that my birthmark is part of who I am and he has always been fond of me just the way I am. He said I should wear the cream to cover it if it made me feel better but he now considered my birthmark a beauty mark.” Olivia squeezed Lynette’s hands. “It was so sweet of him to say such a lovely thing to you.”

“He told me that when he saw so many men dancing with me last night he was worried one of them would ask for my hand before he could.”

“I’m sure he was right, and he did the proper thing by coming to your father at once.”

“Guess what he did after he told me that.”

“What?”

Lynette bent close and whispered, “He kissed me on my lips. It felt so wonderful I thought I was going to faint.” Olivia laughed. “I agree that kissing the man you love makes you feel that way.”

“I think I’m walking on air. My feet may never touch the ground again.” Her expression turned more serious and she said, “There is one more thing I must tell you before I go, and I must hurry, as I have two other ladies to see this afternoon. In fact, they are married to the other two Terrible Threesomes.”

“Do you mean Lady Dunraven and Lady Chatwin?”

“Yes, Millicent and Catherine. They both already know what I’m about to tell you and I felt it only right that you know, too.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “I have been writing Lord Truefitt’s column for two years now.”

“Ohhh,” Olivia whispered as a chill shook her. “Oh?

You? You mean he’s not a man? He’s you?” Lynette nodded as she opened her reticule and handed Olivia a sheet of vellum. “This will come out later today in the paper.”

Olivia looked down at the vellum and read: The ghost of Hamlet’s father couldn’t be more popular than a certain duke’s daughter who arrived at the Great Hall last evening as a dia-mond of the first water. She quickly became the belle of the ball, claiming dances from bachelors young and old. She was sought after so vigorously she was heard saying, “Unhand me gentlemen, by heavens! I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me.”

Lord Truefitt

Society’s Daily Column

Stunned, Olivia looked back to her friend. “I had no idea.”

“Very few people know, but I wanted you to know because you have given me a new life.”

“You did that for yourself, Lynette. But tell me, how did you get started writing the column? Why did you do it?”

“The column has always been written by a lady. The name was made up to help protect the identity of the first lady to be Lord Truefitt. Since I took over I’ve tried to make the column fascinating for the readers. Millicent always used a quote from Shakespeare. That’s why I wanted to end my last column with a line from Shakespeare.”

“Lady Dunraven used to write as Truefitt, too?” Lynette smiled. “Only for a very short time, and you must never tell anyone about any of this.”

“Never,” Olivia said.

“Millicent took over from her aunt, who had an accident and was unable to write the column any longer. The responsibility of writing the column has brought me tremendous satisfaction, but now I must give it up to be with my husband, and I do so with no reservations.”

“So there will no longer be a Lord Truefitt’s column?”

“That’s up to the
Daily Reader
. Perhaps the owner will find someone to take my place. The only thing I know is that it will no longer be me. I’m changing my name from Lord Truefitt to Lady Musgrove Glenn and I shall be very happy leaving the gossip behind and taking care of my husband’s children.”

Olivia leaned back in the settee and smiled. “You will have a marvelous life, Lynette, and I shall look forward to seeing you after you become Lady Musgrove Glenn.” 8

A
ndrew was going
crazy in the enclosed carriage. He didn’t know why he thought he could stay in this small compartment all day and not drive himself insane. In the wee hours of the morning it had seemed like a good idea, but at that time he’d also been convinced that Hawkins would show up early in the day to find out what the servants were saying about the fire.

Obviously he was wrong. Noon had passed and so had tea time. In another hour it would be dark, but he still had hope Hawkins would appear. It was the time of day that Olivia had heard the voices in her room. But to be safe, he had to make plans in case Hawkins didn’t show. It wasn’t safe to let Olivia stay another night in the house until Hawkins had been caught.

Andrew was trying to decide if he should take Olivia to her aunt’s house for the night and station a Runner outside for their protection or if they should go to an inn.

Suddenly the carriage door was jerked open and his groom said, “He’s here.”

“Let’s go,” Andrew said as he jumped from the carriage and ran down the street. As he neared the house he slowed down and lightened his steps, not wanting to make noise and alert Hawkins.

Andrew quietly walked up to the Runner who’d been hiding in the back garden. “He just went through the trap door, my lord,” the burly Runner whispered as Andrew drew near.

Judging from the time it had taken Olivia and him to scale the shaft, Andrew figured Hawkins should be about halfway up to the maid’s room.

He looked at the Runner and said, “Give me five minutes and then pull the tin plate from under the shrub and nail it over the door.”

Andrew walked as quietly as he could. He wanted to get into the house with the least amount of noise. He didn’t want Hawkins getting spooked and trying to rush down the shaft to the back garden.

He eased open the door and entered the foyer. Silently he walked down the corridor, past the parlor. He heard Olivia and Whibbs talking about menus in the dining room but he kept softly walking toward his book room. He stopped at the doorway. Thompson saw him and immediately rose from his chair. Andrew motioned for him to follow.

With stealth and calm they quietly climbed the stairs to the guest floor and slowly walked to the room with the trap door. Andrew listened for a moment. He heard shuffling noises from inside. He reached inside his coat and pulled out his loaded pistol. Thompson did the same.

As soon as he heard voices, Andrew turned the handle.

The door was locked. He heard frantic whispering. He shoved his shoulder into the door and it burst open. Hawkins was trying to scramble back down into the shaft. Ellie stood beside him holding the trap door open.

Andrew and Thompson pointed their pistols on Hawkins and he straightened.

“Make any move I don’t like and you’re a dead man,” Andrew said, and he meant every word.

Hawkins slowly lifted his arms into the air.

8

F
rom the window,
Olivia watched Ellie and Hawkins, hands tied behind their backs, being taken away by Thompson and his men. She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. From now on she would trust Whibbs judgment concerning the help.

“You can come away from the window now. It’s over.” Olivia turned around and saw Andrew walking into the parlor. “Oh, Andrew.”

She rushed into his arms and kissed him and held tightly to him. The day had been draining, and just being in his arms was heavenly.

“It’s over,” he said again as he kissed her lips, her cheeks, her eyes.

“I’m so glad no one was hurt.”

“I just want to hold you, my love,” Andrew whispered in her ear. “I just want to love you.”

“Forever, Andrew, I will love you forever.”

“Don’t promise me that if you don’t mean it.” She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “How can you doubt it? You’ve already tried to get rid of me and I wouldn’t go, remember?”

Andrew laughed. “Yes. Never listen to me when I want to send you away.”

“Andrew, I love you. I was heartbroken when you asked me to leave.”

“I know. But now you understand I didn’t want you to go away to live. I only wanted you out of danger.”

“Yes, but to me it was my mother’s story and Agatha’s story all over again, always loving a man who kept them waiting for him.”

“You will not have that problem, my love. In fact, I think I should take you upstairs right now and show you just how much I love you.”

“Let’s go,” she said. He took her hand and as they walked into the foyer to head up the stairs, a knock sounded on the door.

Olivia tensed. Andrew motioned for her to stay by the stairs. He slowly opened the door and said, “Miss Loudermilk.”

Agatha stepped into the foyer. “Afternoon, dearies, I hope I haven’t called too late in the day.”