His Wicked Heart (38 page)

He drummed his fingers against the coverlet,
uncertain of what to do. His hand stilled. Last night they’d both
shared their trust. If he truly had faith in her, he’d let her
decide what she wanted and what she was capable of. Abigail had
never been given that choice. Olivia deserved that and more.

THE FOLLOWING morning was the second Sunday
Louisa had taken Olivia to church at St. James. Today’s sermon
about John the Baptist was both seasonal and familiar to Olivia
given her upbringing at the vicarage. She’d had little occasion
during the years with Fiona to attend church and appreciated the
opportunity to do so again.

As she and Louisa passed through the narthex,
Lady Addicock paused, issuing an invitation to tea, which Louisa
accepted. Olivia turned at the barest touch on her elbow. The Duke
of Holborn peered down at her with sharp interest.

“Miss West, might I have a word?”

Olivia stepped away with him, just far enough
away from Louisa and Lady Addicock to have a separate conversation.
She dipped a brief curtsey. “Your Grace.”

“You will not attend tea with Louisa. Plead a
headache. Plead a hatred for tea. Plead whatever you wish, but I
will drive you home in my carriage.”

Olivia wanted to plead abduction at the top
of her voice, but decided that might cause more harm than good.
Without responding to him directly, she went to Louisa and made her
apologies. Louisa’s surprise that Olivia had chosen to accept a
ride home from Holborn was detectable in the slight arch of her
pale brows. Olivia suspected there would be a discussion later.

The duke led her from the church without
offering his arm. “What did you tell her?”

“That I was feeling a bit queasy.” Because
she was.

“Very good.”

His coach was very near the entrance. A
footman helped her alight and then closed the door after Holborn
took the rear-facing seat opposite her.

“The duchess isn’t with you?” she asked,
reluctantly admiring the posh interior with its thick velvet squab
and crystal clear windows.

“We needn’t bother with idle conversation.
I’ve arranged for this meeting in order to have a straightforward
discussion about your presence in my sister’s house.”

She gave him her loftiest stare, which she
feared was nothing compared to the visual setdown he could deliver.
“‘Arranged’ is a rather polite word, don’t you think?”

“Very shrewd, but then I suspect you’re far
more devious than either Louisa or Saxton give you credit for.” He
leaned back against the squab, appearing as comfortable as Olivia
was nervous. “You must leave, of course.”

“Of course,” Olivia mocked, though her
stomach was churning. “You sent the note yesterday.”

His brow arched. He looked disturbingly like
Jasper in that moment. “Note?”

There would be no reason for him to lie.
Olivia felt uneasy. “I received a note instructing me to leave
Town.”

“Which you ignored, I see. No, I didn’t send
such a note, but I must applaud whoever did. It also gives proof to
the primary reason you must leave. You will sully our name—Louisa’s
name—if you do not.”

If he hadn’t sent the note, who had? And at
what point would the author share his or her knowledge with the
world? Olivia had to reluctantly admit the duke was right. She
could very well ruin Louisa.

She only wanted to know how the author of the
note and the duke had learned the truth, particularly when Jasper
had worked so diligently to cover her tracks. “How did you find
out?”

“I have the ability to discern whatever
information I desire, Miss West.” He folded his slender hands in
his lap. “And since others also know of your origins, it’s safe to
assume your secret—if it ever was one—is out.

“Furthermore, your relationship with my son
will not be tolerated. If he chooses to employ you as his mistress,
that is his prerogative. However, for you to engage with him as you
have…” He gave a stiff shake of his head. “You’re a whore just like
your mother, but then I expected nothing more.”

“I’m not like my mother.” Perhaps not
exactly, but her behavior with Jasper showed they were more alike
than Olivia cared to believe. She felt light-headed.

“Why, because you don’t take money for your
favors? I’m certain you soon will. Blood is everything, and blood
always wins out.” He delivered this with sinister finality, as if
he knew the cage she’d been born into and would personally ensure
she never escaped it. Which was precisely what he was doing now.
Restricting her to the life he believed she deserved.

She glanced out at Mayfair passing. They
would reach Queen Street shortly. She regarded him with sincere
dislike, her fingers shaking atop her lap. “You can’t know me or my
future.”

“I’ve already told you I know anything I
wish. As Holborn, I enjoy freedoms and intelligence you can’t hope
to comprehend.” His pomposity would’ve made her jaw drop if she
hadn’t been working so hard to maintain an icy façade of her own.
“I’m not completely without pity, however. I’m prepared to give you
a small purse to get wherever you need to go. Though Coventry Court
is a nice walk, especially this time of year.”

She refused to betray her anger. Anger that
was slowly blunting with the approaching edge of doubt. “It is,”
she said evenly, her mind working toward what, a defense? “Louisa
doesn’t want me to leave.” Neither did Jasper, but only for
Louisa’s sake. It didn’t bear mentioning since the duke would be
less than sympathetic.

His lips spread in an awful, patronizing
smile. “My sister is soft-hearted, particularly in this. She’s
always wanted a child of her own. A clever girl like you knows that
and exploits it.”

Olivia sucked in her breath. “I care very
deeply for Louisa.”

“Your feelings do not signify. I expect you
to be gone tomorrow.”

He’d come to issue demands and ultimatums.
She was to have no choice, just as when her aunt had evicted her.
Was she never to have a family to call her own? Time stretched as
she struggled to keep her voice from cracking. “If I don’t?”

“I shall make things very unpleasant for you,
Miss West.”

His statement evoked a trembling in her
limbs. She crossed her ankles and clasped her hands in her lap,
trying to occupy her body before it revealed her anxiety. “You
can’t mean to reveal my past. To do so would only realize your
worst fears.”

He leaned forward slightly. The confines of
the carriage shrunk so that she felt as if she were trapped in a
small hole with the most abominable person she’d ever met. “Let me
be clear, Miss West.” His tone was nauseatingly authoritative, as
if he were speaking to a simpleton. “I don’t
fear
you, or
anyone else for that matter. Arranging to have you removed from
Society, whether by unfortunate compromise or some
other…circumstance will hardly be a trial.”

She stared at the duke with newfound fear.
“You’re quite serious.”

The carriage drew to a halt. “If you truly
care for Louisa, you’ll leave her alone. I understand she wants to
fill some void, but there are plenty of worthy young women for her
to coddle. I’m certain you’ll make her understand why you have to
go.” He reached inside his coat and tossed a purse onto her lap. A
small amount of coins gave a muffled clink within the velvet pouch.
It was a very ugly sound.

Olivia felt the weight on her lap like
manacles around her wrists. She knew she had to go, to protect
Louisa, but she only wished it hadn’t come to this. Perhaps she
could do one thing. “I’ll go, but I’m going to demand something in
addition to this money.”

The duke snorted. “You’re in no position to
negotiate. Be glad I don’t rescind my generous offer.” He inclined
his head toward his
bribe
.

His arrogance was unlike anything Olivia had
ever encountered. “From what I can tell, you don’t care too much
for your son—your living son.” The duke’s eyes darkened, but Olivia
gathered her courage and surged forward. “It’s not too late for you
to appreciate the son who’s here. He’s a man you could, and should,
be proud of. Will you please do your best to ensure he’s
happy?”

He sneered. “You foolish chit. Everything I
do is to ensure his happiness. You think you would make him happy?
You’ve no notion how to be a mistress to someone like Saxton, let
alone his countess. Among a myriad of responsibilities, you’d have
to be presented at court. Good God, can you imagine? I cannot.” The
duke rapped on the door and it immediately swung open. “I trust you
begin to understand why you have to go.”

Unfortunately she did. But oh, how she wished
the duke were wrong!

The footman helped her to the street. Olivia
tucked the purse into her pocket as she trudged up the stairs to
the house. Behind her, the coach rattled away, but Olivia didn’t
turn. She thought about his threat,
whether by unfortunate
compromise or some other circumstance
. What did he mean by
compromise? Did he intend for her to be ruined? How ironic then,
that she already was, and at the hands of his own son.

But no, he wouldn’t want that exposed—and
neither did Olivia.

Bernard opened the door. She mustered a weak
smile before walking directly up to her room.
You’re a whore
just like your mother
. She wasn’t! She hadn’t traded her virtue
for anything but her own desire. Her affair with Jasper hadn’t been
based on money and, furthermore, it was quite over.

It wasn’t too late to reclaim the life she’d
been proud of. She wondered if the position Gifford had mentioned
was actually available or if it had been some sort of ruse. Since
he’d so brutally attacked Jasper, she’d be a fool to trust anything
he said. Still, she could check with his mother. Indeed, she
probably ought to visit Mrs. Gifford anyway. She had to be sick
over her son’s actions and the fact that he was now lodged in
Newgate.

She closed her door behind her and went
straight to her dressing chamber. She didn’t even possess a trunk
in which to stow all of the belongings she’d accumulated in the
short time she’d been with Louisa.

Tonight she would attend one last event with
Louisa—a ball. She would smile and laugh and behave as if her world
wasn’t about to fall to pieces. Perhaps she’d be fortunate and
Jasper wouldn’t even be there. Louisa had said he was recovering
well from his wound, but surely he would stay home and rest.

She pulled the duke’s bribe from her pocket
and dropped it onto her dressing table. She shouldn’t take his
money, but why not? In fact, it was truly a pity she hadn’t
demanded more.

SINCE arriving at the Coddington Ball, Jasper
had been subjected to the excessive delight of his mother and the
satisfied arrogance of the duke. Though unspoken, their expectation
that he would announce his betrothal this evening was palpable.
Probably because everyone in the ballroom was whispering about
it.

Such a shame then that he meant to disappoint
them. The only reason he’d dragged himself out of bed was to see
Olivia and make it clear his affections lay with her. First,
however, he ought to take a moment and speak with Lady Philippa. He
had no desire to shock her by paying public attention to another
woman.

Though he scanned the room for Lady Philippa,
his gaze kept settling on Olivia. Gowned in emerald silk, she was
breathtaking. The bare column of her neck screamed for jewels and
kisses, and not in that order. That idiot Twickersham approached
her, and before Jasper knew what he was doing, he’d joined
them.

Jasper gave Twickersham a cursory head-nod
and bowed to Olivia. “Miss West.” Louisa was turned slightly from
them, involved with a group of her friends.

“Lord Saxton, good evening.” Olivia directed
a pointed look at his shoulder. “I trust you are well.”

He warmed at her concern. “Quite, thank
you.”

Twickersham wrapped Olivia’s hand around his
arm. “I was just about to lead Miss West onto the dance floor.”

Jasper’s mind screamed against the toad
touching her, but what could he do? Olivia gave him an apologetic
glance as she moved onto the dance floor.

Jasper stared after them, his hands fisting.
While the bloated idiot positioned himself with Olivia and another
pair of dancers, Jasper considered leaving. However, his departure
would prevent him scrutinizing the way Twickersham held Olivia’s
hand a bit too long during the dance. Better to stand here and
fume.

“Jasper, dear, you’re glowering.” Louisa
touched his sleeve. “You don’t look at all like a man on the verge
of providing a month’s worth of good gossip.”

He tore his gaze from Olivia and her
offensive partner to look down at his aunt beside him. Was his fury
that transparent? “What?”