Lady Olivia's Undoing (15 page)

“Oh, Olivia.” Honoria patted her hand.

Olivia blinked at her tears. “Do you think
they will ever forgive me?”

“With time, I hope,” Honoria said.

There was nothing more to be said. Olivia
left Olmstead House and returned to Caymore.

Greeting her at the door, Manning said, “You
are home early, Your Grace. Is anything the matter?”

“Yes, Mr. Manning, I’m afraid so, but there
is nothing I may do about it.”

Olivia walked to the yellow salon, changed
her mind, and went into the morning room instead. She took off her
coat and hung it over the back of a chair. She sat at the table and
put her head in her hands.

Manning knocked on the door casing. “Your
Grace, I know it is not my place to ask, especially as I have not
been in your employ very long, but would you like to talk about
it?”

Olivia gazed at Rodney Manning. “Tell me, Mr.
Manning, have you ever done something you thought was essentially
the right thing to do, but later found it was oh-so-very
wrong?”

“I presume we are not speaking about mixing
up a new batch of silver polish?”

Olivia waved him to sit. “No, nothing as
simple as that.” Olivia then proceeded to tell Manning what she had
done to Penny. By the end of her recitation, Olivia’s tears had
soaked Manning’s offered handkerchief. “And I do not think she will
ever forgive me.”

Manning looked at her thoughtfully. “I’m so
sorry for your troubles, Your Grace, but I’m sure Lady Penny will
come around in time. I know how fondly she spoke of you to Lady
Violet.”

Olivia nodded. “That is what her mother said,
although, Penny is angry – at me, at God, at her loss. I cannot
fathom the depths to which her sorrow has sunk. Her heart is
broken, but then, so is mine. I have lost everything I tried so
hard to keep. Now Caymore House will sit empty, and I no longer
know who I am.”

Manning said, “Forgive me, Your Grace, but
you are the same person you always have been – thoughtful, kind,
loving, caring, good, and all that is amiable. Your title does not
make you who you are, it is who you are inside.”

Olivia smiled. “You sound very much like
Quiggins.”

“I shall take that as a compliment, Your
Grace.”

“Tell me, Mr. Manning, do you know Quiggins,
truly know him?”

“We are friends, yes. But I do not think a
person can truly know another until he has walked in their
shoes.”

Olivia nodded her head. Could that be why
Penny hated her so? Had the short time Penny walked in Olivia’s
shoes convince her they did not fit? Was Penny afraid she would end
up like her – childless?

“Your Grace, would you like to cancel the
ball?”

“No, I cannot. There would be a riot in the
streets. However, I will tell you now, I am leaving at mid-night
when everyone is at supper.”

“Leaving? I do not understand. Where are you
going?”

“As I thought William and Penny would be
pleased to accept Caymore, I found a house to let in Town, and as
you might have witnessed, have moved my things already. I will be
living there until…” she wanted to say, until John returned, but
did not… “Until the situation has rectified itself. However, if
anyone should ask, please say that I am traveling. I know this
places an undue responsibility on you, Mr. Manning, but I hope that
you will stay through Twelfth Night.”

“Of course, Your Grace. Whatever I may do to
help.”

“That is exceedingly kind of you, Mr.
Manning. Did Quiggins put you up to this?”

“He asked that I keep a watchful eye over
you, yes. He was very concerned for you before he left.”

“He was?” If he had been so concerned, then
he should not have gone.

“Oh, yes. Your Grace. Very worried for you.
He knew what an inordinate amount of anguish you have been
carrying.”

“Tell me, Mr. Manning, do you know when he is
to return?”

“Three months he could near figure. He hoped
to return by the spring.”

Spring. She would welcome it gladly. Olivia
rose from the table. “Thank you, Mr. Manning. I do feel much better
about my situation. You have been a balm for my frazzled
nerves.”

Manning rose. “Entirely my pleasure, Your
Grace.”

Olivia said, “I’m sure I will feel just the
thing in the morning and then we will be able to finish the
preparations for the ball.”

“Of course, Your Grace. Good night.”

“Good night, Mr. Manning.”

Olivia walked upstairs and took off her gown.
She hung it in the armoire and slipped under the covers of her bed.
Placing her hand on the other pillow, she prayed John would be
safe.

Tomorrow would be the start of a new chapter
in her life – with or without Caymore. Olivia presumed she needed a
good night’s sleep to begin.

The next morning, Olivia woke, and did feel
better. She had tried to secure the title for William and Penny.
They did not seem to want it, but she hoped, in time, Penny would
feel the loss of that as well. The Caymore Duchy sat alongside
Devonshire, Marlborough, and Norfolk, three of the oldest in the
Monarchy, and the most powerful. Penny was too young to understand
the privilege the Caymore title warranted, but she would. Her
friends would convince her of it, she was sure.

Climbing from her bed, she rang the bell for
Nella, who appeared several minutes later with tea and a small bit
of cake.

“Your Grace,” Nella said upon entering the
room. “I do not wish to be so bold, but may I ask, where is
Jennings? I have not seen her since yesterday morning.”

“She is on holiday,” Olivia said. “I thought
to give her some time off. By the time she returns, I will have
found us a new home.”

Nella set the tray on the small table. “Shall
I run a bath for you?”

“No, thank you. Tell me, is Mr. Manning
about?”

“Yes, Your Grace, he is in the ballroom
arranging the flowers.”

Olivia smiled. “Very good. Nella, I wonder if
I could trouble you to ensure all of my things have been removed
from my rooms, including my gowns. I have decided not to wear
either of them and will dress at St. Anne’s Court for the
ball.”

“Of course, Your Grace.” Nella left the
room.

Olivia took a leisurely hour to drink her
tea, and eat her breakfast. She sat at the table staring out among
the bare tree branches. She would not see the new family of birds
building their nest next spring. She bit her lip to keep the tears
at bay. No, she would not cry again. This part of her life was
over, and there was nothing to be done about it. She would have to
make her own way now. She should speak with Charles and see if he
had uncovered how much money she had. Yes, she must speak with
Charles.

Olivia dressed in an old calico left behind,
and went downstairs. She met Andrew in the hall.

“Andrew, do find a footman to take a note
round to Olmstead House.” She went into the yellow salon. She must
remember to have Nella take her writing supplies and correspondence
to the new house as well. Olivia penned a quick note to Charles,
and sealed it.

In the hall, the footman waited and she sent
him off with the note.

Olivia went next to the kitchens to see how
Cook fared. The place was a whir of industry with hired hands all
chopping and stirring and baking.

“Is everything well down here?” she asked
Cook.

“Oh aye, Your Grace. We are all doing very
well.”

Olivia nodded. One less thing she had to
worry about. At least no one could say Olivia stinted on the food
at her ball.

She made her way to the ballroom and found
Manning, jacket off, shirtsleeves rolled up, with an apron tied
around his middle, sorting through long stemmed roses.

“Your Grace,” he said as she stepped to the
table. “I did not expect to see you so early. How do you do?” His
concern touched her.

“I am very well, Mr. Manning, thank you. How
do you do?”

“Presently I am awash in flowers.” He
laughed. “Tell me, Your Grace, have you given a thought as to how
you’d like them arranged?”

Olivia looked at the flowers. She would never
be able to afford such luxury at St. Anne’s Court. “Yes, I thought
to place twelve stems of one color in the vase, with three or four
of the opposite color in the middle of the arrangement.” She picked
up a long green frond of fern. “And perhaps allow these to drape
from the outside of the vase to the table. Like so.” She
demonstrated how she wanted the flowers to look.

Manning looked at her handiwork. “That is
very lovely, Your Grace.”

She smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Manning.”

Andrew approached the table. “Your Grace, the
Duke of Olmstead is here.”

“Thank you, Andrew.” Olivia went downstairs
to the yellow salon.

“Olivia, what have you done to the place?”
Charles asked. “It looks positively desolate.”

“As I explained last night, I moved out. I
only took my personal belongings. Everything else remains for the
duchy.” She stood near the table. “Charles, have you made the
enquiry into my finances?”

“Yes, I have.” He walked to the windows that
overlooked the gardens. “Olivia, I have some alarming news where
that is concerned.”

“Alarming? Whatever do you mean? You cannot
tell me the estate is penniless.”

“No, the estate is not penniless, however,
you are.”

“What do you mean?” Olivia sank onto the
sofa.

“My uncle’s will states that you will have
the entirety of the fortune as long as you live at Caymore.
However, if you leave or marry, you will receive only five thousand
pounds per annum.”

“Five thousand pounds!” She spent more on
that for flowers per annum. “Charles, surely, they will allow me to
keep my dowry.” It was forty thousand pounds.

“On that point I am not sure.” He paused.
“Olivia, there is more.” Charles paced in front of the windows.

“More?”

“Yes. It seems Fitzhugh’s solicitors have
already been informed by the Patent Committee that they are going
to begin proceedings to appropriate the title.”

“No, they cannot! I spoke with Prince George
as soon as I heard the news about the baby. He said he would take
care of everything.”

“I’m sure he did. Unfortunately, he has no
say in the matter. He has no power, and therefore, any request he
makes for a Peer is null and void.”

“What about the Letters Patent for William?
The King signed those. Surely, the Committee cannot take those
away.”

“As the Letters Patent state, William only
holds the title until an heir is brought forth. Sadly, that did not
happen. The Royal attorneys have decreed the King signed the
Letters under duress and in his current state did not know what he
signed. They have deemed them invalid.”

“Does William know?”

“I do not believe so. Not yet. And if he
does, he has not said anything to me.”

“So even if I do remain at Caymore, I will
have nothing.” Olivia looked at Charles. “When do they wish to
begin the proceedings?”

“As soon as Parliament convenes in January.”
Charles walked over and sat beside her. “Olivia, I know this is
shocking news on top of everything else you have had to bear these
last few days, but once Dunbury returns and you marry, you will be
all right.”

Olivia shook her head. “I cannot marry Henry,
Charles. And what I tell you now cannot leave this room. Catherine
is expecting his child.”

“What? When did that happen? I heard she left
the Manor.”

“Yes. It is all a very complicated mix-up
story, but suffice it to say, she is carrying the heir to the
Dunbury Marquisate and I will not come between them.”

“You know you are always welcome at Olmstead
House.” Charles patted her hand.

“Thank you, Charles, that is very kind, but I
could not. I would hate to have my current situation come between
you and Penny.”

“Surely, Marlborough will take care of you,”
Charles said.

“My uncle only wishes to marry me off to
Gillyford.”

“Well, that would not be so dreadful, would
it? At least he would provide you with a respectable title.”

“It would not be dreadful if I were a
callous, cunning creature. However, I have no wish to marry for the
sake of money.”

“Olivia, you must think about this clearly.
You will have nothing once the title is returned to the Crown. You
must think about remarrying.”

“Charles, once Society finds I have nothing,
they will turn their backs on me. I do not wish to be likened to
Georgiana Cavendish.”

Charles snorted. “Olivia do not be absurd.
Your reputation is flawless and cannot be compared to the Duchess
of Devonshire. If you do not marry Gillyford, you must find some
other man to take care of you. What about Brumbley? Or perhaps, Old
Doddy?” He snapped his fingers. “I have it. What about Hemmings? He
would do very well for you. You would remain a duchess.”

Olivia smiled. “I thank you for thinking of
me, Charles, but those men have no wish to marry again. Their heirs
are secure. And I will not be kept.”

“Of course not. I only meant if you married,
you would not have to fear the repercussions of the gossip. Think
what this will do to us.”

Olivia looked at Charles. Naturally, he would
think about the impact this would have upon his family. Charles
could not be expected to watch his late uncle’s wife suffer
needlessly. It was his duty to take care of her. And if he did not,
his name would be the next to be tarnished.

“Charles, I will be all right. I promise.”
She rose from the sofa.

“Olivia, you never told me where you are
staying.”

“I have rented a small house to secure my
things, but I will be traveling. Extensively, I think. I do not
wish to endure the condescension or the rumor mill. I have no
desire to answer questions, or explain what happened. Therefore, I
will leave.”