Lady Olivia's Undoing (16 page)

“And do you plan to return?”

“Eventually, I suppose. Although, if I am no
longer the Duchess of Caymore, then what is the point?”

“Olivia, we are still family. And you are
still a Churchill. You will be accepted in Society no matter what
happens.”

“If it gives you comfort to think so,
Charles.” Olivia wondered just how far Charles would go to keep her
in the family.

“Well, you must tell me how I will keep you
informed while you’re away. Perhaps there is another loophole we
have not found yet.”

“You may send all correspondence related to
such matters to Cantin. I have hired him as my attorney.” At least
she had had the forethought to do that.

“Cantin? Are you sure? He is a realty
attorney.”

“I trust Robert with my life. And I’m sure he
knows a bit more about Letters Patent than the average barrister.
He is Stephen’s son after all.”

Charles smiled. “Yes, he is that.” He took
her hand. “Very well, Olivia. I shall try to keep this as quiet as
possible until we can be sure of the outcome.”

“Thank you, Charles. Tell me, are you and
Honoria still coming to the ball this evening? I will understand if
you do not.”

“Yes, I believe so, although I cannot speak
for Penny and William.”

“How is she? Is she still as angry as she was
last night?”

“Olivia, you must know, Penny only blamed you
because she could not bear the loss. Once she becomes with child
again, I’m sure she will apologize for her hateful words.”

“I may only hope, Charles. You do understand
I only had the best of intentions for her.”

“Yes, I understand Olivia. And perhaps Penny
will too, eventually.” He kissed her cheek and said good-bye.

Olivia stared out over the winter garden.
Spring, and John, could not come soon enough. If only he were here.
He would know how to fix the mess she had made.

There was a short rap on the door, and Andrew
stepped in. “Lady Leighton is here, Your Grace. Are you in?”

“Yes, Andrew. Thank you. Show her in.”

Constance swept into the room. “Was that
Charles I saw just leaving?”

“Yes.”

“I take it then, you did not receive your
invitation to Penny’s for Christmas.” Constance looked around the
room. “Olivia, where are all your things? I declare it looks as if
you are getting ready to paint. This color is so warm. Why would
you wish to change it?”

“The ball is tonight, Constance. I did not
wish to find any of my trinkets pilfered.” Olivia hated lying to
Constance, but it seemed the easiest solution for now.

“Of course.” Constance nodded. “So, tell me,
what did you do yesterday then?”

“I received a late invitation for dinner at
Penny’s and when I arrived, she blamed me for the loss of the
baby.”

Constance looked horrified. “How could she
say that?”

“She claimed it was the strain of having to
live up to the Caymore title. She said the weight of it crushed
baby Fitzhugh.”

“Oh, dearest, I am so sorry.”

“Thank you, but I believe she was right. And
all my machinations were for naught anyway. It seems I do not own
the Caymore title anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Constance asked.

“That is why Charles was here. The Patent
Committee has voided William’s claim to the duchy and is reverting
it back to the Crown.”

“Olivia, you cannot be serious.” Constance
sank into a chair.

“As an arrow through the heart.” Olivia
crossed to the sofa and plopped herself onto it.

“What are you going to do? Surely, there must
be some way to fight it.”

“Charles seems to think not, but he is
looking for a loophole.”

“Does he know how much you will be able to
keep?”

“I do not know for sure. I’m hoping they will
be able to return my dowry. But as it states in Fitzhugh’s will,
merely five thousand a year.”

Constance gaped. “Five thousand? How will you
survive?”

Olivia shook her head. “I have no idea.

“Oh, Livvy. I am so very sorry. Perhaps
Reginald could help. He is Fitzhugh’s nephew after all.”

It was Olivia’s turn to be horrified. “No,
thank you. As you have already stated, Reginald and I do not get
along. I cannot think he would help me in any case. He never did
favor my marriage to Fitzhugh.” Olivia was sure if it were up to
Reginald she would be locked away in London Tower, then
guillotined, drawn and quartered, her head on a pike for all London
to see.

“That is not true, Olivia. Reginald asked me
just this morning how you were.”

Olivia wondered why. “In any case, it does
not matter. I am going away.”

“Away? Where?”

“I have not decided. However, once this news
is public, I have no desire to listen to the gossip. Once the title
is taken, I will be
persona non grata
in Society
anyway.”

“Do not be ridiculous. You are Olivia
Churchill, beloved niece of the Duke of Marlborough, and wife of
the late Fitzhugh Leighton. And once Henry is returned, you will
become the next Marchioness of Dunbury.”

Olivia choked back a tear. “Henry and I will
not be married.”

“Why not?”

“Because Catherine is expecting his
child.”

“
What?
”

“That is why she left Dunbury Manor. As I
explained to Charles, it is a long story, but the gist of it is,
she is carrying Henry’s child and I will do nothing to stand in the
way of his heir to the Marquisate.”

“Olivia, are you sure it is Henry’s?”

“Dearest, I saw Catherine. I have no doubt in
my mind.”

“I am so sorry, Livvy. I know I was unkind to
you about him and John, but this news is too cruel. After all you
have been through.”

Olivia nodded. The last eight days had been a
nightmare.

“Well,” Constance said. “I cannot imagine
Uncle Marlborough will let anything happen to you.”

Olivia snorted. “Of course not. He will marry
me off to Gillyford and his problem niece will disappear. Perhaps I
will go to Scotland anyway, to our cousins in Caithness.”

“Caithness? Olivia that is nearly a thousand
miles away. What will you do there?”

“Read. Paint. Take long walks. I have not
been to the castle since I was a young girl.”

“You are serious! When do you plan on
leaving?” Constance fluttered her handkerchief as if she were about
to cry.

“Soon. Before the news is made public.
Charles said the Committee wishes to convene in January.”

“January? You cannot go. I have only just
returned from America. Come to Cornwall. It is much closer and I
will be able to join you presently.”

“No, dearest. Think of it. Once word is out,
Reginald will not allow you to have anything to do with me.”

“Olivia, Reginald would never hinder me from
seeing you.”

Poor Constance had no idea what kind of a man
she had married. “Constance, I have made up my mind. I am leaving
and have no wish to return to London until after the matter is
settled.”

Constance stared at her cousin. “What will I
do without you? It was only your society that I longed for while we
were in America. And now I have come home, you are leaving. It is
not fair.”

Olivia looked at her. “There are many
situations in life that are not fair, Constance. You must learn to
live with them.” Olivia had had her share over the years.

The two women sat in silence for a few
minutes and then Constance rose. “Forgive me, Olivia. I must
depart. Reginald is expecting me.”

“Of course. Shall I see you tonight?” Olivia
walked her to the door.

“Nothing will keep me from you.”

Olivia kissed her cousin on the cheek and
said good-bye. After tonight, she had no idea when she would see
her again.

Later that afternoon, Olivia left Caymore
House with the remainder of her belongings and Nella. As she
started to prepare the water for her bath, she realized she should
have taken Andrew as well. Hendricks could not be expected to haul
bath water. He was nearly as old as Summers.

As she brought pitchers of water to the
second floor, the realization that her life would truly never be
the same again hit her. If she was only allowed five thousand a
year, economy would have to be her name from this point forward.
Tomorrow, after the ball, after she had a good long rest, she would
have to examine her expenses and figure out how much it would cost
to run the house. Servants, though only three, horses, though only
two, could literally eat her out of her meager annuity. And the
upkeep for the house, upkeep for the horses, how was she to manage
those?

With her bath drawn, Olivia lowered herself
into the tub. As the hot water encircled her body, she felt some of
her worries diminish. Charles would never let her starve. Surely,
Uncle Marlborough could see to administer some sort of settlement
on her. She said a short prayer that the Monarchy would leave her
the dowry. However, the members of the Patent Committee would take
as much as they could get their greedy hands on and more than
likely, that included her forty thousand pounds.

Well, she could sell some of her gowns – the
lace and beading alone could be worth a few hundred pounds. Perhaps
she should sell the horses before the Committee announced the
usurpation. She would speak with Davingdale later tonight as
William would not be at the ball. Their horse-trading business at
Tattersall’s had become a grand venture and Olivia was sure her
stable lot could fetch fair prices. At least a few thousand
pounds.

Olivia sighed, relieved she had thought of a
way to bring in more funds. If it would not arouse suspicion, she
would sell every stick of furniture as well. But that was
impossible. There were a few silver pieces left in the butler’s
pantry, but they were the second best and not worth the trouble to
bring to the smiths. She supposed that if things became too
uncertain, she would just have to sell her jewels.

She pushed all thoughts of money and economy
from her mind as she let the water envelop her. If she could make
it until the spring, John would be home. John would make everything
all right. But what if John had heard about her engagement to
Henry? Perhaps he would not even return to England. Olivia slapped
at the water. No, John would come back. He had to. If nothing else,
he would want his grandmother’s bracelet returned to him.

Olivia decided to forego a long, leisurely
soak. She wanted this night to be over. She wanted to be alone and
not have to think about the Caymore title, or her relatives, or how
she would get out of the mess she was in. She hurriedly washed and
then stepped out of the tub. Nella assisted her in dressing for the
ball, and redid her hair.

At seven o’clock, Olivia Leighton, Duchess of
Caymore, was on her way to Caymore House for the very last
time.

When she arrived at Caymore, she took one
last look through the rooms, looking for pieces that might have any
value. Upstairs in one of the guest bedrooms, she found a small
gold clock she had forgotten she had. She picked it up. In
Fitzhugh’s study, she took the case from the shelf that held his
dueling pistols. Not that he had ever used them, but they were very
well made and she was sure she would get a fair price for them. In
the nursery was a small portrait of Penny by Sir Thomas Lawrence
that she had overlooked. She would keep that.

She found Andrew and told him to give the
items to Hendricks to put in the carriage.

Olivia roamed through the mansion, reliving
memories and saying good-bye to her well-lived life. Things were
going to be different from tonight on. She only hoped they would
not be as bad as she feared.

At nine o’clock, the first guests started to
arrive. Olivia played down the fawning over her engagement to
Henry, but her friends were ecstatic she and Henry would finally be
together. Luckily, the receiving line was growing and she could
barely keep up with the simplest of greetings.

By ten, Olivia had had it. Her face ached
from smiling. Her head ached from missing dinner. Her feet ached
from standing in her too tight slippers. She spied Andrew walking
upstairs to the ballroom.

“Andrew,” she called.

He turned and ran down the stairs. “Your
Grace?”

“Would you be a dear and tell Cook I would
like a small plate before she makes up the platters for the dining
room. I shall be in the morning room.”

Andrew nodded. “Of course, Your Grace.”

Olivia waited until the guests in the hall
were upstairs before she walked to the morning room. She closed the
door behind her and sat at the table. This had always been her
favorite room in the house. Its pale blue walls calmed her frayed
nerves.

A short knock and Andrew stepped inside.
“Your Grace. Cook hopes this is to your satisfaction.”

Olivia looked at the filled plate. Although
she was hungry, and the food looked delicious, she couldn’t eat it.
She smiled at Andrew. “Thank you, Andrew. It looks wonderful.”

“I took the liberty of bringing you lemonade
as well.”

“That was very thoughtful of you. Thank you.”
Quiggins was right. Andrew would make a first class butler.

“Is there anything else I may do for you,
Your Grace?” Andrew asked.

“Have they started the dancing?” Olivia
asked. She picked up a small
hors d’ oeuvre
and popped it
into her mouth.

“No, Your Grace, I believe they are waiting
for you.”

Of course they were. “Please tell the
conductor I am indisposed, but to please begin. I shall be upstairs
presently.”

“Yes, Your Grace, right away.” He slipped out
of the room.

Olivia forced herself to eat half of what
appeared on her plate. It would be of no use to faint in the middle
of the party. She glanced at the small clock – half-ten. Only
ninety more minutes to endure.