Page 5 of House of Thorns
Chapter Two
Of Dowries and Ignoble Lords
“Olivia,” the impressive Duke of Lennox repeated her name for the fourth time, slowly, as if acquainting his tongue with a foreign word.
Olivia couldn’t move. As a child, she’d imagined her grandfather as a cruel, hawk-nosed man with a presence so overpoweringly evil that even the woodland animals scattered before him in fear of their lives. Now that she stood in his presence, she realized she’d erred. Her younger self had forgotten to account for the chill of his eyes.
“Olivia.” This time, the name slipped from his lips a bit easier.
She drew a steadying breath. What was she to say? This man had broken her mother’s heart. He’d refused to acknowledge his own daughter even in death. He hadn’t even written a letter of condolence. What did he expect from her? That she’d trip over her feet to curtsey just because he’d finally learned to pronounce her name? Nay, she’d never bend her knees to him—never again.
Jutting her jaw, Olivia lifted her chin and eyed him warily.
Something gleamed in the green eyes locked with hers—a spark of anger? She didn’t care.
Then, the Duke’s head swiveled to the side. “Deborah,” he barked.
The voices in the tent buzzed, soft and low, as a young, rosy-cheeked brunette popped up from a nearby table and rushed to join them.
“Deborah, this is Olivia.” The Duke’s chilling eyes latched onto Olivia’s once more. “Olivia is leaving. Now. Go with her.”
Fortunately for him, she didn’t want to stay a moment longer in his company. With the barest dip of her chin, Olivia spun on her heel, keenly aware of the sucking gasps of air spreading through the tent. No doubt, by morning, even London would know how the Duke’s disowned granddaughter had publicly snubbed him—courtesy of Lady Kendrick. No doubt, the woman maintained a secret flock of carrier pigeons at her command.
Irritated, Olivia marched through the tent and out into the lawn. She was halfway to the manor house when she noticed a timid tugging of her sleeve. She stopped and whirled.
The rosy-cheeked Deborah stood there, twisting her fingers nervously. “It’s…it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Cousin Olivia.” She gulped.
Olivia stared, still stunned at the sudden turn of events.
Deborah winced, then bit her bottom lip and waited with downcast eyes. She was obviously a shy, nervous thing, but then, living under the shadow of a man such as their grandfather, how could she be anything else?
Sympathy surged through Olivia, along with a sense of awkwardness. Just what did one say to long lost cousins?
“So, your mother is Arlene?” Olivia winced. Of course, her mother was Arlene. Her own mother had had only one sister.
Deborah laughed nervously, and then looked away. “Mother passed away last year…in New York.”
“New York?” Olivia blurted. Then, belatedly held out her hands in sympathy. “I’m sorry, so sorry, Deborah.”
Deborah shrugged but gripped Olivia’s fingers tightly with her own. “Yes, New York. Grandfather disowned her several years ago,” she answered with a nervous giggle, one clearly holding back an onslaught of tears.
Disowned? Olivia snorted in disbelief. Just how hatefulwasthe old man? And why hadn’t she heard a hint of the matter—not even from the source of all gossip, Lady Kendrick?
“She…well, Grandfather was furious over the gambling debts… Oh, please, can’t we speak of something else?” Deborah squeezed Olivia’s fingers tighter. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am to finally meet you, after all these years.”
The sadness in her cousin’s eyes pulled at Olivia’s heart even as she marveled at the similarities in their lives. Deborah had lost her mother—a disowned one, no less—and her father, as well. According to Lady Kendrick, the man had died from scarlet fever when Arlene was a child.
Olivia gave her cousin a warm smile and clasped her hands in turn. “I’m delighted to meet you, as well, I assure you,” she said. With the initial shock waning, her throat was threatening to close at the mere thought of having another family member—at last.
“Then, do come visit me, will you?” Deborah asked eagerly. “Tomorrow? I’m staying at Grandfather’s townhouse on Kintail Strand, near the river.”
Olivia hesitated. She had type to set, ink to make, and the Devil’s Tail on the press needed mending, but at her cousin’s crestfallen look, she heard herself ask, “Teatime?”
For the first time, Deborah’s smile lit her eyes. “Until tomorrow, then.”
“Tomorrow,” Olivia promised.
With a last nervous bob, Deborah scurried away. Olivia watched her go, still somewhat dazed. After a moment, she collected her thoughts and hurried to the carriage drive. She had work to do. It was time to deal with Louisa. Cousins and cold-hearted grandfathers would have to wait.
