Page 11 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
Olivia was not doing well to hide what she wanted hidden. Her sisters could easily work her out. They knew one another too well. It would be a struggle to hide from them all that remained to be unearthed.
“Of course,” she replied.
Louise cocked an eyebrow in annoyance, clearly unconvinced by Olivia’s attempts to pretend that all was well. Her heart fell in frustration that she couldn’t get past her sisters with things she wished to keep private.
“All right. Perhaps there is something. But I am not ready to speak about it and I wish that you would do me a favour and allow me to remain quiet about it for now. I promise you that in just a few days I shall tell you everything,” she said.
Louise nodded, clearly not liking this agreement.
Gemma stared back and forth between the two. Olivia worried that she had picked up enough that she might mention their strange behaviour to their father, but she had to push aside that concern for now.
For the time being, Olivia had enough to focus on, enough to cause her concern and worry. She had a great deal to sort out and she was not comfortable having to lie to her family, or at least hide things from them. But she would have answers soon, she hoped.
Chapter 6
Nathaniel arrived at his grandmother’s home with the gift in hand and a hope that she would love it as much as he anticipated her to. After speaking with his friend the day before, he knew it was more important than ever that he quickly share with her his decision to end his engagement. After all, Nathaniel and his grandmother had grown closer and were seeking to build their relationship now that his father had passed away. It only made sense that he confide in her in a way that he could confide in no other.
A small part of his heart was tugged by fear. While he expected her to support his decision, he was aware of the fact that she may not. Perhaps she would disagree with his choice and scold him for refusing to marry Miss Hawthorne. Perhaps she would even be angry that he did not consult her first.
But that was not the primary objective of the visit. No, this visit was about celebrating his grandmother’s birthday and making sure that she knew how deeply he appreciated and cared for her.
His grandmother’s home was exquisitely grand. No other in England rivalled it, except for those of the royals. But for nobility, Manning Estate was untouched, exactly how she liked it.
The intricate doors opened, and Nathaniel was greeted by the housekeeper who bowed low and gracefully before him. She was very well-bred for a housekeeper, but his grandmother would have only the best.
Nathaniel was led to the parlour, where the dowager was already seated, comfortably. He smiled when he saw her. She was wearing her deep red silks and a tortoiseshell comb in her hair. It was lined with gold and dotted with diamonds, just like those that dripped at her neck.
She was a kind woman, but his grandmother had no qualms about showing off her wealth. He could hardly blame her. It was her wealth to use as she pleased, after all. And he noted how much she enjoyed using it to accent herself and her home. The dowager considered it a way of maintaining the reputation of the family and showing the world that her husband and those who came before him had worked so diligently to provide for their family and for all of England.
“Nathaniel, my darling,” she said as he came to kiss her hand and greet her.
“Grandmother, I am thrilled to see you. How is your birthday? I hope it has been nothing short of perfection thus far.”
“Indeed, it has. After all, I have every comfort I could possibly desire. It has been a grand day,” she replied.
“Well, it is small, but I have brought you a gift.”
The dowager’s eyes lit up and she took the wrapped shape in her hands, curiosity glowing in her face. “My goodness, what could it possibly be?” she asked.
“You must open it to find out.”
“All right then, I shall. But first you must have a seat. Oh, and tea. Where is that girl? She had better bring tea quickly.”
“I am certain she shall come soon, Grandmother. I can wait for tea if I must,” he laughed.
And that second the young maid brought the tea into the room and poured it, adding two sugars for Nathaniel and only the slightest amount for the dowager.
“That is all you wish?” he asked.
She held up her hand to her grandson as if wishing him to pause his question. “A lady is never allowed the same as a man. You ought to know this by now. We keep our figures by refusing too much sugar. It is not good for the blood or the waistline,” she said.
Nathaniel wanted to laugh, but he knew she was a woman to be taken seriously. He was not to question her, even when he found her reasoning to be utterly ridiculous.
“I am glad to have been taught this lesson,” he said, cautiously.
“Indeed. After all, you must watch your future bride’s intake of the white poison. Too much and she shall become utterly unrecognisable by your first anniversary,” she warned.
Nathaniel had to tell his grandmother then and there that he had broken off the engagement. It would not do for him to put it off further and then come back around to the topic at a later time, even if he did wish for such an opportunity that he might avoid addressing it just now.
