Page 44 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
“Truly. I have not been able to share some of these things even with my own sisters. For their sake, I must always pretend that Mother and Father had a perfect marriage. But you have made me comfortable enough that I can tell you the truth of it,” she said.
“I am glad that I have been able to leave you with such a comfort,” he replied.
Olivia nodded and they stood to walk for a while. As their feet led them, Olivia’s mind continued to wander down another path.
Yes, he was entirely different from that first day when they met at his grandmother’s. And now, all of the distrust she had had for him was vanishing like smoke. She finally believed everything he said and all the trust had been restored between them.
The Earl of Glauston was a good man. It was no longer a question. It had simply become fact for Olivia and she was glad that she had been able to recognise it early enough, even when there had been no reason to.
All those times she wondered if she had been a fool for giving him another chance after the way he had treated her, now she was thankful for it. She had made the right decision after all.
“You are fond of daisies, are you not?” he asked her as they walked past a small batch of them.
“Of course, my lord. They are lovely,” she answered, flattered that he had remembered her liking of them.
The earl stooped to pluck one, which he then wove into her hair, gently and sweetly.
Olivia’s heart pounded in her chest at the gesture. It was done with such grace that she felt as if he were treating her even more delicately than he was treating the flower.
“You are remarkable,” he said to her.
Olivia looked up at him and gazed into those soft eyes of his, unable to catch her breath.
“Thank you,” she whispered, shyly.
“No, Miss Digby. It is I who ought to thank you. For you have shown me a part of the world I had never imagined. A part that could feel fulfilled, understood even. Such a thing is rare for a man like me. A man who is so busy trying to handle the life around him that he scarcely has time to accept what the world at large has to show for men and women,” he said.
Olivia was perplexed by that, but she was hesitant to ask him what he meant. It seemed that he sensed her curiosity.
“I simply mean that there is a lot to see in this world. There are a great many things. But when one is constantly so distracted by trying to handle his duties and deal with his grief and understand what demands are on him, it is difficult to simply lie back and relax in the good things,” he explained.
Olivia understood that. She knew that she too tended to find life a bit overwhelming at times. She wanted to enjoy it, but the economic circumstances of her family required a great deal more from her than the sort of life that would afford her such a luxury.
It was strange how the two of them could have such completely different circumstances and yet share this same struggle. Both felt the need to be everything to everyone despite her having nothing and him having seemingly everything.
Olivia was growing to recognise that even the wealthy elite in society had a great deal of struggles. There were those who chose to throw them away, ignore them by being irresponsible. And there were those like the earl, who made every effort to be strong and handle them as best he could.
“You are quite strong, you know,” she told him.
“Me?” he asked.
“Yes, you. You have been so brave and I cannot imagine the pressures of your station, but you handle them well, you make every effort to succeed and I can see that you are more than capable of doing so.”
Olivia delighted in seeing the expression on the earl’s face. She had made him glow with a healthy pride, a look of joy. She was determined then that she would always aim to show him respect, for that truly seemed to be what men sought.
Respect and trust. He had earned them both. And Olivia was glad to give them.
Chapter 23
Each and every time Olivia sat down to work on her writing, the fairytales turned out happier and happier. There was so much joy in her heart, that she could hardly express it. Words did not do it justice.
Of course, all of this was entirely inspired by the earl. She was grateful for him, overwhelmed by him, amazed by him. He had been too kind, too gracious, and everything she could ever have hoped for.
It was evident that she was unable to hide her excitement much longer. Olivia had noted that her sisters were beginning to ask questions. They were seeking answers and Louise could certainly tell that a change had come over her.
The happiness that Olivia was feeling was quite evident. So when Louise approached her, asking about the change, she could not deny the truth.
“Are you ever going to come out with it and tell us?” her sister began.
