Page 49 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
“Is she really having to work so hard? Are you not simply giving yourself to her? It has only been a matter of a few weeks since you ended your previous betrothal and now, here you are, moving on with a young woman who has nothing to offer and everything to gain through a union with you?”
Nathaniel shook his head, unable to handle any more of this conversation.
“You are wrong. And I do not accept these accusations against the woman I intend to marry one day. You may feel as you do, but I shall not pretend that there is anything in your words that will ever lead me to believe them,” he said.
“That is your decision to make. I simply thought it best to warn you that it is very possible you are pursuing a woman who has her own designs upon you for something more than simply love. If you do not wish to hear it, I cannot make you. But be warned, there are thousands of temptresses out there. If you should fall into the favour of one, you might never escape her snare,” Lord Kensington said.
Nathaniel did not respond. He had nothing more to say.
“I shall leave you with one final question,” Lord Kensington began. “Who arranged all of this? Was it truly your grandmother? How did they come to know one another? Perhaps it was not Lady Kirby’s arrangement at all. Perhaps your intended is far more intelligent than you might have previously thought.”
With that, he stood and made his way from the room. Nathaniel had a million questions in his mind as to why this would even be an issue for them to discuss.
It was certainly true that Miss Digby had a great deal to gain from any union between them, but the idea of it was utterly ridiculous. She would never manipulate him for the sake of it. He knew her character better than that.
He knew that Olivia was a kind, good young woman. And anything to the contrary had to be false. No one could fake such wonderful behaviour for so long. No one could manipulate so well as to show him this side of herself. And Nathaniel was not a fool. He could tell the difference between an honest person and a dishonest one.
Of that, he was entirely certain. He would never believe anything else.
When he was alone again, Nathaniel thought about the conversation that had occurred. Was he being foolish? Or was he justified in wanting the marriage to proceed quickly?
Certainly, this young woman had not arranged the betrothal. It had been his grandmother’s doing. Any accusation against Miss Digby was foolish.
And yet, he could not help but question the matter. After all, he still did not understand why they had been brought together. He was thankful for it, but it seemed strange, nevertheless.
In fact, he decided that there was one thing he could do to ensure that the whole of society knew how seriously he was taking this courtship and how much he trusted Miss Digby. He could host a ball. And perhaps, at the end of it, he could finally ask for her hand.
Chapter 25
The morning was bright and Olivia stretched her body as she relaxed in the parlour reading and enjoying the calmness of the day. It had been tense at home for the last couple of days as her father was still unable to accept the information she had finally given him.
Louise and Gemma stayed out of the way when father and sister passed one another and Olivia felt that the tension would last a great deal longer, whether she liked it or not.
But her father was gone that day and she could relax. In one of her simple, comfortable dresses, she leaned back and released a yawn. Louise was outside, tending the garden as she so loved to do, and Gemma had gone upstairs to sleep for a while, being rather tired that day.
In the peaceful moment, Olivia was surprised to hear a knock at the door.
She stood quickly, feeling her heart race as it had frightened her to have such a noise amidst the quiet. But she made her way to the front door to see it was simply a messenger.
“Miss Digby, it is good to see you,” he said.
Olivia recognised him as being one of the earl’s footmen. She smiled and curtseyed.
“It is good to see you as well. How is the earl?” she enquired.
“He is very well, Miss Digby. He has requested that I bring you this invitation to a ball that is being hosted at his home on Saturday evening. My lord wishes that you and your sisters would come,” he told her.
Olivia’s heart swelled and her mouth dropped open. She took the three envelopes from the footman and gazed at them in awe. Then she looked to him and nodded.
“Am I to tell my lord that you accept?” he asked.
“Indeed. We accept. Tell him that I am delighted and thankful for such an invitation,” she added.
“I shall, my lady,” he replied. “And he has instructed me that upon your acceptance, these packages be brought to you.”
Her eyes grew wide upon seeing three large boxes, which she knew to be gowns. There was one for each of them and Olivia could not wait to show her sisters the treat they had been given.
“Tell my lord that I am entirely thankful,” she said.
