Page 73 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
When she saw the bustling of the city in view, she felt relief to know that she was close. She was nearing her own home and with that, she felt the relief of being farther away from the horrible estate of that wretched woman. It brought her peace to know that she could be free of them if only she could reach her own home.
The cart stopped at the market and Olivia walked from there. On the way, she glanced at some of the storefronts and wished that she might be able to go in and get something for her sisters and her father. But, despite the life she had been living of late, Olivia was reminded that she did not have the means to get them anything.
After all, she would never be wealthy. And as much as that did not matter, she was aching for the fact that she could not provide even the simplest of things. With that in mind, she decided to go into one of the bakeries and enquire if they were seeking to hire for any positions. Then she entered another shop and another.
Unfortunately, none were looking to hire. No, Olivia was without hope.
Perhaps it was her heightened demeanour and the fact that anger was written all over her face, she thought. After all, she was poor at being able to hide when she felt frustration and rage. Was she being too harsh in her requests?
Or was she simply doomed to live a life without the fortune of contentment? Would she always live without being able to provide for her sisters, always be without love, always be ashamed and embarrassed by her circumstances?
She had been a fool to even ask that day. There was a small need within her to take control of something in her life. She knew that eventually she would have to marry or work and it seemed as good an idea as any to try for a position, but really, what had she been thinking?
Olivia had chosen the worst of her days to try for something where she could be, once more, rejected. Yes, her desperation was getting the better of her and she was deeply ashamed of that.
It was overwhelming. She ran from the market area and strove towards home, not caring a bit that she looked unladylike doing so.
By the time she had reached her own street, her lungs burning from the brief distance she had been able to run and her brisk walking ever since, Olivia was desperate to enter the house and be away from the prying eyes of the world.
She needed her freedom.
Upon entering the small house, her refuge, she was taken aback by the silence of her sisters upon seeing her.
“What is it?” she asked brusquely.
Gemma opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Louise.
“You should speak with Father,” Louise replied.
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Why is it that every woman I speak with today tells me to go and seek answers from a man?” she grumbled. It was frustrating to be told over and over again that she needed to talk to someone else if she wanted to have any idea what was happening around her.
“Liv…” Louise began.
“What is it? Why can’t you tell me?” she asked. It was frustrating to feel out of control again, that people were trying to keep something from her. Why could they not just be honest and tell her what was going on?
“I just wanted you to know that Father spoke with…a visitor that came for you,” she said in such a way as to give Olivia an idea of who had come. “And I think that things might truly be made right. You should speak with Father and you might finally have some of the answers that you want.”
If Olivia was going to get the answers from her father, that would be quite an unexpected fortune. So she made her way to the small room he used for a study and his business needs. Although she could hardly fit inside with his makeshift desk and aged chair, Olivia waited for him to acknowledge her.
Mr. Digby turned and looked at her, then turned back to his work. “I expect Louise sent you in here?” he asked.
“She did,” Olivia replied.
“Good. This is for you,” he said, handing her a letter.
“And?”
“And what?”
“Is there nothing else you wish to tell me?” she asked.
“It is all in there. And what remains to be told is not to be told by me,” he replied.
With that, Olivia knew that something had, indeed, changed. And whatever answers she longed for could be found only on this paper and in the words of a man she had determined to loathe.
Chapter 36
The anxiety had returned to Nathaniel’s heart. Once more, he was embarking on a quest that could easily leave him disgraced. And yet, despite that, he knew he was doing the right thing. Miss Digby had been quite certain she would receive answers, or so his grandmother had reported to him.
