Page 79 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
She had learned how he felt about the young woman who had accosted her at the ball and she had finally been made aware of the reality surrounding their union. Knowing that this had been a love that she was born into was a deeper knowledge, still.
Truly, they were meant to be together. They had been born to find one another. And now that they had, nothing could keep them apart. Olivia wanted so badly to express it to the earl, but she knew that propriety demanded she refrain from drawing close to him as she wished.
She could not rest a hand on his arm as she thought to, or whisper in his ear that she longed for their future together. She could not embrace him or anything, as it would not be proper and she wished for everything in their union to remain as was expected of them.
“Would you like more tea?” she asked, being the only thing she could think of to say. The earl chuckled, and she felt foolish for having asked such a silly question as that.
“I should like that very much,” he told her.
Olivia sprung to action but realised quickly that the tea had gone cold. She ran to the kitchen and warmed it up, preparing everything as best she could for them to enjoy with one another. Yes, she wanted it all to be perfect, ideal. She wished that the earl would always remember this night as the one they could share with their children some day.
Oh, children. Children who knew the tale of their mother and father. Children who could see that the two loved one another. Yes, their story would be so different from the stories of their own parents. For between the earl and Olivia, there was real love.
It was not the makings of society. It was not determined by the rules of class. It was in their hearts. They loved and respected one another in a way that Olivia had not known she might ever find. Truer than any fairytale and more romantic than a princess story could provide, she knew she had found something deep and real.
Allowing her thoughts to drift to the gown she had worn that first day she met with Lady Kirby, Olivia thought about how alike the earl and his father must have been. What a strange thing that both of them should have thought to take the women they loved to a dressmaker and have something exquisite designed.
Lost in these thoughts, Olivia was brought back to herself by the sound of the kettle. It was ready and she made her way back into the parlour where the earl was still sitting, quite peacefully. A look of satisfaction was resting upon his face and she thought that perhaps, finally, things might come together for them.
They had been through a lot. From the mysteries surrounding Lady Kirby’s intentions to the first day in which he had seen her at the market, the lunch in which he had been such a terror and the days they spent together falling in love. All of it had culminated in the ball that had driven them apart. And even despite that, even with challenge after challenge, they had overcome it all.
The same satisfied expression settled upon her own face. Olivia poured more tea for the earl and sat once again. “I feel as though I should never like to let you leave,” she giggled.
“Then we are of the same mind. For I should like it if we were together always,” the earl replied.
Her heart warmed to hear this. If he loved her as she believed he did, then everything would be all right in the end. All would come together for them.
“I do believe that there is more that I must say to you,” he said, as if he had been planning to speak all along but was waiting for the right moment.
“Oh? What is it?” she asked, nervously.
“Do you think you might welcome your family to join us for a moment?” he asked.
Olivia was even more taken aback by this. She hadn’t expected he would wish to speak in front of them. After all, they had given him such a difficult time over the past few weeks.
With Gemma not knowing when to speak and when not to, with her father’s bitterness and anger, with Louise’s blend of suspicion and enthusiasm. All of these things had added up to cause a conflict for him. Nevertheless, he was requesting their presence.
“Certainly. I shall call for them,” she said, standing and making her way to the door.
When she opened the door she saw that all three of them were seated outside her father’s study. All had been waiting for the conversation between her and the earl to come to an end that they might learn something of the results.
Louise’s eyes lit up with curiosity, just as Gemma looked determined to learn the truth. Her father, often appearing browbeaten and weathered, showed himself to be far more at peace than normal.
“You are all waiting for something?” she laughed.
“We wished to hear what came of your discussion with the earl,” Louise explained, innocently.
“Yes, of course you were. Well, as it happens, our conversation has not yet come to a close. He would like to speak with all of us together,” she said.
They looked at one another with surprise and delight.
“All together?” her father questioned.
“Yes, Father. Would you all please come swiftly?” she asked.
They followed Olivia into the parlour where the earl awaited them, standing and twiddling his fingers as if anxious.
“My friends, the Digby family, I am pleased to be here today. Much has occurred between myself and the eldest Miss Digby and we spoke about the things that stood between us. I should like to know whether or not I have forgiveness from the rest of you as well.
