Page 23 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
Before long, the coachman came from the estate, slowly driving beside Olivia. “Miss Digby, the Lady Kirby insists that I take you to your home,” he urged.
“I think not,” she scoffed in reply, unwilling to look at him.
“Please, Miss, it is at her behest that I have come to you,” he said, the horses clomping over each of his words.
“I shall accept nothing from her,” Olivia retorted.
The coachman gave an irritated exhale of frustration. “Then I shall have to go alongside you the whole journey,” he told her in frustration.
“Do as you please, although you ought to just go back, for I shan’t accept a thing from that household,” she said again.
“Well, I must at least pretend that you have, Miss,” he said.
Olivia realised then why the coachman was so annoyed. Of course, the dowager had insisted he drive her to her home. If she continued to refuse him, he would only end up getting into trouble with her.
“I see. It is for yourself that you must take me,” she acknowledged, looking up at the coachman then.
“Of course, Miss Digby. I should never force a woman to do anything she did not wish to do. But if my mistress is aware that I have failed in this endeavour, it is I who shall pay the price,” he confessed.
Olivia nodded in understanding and paused her step, agreeing to allow the coachman to escort her. He hopped down and opened the door, allowing her to enter the coach.
As she road back to her home, Olivia could not help but consider the fact that her father was right. Truly, he had warned her against this involvement and the situation she had put herself in. Whatever it was that had possessed her to do this, Olivia regretted it, wishing she had listened to his wisdom.
She could not let him learn how she had been so ashamed. He could not find out about this disaster and the humiliation she had faced. It would wound the entire family and he would not take it kindly.
Of course, what could he do if he had been offended by it? It was not as though Mr. Digby was in a position to rise up against one of the wealthiest families in all of England. He would only embarrass them further.
No, she had to keep this secret. And she would. No one would ever find out that Olivia had done this.
Chapter 13
Nathaniel put his head in his hands, feeling like a terrible person for everything he had just done. This was not who he was. But it was how he had chosen to present himself, like a child.
He wondered if he had made the right decision, pushing Miss Digby away like that. It was clear that his grandmother would not have allowed him to refuse her, so getting her to refuse him was the only option he had.
And yet, he knew she was undeserving of his actions. She was undeserving of the lack of dignity he had shown to her. Miss Digby was worth more than that.
Nathaniel pushed the thought aside. It was too late to do anything about it now. After all, Miss Digby was gone, repulsed by him. He had done the utmost damage and she would never be willing to accept him again, that was to be sure.
He leaned back in the large chair, near the empty fireplace in the study. It was a warm day, no need for a fire. But it was the most comfortable chair in the entire house and one that Nathaniel generally preferred.
Letting his head rest and his eyes close, he considered whether or not he could undo the damage to his reputation with Miss Digby without causing her to reconsider the union. It seemed impossible.
Not that she was so bad. But he didn’t want his marriage arranged like this. He wanted it to be his own choice and a woman that he simply could not help but fall in love with.
Footsteps echoed in the hall. Angry ones. He was for it now. Nathaniel knew he would have to face his grandmother and the consequences of his actions. She would certainly be enraged and he could hardly blame her.
The door was shoved open with force and venom. Nathaniel turned to her with an expression of surrender, ready to take whatever punishment she might decide to dole out upon him.
The dowager planted her hands firmly on her hips, which were slightly wider than the rest of her figure. A snarl seemed to twist her usually pretty face and even in that beautiful gown and with all the jewels and revelry, she was not a beautiful thing to behold in that moment.
“Say what you must,” Nathaniel sighed.
“What I must? What about whatyoumust? Is that not of import any longer? I was quite clear about what I expected of you, I was clear that this was something you must do. Something that I desired,” she insisted.
Nathaniel nodded, defeated but also firm in his decision.
“You have nothing to say to me?” she asked.
