Page 52 of The Scot Who Loved Her

“You’ll need new gowns, shoes and bonnets.”

Olivia perked up then. “Well, then it is a good thing I’ve been to the best modiste in Edinburgh. Madame Yolande is from Paris and came highly recommended by the Duchess of Sutherland.”

Lady Helvellyn took out her fan and started to wave it at her face rapidly. “My goodness, yes, that is perfect. How many gowns did you request?”

“Just three.”

“Oh, you’ll need at least six new ones. At least. I will go there at once and choose more.”

Olivia wanted to argue, hating her mother’s style. For the first time in her life, she’d been able to pick out fabrics and designs that suited her. But there would be no stopping her mother. At least some of her gowns would be the way she wanted them and she would have to take that with comfort.

“Oh, one more thing, dear.” Lady Helvellyn snapped her fan closed and looked Olivia in the eye, her face solemn. “Lord Thirlestane is our host.”

Olivia waited, wanting to know what her mother could think about this because there was always more.

“I have a feeling he has invited us, and you in particular, for a very good reason.”

Olivia feigned innocence. “And what could that be?”

“Marriage, dear.” Lady Helvellyn pointed at her. “I have high suspicions that he will propose.”

“Does Papa know we’re going to a house party?”

“Yes. He has agreed to go.”

Olivia could not hide her shock at that. “Papa going to a house party in Scotland? And not his own?”

“He loves a good hunt, dear. Do be more charitable.”

Olivia bit the tip of her tongue to keep from saying anything else.

“Well, I need to go see this Madame Yolande. Elaine is already upstairs working on packing your best gowns.”

Olivia was still trying to let all of this soak in. “Shouldn’t I come, too, Mama? In case she needs another measurement?” This was a stretch, but her mother nodded.

“Oh, I do suppose that is a good idea.”

At that moment, Lord Helvellyn bustled from his study. Olivia had not seen her father in days. He looked exhausted with dark rings beneath his eyes.

“Papa, are you well?” she asked, concerned.

“Olivia,” her mother scolded.

She could practically hear her mother saying, “Ladies never ask if a gentleman is well. His health is none of our business.”

“Yes, my dear.” Her father puffed his chest as if expanding his girth somehow was going to change what was very obvious on the outside. “I’m off to make arrangements for our departure.”

“When do we leave?” Olivia asked.

“Tomorrow morning.”

Thank goodness the modiste had promised to work with her other seamstresses overnight to guarantee delivery of at least one of the gowns and send the rest via courier in a few days.

“And the dinner party tonight?” She prayed her mother said it was off as she knew Caroline did not intend to go, and she wasn’t certain if her other friends would be there.

“Well, Lord Thirlestane has already departed,” Lady Helvellyn said, “so there’s no need for us to go. I will send our regrets.”

Olivia was relieved and alarmed all at once. What were the chances that her parents would force her into a marriage with Lord Thirlestane? It wouldn’t be unheard of. The only way for her to get out of it would be for Malcolm to marry her instead, and he’d made no such intentions known. And likely, even if he did, her father would deny him.

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