Page 49 of An Innocent Little Scandal (Sensual Scandals)

Miles narrowed his gaze and spoke slowly. “You dare to threaten me?”

The viscount smiled easily. “I would never be so crass, Your Grace, although I would consider it a friendly warning if you don’t wish to keep to the bargain made by your predecessor.”

As he departed, Miles’s thoughts were churning with what he’d just been told, and to say that his anger was piqued was putting it mildly.

Even so, he decided that he should return to Marlington Hall in all due haste. He was conflicted about whether or not he should tell Olivia this latest development, as he was concerned this might make her even more reticent to marry him. However, neither could he withhold something of this magnitude from her when she deserved to know the truth of the ring’s origin.

Grimly, he ordered Gladiator to be saddled.

Chapter Eighteen

“Acarriage just arrived.”

Olivia was sitting in the parlor reading when Isadora walked into the room with the announcement. She hoped it was the duke returning, as she lifted her hand and touched the miniature that he had given her. She had returned to wearing it the night before when she’d gone to bed and realized how much she’d longed for its comfort. It made her feel closer to Miles and she had been missing him with a decided pang in her chest, especially after what the duchess had told her. Olivia’s heart ached for the boy who had done his best to save his younger sister, and who continued to punish himself even now, years after the terrible tragedy. It all made sense to her why he had been so upset about her own brush with death in the freezing Thames, and why he had seemed so drawn to her in the aftermath. Her own accident had drudged up all those acute memories that he’d tried to bury.

She yearned to see him again and just… hold him, comfort him, and tell him that she would never again go near a pond in the winter, or any other time of the year.

“Are you quite sure?” Araminta noted curiously, bringing Olivia back to the present. She had been working on some needlework, but now she set it aside.

“I saw it stop in front of the manor,” Isadora returned dryly.

“Surely Grey and the duke haven’t returned already. I should think it would be too soon,” Araminta said as she walked over to the window and peered outside.

“Maybe Lord Somers just couldn’tabidethe thought of being away from you for one more minute,” Calliope mocked from the other side of the room. She’d been in the process of going through some ribbon she’d found in the attic and seeing what could be salvaged.

Even though Olivia had given up the idea of wearing one of her mother’s gowns for her wedding, she had decided to head upstairs with Calliope, regardless, to see what they could find. It turned out that there were several items of interest there, if Calliope’s excited cries of glee had been any indication. She had headed downstairs with an armful of various bits of ribbon, lace, and other adornments. Araminta had joined them for a brief time as well, but lost interest. Isadora had declined to dig through any of the ‘musty, old trunks’ altogether, but Olivia knew that she didn’t care much for nostalgia. Or perhaps the reason might have been that it was just too painful for her to revisit the past, knowing that it could never be relived.

“Hmm. That’s odd,” Araminta murmured, where she stood by Isadora and looked outside. “It’s a woman, unless the duke has suddenly decided to sport a bonnet.”

“What?” Olivia’s heart started to pound anxiously, but she had no time to ponder the matter as Edgerton appeared in the doorway.

“There is a visitor for the Duchess of Gravesend,” he intoned.

“I believe she’s still abed—” Isadora began, but then broke off when the lady swept into the room, looking as bright and proper as she’d ever been. Her dark hair, lined with streaks of silver, was piled atop her head and she wore a silver day gown that only enhanced the beauty of her age.

“I apologize for my tardiness.” She smiled at them all in turn. “I am still trying to get used to country hours, although I was never much for waking up early.” She addressed the butler, “You said there was someone here to see me?” She laughed. “I daresay I can’t escape playing hostess for a single moment. I’m tracked down wherever I go.” Edgerton handed over a card, which she accepted. Olivia held her breath as she frowned slightly. “Please show Miss Stillwater into the parlor.”

As the servant went to fetch the lady, Isadora asked, “Do you know who she is?”

The duchess shook her head. “Not a clue. But I suppose I’ll soon find out.”

A sudden tension began to flow throughout the room and Calliope moved from her spot farther away from the group and sat down beside Olivia, who wasn’t sure if she did so to offer support, should she require it, or to gain a front row seat to whatever was about to transpire.

The butler returned with a woman who was wearing a dark plum velvet dress. She was particularly comely, perhaps around Isadora’s age, with ebony hair, and eyes that were a unique shade of blue. However, it was the manner in which she carried herself, as though she was entitled to be there that bothered Olivia the most.

She ignored everyone in the room except for the duchess who rose and said evenly, “Miss Eugenia Stillwater, I presume?”

“Yes, I am, Your Grace.” She perfectly performed a deep curtsy and adopted an expression of innocence as she smiled.

“I daresay I was quite surprised to receive your card, and it is curiosity that compelled me to entertain you.” She turned to encompass the rest of them. “Allow me to introduce Lady Isadora Bevelstroke, Lady Araminta, Lady Calliope, and Lady Olivia. They are the daughters of the previous Duke of Marlington, although Lady Olivia has recently become betrothed to my son, the duke’s heir.”

“I see.” Her blue eyes immediately shifted to Olivia and held with what could only be interpreted as a malicious glint. “How… interesting.” She blinked and then turned back to the duchess with the same, innocent look as before. “That might cause a problem, as the duke is already engaged. To me.”

* * *

Olivia wasthankful that she was already sitting, lest her legs might have given way beneath her. Nevertheless, Callie clasped her hand in her own.

“That’s absurd!” the duchess intoned, none to kindly. “I should implore you not to spread such false rumors.”

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