Laura Matthews (29 page)

“Yes, I can understand that. I should go and see that they are settled,” she said as she rose.

“Surely there’s no hurry,” he protested. “You haven’t told me what you’ve done while I’ve been away.”

Olivia paused perplexedly. “I did as I always do, Noah. I managed the house, took walks and drives with Miss Stewart, did some embroidery, redecorated the nursery, and called on tenants and the vicar.” She moved toward the door.

“Olivia!”

“Yes, Noah?” She turned patiently with a look of query.

His thunderous eyes were not belied by the even tone of voice in which he spoke. “If you are angry with me, you will have to explain why. I have but just arrived home and cannot think how I have offended you.”

“Then I am sure it’s not possible that you have done so.”

He grunted exasperatedly. “I understand women in your condition are given to a certain moodiness, but I am not accustomed to handling it, Olivia.”

“I know, Noah,” she said softly, and slipped out the door.

When Olivia had checked to see that her mother-in-law needed no assistance, she went along to Julianna’s room and found her friend gazing out the window at the few snow flurries falling there.

“It’s fortunate that you arrived home when you did,” Olivia observed. “By tomorrow the weather may be much worse.”

Julianna turned slowly and smiled at her friend. “Noah insisted that we make only a stay long enough to satisfy propriety. He was anxious to be home.”

Olivia chose to ignore the inference made by her sister-in-law. “Did you enjoy your stay with the Monroes? Tell me about your young man.” She curled up in a chair opposite and watched Julianna.

“I was introduced to John at an assembly by one of Mother’s many acquaintances there. After our stays in London I should not have been surprised that she knew so many people, even in Bath. You would think that she had spent her entire life going to such watering places and building up an assortment of friends. Perhaps it’s all the letters she writes and the family connections with which she’s familiar,” Julianna mused.

Olivia laughed. “I’m sure Lady Lawrence knows half of England, Julianna, but you’re not telling me of John.”

The young woman flushed. “Well, it is not easy to explain how we happened to become such friends, Olivia. He’s not at all the beau, you know, though he is well enough looking and dresses just as he ought. At the first assembly he was attentive to me, perhaps because he had once met Noah years ago, but there were several other young men whom I had met in London who were far more arduous in their interest.”

She sighed and turned her head away. “The others knew of... Alexander’s elopement with Esther Draskin, of course, and how it affected me, or so they thought. It was comforting to me that John was not privy to that knowledge, you see; and he didn’t associate very freely with the London beaus, so he was not likely to hear of it.” She turned abruptly to her sister, her eyes sad. “I felt humiliated with the others, Olivia, thinking that they were laughing behind my back.”

“Oh, my poor dear,” Olivia murmured taking her friend in her arms. “I can see how it must have been.”

“If I had thought to encounter people I knew there, I’m not sure I would have had courage enough to go,” Julianna admitted, “but it had not really occurred to me. At first I felt desperate to attract someone’s special interest so that I would not feel so unprotected, so exposed. The whole of the season in London there was always Alexander at hand; I was never left on my own to face the embarrassment of the dowagers rushing about to locate a partner for me.” She shuddered reminiscently. “You have no idea how awful that can be, my dear, and it happened often enough the first two seasons I spent in London.”

“But you are an attractive young woman,” protested Olivia.

“I was rather shy in society at first and had nothing to say to the young men who stood up with me, so they weren’t eager, to return. Only when I knew Alexander was there behind me, watching me, waiting for our dances together, was I able to forget my awkwardness. It gave me confidence, Olivia,” she admitted, her voice soft and urgent. “Can you understand that?”

“Yes, of course I can, my love.”

Julianna sighed. “Well, there I was in Bath with no Alexander. As I said, I had not thought about the change in situation, and when I did, I wished to rush from the room. I felt that all the men were staring at me, whispering among themselves of my humiliation. Oh, they asked me to stand up, tossed about their compliments and politely never mentioned Alexander. It was awful.”

She sat silent for a minute regarding her hands. “Mother came to me after a while and told me, without any preface mind you, that I was a Lawrence and should be proud of it. I think she very nearly told me to keep my chin up, Olivia.” She gave a painful laugh.

“And did you?”

“It’s strange, you know, but I did. I told myself that I was well rid of Alexander, that I could be every bit as much at ease without him, and that I intended to enjoy myself. I pretended that you and Noah were watching me from the side of the hall,” she confessed, slightly shamefaced.

“I wish we had been.”

“I had to force myself to be clever and charming with those young men I knew, but with John I could relax. There was no need to be evasive, to be forever
not
mentioning Alexander. And John is so confident himself that it’s impossible to feel clumsy with him. We became friends over those weeks. He took Mother and me to the Abbey and escorted us to the pump room, and we rode sometimes.

“It was only when he left Bath that I realized how attached I had become to him. He went to his home near Salisbury for two weeks, and although I found myself still courted at the assemblies without his support, I was not happy. But I still believed that I missed him as I would miss you, Olivia, deprived of the company of a friend. After all, it was not midsummer moon with me as it had been with Alexander.” She laughed deprecatingly. “My intellect did not feel the least disordered, I assure you. Mother said nothing, did nothing to promote or prevent the relationship. How was I to know that you did not have to be at odds with everyone to be fond of a young man?”

“You goose,” Olivia laughed. “What happened when John returned?”

Julianna grinned mischievously. “He was very exasperated with me and my chatter. Well, naturally I was delighted to have my friend restored to me, and I had ever so much to tell him about what we had been doing and whom we had seen. There were the books I had read to be discussed and your letters, of course. He told me he was taking me for a drive. He did not ask me, mind you; he told me.”

“Sensible man.”

“Yes, I suppose he was, for although I was surprised at his being so high-handed, I agreed to go. When we were outside of town in a woods he stopped the phaeton and sat staring at me for the longest time. I was quite put out of countenance, and thought that I had done something to offend him. When he... kissed me,” she said with a blush, “I realized what a dolt I’d been.”

Olivia smiled tenderly at her friend. “I am so delighted for you, my love.”

“I thought it necessary to tell him about Alexander and everything that had happened.”

“The midnight ride as well?” Olivia asked gently.

“Yes, for I could not withhold anything from him. He knew most of the rest, as he was not as unfamiliar with the London gentlemen as I had thought. We are more or less engaged, but there is to be no announcement for a while. John wishes to give me sufficient time to know my mind, and Mother and Noah are concerned at such a rapid change of heart. I don’t blame them, you understand; I am amazed myself.”

“But you’re sure you wish to marry him?”

Julianna’s eyes glowed in the wintry light. “Very sure, my dear. I have none of the doubts and fears I had with Alexander. John is the kind of man you wished for me, Olivia, a man I can love and respect.”

Despite the aching in her own heart, Olivia hugged her friend warmly. “You must have been very annoyed with Noah for dragging you back to the Towers so soon.”

“Not really, for I wished to be with you when the child is born. John is to visit us early in the new year, and I think Noah will be satisfied then of my resolve.”

“He’s pleased with your choice, Julianna. I shall look forward to meeting John.”

“I’m anxious for you to do so. Now do not let me keep you longer, Olivia. You must wish to be with Noah.”

Olivia rose slowly and nodded before pressing her friend’s hand. “We’ll talk more later.”

* * * *

When she returned to her room, Olivia was surprised to find Noah there.
He was pacing the length of the room, tight-lipped and grim-faced. At the sound of the door closing he swung about to face her.

“Did you wish to speak with me, Noah?” she asked softly, rather shaken by his visage and his presence.

“I did, madam,” he said coldly. “I would like an explanation of one Mr. Evans’s visit to you.”

“Just what would you like me to explain, Noah?” she asked stiffly as she seated herself rigidly on the Hepplewhite chair.

“I would like to know,” he said sarcastically, “who he is, why he visited you, how you came to receive him
unchaperoned, and what went on between you.”

“I see. Very well, I shall endeavor to satisfy your curiosity.” Olivia achieved a more comfortable position on the chair and folded her hands nonchalantly in her lap, because she knew it would infuriate her husband. “I believe you have met Mr. Evans—at Stolenhurst. He was cataloguing my brother’s library when you were present for Peter’s birthday celebration. You may not have been introduced, but he and Miss Stewart were with me when you summoned me to Mrs. Dyer.”

Recollection, and something more, dawned on Noah. “I vaguely recall the young man.”

“Yes, well, recently he was performing his cataloguing services for Lord Cranston at Attleborough, and he very kindly thought to pay a call on us, since the Towers lies almost on his route to London. How could he be aware that I was alone here? Who would expect such a pass for a young bride with as much family as I now have?” she asked impertinently.

“In any case, I saw no reason to have him denied. Miss Stewart had left the previous day and I welcomed the opportunity to renew my acquaintance with Mr. Evans. He’s a most engaging young man and a delightful conversationalist.”

“I am informed that he did not merely make the usual half-hour social call, Olivia. He stayed to dinner and most of the evening. In addition, you went out the next morning alone, and returned with him some hours later.”

“Gossiping with the servants, are you, Noah?” she asked coldly. “Jarette could barely resist putting his ear to the door, I dare say, and was just bursting with the news when your valet returned with you. Let me see, you have been home almost two hours now. Hardly a record for the servants, I imagine,” she sighed.

“There is no need to be flippant, Olivia.” He stood, hands on hips, glaring down at her. “I notice you have not answered my last question as to what went on between you.”

Olivia steeled herself against the blush which threatened to spread over her cheeks. “Do you wish for me to elaborate on our discourse, Noah, or will an abbreviated version do for you?”

“So long as you do not omit anything of importance, an abbreviated version will do,” he snapped.

“As you wish. We chatted for some time on matters of mutual interest, and then I invited him to stay to dinner. He was very sympathetic to my pitiful description of being abandoned for most of my married life.”

Olivia ignored his muttered oath. “Over dinner he was most solicitous and regaled me with anecdotes from his travels and his youth. I drank a bit too much. After our meal he had his claret in the Drawing Room with me. It reminded me of our honeymoon,” she said smoothly, “except that he was more forthcoming about himself than you ever were. Then I played several pieces for him, burst into tears and he kissed me, apologized and left.”

Noah regarded her with astonishment, unable to speak.

Olivia continued, “In the morning I had your letter kindly explaining that you would be delayed
again,
as you were taking your mother and sister to Salisbury. I was unaccountably angry,” she shook her head wonderingly, “but proceeded on my usual tasks. Mr. Evans was just riding up as I left the gates and he accompanied me on my drive to several of the tenants. He was concerned that
in my condition
I should wander about alone and took painstaking care of me. I felt it only fair to invite him back to tea, of course. We discussed your library, and I took him to see it. Jarette was most disapproving, you will be happy to note. Such a well-built room, though, I doubt he was able to hear anything.”

She regarded her irate husband casually. “Mr. Evans expressed once again his sorrow at the treatment I received as your wife, and I admitted that I was sometimes lonely. Overcome by my plight he held me and kissed me, and assured me that he was mine to command. Then he left.”

In a voice shaking with fury, Noah gasped, “And you dare to tell me such a thing?”

“But, Noah, you asked me. Julianna has but recently convinced me of the efficacy of disclosing the whole truth.”

“You told Julianna of this?” he yelped.

“Of course not. Whyever would she be interested?”

He sat down on her bed and regarded her uncomprehendingly. “Olivia, do you consider that you behaved properly with Mr. Evans?”

A judicious consideration of his question brought a vigorous shake of her head. “No, I should not have told him of your neglect of me. That is a family matter and should not be discussed amongst strangers. It was very wrong of me, and I apologize.”

“For God’s sake, Olivia, is it possible that you do not think it improper for you to
kiss
Mr. Evans?”

“Ordinarily I might,” she said thoughtfully, “but, as I recall, when we decided to marry we did not endeavor to maintain such a rigid faithfulness. Now I imagine I would disapprove of Julianna acting as I did when she is married to Mr. Monroe.”

“Well,
I
disapprove of
your
acting as you did,” he grumbled disconcertedly. “This is not Devonshire House. I did not intend that you should take my words as giving you permission to have liaisons.”