Page 34 of Ambition (The Chaplain’s Legacy #6)

“Oh yes, it is a trifle cool out here, but you see we are avoiding Miss Bucknell’s wrath,” she said artlessly.

Lady Esther winced. “I would say, rather, that we are diplomatically retreating. Keeping our heads below the parapet. Not drawing attention to ourselves.”

Robert chuckled. “Inclined to blame you, is she?”

“Not because Effie ran away,” Olivia whispered, “but because we did not tell her. She knew nothing of it until you arrived.”

“Well, I am sorry for that, but she would have found out soon enough,” he said easily. “There she is now, crossing the lawn with Lord Rennington. He will put her in a better humour, I am sure.”

Lady Esther smiled. “Yes, indeed. A pleasing match, and a most gratifying outcome for both of them after all their difficulties.”

“Has Miss Bucknell had difficulties, too?” Olivia said, turning innocent eyes on Lady Esther.

“Well… not exactly, but then… everyone has some difficulties in life. How you do take one up, sometimes, Olivia,” Lady Esther said.

“I beg your pardon, ma’am.”

She lowered her head, subdued, and again Robert was on fire to hold her tight and reassure her.

After all, it was a sensible question given Lady Esther’s words.

He rather wondered about Miss Bucknell’s difficulties himself, which perhaps accounted for her lack of previous suitors, but now, of course, it was impossible to ask.

Quickly he changed the subject, enquiring about Lady Esther’s stepdaughter and her new husband, which kept the conversation in safer channels for some considerable time.

A footman came out to see if they wanted anything, and shortly thereafter a pot of tea arrived, and several plates of cake, biscuits and sweetmeats.

Robert took a glass of wine, and amused himself by watching Olivia tucking into the cake with enthusiasm, while Lady Esther sipped her tea delicately.

Such a pleasant way to pass the morning.

This is what it would be like if he were married to Olivia, except that it would be just the two of them.

No need for a chaperon if they were married.

There would be endless days like this, sitting companionably on the terrace or beside the fire, and only the occasional intrusion of the outside world to disturb their harmony.

And there would be visits to the nursery…

goodness, how old that made him feel! To have children of his own would be both a glory and a heavy responsibility.

A murmur of voices broke into this pleasant reverie.

The butler emerged onto the terrace accompanied by another man, a well-built man who might have been called handsome were he not scowling so ferociously.

The butler gestured towards the corner where Robert and the ladies sheltered, and the man strode towards them. He looked familiar…

“There you are, Esther! What are you doing hiding away out here? The servants have been all over the house looking for you.”

“Ramsey?” Lady Esther said uncertainly. “Whatever are you doing here?”

“Are you serious?” the man said, looming over her. “After a letter such as this?” He waved a crumpled sheet of paper under her nose. “Did you expect that we would all just smile and let it go? I suppose you have been promoting this match, have you? And think yourself very clever, I make no doubt.”

“You mean Charlie? But Ramsey—”

“Of course I mean Charlie! What on earth were you thinking, to let things get to this stage?”

“But they get on so well! So perfectly matched, and Papa has forgiven her so—”

“Honestly, you are the most bird-witted female I ever knew! Well, it must be stopped… if it is not too late. Where is she, do you know? I suppose the whole house will have to be searched again. It is not too late, I take it?”

Mutely, she shook her head.

“Then I must find her, at once. Or him. But there they are now!”

He shot off down the terrace steps and strode across the lawn towards the temple, from where Lord Rennington and Miss Bucknell were emerging. Lady Esther jumped up with a cry and ran after him.

“What is that all about?” Robert whispered to Olivia.

“No idea,” she whispered back. “Who is he? Do you know?”

“The Marquess of Ramsey, heir to the Duke of Camberley and Lady Esther’s brother. Look he has dropped the letter. What does it say?”

“Osborn! We cannot read other people’s private letters.”

“Well, we can if they drop them at our feet. Whether we should or not is another question, but since his lordship is shouting loud enough to wake the dead, I cannot imagine the secret will remain so for very long. Oh… it is from your father, informing the duke that he intends to pay his addresses to Miss Bucknell.” He chuckled.

“Oh dear! I rather fear the marquess has come to forbid the banns.”

“It is not funny, Osborn,” Olivia said in a small voice. “Papa was so happy, and look at him now — the very picture of dejection.”

Robert saw that she was right. The marquess, Miss Bucknell and Lady Esther were arguing furiously, but the earl stood a little aside, his head low.

As they watched, he raised his hands to silence them, and then said something too low to be heard.

Then he bowed, turned and walked back towards the house.

Seeing Olivia on the terrace, he diverted and came to sit beside her.

“There is no fool like an old fool, is there?” he said tiredly. “She seemed so pleasant, too. But it will not do.”

“Oh, Papa! Whatever has happened?” Olivia cried, wrapping her arm around his as tears of sympathy trickled down her cheeks.

“Perhaps we should not press for a detailed explanation,” Robert said gently.

“No, it is best that she knows,” the earl said, straightening his spine.

“Let it be a lesson to all of us that we should not judge people by appearances but enquire into their hearts and souls. Miss Bucknell, daughter, has greatly deceived me. She has never married, and so I imagined her as innocent as… well, as innocent as you are, but it is not so, for she lived with a man for a number of years without benefit of matrimony. Bore him three children, even! And this she did not see fit to mention to me. No one here thought to tell me of it.”

Olivia’s mouth dropped open, and she seemed too stunned to speak. This time, Robert could not stop himself from taking her free hand and squeezing it gently.

“That is dreadful indeed, but better to find it out now than later,” he said.

“Yes. That is true,” the earl said. Then, with a sigh, “We must leave, I suppose. I cannot stay in this place a moment longer.”

“Shall we go home, then?” Olivia said.

The earl shuddered. “And have your Aunt Jane drumming up more potential wives for me? No, no, no! I could not bear it.”

“Izzy lives just up the road at Nottingham,” Robert said. “She and Farramont would be delighted to see you.”

“Mama is there,” Olivia said softly. “Papa will not go where she is.”

“Oh. What about Josie, then?”

“In town.”

Robert stopped, daunted.

The argument on the lawn had finally died away.

Miss Bucknell, her cheeks flaming, rushed back into the house, while Lady Esther and Lord Ramsey returned to the corner of the terrace.

Silently, Robert handed the marquess the letter.

He looked rueful, the anger finally burned out of him, but the usually composed Lady Esther collapsed onto the bench, sobbing piteously.

“Lord, I never meant to upset her so much,” Ramsey said, rubbing his neck with a sigh. “Never seen her cry before. Come now, Esther, buck up. It is not so bad as all that, and at least they were not actually married.”

“It is not that,” Lady Esther said, her voice high with distress. “We cannot stay now! We must leave at once, but how can I? Mr Franklyn has gone off with Lord Embleton and taken the carriage and if I just disappear, he will not know where I have gone and how can I go on my own?”

“These are not insuperable problems,” Ramsey said, kneeling before her and taking her hand.

“Come now, Esther, this is not like you. I have no handkerchief… Kiltarlity, have you a handkerchief? There now, mop up your tears, sister, and let us put our heads together and see what we can come up with. For a start, you can take my carriage, if you wish. I should be delighted to escort you wherever you wish to go.”

“I cannot go anywhere!” she wailed. “Not without Mr Franklyn, but I do not know where he is!”

Robert coughed discreetly. “If I might suggest… we could follow Mr Franklyn and Lord Embleton on their journey north. And if we do not encounter them, we may all go to Strathinver and recover from this upheaval, and Mr Franklyn may meet up with us there. We can leave word of our plans along the way. It is far enough away that you will not be pestered by acquaintances, and only my mother and sisters are there at present. I suggested it to Lord Embleton as a place where he might take the Lady Euphemia, for the same reason. Strathinver is far enough from civilisation to be tranquil. I have always considered that a disadvantage, but in this case it would be ideal. And if you should want more lively company, we have the Duke and Duchess of Lochmaben only a few miles away.”

“Our cousins,” Olivia said, brightening a little. “Perhaps we could stay with them? They are always hospitable.”

“I am not much minded for company,” Lord Rennington said. “Strathinver… that sounds perfect. A secluded place to recover from this blow.”

“Exactly. What do you say, Lady Esther?” Robert said. “If we encounter Mr Franklyn on the way, you may make alternative plans but for the moment shall we all head to Scotland and escape from the travails of England?”

“Very well,” she said, straightening her spine a little. “If I may take up the offer of your carriage, Ramsey. I could not bear a hired post chaise.”

“No, indeed!” Robert said at once. “The daughter of a duke should never travel in a paltry hired chaise.”

It was the right thing to say, for a watery smile broke through for the first time. “Come, Olivia. We have packing to do. We shall leave in… two hours, shall we say?”

The gentlemen agreed to it and they all dispersed to make their various arrangements.