Page 5 of Ambition (The Chaplain’s Legacy #6)

T he big evening party cheered Olivia enormously.

She had been desperately low in spirits for so much of the year, firstly missing her debut season in town because of Grandmama’s imminent demise, and then the summer had been blighted by Uncle Arthur.

It was bad enough that a man should contrive to get himself murdered, especially a chaplain, but to discover that he had deceived them for years and years, overturning all their lives — it was the outside of enough!

Olivia felt as if she had been weeping off and on for months, and now Mama had gone away, and Cousin Tess and even Walter, and there was no one left at Corland, apart from Papa and her brother Kent, who was twice as annoying as all the rest put together for he was perpetually cheerful and saw life as one long joke.

But it was not his future which had been destroyed for ever.

At least the people investigating Uncle Arthur’s death had gone away for the moment.

Captain Edgerton was a funny little man who went everywhere with a sword at his side, as if he was about to be summoned to battle, although he told some amusing stories of his time in India.

His wife was very elegant, although too tall for a lady — taller than her husband.

They had not managed to discover who had killed poor Uncle Arthur, and now they had lost one of their own people and had gone off to look for her.

All of Olivia’s worries were pushed aside for now, however.

A big, noisy party with everyone from the neighbourhood and the carpets rolled up for dancing — that was more like it!

It was almost like the time before the trouble, when Mama had been at home and there had always been some entertainment or other to look forward to.

For once, Olivia was happy. She danced almost every dance, and even mousy little Katherine Parish, who never said a word to anyone and certainly never danced, was dragged to her feet for a reel.

The memory of it would keep Olivia warm for weeks, and even in the dull after-the-party low days, there would be letters of thanks and little posies of flowers and more morning callers than usual.

Corland was so remote that their pool of acquaintances was small, so they had to make the most of whatever amusements were to be had.

And now there was a dinner with Lord Embleton to be anticipated!

Not just dinner, but a whole evening and breakfast too, for the distance from Harraby Hall meant that he must stay overnight.

So much excitement — she could barely sleep for thinking about it.

Finally, after all these years, she could begin her campaign to win Lord Embleton’s heart.

Her amusing little game was about to become very real.

What should she talk about? A list, she must begin a list of suitable subjects, so that she could talk at length to him and he would not have to feel self-conscious about his stammer.

He arrived in good time. Olivia watched from the window of an empty bedroom as the carriage drew up and decanted the marquess and his valet.

Smiling, she skipped away to her own room to dress for dinner.

She had long since decided on the gown she would wear, and settled on a simple string of pearls woven through her hair, an arrangement which Mama always said emphasised the shape of her face.

As she peered at herself in the mirror, she could not see the benefit.

“What do you think, Hannah?” she said, twisting her head this way and that. “Something more elaborate, do you think? Pearls are so plain.”

“Her ladyship allus said to keep it simple, miss, leastways till you go up to town. Save the diamonds for grand balls, she used to say.”

Olivia knew perfectly well what her mother used to say, but it was annoying to have her words parroted back at her by the maid, who had never even been to London. She wanted to be in the drawing room before the marquess, however, so she chose not to quibble.

The marquess was not there, but the room already felt full, since Uncle George and Aunt Jane were ensconced there, quietly talking to Aunt Alice and the earl, while Olivia’s five cousins clustered around the fire.

“Olivia!” Bertram said, as Simpson announced her. “How are you, cousin?”

“A little surprised. I did not know you were all to be here tonight.”

He chuckled. “Aunt Alice sent a note over to Mother telling us that you had casually invited the Marquess of Embleton to dine here en famille , and since that might look rather particular, she begged us to increase the numbers, so to speak. Did she not tell you?”

“No, she did not. I sent word to Eustace, but that is all. At least if conversation flags, you will be able to talk to the marquess in Latin. Oh! She did not invite the Franklyns, did she?”

“She suggested I might like to bring Bea along, since we are betrothed, but—”

“Oh no!” Olivia cried, before she could stop herself.

“You know, then?” Bertram said quietly.

“That Lord Embleton offered for Bea? Lady Esther told me in confidence, but it is not generally known, I think.”

“No, or Aunt Alice would never have invited Bea to dine with him, at least not so soon after the event. But Bea would not come, naturally. It would have been dreadfully awkward for him, sharing a table with the person who declined to be a duchess.”

“I cannot imagine how she could turn him down,” Olivia said without thinking.

Bertram smiled. “Can you not? Perhaps she had a better offer.”

“What could be better than being a duchess? Oh, cousin, I did not mean—! I am sure you are… well, you will be an earl one day, which is almost as good,” she said kindly.

He laughed out loud. “Now you sound just like Bea used to be, judging a man’s marriageability by his rank. She has learnt that there is more to a man than his title, and perhaps you will one day, too.”

“I know that, of course. But if there are two good, kind, honourable gentlemen, and one is going to be a duke one day and one is not… well, why not aim for the future duke?”

“Is that what you are doing? Aiming for the future duke? Is that why you invited him to dinner?”

Olivia felt herself blushing, but answered him composedly. “Cousin, I have no idea when, if ever, I might get to town or how I shall move in society there now that my circumstances are so much altered. I am merely taking the opportunity to meet as many distinguished gentlemen as I can.”

Bertram smiled kindly at her. “You should go and stay with Izzy. She often has a houseful of distinguished guests.”

“Izzy!” she muttered under her breath. As if that would help, to be under the same roof as her prettier, livelier, more popular sister — to be the lesser version, always compared and found wanting, always overlooked.

Fortunately, the marquess was announced just then, the earl moved forward to receive him and introduce him to Aunt Alice, and Olivia was too taken up with watching them to worry about Bertram.

Kent appeared at her side and spoke to her, but she paid him little attention, so intent was she on her quarry.

Quarry! Now that was a nasty word, as if he were a fox and she a hound in hot pursuit.

No, such a quiet man was more like a rabbit, and she was the fox wanting to devour him.

Even nastier! There would be no devouring, for all she wanted was for him to fall in love with her, after which she would undertake to make him very happy. What was wrong with that?

The marquess sat with Lady Alice for a little while, but it was obvious that their conversation was strained.

His stammer and her inability to see him made it slow going, and eventually Aunt Jane rescued him and took him away to be introduced to her daughters.

Now that Olivia could not allow. She was very fond of her cousins, but she would not stand idly by and watch them making progress with her marquess.

She wandered over to the group as casually as she could contrive.

“Ah, Olivia, dear, there you are. Have you met Lord Embleton?”

What a bird-witted woman Aunt Jane was! Had she forgotten it was Olivia who had invited Lord Embleton to dine?

“We are acquainted,” she murmured, dipping into a curtsy. “How are you, Lord Embleton? Well, I trust?”

“Th-thank you, yes. And you, L-l-lady Olivia?”

“I am very well, thank you. Was your journey tolerable? The roads are so muddy after all the rain we have had lately, it is a wonder that anyone can get about at all. But we are delighted that you managed to reach us. I hope you like venison, for cook manages to put twenty different forms of it before us at this time of year. And as for duck…”

In this manner, she managed to monopolise the marquess until Eustace arrived, late as usual, and dinner was announced.

The marquess looked round, saw that Lady Alice was being escorted to the dining room by the earl, and offered his arm to Olivia, just as she hoped.

She lowered her eyes demurely, for it would not do to be thought to be gloating.

His actions were mere courtesy to the daughter of his host, no more than that.

Aunt Jane, who was a great organiser, took charge of arranging the seating, placing the marquess beside Aunt Alice, and Olivia next to him. Olivia had Cousin Bertram on her other side, but she did not mind that. He would not be offended if she devoted more of her attention to the marquess.

At first, Lord Embleton was concerned to attend to Aunt Alice, asking her in his painfully slow way what she wished him to do to assist her. Olivia listened in an agony of impatience as he stuttered his way through his little speech.

“How kind you are!” Aunt Alice said calmly, as he finally drew to a close.

“However, I am well attended by my personal footman who prepares my food for me. If I need anything further, I have my brother beside me. Do, pray, enjoy the meal. We shall talk in a little while, but for now you may enjoy my niece’s company. ”