Page 56 of The Truth About Lord Stoneville

“Yes. The more you take upon yourself, the more they think they’ve erred.”

Heavens alive. “I only wanted to make things easier for them. With your grandmother’s servants returned to London, and such a big house needing so much work—”

“I know. It’s all right.” He took a seat behind the desk. “Just let them do their jobs. They believe that you’ll soon be their mistress, so they’re eager to please you.”

She swallowed. This was the opening she’d been waiting for. “About that—do you really intend to announce our ‘engagement’ at the ball tomorrow night?”

He shook his head. “It won’t go that far. Gran may have been calling my bluff until now, but she’ll never carry our battle into the public eye. She’s too aware of the family’s consequence. In the end, she’ll back down, I assure you.”

“What if she doesn’t? If you make it public, word of it might reach Nathan . . .”

His face hardened. “Word of it won’t reach anyone, because the announcement will never happen.”

“I hope you’re right.” Lately her conscience had really begun to plague her about Nathan. She’d agreed to marry him; she’d made a solemn promise. And every time she let Oliver get in the way of it, she behaved dishonorably.

“Trust me, Maria, it’ll be fine.”

An awkward silence fell. She rose. “Well, then, if that’s all—”

“Don’t go,” he murmured as he rose, too.

Her gaze shot to him. His eyes scoured her in a most alarming fashion, yet she seemed powerless to turn away. “Why?”

“We’ve scarcely had any time to chat of late, what with my brothers and sisters keeping you so well occupied.” His voice held an edge. “Sit down. Please. We’ll talk.”

Talk? That didn’t sound like Oliver. “All right.” She took her seat again, bemused by his change of mood. “What do you wish to talk about?”

He suddenly looked at a loss, which was unexpectedlyendearing. No doubt he spent most of his time with women doing things other than talking.

She spied a book atop his desk, and a mischievous impulse seized her. “I see you’re reading Minerva’s latest novel.”

To her shock, he colored. “I figured I should find out what my sister is up to.”

“So is this your first foray into Minerva’s world of ‘Gothic horrors’?”

“Yes.” He looked uncomfortable with the topic, which of course made her only more eager to pursue it.

“You made an excellent first choice.The Stranger of the Lakeis my favorite.”

He scowled. “Why? Because Rockton gets his come-uppance in that damned rapier duel?”

A smile tugged at her lips. “Because Minerva lets him live. She usually kills the villain off in a very gruesome manner.”

“Ah, and you hate the gruesome parts.”

“Actually, no, I love them. It’s too awful, isn’t it? She almost can’t make it gruesome enough for me.” When he blinked at her, she added with a grin, “At home, I had a subscription toThe Newgate Calendar.Well, Freddy had a subscription. Father didn’t approve of my fascination with murder and mayhem.”

“I imagine he didn’t.” He sat back in the chair to stare at her. “So, if you like the gruesome parts, why are you glad she didn’t kill off Rockton?”

“She gives just enough hints about him to make youwonder why he became so villainous. And if he dies, I’ll never learn the answer.”

Oliver eyed her closely. “Perhaps he was born villainous.”

“No one is born villainous.”

“Oh?” he said with raised eyebrow. “So we’re all born good?”

“Neither. We start as animals, with an animal’s needs and desires. It takes parents and teachers and other good examples to show us how to restrain those needs and desires, when necessary, for the greater good. But it’s still our choice whether to heed that education or to do as we please.”