Lady Olivia's Undoing Read Free Page A

Jennings returned to the bedroom just as a small knock sounded
on the door. She answered it, took the tray from the girl, and gave
her instructions. Jennings placed the tray on the table in front of
Olivia.
    “Here now, sit and have a cup while the tub
fills, Your Grace. I told Nella to have Cook cut up some cucumber
for your eyes. If I do say so, I have never seen you look so
dreadful of a morning.”
    Olivia stared at her companion of more than
thirty years. “Do I look that hideous?”
    “Oh, yes. Worse than the morning after the
Huntington party.”
    Olivia put her head in her hands. “Dear God,
perhaps you should fill the tub with cucumber then.”
    “Would you like to talk about what’s
troubling you, Your Grace?”
    John was leaving and might never return. The
baby was dead. Olivia felt tears creep into the corners of her
eyes. “There was a letter come very early this morning. Penny’s
baby was stillborn.”
    “Oh, no, Your Grace. I am so very sorry.”
    “Thank you, dearest. Yes, it is very sad.
Penny and William are on their way home to Caymore.” She glanced at
the clock. “I should think they will arrive by luncheon if the
roads are clear.”
    “Well, then,” Jennings said. “Let us get you
bathed and dressed. You need to be refreshed when Lady Penny
arrives.”

Chapter Three
     
    Downstairs in the yellow salon, Olivia fussed
with the cards on the table, her thoughts centered on the
conversation she would have with Prince George. He could not refuse
to give Penny another chance to deliver a healthy heir. Olivia’s
friendship with the King and Queen had waned since dear Fuzzy’s
death, but she and the Prince had kept up a small friendship. He
was always solicitous whenever he saw her. Olivia looked upon
George as a wayward cousin of sorts. He may not be one of her
favorite people, but he would do what was right for her family.
    John stepped into the room and closed the
door. “What are you doing?”
    “Settling my appointments for the day.”
Olivia looked at him and fresh tears erupted. He would be gone
soon.
    “Olivia, please not again,” he whispered. He
crossed the room and took her hand. “Please, dearest. I cannot bear
to see you weep.”
    Olivia wiped a stray tear. “Forgive me, John,
but there is nothing for it. I had no control over the baby, but I
will not let you go willingly.”
    “I do not mean to go willingly, but I must go
and there is nothing to be done about it.”
    “Yes, there is. I mean to speak to the
Secretary this afternoon.”
    John’s eyes narrowed. “You cannot.”
    Olivia stared at him. His tone suggested
there was more to his going than just an order from the Foreign
Office. “What is it you are not telling me?”
    “Nothing. I have told you all that I
know.”
    “Then why do you think he will not listen to
me when I tell him I do not wish for you to go? He could send
Greenleigh or any number of younger men.”
    John pivoted on his heel and walked to the
door. His hand on the latch, he turned and faced her. “I do not
wish for you to say anything to the Secretary, Olivia. I hate to
leave you, more than you may ever know, but I am going, whether you
sanction it or not and nothing you can do or say will stop me.” He
stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him.
    Olivia sank into her favorite chair. John,
seemingly did not want to go to Spain, yet did not, would not
refuse the mission. There must be more to this expedition than he
let on. She would find out exactly what it was.
    A knock on the door prompted Olivia to call,
“Yes?”
    A footman brought a letter on a silver
salver.
    “Thank you, Gerald,” Olivia said. She looked
at the script. Her cousin Constance. “Oh, she must be home from
America,” Olivia mumbled as she broke the wax.
    She skimmed along the first two paragraphs…
“ Lovely time in America…dreadful voyage…miss London…renovations
to Hargrave House… ” And what was this? “ I hate to impose,
but with Hargrave House