Rexanne Becnel Read Free

upset.”
    Augusta made a circuit of the room, then halted in the open window and caught the billowing lace curtain in one hand. “My mourning period is long past.”
    “Yes. But that means nothing to Sarah. She loved her father dearly. We all did,” Olivia added more softly. Humphrey Dunmore had been as good a father to Olivia and James as he had to Sarah, his only offspring.
    Augusta bowed her head. “I do so miss him. But think, Olivia. James is Viscount Farley now and maintains his own household. Eventually he will wed, as will you. Then Sarah will have her come-out, and you know with her pretty face and considerable fortune she will go quickly. What am I to do then? Live alone or in my son’s household? No.” She looked up, shaking her head. “I simply could not bear that. So you see, I must remarry while I am still young enough to do so. ’Tis past time. Why can she not understand that?”
    Olivia blew out a frustrated breath. Between her carefree brother, her childlike mother, and her moody sister, she often felt like the sole parent in their irregular sort of family. “It’s hard for Sarah to understand that, Mother. You must give her time. And you must not get so upset by her outbursts. It will take a while for her to accept a new man in her mother’s life. You forget that James and I have been through this before.”
    Augusta sent Olivia a fond smile. “You are such a good girl, Livvie. Such a wonderful daughter. You will make some lucky man a marvelous wife. And I shall miss you terribly.”
    Olivia laughed, then rose and, crossing to her mother, gave her a hug. “Then why do you press me so hard to marry and leave you?”
    Augusta squeezed Olivia’s arm. “You think me irresponsible, and perhaps in some matters I am—just a little. But I know my responsibility as a mother. I mean to see you properly
wed, Livvie. This is your third season and you are already one-and-twenty. I’ll not have it said that one of my girls is headed for the shelf. So tell me. You’ve turned down Mr. Prine already, and that other fellow—I always forget his name. But what of Lord Hendricks? I saw how you behaved last night. You practically ignored him, save for a dance or two. And you know the teeniest sign of encouragement would bring him swiftly up to scratch.”
    “I believe we were speaking of your prospects, Mother, not mine.”
    Augusta slipped her arm around Olivia’s waist and gave her a grateful smile. “So you do not object to Archibald?”
    “I didn’t say that. I don’t know him well enough to form an opinion.”
    “You mean you haven’t made any notations about him in that shabby little journal you drag about?”
    Olivia made a face at her. “He’s only lately come on the scene. But I shall certainly pay attention to any remarks I hear of him in the future.”
    Augusta pulled away and patted her hair, checking for any imagined disarray in her perfect coiffure. “If you should hear anything about him—you know—anything that I should be aware of …”
    “Such as his attentions to any other women?”
    Augusta gave her a grateful smile. “Not only are you beautiful, but you’re smart as well, and awfully kind to your poor mother.” Then her demeanor grew solemn. “I know he is much younger than I, Olivia. And though he has heirs to spare from his first marriage, he would probably not object to more children—something I will never give him. But I do so like him. He is charming and amusing—and I’ve always wanted to be a countess. You do understand, don’t you, dear?”
    “Yes, Mama. I understand. But you must understand Sarah’s feelings. She needs you now. She’s lost one parent already. The last thing she needs is to believe she’s losing the other one as well.”
    “Oh, pooh. How could she possibly believe such a thing of me?”

    Again Olivia sighed. Although her mother did not have a mean bone in her body, her self-centeredness oftimes could be wounding. “Tell me about this