Chapter 29
One month later
Espied in Mayfair
A discreet retreat for two?
Chits weep: lucky who?
“Pish, theseLondon Diaryhaikus are becoming truly atrocious,” Lucy exclaimed. In disgust, she dropped the paper onto the breakfast table, where it landed with a light, papery slap. “Whoever could they keep referring to? I thought it was Mina’s father, but what was the ‘A house for his Queen’ one all about?”
A house for Lady Olivia Montfort on Queen Street, Olivia didn’t tell her too astute daughter.
Her stomach filled with acid, and she pushed her croissant away. This was how it felt to be mocked. Of course, the writers at theLondon Diaryhad no idea that they were mocking her. They thought they were taunting her.
Well, it wouldn’t be long before they realized how very wrong they were. Today marked the anniversary of her and Lucy’s first week in their new Mayfair townhouse. The matter had been settled at the discreet office of Mister Tobias Dilbey, Esquire, Jake’s solicitor. Money had efficiently changed banks and signatures solemnly scratched across deeds.
On impulse, Olivia had reached across the table to shake hands with Mister Dilbey. He’d stammered a bit before he’d haltingly reached out and tapped her palm with the tips of his fingers.
Life had a relentless way of moving forward. With or without one’s permission.
A movement at the corner of her eye drew her out of philosophical musings doomed to reach no good end. Lucy had cracked openThe Bride of Lammermoor. “How was your day, Lulu?”
Lucy stopped mid-chew, and her eyebrows drew together in consternation. If Olivia was reading her daughter’s expression correctly, she was looking at her as if she’d grown horns. “The day has barely begun, Mum,” she said around the food in her mouth. “I’d say that the tangles brushed out of my hair without too much fuss, and it was a pleasant surprise to find that this dress still fits. It seems that my body has decided to growoutwardlyof late.” Her head tilted quizzically to the side. “Shall I ring for another pot of coffee? You might need another cup. Or three.”
Olivia grew warm beneath the acuity of her daughter’s gaze.
“Seriously, Mum, you might need a holiday.”
“A holiday?” Olivia asked in all sincerity. She’d convinced herself that she’d hidden her glum state of mind quite well. After all, she was busier than ever.
“How are your art lessons progressing?” Lucy asked in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
“Splendidly,” Olivia replied brightly, too brightly, earning a penetrating double-take from her daughter.
It was a lie. She hadn’t seen Jiro . . .Kaisince he’d all but told her to stay out of his affairs. It was too soon. Besides, she was busy with her new life. Kai might be part of an old life better shed and left behind.
“And, of course, I’ve been so busy with the move.”
“Hmm,” Lucy began, her voice a hum ripe with disbelief. “Mum, it’s like you’re everywhere and nowhere at once.” She tapped the small, rectangular missive to the left of her plate, and her eyebrows drew together. “I suppose you know about the letters Lord Percival has been sending me.”
“I’d noticed.”
“Tell me something.”
“Anything.”
“Why did you marry him?”
The question took Olivia by surprise, but she wouldn’t give Lucy any answer other than the truth. She deserved that much. “Simply, I took one look at him and knew I must, that I would perish of unrequited love if I didn’t. There was no other man in the world like him. I was very young.”
“He broke your heart,” Lucy stated, the words flat.
“He did.”
“Don’t you regret him?”
“Never.”
