However, the meeting was not what she had been expecting and dreading. He entered the drawing room and Marianne sprang immediately into action to sweeten him with her usual charm.
“Your Lordship,” she said. “We were expecting you. We’ve just had tea and I shall ask for another pot.”
“Thank you, that would be very welcome,” he responded.
“You look a little tired,” Marianne continued. “I believe we all feel exhausted and rung out by this dreadful business with the scandal sheets, and the horrible and untrue rumors flying around about Olivia. Everyone knows there is no truth to it, but how do we stop the tongues tattling?”
He looked at Olivia, and she sensed a concerned kindness in his eyes. “I was going to speak with you privately Olivia, and I believe I am right in assuming there is no truth in this rumor whatsoever.” He pulled one of the scandal sheets out of his pocket and waved it around.
“No, Uncle,” replied Olivia. “I did spend time with Lord Hatfield at the ball, but I was never in a state of undress with him and have never been with any man.”
Marianne drew in a breath and Uncle Harold put his head in his hands. “Olivia, I know we often have, what I consider,differences of opinion and our conversation can become heated, but I really do not need to be reassured on that point. In fact, I’d much prefer we didn’t discuss states of undress. Please remember that Jocelyn is present, and that sort of talk is quite inappropriate for her young ear.”
Olivia heard a strange noise as Jocelyn tried to stifle a giggle. Olivia was worried that, if Jocelyn continued, she would also start giggling herself.
“I believe we know who instigated these evil scandal sheets, but it is going to be nigh on impossible to prove her guilt,” said Marianne to Uncle Harold.
“The Lady Cressida Lantham I assume?” said Uncle Harold, surprising them all with his level of insight.
“And there is nothing we can do,” said Jocelyn.
“I have a suggestion,” said Marianne. “I propose we continue to be at home to callers here, and at my home. We do not go out to any parties or recitals for the next few days. That will give us a chance to evaluate this situation and work out the severity of the damage to reputations.”
“That, my dear Viscountess Leighton, is a sensible plan. I’m not hopeful. I’ll be honest that it is my experience that once these rumors begin there is little that can be done. Thetonhas a long memory.”
He turned to Olivia. “However, I am not without influence, and I have a plan we can put in place if these rumors continue. Never fear, no niece of mine will be ruined by a vindictive woman who is jealous of you. This is the effect of that green eyed monster called envy.”
“It seems as though we have agreed on the way forward,” said Marianne. “There is honey cake, your Lordship.” Marianne offered Uncle Harold the plate.
“Why thank you, I am rather partial to honey cake,” he said, taking one and smiling graciously at Marianne.
Olivia couldn’t believe she had avoided a difficult individual conversation with Uncle Harold. She had been dreading the expected meeting in his study, knowing that they invariably deteriorated into cold anger.
She then listened open-mouthed as Marianne told her uncle all about a mutual acquaintance, who planned to travel to Greece, then Constantinople. She even heard her uncle chuckle at one point which was a very rare occurrence, even on those days when he was in a good mood.
Olivia tried to understand just how Marianne managed her uncle. She just had a way with him, and it was as if he relaxed when Marianne talked to him.I can’t work it out. She isn’tflirting with him, but she flatters him and appears to take him seriously, while challenging his most outrageous ideas.
“I believe the Marquis of Cleebury is an addle-pated buffoon,” stated Marianne.
“Always has been lily-livered; his father showed weakness and lost a treasure trove of money at the tables,” agreed Uncle Harold.
“Really? I had no idea,” said Marianne. “That may be why Cleebury Towers is on the market.”
“Undoubtedly the case,” replied Uncle Harold.
I think she is boosting his spirits and almost teasing uncle in an affectionate way.She certainly makes him feel important, and he is a different person when he talks with Marianne.
And so it continued, and the pattern was set for several days of quiet living at home. Marianne would spend time with them most days and they would look at fashion plates or embroider or stitch tapestries. The pace of the days suited Olivia. Often, far too often, the countenance of Marcus, Lord Hatfield, entered her thoughts. There was no word from him, and he must know about the slander, so she could only assume he had pulled away from her.
After she told her story to Jocelyn and Marianne, she had felt lighter and less anxious.
I suppose it’s possible that if the rumors had not happened that I would have gotten to know Marcus more and he would have known me better.
Uncle Harold took the carriage to Silverton to oversee some of the final work on the property. Olivia had listened as Marianne had included this suggestion in her conversation with him. He immediately caught onto it as a plan and by the next day he was gone.
Olivia felt confusion about her feelings for her uncle now. He certainly had fixed ideas about how things should be done, always in his preferred way, and he was as miserly as one could be. Yet he had shown kindness and commitment to Jocelyn at her coming out ball. Now with the rumors around Olivia he seemed calm and determined to protect her and her good name.
Olivia thought that it was probably due to the influence of Marianne, or possibly, now that Silverton had almost been restored, he could relax a little as that had been a significant investment. Who knew? It was certainly a welcome change.
