“Exactly. The viscountess is convinced she knows the identity of the instigator of the scandal, but there is no proof.”
He took a sip of dark, amber colored, brandy and Olivia had the impression that he was reluctant to continue.
“If we let this continue then Jocelyn will be ruined alongside you. I don’t believe that’s what you would want.”
Olivia shook her head. “No, sir,” she murmured.
“There is only one course of action open to us which will counteract the scandal.”
Olivia looked confused.One course of action? What did he mean?
“You must marry Lord Hatfield.”
Olivia gasped, staring at her uncle in bewilderment.
“It’s the only way to stop this escalating further. Hatfield is the son of a peer of the realm and powerful. He’s eligible too. I plan to speak to him about this tomorrow.”
“I can’t Uncle Harold. I won’t marry Lord Hatfield. I doubt he’d agree to have me anyway.”
She hadn’t seen Marcus since that evening at the ball. There had been no note, no enquiry about her wellbeing.
“Olivia, I’ll leave you to think about this, but I can see no other solution which will bolster your reputation, and prevent Jocelyn being ruined too.”
“I can’t marry Lord Hatfield. It is out of the question.” She looked at him with determination in her eyes.
“I’m not going to get angry and tell you that you have no choice and have to comply. I’ve realized that doesn’t help anything. And I’m sorry it’s come to this, but I can’t see another way.”
“I could become a governess, or a companion,” she suggested.
“My dear girl, think this through logically. Which fine lady is going to want a notorious young woman, working in her household in proximity to her husband? And yes, that is unfair and untrue, but it is the reality we face.”
He was right. She had a tarnished reputation. No employer would want her now.
Olivia felt tears beginning to well up. She took a dry swallow and a long, slow breath through her nose, trying to gain control of her physical responses. She needed her brain to be clear to think.
“Surely there must be another way?” she said.
“If you can think of one then bring it to me. Apart from mounting legal challenges where possible, I can see no other option.” Uncle Harold looked at her with sadness in his eyes.
He stood and went to the side table to pour himself another drink. He returned and handed her a small glass of cognac.“Drink this for the shock. I fear I’ve caused you distress, but it really is the only way.” She took the crystal glass and sipped, unused to the heat of powerful spirits.
Her thoughts were with her niece. She would do anything to prevent Jocelyn being ruined alongside her. She heard her uncle's words echoing in her head.
“Lord Hatfield must marry you, and soon. I’ll speak with him tomorrow.” He bent his head towards his papers, then looked up again.
“Oh, and by the way… I forgot to mention Rawlings says that he wrote to you recently, and has had no reply.”
And that was it? The business of her marriage was concluded and on to another matter, involving a solicitor. Her uncle really was quite an individual character.
For the first time since the fire she had no energy to continue. She felt exhaustion closing in. The closure of her escape route to becoming a governess or a companion was an unexpected, heavy blow. Since the fire, she had known it was a way out of her uncle’s household. It seemed that door had slammed shut.
Chapter 16
Nothing seemed to help Marcus. He’d never felt that distractible, or unfocused, in his life. He tried to concentrate on some business papers, but his mind kept drifting to the evil scandalmonger, and how powerless he felt to do anything about the situation.
He knew that those inthetonwould treat him no differently, but the impact on Olivia and Jocelyn would be catastrophic as they could easily become social outcasts.
He missed his cousin Colin, who was still in Buckinghamshire. Colin’s mother, Marcus’ Aunt Lydia, was recovering well after a fall from her horse. She’d been briefly knocked unconscious, and no one had been sure initially about the severity of the injury. It had been a relief to hear that all was well with his aunt at Granville House.
