There was something different and special about Cendrillon.
His thoughts drifted to Contessa Lucrezia Fiorella and how he had been drawn to her for several years. Looking back he didn’t recognize himself. The man who had loved the Contessa seemedyoung and insecure. He was a very different man now, confident and secure in his own identity.
“I think we need to speak about what your uncle wants,” he said, as they made their way to the far side of the lake.
“Please, let’s not spoil today,” Olivia said. “I have spent the last three years hiding away and adjusting to loss and my changed appearance. I want to feel like an ordinary person, just the same as everyone else, and to be treated normally,” she said with quiet forcefulness.
“Impossible,” came Marcus’ immediate reply.
He immediately noticed her crestfallen expression and knew that he’d been clumsy with his words.
“Olivia, I can’t treat you the same as everyone else. You are far too individual. You are brave and strong. You have lived through traumatic loss, and supported your niece, helping her overcome her own loss and grow into a delightful young woman. I look at you and see Olivia, dearest, brave Olivia. I told you that night of the ball, your scars are something I don’t notice. Your character is so bright that it scatters the scars into the shadows.”
Olivia gasped as she listened to Marcus.
“We both know what your uncle has asked. I was angry about feeling forced into marriage by an evil woman, spreading slanderous gossip. You might have noticed that I like having my own way, and I don’t like being told what to do.”
Olivia laughed, “I am so surprised to hear that,” she joked. “I had no idea.”
“You can laugh, but we both know it is quite true. What I’m going to say now is that I don’t want your first visit here to Belvedere Abbey to be just about your uncle's demand that we marry. Let’s just forget that and get to know each other as we were before the scandalmonger struck.”
“I like that idea,” said Olivia. “I felt we were just getting acquainted when the scandal sheet was circulated, and we’ve been unable to meet since that time.”
“Exactly. Let’s spend time together and enjoy each other’s company.”
“I must tell you, my Lord, that I have plans in place to make my own living. I intend to set up my own establishment, close to our family estate at Silverton, and live quietly there. In short, I have no intention of marrying you or anyone else, no matter what my uncle wants.”
Marcus stopped walking and looked into Olivia’s blue eyes.
“You certainly have that independent spirit. Thank you for being honest and telling me that you have no intention of marrying me. I’d like to kiss you, Cendrillon, but it would be quite inappropriate in such an isolated place. So, as you have told me that you have no intention of marrying, I shall hold back.”
He noticed how her eyes widened as he spoke of kissing her. He smiled to himself, knowing that there was a closeness, a connection between them and it grew stronger every time that they spent time together.
“Now let’s walk a little further and see if we can spot a kingfisher. I’ve often seen one at this part of the lake.”
“A kingfisher. I’ve always wanted to see a kingfisher.” He offered Olivia his arm and they made their way around the lake path.
***
As the days passed, Olivia fell into a routine of going out for daily rides with Marcus and then spending the rest of the day with his mother. Jocelyn, and sometimes his mother, accompanied them on the rides and Marcus was sorry that there was no opportunity to spend time with Olivia alone again.
The Viscount and Viscountess Leighton also joined them several times and Marcus reflected that it was the best type of company, and why would anyone want the formal society events of a season in London.
They had seen a kingfisher that day. The ethereal blur of green feathers flying at high speed over the water close to the bank of the lake. The look of wonder on Olivia’s face was a memory which he would carry with him for a long time.
Then one day it rained, and Marcus suggested that he show Olivia the house. Jocelyn had expressed a wish to look at some fashion plates with his mother, who had a French maid, and a keen eye for fashion trends. His mother had suggested they spend the afternoon emptying some old chests, and seeing if the garments could be re-worked. It looked to be a project which would last several days.
He was delighted when Olivia smiled at him and said that she didn’t want to turn down the chance of a tour of the Abbey, and she would join Jocelyn and the duchess later.
Marcus guided her to the long corridor which ran the length of the house, and served as an art gallery. He pointed out portraits of his family, including the duke who had been a manservant of King Henry the Eighth.
“We are unsure how he managed to keep his head,” laughed Marcus. “Somehow he evaded the axe.”
“And that’s my grandfather,” he told her, pointing to another portrait.
“I do see a family resemblance,” she told him. “You have the same eyes.”
When they came to the more recent section of the gallery, Olivia gasped in surprise to see several portraits of Marcus and his parents.
