“All of those people,” she said, her mind struggling to comprehend it, “not just your friends and your family and the Mappertons are here? To celebrate ourengagement?”
“Well,” Augustus said, with a sly smile, “You once said that half of societyismy family.”
She felt the impulse to laugh uncontrollably.
“But, come, we must go and be celebrated.”
And so Olivia Watson let Augustus Carrington lead her into the ballroom. When they entered, everyone began to clap. It was as Augustus said it would be. The place was filled with the usual aristocrats and noblemen, all seemingly smiling and ready and willing to overlook the fact that one of their own was marrying a former scullery maid. Olivia thought that she would never see such a thing, but she supposed that these people, like all others, were merely human. Whether it was a family relationship to her fiancé, or bald regard for his title and family, or a favor they needed from the Horticultural Society, or the promise of particularly good grouse hunting in Scotland, they each had their reasons for deciding, in this one instance, to be liberal.
And, then, of course, there were the people they loved: Percy and Natasha; Eloisa and Nathanial; his mother; Willa, Elizabeth, and Petunia.
The only people that she didn’t see were his friends. The Rank Rakes.
But just as she had that thought, one voice rose over the rest of the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” it said, and out stepped Leith, Trem, and John from the clapping crowd. It was Leith who had spoken.
“My friends and I gather you here tonight to celebrate the engagement of our best friend, Lord Augustus Carrington, the Earl of Montaigne, to the lovely, unmatched Miss Olivia Watson,” Leith boomed. “With her, he has found an unusual happiness. And we could not be happier for our friend who is and has always been the best of us. Many people care about how they appear to others and not many concern themselves principally with who they actuallyareto others. Our friend, Montaigne, however, is one of those rare men who holds himself to the highest personal standards, even if he will get no credit for it from society. We wish he and Miss Watson all the joy they deserve—that is to say, all of the joy in the world.”
The crowd roared in response to this toast. And, almost immediately, the string orchestra started again.
“Now,” Leith said over the music, “Lord Montaigne and the future Lady Montaigne will lead us in the waltz.”
Before Olivia could realize it was happening, Augustus had swept her onto the floor. She was not, she knew, the best dancer, but she was passable—and, in his arms, she could hardly care. Slowly, the floor around them filled with other couples, but she could only look at him.
She was stunned by what he had done for her.
“I cannot believe it,” she said simply. “I never thought it possible.”
“Anything, my love, for you.”
And then, right there, in the middle of the floor, he kissed her, for all of society to see or not see, to revile or applaud. It did not matter, after all, what they thought.
What mattered was that she had him.
Epilogue
Nine Months Later
When she andAugustus had been married for six months, the Dowager Countess made a confession that surprised and dismayed Olivia.
This revelation upended the tranquil life that she and Augustus had built.
As it turned out, the Dowager Countess wasnot, as she and Augustus had assumed, interested in being Lady Montaigne, society matron, for much longer.
“I am so sorry to do this to you, my dear,” she said, her eyes cutting down to her teacup, “But I cannot keep silent on the subject. I said I would give you six months. I’d give you more if I could.”
“I don’t understand, Alicia,” Olivia said, calling her by the Christian name, as she had since their wedding day, “What do you mean?” Somehow, she did not expect that her mother-in-law wanted to retire to a quiet place in the country.
“I want to travel!” the woman burst out, as if she could no longer contain the words, “I want to see the world. I have hardly left England since my honeymoon over thirty-three years ago. I have lived in London, primarily, for that long. The idea that I will die having spent my entire life going to the same narrow rotation of society gatherings—” she shuddered, “Olivia, you of all people must understand. I can’t do it. It is too horrible.”
“But of course we would not stop you from doing such a thing. You should travel all you want.” Olivia was not sure how Augustus would feel about his mother going too far afield, but she was sure he wouldn’t want her to be unhappy.
“With two unmarried daughters, I have responsibilities still. And this house, the social season—people expect there to be a Lady Montaigne, a Countess of Montaigne, and I cannot blame them. It is the duty of my position. I have enjoyed such advantages. It would not be right to abandon society and my own daughters, especially, unless…”
Olivia finally understood.
“You needmeto be Lady Montaigne.”
