Sitting in a comfortable drawing room, taking tea and occasionally staring out the large window that overlooked the park, Lillian explained the details of the arrangement she’d made that morning.
Olivia sat quietly and listened without interrupting, not even to ask a single question. She simply hummed or nodded occasionally. Normally, Lillian didn’t notice how one of Olivia’s violet eyes drifted independent of the other, but she was especially aware of the girl’s response to what she had to say and watched closely for any hint that she was thinking Lillian had gone mad.
“…and so I told him I’d meet him in the morning, along with Becky. Having finally revealed the entire scheme, Lillian fell silent.
“I don’t suppose you were overly pleased when he revealed himself to be a duke.” Olivia tucked a golden curl behind one ear and pinched her lips, unsuccessfully trying to hold back a grin. “And since you’re still considering the offer, I’ll guess that he is incredibly handsome.”
He was. Lillian couldn’t deny it. “He has a dog,” she inserted, “whom he seems to adore.”
Olivia quirked a curious brow, unfazed by such a seemingly irrelevant piece of information. “For hunting? Does he breed them?”
Meeting her friend’s one good eye, Lillian shook her head and then bit her lip. “Horace is the homeliest looking mutt I’ve ever seen.”
At these words, Olivia stilled.
And after a moment, tilted her head.
“You have afeelingabout him.” This wasn’t a question, more of an observation on Olivia’s part. She was taking this far more seriously now.
“I can’t imagine why else I would agree so easily. Despite the fact that he’s adorably handsome and kind and…” Lillian reined in her thoughts. “And regardless of the fact that I’ll eventually be wholly independent,he is dying,Olivia. And he needs my help. His sister needs my help. Do you think I’m foolish to go forward with this?”
Lillian could hardly remember the last time she’d rendered Olivia speechless. And yet, Olivia had not declared the arrangement to be a preposterous one.
After at least a full minute, Olivia sighed. “What if you fall in love with him. Are you not all but begging for certain heartache?”
Lillian had thought of that. It was possible, of course. “I’ll simply have to be careful not to.”
This—thisstatement was the one that produced incredulity. “You will be having relations with him.”
“Yes.”
“You will become attached.”
“It’s possible.”
“It’s more than possible. It’s all but certain.” Again, more silence. And then another sigh. “I suppose this means you won’t be marrying my brother in law.”
At this, Lillian smiled. “No.”
Olivia leaned forward and poured them both a second cup of tea. “Tell me all of these details again. For your safety, I’ll have to tell Gabriel. And Gabriel, of course, will send word to Crawford.”
“But not until Warwick and I are well on our way.” Because Ashton Acres was barely a day’s drive south of London. “And it wouldn’t hurt for everyone to think I’ve fallen in love, for them to believe he is the man of my dreams. Mother and Crawford ought to be happy enough that I’ve finally decided to marry.” This way, her brother was less likely to come racing to Scotland to stop them. Lillian considered herself a thoughtful individual. She was a grown woman, for heaven’s sake! Such heroics on her family’s part might prove more than a little embarrassing.
Olivia raised her brows, feigning shock. “Are you asking me to lie for you, Lillian Prentiss?”
Lillian winced. “Not outright, but I do want to marry him. And I do like him.” She smiled to herself. “In addition to his dog.”
“The dog, I believe, has clinched it for him.”
“Quite possibly.”
Rather than be dissuaded by this visit, most of her doubts were beginning to diminish.
After that, Lillian sat and talked with Olivia longer than usual, knowing she wouldn’t see her friend for nearly two weeks after this. After a full hour had passed, however, the tasks ahead of her began to press in on her. She needed to go home, pack, write a few letters—all/most of which would be at least partly fictional. She finally rose and gratefully hugged Olivia goodbye.
“I wish I could be there with you.” Olivia whispered.
Lillian sighed regretfully. “As do I, but I don’t think Kingsley would be willing to relinquish you that long.”
