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Hubert smiled politely, but his attention moved toward Felix. "Oh, there is the little one. I am Uncle Hubert."

Then he paused, “What is wrong with the baby's skin?" Hubert asked, leaning slightly closer.

Olivia's entire body stiffened. She stood at once. "Nothing is wrong with him," she said sharply, her voice filled with indignation. "He is a baby, not an object for you to inspect."

Hubert looked startled, and Olivia's heart hammered as she turned protectively toward Felix. "His skin does not make him less deserving of kindness."

James stepped forward immediately. "That was uncalled for, Hubert," he said, his voice cold enough to silence the room.

Hubert raised both hands in surrender. "I apologize," he said sincerely, glancing toward Olivia. "I did not mean to offend. It merely took me by surprise."

Olivia remained tense, but James's support eased something inside her. He had not dismissed her outrage or told her she was being unreasonable. He had stood beside her, and that mattered.

Hubert's expression became more serious as he looked toward James. "Is the boy's condition connected to the threatening notes you have been receiving?" he asked quietly.

Olivia turned toward her husband so quickly that her skirts swished around her ankles. "Threatening notes?" she repeated, her eyes widening.

James's expression hardened. For one moment, nobody spoke. Olivia's mind immediately began racing.

What notes? What had someone been threatening him about? And what did they have to do with Felix?

James looked sharply at his uncle. "You have said enough," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument. "You should prepare to leave for London now."

Hubert studied him for a moment before nodding.

Louiza surprised Olivia by stepping forward. "London? I wanted to go to London as well to my sister Bethany’s," she said quietly, smoothing her skirts. "Perhaps … that is if you have room, would you consider that I may accompany you?"

Hubert looked toward her and gave a small nod. "Of course. I shall take you along. It would be my pleasure."

Olivia stared at her sister, her heart sinking all over again, but Louiza gave her an encouraging smile.

The room slowly settled into silence, yet Olivia could not forget James's expression when Hubert mentioned the notes. She looked at her husband, wondering what secrets he had been carrying without telling her, and felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cool evening air. She had thought she was finally beginning to understand James, but now she realized there were still entire pieces of his life hidden behind that guarded expression. And somehow, Olivia suspected, Felix was at the center of them.

The next morning, at breakfast James informed Olivia with the same commanding certainty he used when discussing estate matters, "Olivia you should get dressed for an outing after breakfast."

She looked up from her tea, puzzled by the sudden instruction. "An outing?" she repeated, setting down her cup. "Is this a social call?"

James shook his head. "It is not. We are going somewhere on the estate, so prepare yourself for being outside."

Olivia narrowed her eyes at him, wondering what possible reason he could have for whisking her away without explanation. "You do realize that telling a woman to dress for an unknown excursion is an excellent way to make her suspicious," she remarked, rising from her chair.

James's mouth curved faintly. "Then I suppose you shall have to remain suspicious until we arrive."

He stood up and departed the room.

Olivia looked at Louiza and said, "Well that was mysterious."

"I think it was romantic. He means to surprise you," Louiza said.

Romantic? Could I hope for such a thing?

Olivia huffed, "I doubt it is romantic at all. He probably means to show me the flock of sheep and how to manage them in his absence."

Louiza laughed. Then let us go and find you a dress for such a duty.

Olivia changed into a plain day dress that would not suffer too terribly from country paths and fastened a warm cloak around her shoulders before making her way outside.

She found James waiting near the front steps with a saddled horse, looking entirely too comfortable upon the animal for a man who had refused to explain himself.