The Fortune Hunter

Chapter 6

The following morning seemed interminable to Olivia. Had anyone asked her, she would have denied it, but she was eagerly waiting for Mr. Lennox's visit. She listened carefully for any sound that might announce a visitor, and when she finally did hear the arrival of someone, she was hard put to hide her disappointment when she realised that it was not Mr. Lennox who had come, but Sir Edwin Arncott. He paid her some compliments which made Olivia strongly suspect that he had not yet given up all hope to win her heart. Olivia resolved that she would have to ask for Agnes's advice. She wanted to spare Sir Edwin any further embarrassment, but she did not want to marry him -- not even out of pity. Especially not out of pity. Sir Edwin's visit, in short, did nothing to make Olivia feel any more comfortable, and she was glad when, after having sat with them for twenty minutes, Sir Edwin took himself off.

Her next two visitors were greeted with more eagerness. Susannah Lennox and Jane Hervey came to call on her, to persuade her to go for a ride in the park with them.

"You said you would," Susannah pointed out when Olivia declined. "You remember? You promised you would ride with us, when we discussed the matter at Lady Culverthorpe's ball. You cannot let us down, Olivia!"

"I did not promise to go with you so soon," Olivia protested. "I said I needed some time! Besides, I do not have anything to wear -- I do not have a riding habit, you know, and I would cut a poor figure indeed if I went riding with you in a borrowed dress. How shabby I should look! You would be quite ashamed of me!"

Susannah admitted that Olivia had a point, but asked her to mend this as soon as possible.
"Bernie is quite eager to teach you, you know," she said with a charming smile that, Olivia had come to believe, was a common trait in the Lennox family.

"But your brother did not send you here to press me, or did he?" Olivia asked, smiling back.

"Of course not. Bernie would never do such a thing. But he said it would be a splendid thing if you joined our party one of these days."

Jane had listened to their conversation, but had not contributed much to it. Olivia suspected that Jane was still not really used to her, and that this was the reason why Jane was so quiet most of the time. She did speak up now and then, of course, and whenever she said something there was a great deal of sense in what she said -- which made Olivia sincerely hope that, one day, Jane Hervey might overcome her shyness and speak up more often. With some encouragement from the right people, Olivia thought, Jane would become quite a different person, someone to be admired not only for her beauty and sweet temper but also for her extraordinarily good sense. If only she were not afraid of people...and if she could find a husband who, instead of wishing to subdue his wife, would let her have her say...

Susannah and Jane did not stay long, but left soon after Olivia had told them that she would not come with them that day.

"I hope you are not offended," Olivia said as she accompanied her guests to the door. "I promise I will go riding with you one day. Besides, I could not have come with you anyway, for you know your brother has promised to show us his Italian sketches, which I really want to see, and it would be intolerably rude to ask Mr. Lennox to bring them here again."

"Say no more," Susannah said archly. "If I were not his sister, I suppose I, too, would prefer sitting at home waiting for Adrian to make his appearance."

Olivia was just about to protest when the doorbell rang once again, and the butler opened the door to admit Mr. Lennox and an exceptionally handsome youth carrying a portfolio which contained, without doubt, Mr. Lennox's sketches.

"There you are, Adrian," Susannah exclaimed with a saucy smile. "You have been eagerly awaited, I assure you!"

"Have I?" Mr. Lennox replied calmly, greeting Jane and Olivia with a polite bow.

"Your sketches have, at least -- or so Olivia has been trying to convince me," Susannah laughed.
Mr. Lennox did not answer that remark but handed his hat, gloves and walking stick to the butler, turned to his companion, spoke to him in rapid Italian, took the portfolio and dismissed the young man.

"Is this the gentleman you hired in Italy?" Susannah asked. "I have heard a great deal about him already. He looks quite amiable, I have to say, not quite as stuffy as your old valet was."

"Luca has been a change for the better, indeed," Mr. Lennox laughed. "He is the perfect servant -- without wanting to interfere too much with my life, which is what his predecessor did. He did not need to, of course, his mother was more than capable of taking that part."

"The formidable Signora Bonifacio?" Olivia asked, smiling.

"You know about her? Ah yes, of course you do, I told you about her that evening I stayed at Sutton Court, didn't I? Yes, the formidable Signora Bonifacio is Luca's mother, and as my landlady she thought it was her duty to take care of me. A tigress defending her young could hardly be more fearsome than Signora Bonifacio in her attempts to protect me. She hesitated to let me go, too, I only got to leave her after I had promised her to beware of le donne in England, who seem to be a very bad sort." Olivia laughed, and he laughed along with her.

"Harsh words," Olivia finally said.

"Oh yes, but after being reminded that my mother and sister were both English AND a good sort, she was willing to make allowances for them." He turned to Susannah. "I suppose that makes the two of you honorary Italians," he said, grinning.

"While Jane and I remain a very bad sort," Olivia said dryly. "Do not forget to beware of us, Mr. Lennox."

"I will keep it in mind," Mr. Lennox said with a smile, and expressed his hope that he had not kept Lady Gordon waiting for too long, at which point Susannah and Jane left and Olivia took Mr. Lennox upstairs to the drawing room.

Giving him a closer look, Olivia realised that he did not look like a man in straitened circumstances. Although his attire was not nearly as flamboyant as, for example, Lord Swafford's, Mr. Lennox was dressed elegantly and, as far as Olivia was any judge, expensively too. She wondered how a man who had fled the country to escape his gaming debts could afford such clothes, but then it occurred to her that his appearance was probably of utmost importance to him. A man wishing to conquer a rich heiress's heart would have to look rich, or affluent, at least, lest the heiress would be on her guard right from the beginning. The expense laid out on clothes such as Mr. Lennox's could be seen as a necessary investment in a more prosperous future, Olivia surmised.

Agnes greeted Mr. Lennox eagerly, telling him she had already despaired of ever seeing him again, and ordered some refreshment to be served immediately -- "for I am persuaded, Mr. Lennox, that you will need some refreshment once you have explained your work to us."

Mr. Lennox laughed at this and pointed out that his portfolio did not contain quite as many pictures as to justify any need of refreshment.

"But certainly you must have taken a great deal of sketches during those two years in Italy," Agnes said.

"About two hundred, not counting those I left with Bottazzi -- the ones I made for scientific purposes," Mr. Lennox said. "However, I know better than trying to show you all of them. Felix would never forgive me if I bored his wife to death."

Agnes laughed. "There can hardly be any danger of you doing so," she said.

"Yes there would, if I were to show you two hundred sketches of Roman ruins," Mr. Lennox retorted. "I remember you are not exactly interested in history, Lady Gordon."

"But my sister is, Mr. Lennox," Agnes said. "Very much so, in fact."

"Interested enough to subject herself to two hundred sketches, including explanations? I doubt it," Mr. Lennox said laughingly.

"So how many are we to see today?" Olivia asked.

"I did not count them, but about twenty or thirty, I suppose," Mr. Lennox replied. "I only took the ones that are of general interest, showing you the Italian scenery, and some of the towns I have been to."

"None of Pompeii, then?" Olivia asked, trying to hide her disappointment.

"There are some pictures of Pompeii among them, Miss Paige," Mr. Lennox said. "But I thought you wished to see more than just ruins. -- I have to add that I do not consider myself a very talented artist -- I drew most of these sketches to pass the time and amuse myself, and as a document of what I had seen, rather than for showing them off. I confess I was not always pleased with the outcome." He smiled. "I hope you do not expect too much, for I am afraid you may be disappointed if you do. That being said" -- he put the portfolio on the table and opened it -- "here they are."

After Mr. Lennox's explanation, Olivia had not expected much, and she was all the more surprised when she found that what Mr. Lennox had called sketches were elaborate drawings, some of them finished in water-colours, and all of them showing remarkable talent.

Agnes agreed with Olivia, for she at once told Mr. Lennox that however little he thought of his own work, she certainly thought very highly of it.

"Admit it, sir," she said after having cast a look at some of the pictures. "You were fishing for compliments, weren't you? Telling us you were not very talented, when everyone can see that you are!"

"Fishing for compliments is bad manners, and not quite the sort of conduct I was brought up to exhibit, Lady Gordon," Mr. Lennox said earnestly. "Believe me; I have seen much better drawings than mine. Compared to them, this is nothing."

"Compare your sketches to something more suitable, then," Agnes laughed. "My drawings should do."

They spent the next three quarters of an hour listening to Mr. Lennox and his various descriptions of the places he had been to. Olivia saw pictures of Venice, Verona, Florence, Leghorn and, finally, Naples and Pompeii. One of them showed a gentleman kneeling next to what looked like an open fireplace, digging up something that looked suspiciously like human remains.

"Is this a skeleton, Mr. Lennox?" Olivia asked. Mr. Lennox nodded. "A human skeleton?"

Mr. Lennox nodded again. "Are you afraid, Miss Paige," he asked.

"No, although I admit that I might be if I were to see a real one. Did you see many of these?"

"I have had my fair share, yes," Mr. Lennox said. "The disaster killed a great deal of people, Miss Paige."

"Does anyone know how many?" Olivia asked.

"It is hard to estimate," Mr. Lennox said. "My opinion is there may have been a couple of thousand victims."

"A couple of thousand?" Olivia stared at him in dismay. "This is awful, and you make it sound as if ... as if it did not matter!"

"I agree with you, Miss Paige, it is awful," Mr. Lennox said earnestly. "But it all happened long ago, and it is not as if I could change anything about it."

"Of course," Olivia said, ashamed of herself. "It was only...I guess you do not understand what I meant to say."

"I think I do." Mr. Lennox smiled. "You thought I did not sound properly afflicted by the tragedy."

"Something like that, yes," Olivia said. "It is foolish, is it not?"

"Not at all foolish. It shows some very proper feeling, Miss Paige."

The door opened, and Sir Felix came into the room, greeting his cousin with a broad grin.
"I see you have already found the best place in this house," he said to Mr. Lennox, who was sitting between Olivia and Agnes.

"Did you doubt I would?" Mr. Lennox replied, grinning.

"Not at all. -- Agnes, my dear, I will not dine here tonight. My cousin Burnhope has invited me to dine with him at White's. - He said you would be there, too, Adrian."

"So I will. As will Bernie. A family gathering at White's." Mr. Lennox laughed, and rose. "I hope you enjoyed my sketches, Lady Gordon -- Miss Paige. Do you want me to leave them here for further inspection, or shall I take them with me?"

"I would very much like to have another look at them, if you do not mind," Olivia said.

"Feel free to do so," Mr. Lennox said. "I will come to pick them up tomorrow, then. I am afraid I must be going now, I have bothered you for quite long enough."

Agnes exclaimed that his visit had by no means been bothersome, and hoped she had not given him any other impression.

"Not at all, Lady Gordon, you have made me feel perfectly welcome, as you always do," Mr. Lennox assured her, bowed and left them.

---

Since Sir Felix was not with them that evening, Olivia took the opportunity to ask for Agnes's advice concerning Sir Edwin Arncott's continuous attempts to make her marry him.

"I believed him at first when he said he would not speak about the matter any more," Olivia said, "but what do you think, Agnes? You have seen him today -- what does he really have on his mind?"

"I think he still is in love with you, Olivia, and you cannot blame him for that," Agnes said calmly. "Apart from that, I must say he behaved like the perfect gentleman."

"You did not feel that he had come here to...pay his addresses to me?" Olivia asked anxiously. "I really do not want to hurt him, Agnes, not any more than I may already have done. What can I do?"

"Do not worry too much," Agnes said. "I think we can trust Sir Edwin to behave with the strictest propriety. If you do not encourage him to think otherwise, he will, at one point, accept the fact that you do not love him. Just behave as you have always done."

"But that made him think I would accept his offer," Olivia exclaimed.

"And he knows now that you will not. Unless you give him a very different signal now, he will come to accept this." Agnes said firmly.

"But what made him persevere?" Olivia asked.

"I think my father may have something to do with it," Agnes said. "You know that he and Mama have always wanted one of us to remain near them. I have married a man from the North, so you must be the one to stay in the neighbourhood." She smiled. "But they, too, will come to accept it once they find that you love someone else, and not Sir Edwin."

"It is not that!" Olivia protested. "I do not love someone else!"

"Not yet," Agnes said calmly, and, at that point, changed the topic of their conversation.

---

Olivia soon found out that the news of her arrival had found its way around Polite Society in London. Wherever she went, she found looks directed at her, and heard the whispers accompanying them. She was the new Heiress ("you know, one of the girls who inherited the Granby fortune"), and was paid more attention than she cared for.

In a way, she was thankful for Sir Edwin's friendship, for he, at least, was not remotely interested in her wealth, but loved her for what she was.

As to the Lennoxes, Olivia became very close with Susannah Lennox, and hardly a day passed without their seeing each other. Very often, Jane Hervey was one of the party, and she, too, became a good friend. Olivia was soon very comfortable with Lord Burnhope, who did not show too much interest in her, but always treated her with perfect politeness whenever they met. She came to like him very much, he was a man of sense, and Olivia respected him for that.

His younger brothers were a different matter. Olivia felt perfectly comfortable with them, too, but it was much harder for her to determine what they were up to. Each of them was, in his way, good-looking and charming, and each of them, being a younger son, was probably in need of a fortune. Captain Lennox had expressed himself quite freely on the subject by telling her that he meant to go to India to make his fortune there, but Olivia felt that, if he could but find the right woman to provide him with one, he might well be inclined to stay in England after all. It would not do any harm to keep that in mind, Olivia thought whenever he flirted with her.

Mr. Lennox never talked about money, but his behaviour indicated that he was living on a grand scale. He had lodgings of his own in a very elegant part of Town; he kept his own servants, horses and carriages. How a ruined man could do so without landing, at one point, in Debtor's Prison, was beyond Olivia's understanding. Perhaps his brother had something to do with it -- paying his more pressing debts, in the hope that someone might, at one point, relieve him of his expensive brother. At least, Olivia thought, Mr. Lennox did not frequent any gaming hells -- or she never heard of it, at any rate. So perhaps he had given up the one habit that had led to his ruin. Apart from that, Olivia thought Mr. Lennox to be perfectly agreeable. He soon became a frequent guest in Half Moon Street, one who was always eagerly welcomed, too. He was friendly, and intelligent, and had a wry sense of humour Olivia liked very much. If it had not been for his financial situation, which made her suspect that he was hanging out for a rich wife, Olivia might even have been in danger of falling in love with him, and she was well aware of it.

"Now, Olivia, what excuse have you got today?" Susannah said when she arrived in Half Moon Street one morning.

"I beg your pardon?" Olivia asked innocently, although she knew what Susannah was talking about.

"Are you going to ride with us in the Park today?" Susannah asked.

"My riding habit is not yet finished, or so Madame has told me," Olivia said laughingly. "So, I am afraid you will have to wait for another couple of days."

"You probably told her she could take her time," Susannah accused her.

"Quite so," Olivia said. "I told you I am not comfortable with horses."

"You do not even try," Susannah said, pouting. Then her countenance brightened. "You may not want to ride today," she said, "but what if I can persuade Adrian to take you out in his phaeton?"

Her brother, who had been sitting and talking to Agnes, looked up.

"Do I actually have a say in the matter?" he asked, smilingly.

"No," Susannah said curtly.

"Why do I ask?" Mr. Lennox said in mock desperation. "Miss Paige, would you like me to take you to the Park? Please note that no persuasion on my sister's part was needed."

Olivia laughed. "You are very kind, sir."

"Was that a yes or a no?" Mr. Lennox asked.

"Neither, Mr. Lennox," Olivia said. "I cannot allow you to be imposed upon."

"Now that was a No," Mr. Lennox said with a grin. "Albeit a very polite one."

"Oh, do come!" Susannah exclaimed. "No one ever imposes on Adrian -- it will be a completely new experience for him, and he will be all the better for it."

Everyone laughed at this.

"My loving sister wishes to improve me all the time," Mr. Lennox said, still laughing. "But honestly, Miss Paige, what do you say? It sounds like an excellent idea to me, and I am indeed sorry it did not occur to me earlier."

"Not today, Mr. Lennox," Olivia said. "It would be too much trouble for you to have the carriage brought round."

"Tomorrow, then?" Mr. Lennox asked. "Unless, of course, your riding habit will be delivered by then, and you will be able to join my sister on horseback?"

"I prefer the phaeton, I admit," Olivia said smilingly.

"You prefer Adrian," Susannah said accusingly. Olivia blushed furiously.

"Susannah!" Mr. Lennox's look was unmistakable. It was the kind of look Mrs. Paige had often given her daughters when they had misbehaved -- the "just-you-wait-until-we-are- alone" look.

"I am sorry," Susannah said meekly. "I did not mean to be rude. Can you forgive me, Olivia?"

Olivia nodded.

"Then this is settled," Mr. Lennox said. "We will all go to the Park tomorrow -- you, Miss Hervey and Bernie on horseback, and Miss Paige and me in the phaeton." He laughed. "What a procession that will be," he said.

"The circus has come to town," Olivia said, laughingly. "We could ask Captain Lennox to bring an elephant."

"He has not been to India yet, Miss Paige," Mr. Lennox said with a grin. "But you are right about one thing -- if there is one man in all England able to procure an elephant until tomorrow, my brother Bernie is the one."

Mr. Lennox then took his leave, and as his sister declined his offer to escort her to Burnhope House, he left, not without telling Susannah to behave herself.

"Oh dear, now he is angry," Susannah sighed when he had left. "I am certain he will tell Mama how disgracefully I have behaved today, and I am in for a sermon when I come home. If ever he has children they will live in mortal dread of him, I am sure. -- I am really sorry, Olivia, I hope you know that. I did not mean to imply that you had a tendre for Adrian. Though it would be a splendid thing if you had." She smiled mischievously. "He likes you, you know."

"I am quite certain Mr. Lennox likes a great deal of people, Susannah," Olivia said coldly. "Now, I hope you do not mind if we talk of something else."

Susannah did her the favour of changing the topic, and they spent the next half hour talking about the theatre-performance they had seen the night before. Olivia tried hard to appear calm -- Susannah's thoughtless remark had disturbed her more than she cared to admit. She wondered whether she really showed a preference for Mr. Lennox's company and, if so, whether he had noticed it. It would not do. It would simply not do. Olivia began to regret that she had allowed Mr. Lennox to take her to the Park tomorrow, but nothing could be done about that now. She would have to go.

What really worried Olivia was that she was looking forward to doing so.

Chapter 7

The next day, Mr. Lennox arrived at the appointed time to pick up Olivia for their outing. Olivia thought he looked quite dashing in his elegant great-coat.

"Do you want to join the party, too?" he asked Sir Felix with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "We only need you and Lady Gordon to make it a perfect family party -- and my mother, of course, but she is far too busy to think of going riding in the Park."

"You mean all of you are going?" Sir Felix asked and laughed. "Lord, what a picture this will be!"

"All of us are going," Mr. Lennox agreed. "Even William decided that fresh air and exercise might do him good. Can I tempt you, Felix?"

"No, I had rather enjoy the picture from afar instead of being part of it," Sir Felix joked.

"Very well, then it will only be us Lennoxes," Mr. Lennox said with a grin. "And you, Miss Paige. Are you ready?"

Olivia smiled and assured him that she was. Mr. Lennox's phaeton, she found out, was a smart vehicle, and again she wondered how he could possibly afford his lifestyle. He assisted her into the carriage, and off they went into the direction of the park. Susannah, Jane and the rest, he assured her, would wait for them there.

"I thought it would be quite a spectacle if we all turned up in Half Moon Street to pick you up," Mr. Lennox said with a smile. "Susannah wanted to come, but I told her it was not at all necessary. I think I can be trusted to convey a young lady to the park safely."

"I hope so," Olivia said with a laugh.

At the entrance of the park, Lord Burnhope, Captain Lennox, Susannah and Jane were indeed waiting for them, and Susannah greeted Olivia enthusiastically.

"At last you are to join us!" she exclaimed, and vowed she would not stray from the carriage even once -- "for someone will have to entertain you". When her brother inquired whether he was not entertaining enough, Susannah simply laughed.

She soon forgot her intention, however, when they met two young officers, friends of Captain Lennox's, and they fell behind while Lord Burnhope and Jane rode ahead of them. Olivia found herself quite alone with Mr. Lennox -- not exactly an unpleasant feeling, she had to admit.

"Aren't you tempted to go riding when you see how much fun they are having?" Mr. Lennox asked her.

"Not really," Olivia answered. "I keep remembering my riding accident, and its painful aftermath."

"Were you seriously hurt, Miss Paige?" he asked, his face expressing real concern.

"My injuries were not dangerous," Olivia said. "A couple of bruises, and I broke my collarbone. This was very painful, indeed, and so awkward and inconvenient! One can hardly move, and not much can be done about this injury."

"I know. A broken collarbone is inconvenient, as I can tell from an experience of my own," Mr. Lennox said with a smile. "No wonder you do not wish to repeat the incident."

"You broke yours, too?" Olivia exclaimed. "Then you know how painful it can be! I did not care to go on horseback after that. How did your accident happen?"

Mr. Lennox laughed. "I had better not tell you," he said teasingly.

"Oh, this is infamous!" Olivia exclaimed. "After I have practically told you my life story! Do tell me!"

"I dare not," Mr. Lennox said, still laughing. Olivia turned away from him, pouting. For a moment, they did not talk, although Olivia could feel Mr. Lennox's eyes on her. When she turned towards him again, she saw that she had not deceived herself. Mr. Lennox looked at her, with an amused twinkle in his eyes.

That moment Captain Lennox rode alongside the carriage.

"You two look as if you were having fun," he said mockingly. "What are you talking about?"

Mr. Lennox laughed. "We were comparing our wounds. A highly gratifying subject -- I am sure you, as a soldier, will agree."

Captain Lennox laughed. "No, really, in earnest," he said. "What are you talking about? I wish to join the conversation, if you do not mind."

"Mr. Lennox was in earnest," Olivia said. "It transpired that we both had a broken collarbone once. But Mr. Lennox will not tell me how it happened." She shot a challenging glance at Mr. Lennox, but he only smiled.

"I daresay he won't," Captain Lennox laughed. "But it is not fair, Adrian. I will have to tell Miss Paige what danger she is in."

"But I feel perfectly safe, sir," Olivia said.

"Of course you do," Captain Lennox said with a grin. "Because you do not know that Adrian broke his collarbone when he overset my father's curricle."

"Is this true, Mr. Lennox?" Olivia asked.

"You just had to throw a bad light on me, didn't you?" Mr. Lennox asked his brother.

"Why, I did not tell Miss Paige how you came to drive Father's curricle in the first place," Captain Lennox said, obviously enjoying himself.

Mr. Lennox grinned. "How much do I have to pay you to make you stop exposing my youthful folly, Bernie?" he asked.

"I don't think you could afford it," Captain Lennox said. "It is too much fun."

"Then I will spoil your fun by exposing myself," Mr. Lennox said, laughingly. "Miss Paige, the thing is that I was expressly forbidden to drive the curricle in question. I was twelve years old, and although my father had, on several occasions, taken me with him and had even let me handle the reins now and then, I felt that what I really wanted was to have a go without him. I felt that I was, by then, enough of an expert to go by myself. Of course, I could not ask the grooms to put the horses to without my father's permission, and when I did ask him, he told me in no uncertain terms that if ever he caught me trying such a thing he would flay me."

"He would not do so!" Olivia said, aghast.

"You did not know my father," Mr. Lennox said. "I was quite certain that he would, which put, for the time being, an end to my plans -- anyone who has ever witnessed my father in a fit of temper will know why. Then, one day, I was in luck. My father had to go and see one of his tenants, and he allowed me to go with him. We arrived at the cottage in question, and as my father went in, he told me to hold the horses and, should he not return within ten minutes, to lead them up and down in front of the cottage. I, however, had a better idea."

"You stole the curricle?" Olivia asked.

"No, I borrowed it," Mr. Lennox said with a laugh. "The moment my father was safely in the house, I mounted the curricle and drove off. I thought I'd go up the hill, where the lane merged with the turnpike road to Durham, would turn around there and come back before my father had noticed anything. As if."

Captain Lennox laughed. "And they told me I was the black sheep," he said, grinning.

"What happened next?" Olivia asked eagerly.

"I came towards the turnpike road at full speed, and saw a mail-coach approaching the crossroads -- so I tried to rein in the horses, to let the mail-coach pass. However, the horses were not inclined to do what I wanted them to do. They were a fiery set -- excellent animals; my father was an expert in horseflesh -- and at twelve years I was simply not strong enough to restrain them."

"Good Lord!" Olivia exclaimed.

"The next thing I knew was that I was lying in the ditch, the curricle was smashed to pieces and the horses had bolted, but had calmed down and were now grazing further down the road. This was how my father found me."

"Let me guess," Captain Lennox said. "He did thrash you then and there."

"No, he actually did not," Mr. Lennox said with a smile. "He asked me whether I was hurt first. I told him I was not sure. That was when he boxed my ears." He grinned. "After that, he found that I was hurt, and that was when he became really anxious and caring. He had me taken back home, collected the horses -- they, I am glad to say, were not injured -- and followed me home, to listen to my mother's reprimands."

"I heard those," Captain Lennox said. "She said the whole incident had been his fault from the beginning -- one does not leave a boy in charge of the horses and out of sight, she said, it is tempting him beyond what is bearable -- and she had some very decided opinions on his having boxed your ears."

Mr. Lennox laughed. "This does sound like her, I admit. But I think I would have reacted the same way as my father did, so I have no hard feelings towards him. I daresay he was glad to see me alive after that escapade, and that box on the ear was his way of expressing his relief. -- Miss Paige, now you know how I broke my collarbone. Do you still feel safe, or shall I set you down somewhere?"

"I feel perfectly safe," Olivia said with a smile. "I suppose you have learned one or two things ever since you were twelve."

"Oh yes, I think I am quite capable of handling a team of horses now," he said.

"He is a breakneck driver," Captain Lennox said with a laugh. "Beware, Miss Paige."

"This means revenge, Bernie," Mr. Lennox said. "Which of your escapades would you like to have exposed?"

"Do you mean I may choose? What sort of revenge is that?" Captain Lennox asked, laughingly. "How much time do I have to make up my mind?"

"I shall give you ten minutes." Mr. Lennox said with a grin. "After that, I shall choose myself. There is plenty to choose from, as you know."

"In that case, I shall withdraw," Captain Lennox laughed. "I will need to make a careful choice." He fell behind, while Susannah caught up with the phaeton.

"Is this not a delightful day?" she asked. "How can you sit in a carriage -- even if it is my brother's phaeton, Olivia -- and not be bored? Just imagine how much fun we'd have if you were on horseback, too!"

"I do not think you will have to wait much longer, Susannah," Olivia replied. "Besides, your brother does his best to entertain me, and I confess I am not at all bored."

"Thank you, Miss Paige," Mr. Lennox said with a smile.

"Oh, Adrian can be quite entertaining if he chooses," Susannah said. "But what do you say to Jane? She has been riding ahead of us all this time, and in William's company, too!"

Olivia realised that this was true -- Jane had been ahead of them ever since their outing had started, and she seemed to get along perfectly with Lord Burnhope. Apparently, they were talking a great deal -- a rare occurrence in Jane's case, especially when she was in a gentleman's company.

"I think it is wonderful to see her so much at ease," Olivia said.

"Would it not be splendid if the two of them made a match of it?" Susannah asked eagerly. "If only William might overcome his shyness!" She giggled. "Imagine their courtship," she said. "Two shy people falling in love with each other -- neither of them will ever want to make the first move!"

"Susannah," Mr. Lennox admonished his sister sharply. "When will you learn to think before you talk, I wonder?"

Susannah reddened, and without another word she spurred her horse and galloped ahead to join Jane and her brother. Mr. Lennox sighed.

"I am sure Susannah means no harm, but she is tactless sometimes," he said. "She ought to control herself some more. Her unguarded behaviour might do some damage some day, and I do not want that to happen to her."

"I think it is part of Susannah's charm, though," Olivia said. "She is a very outspoken person."

"Yes, but too outspoken," Mr. Lennox said. "She has not yet learned when it would be better for her to curb her tongue."

By that time, they had arrived at the entrance to the park again, and as the traffic in the streets demanded Mr. Lennox's attention, they did not talk any more until he handed Olivia down from the carriage and bade her a good day.

---

There was another dinner at Mrs. Somerville's, which Olivia only endured because, in the course of the event, her godmother invited her and Agnes to Almack's. To Sir Felix's great dismay, Agnes accepted the invitation and asked him to escort them.

"Do I have to come?" he asked plaintively, and Agnes insisted that he should -- at least on their first evening there.

"But surely Mrs. Somerville already has a gentleman to escort her," Sir Felix protested.

"I do not care about Mrs. Somerville's escort," Agnes said. "I want you to be with me, to relive the days of our courtship." She smiled. "Now do not say this is not tempting."

Sir Felix laughed. "Very tempting, indeed," he said. "Although I do hope you do not wish to revive those days when I was desperately trying to catch your eye, while you seemed to take no notice."

"I did take notice," Agnes said smilingly, "but Mama thought it was not proper for a young lady to show that she did, and I was quite bent on doing what was proper."

"Unfortunately," Sir Felix said teasingly, and sighed. "Very well, I will come to Almack's with you."

When Olivia arrived at Almack's the next evening, Mrs. Somerville lost no time in introducing her to the patronesses -- in order to procure a voucher for her. After that, Lord Swafford (who had "kindly consented to escort his old aunt") asked her to dance with him, although there was no real enthusiasm in his voice when he did so. Feeling that this was what Mrs. Somerville expected of her, Olivia consented to dance the first two dances with Lord Swafford, and while she was waiting for the music to start, she went in search of Susannah and Lady Burnhope, who had assured her that they would be there also.

With Lady Burnhope, Olivia also found Lady Hervey and her daughters. Miss Hervey was enjoying a chat with a young woman whom Olivia did not know, whereas Jane was sitting next to Susannah. Olivia joined them.

"Ah, here you are, my dear," Susannah exclaimed. "I have to tell you how sorry I am for not taking a proper leave of you yesterday, but I did not want to get near Adrian for a while. He can be so stuffy at times! Just like Papa used to be -- although I should not say that, of course, Papa was not stuffy in that sense of the word, but he used to be very strict...where was I? Ah, yes, I wanted to apologise. Did you enjoy your ride in Adrian's phaeton? -- I know you enjoyed your outing to the park, Jane, it was quite obvious." Jane blushed and said she did not know what Susannah was talking about.

"I only said that you must have enjoyed your outing to the park," Susannah said innocently, but her eyes sparkled roguishly. "By the way, I have to tell you the oddest thing -- William means to come here tonight. My brother William, of all people, who absolutely detests squeezes like this. I wonder what inducement there is?" She gave Jane a sidelong glance to watch her reaction. Jane blushed, but did not say anything. Her hands, however, showed her distress -- they trembled slightly. To stop Susannah from teasing Jane, Olivia told her that her riding-habit had been delivered that day.

"Indeed? Oh, famous!" Susannah exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly. "We will go riding tomorrow, won't we? I will ask Bernie to come with us, he will be only too happy to oblige -- he'd better!" Olivia could not help laughing at the droll remark.

At that point, Lord Swafford arrived to claim her hand for the first two dances, and Olivia followed him to the set. The dances were quite as boring as she had thought they would be -- Lord Swafford spent the entire half hour to talk about the other people present, their homes, their titles, their fortunes, and, most of all, their attire. His own was of the most fashionable cut, but Olivia thought he looked rather ridiculous -- it did not suit him.

Just as Lord Swafford was leading Olivia back to Agnes and Mrs. Somerville, he commented on some new arrivals.

"Oh, and Burnhope and his brothers have arrived, too," he added casually, and let her have his opinion of the cut of Lord Burnhope's coat. Olivia compared Lord Swafford's appearance to Mr. Lennox's. Mr. Lennox's attire was simpler than Lord Swafford's, but she found it more elegant because of this. Mr. Lennox's calm, unassuming air did much to let him appear to advantage in contrast to Swafford, Olivia thought. Of the two men, she infinitely preferred him -- his looks as well as his manners.

Soon after Olivia had taken a seat next to Mrs. Somerville, Captain and Mr. Lennox came to them. Captain Lennox approached Olivia at once and asked her to dance the next two dances with him -- something that seemed to annoy his brother, as Olivia noticed, and she could not help wondering why.

As Captain Lennox led Olivia to join the dance, he told her that Susannah had informed him of her impending riding lesson.

"I am glad to finally get a chance to teach you," he said, smilingly. "Although I have to warn you, Miss Paige, I am a strict teacher."

"I have to warn you, Captain Lennox," Olivia retorted. "Do not put me off riding, for my inclination towards it is not so very powerful to start with."

"Indeed?" Captain Lennox smiled. "I should be offended, Miss Paige."

"It has nothing to do with you, sir, but I confess that the thought of mounting a horse tomorrow fills me with apprehension."

"You will see that everything will be fine," Captain Lennox said. "I have already decided to let you have the most docile mare available in my brother's stables."

"A comforting thought, Captain Lennox. If she throws me off, I will at least know that she was the most docile animal you could find."

As Captain Lennox took Olivia back to Agnes, she caught a glance of Mr. Lennox, who had apparently danced with Felicity Culverthorpe. They were laughing, and Olivia wondered what Felicity Culverthorpe could possibly have said to make Mr. Lennox laugh. She did not like the thought.

Olivia's next partner was Mr. Lennox. He seemed to be in excellent spirits that evening, Olivia noticed, and was glad of it. He instantly complimented her on her dress, and teased her by saying that he was attracting furious glances from several of her admirers by having been successful with the pretty Miss Paige.

"No, indeed, sir, I do not call myself pretty," Olivia said, blushing. "There are much prettier girls in this room, I suppose. The Culverthorpe twins, for example."

"I admit the Culverthorpe girls are pretty," Mr. Lennox agreed.

"Of course they are," Olivia exclaimed.

"You did not let me finish, Miss Paige," Mr. Lennox laughed. "They are pretty, but not beautiful."

"What is the difference, Mr. Lennox, and why this harsh opinion?" Olivia wanted to know. It pleased her to hear that the Culverthorpe sisters were not beautiful.

"Beauty consists of more than just looks, Miss Paige," Mr. Lennox said earnestly. "It took me some time to learn that, but I did. To be beautiful, a woman needs ... I cannot describe it, but it is something that the Culverthorpes lack, as well as many of the women present."

"Are there any beautiful women around tonight," Olivia asked teasingly. Mr. Lennox did not answer at once, but looked in her eyes. There was something in these grey eyes that Olivia could not quite make out -- it made her uneasy.

"There are some," he said, finally, and although his voice sounded cheerful, his eyes were grave. On their way to Agnes, they nearly bumped into Lady Wesley.

"Adrian Lennox!" Lady Wesley exclaimed, with a tittering laugh. "I heard you were back in town, and yet I can hardly believe my eyes! You look fine!"

"Good evening, Lady Wesley," Mr. Lennox said stiffly and, Olivia thought, rather coldly.

"Why so formal, Mr. Lennox?" Lady Wesley asked, and Olivia could distinguish a hint of pique in her voice.

"I am paying Lady Wesley the respect that is her due," Mr. Lennox merely said, bowed and excused himself. He took Olivia's arm and nearly dragged her away from Lady Wesley. Olivia felt suspicious -- Mr. Lennox's cold manner had reminded her of how Sir Felix had reacted on seeing her. What was it that made both men dislike Lady Wesley, she asked herself. She certainly was a very pretty and even amiable woman.

"I think Lady Wesley looks particularly beautiful tonight," Olivia said, as they moved through the crowd. "Do you not think she is a beautiful woman, Mr. Lennox?"

Mr. Lennox stopped short and looked in her face. His eyes were searching, and for a moment Olivia feared that she had made him angry.

"I thought so once," he finally said, and as he conveyed Olivia to an empty seat, he offered to procure a drink for her. Olivia had the impression that he was quite glad to leave her.

---

Olivia danced the last two dances with Sir Edwin Arncott. Somehow he had found her, and Olivia felt that she could not refuse to dance with him -- him being a friend of her family.

"I am glad you can spare some time to dance with an old friend," Sir Edwin said, sounding piqued.

"I am not quite as popular as you think, Sir Edwin," Olivia said calmly.

"My impression was quite different, Miss Paige," he said. "Say, do you care for all this flattery?"

"No one is immune to flattery, I suppose," Olivia said, careful not to betray the anger that was building up in her. Had Sir Edwin just asked her to dance to throw insults at her? "But I do think I know the difference between flattery and sincere compliments, sir."

"I hope you do know it," Sir Edwin simply said. "I should be very sorry if all this attention went to your head."

"You need not worry," Olivia burst out angrily. Sir Edwin gave her a hurt look.

"Now you are angry," he said. "I apologise if I have offended you, Miss Paige, nothing is further from me. I simply thought you might value an old friend's advice." His dejected look made Olivia feel sorry for him.

"I know you meant it kindly," she said.

Sir Edwin thanked her. "I hope you do not think I have selfish motives for speaking to you in such a way. I still care for you, Miss Paige -- very much so -- and I cannot bear to see you taken in by a set of fortune hunters."

"You need not worry," Olivia said once again. "No one is trying to take me in, I am sure."

There was a pause, while they were dancing. Finally, Sir Edwin said in an undertone Olivia did not quite like, "It was certainly very clever of Sir Felix to introduce you to his cousins."

The anger Olivia felt was now so intense that she was hardly able to restrain herself. What had Sir Felix done to deserve such a thing?

"Sir Edwin," Olivia said, aware of the fury in her voice, "if you really want to make me furious, please continue speaking ill of Sir Felix Gordon."

Sir Edwin apologised, but Olivia did not react to his attempts to make amends. Seeing that there was no point in trying to speak to Olivia any more, Sir Edwin took her back to Agnes after the dance was finished, and took his leave. Olivia was glad to see him go, and bade him good night icily. The offended look he gave her said more than words, but Olivia was determined not to give in. No one had the right to speak ill of Sir Felix in her presence without being punished for it. Even his long-standing friendship with Olivia's father could not protect Sir Edwin from her censure. Sir Felix, assisting fortune-hunters in their attempts to secure the hand of an heiress? Ridiculous. Simply ridiculous. Or wasn't it? Olivia waved the thought aside angrily. There was nothing at all wrong with Sir Felix, and the only reason why Sir Edwin had spoken ill of him had been jealousy. He had admitted that he still cared for her, and of course he had noticed that both Captain and Mr. Lennox had spent a great deal of time with her that evening. But whatever ends they had in view, Olivia was certain that Sir Felix did not assist them in any way.

Chapter 8

When Olivia thought of Sir Edwin Arncott the next morning, her anger was still fresh. What had possessed him to act in the way he had done? He could not believe in earnest that she would allow him such interference -- or even relish it. So what was his aim in trying to discredit Sir Felix?

As she was sitting at the breakfast table with Agnes and Sir Felix, a servant came in and handed Olivia a beautiful bouquet of roses.

"Are these for me?" she asked, as she took the roses, and looked at the card attached to them. A surge of anger made her redden -- which made Sir Felix misinterpret her reaction.

"Am I to ward off desperate suitors already, Olivia?" he teased, with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

Olivia, her eyes still fixed on the card, replied as calmly as she could, "No, Sir Felix, you need not. They are only from Sir Edwin."

Sir Felix laughed. "Only Sir Edwin? I am beginning to feel sorry for the fellow!" Olivia, thinking of what Sir Edwin had said the previous evening, told Sir Felix that she saw no reason why he should feel sorry for him.

"What does he say on his card?" Agnes enquired. Olivia handed the card to Agnes, and Agnes read it aloud.

"Dear Miss Paige, I hope you will accept both these roses and my apologies. I took liberties I thought I was entitled to as an old friend, the liberty to advise and warn you. I was wrong, and fully deserve your censure. I promise I will not do so again. Sir Edwin Arncott." Frowning, Agnes asked, "What liberties did he take, Olivia?"

"He acted as if he were my big brother," Olivia said. "He warned me not to be taken in by people's attempts to make themselves agreeable, and hinted that even in my own family there might be people more interested in their own benefit than in mine. I will not have him speak ill of people I like."

Sir Felix laughed. "This is indeed not the way to recommend oneself to a lady," he said.

"I told him so," Olivia said.

"I thought something was wrong yesterday evening," Agnes said pensively.

"I never thought anyone could be so ... .so patronising," Olivia said, contemptuously. "What am I to do with those flowers?"

"Put them in your room," Agnes said.

"Oh no, I won't," Olivia exclaimed. "I will have nothing of Sir Edwin's in my room."

This exclamation sent Sir Felix into a fit of laughter, but he recovered himself when he saw Olivia's offended glare.

"I am sorry," he said, still grinning. "This is not remotely funny, I know."

Agnes intervened calmly. "Leave the flowers with me then," she said. "It would be such a pity to throw them away!"

Olivia handed the bouquet to Agnes, and rose. "I have to go and put on my riding habit," she said with what dignity she could muster. "Susannah will call any moment." In going outside she passed the fireplace and threw Sir Edwin's card into the fire. She was not yet ready to forgive him.

---

Olivia had hardly finished dressing when there was a knock at the door and the butler came to tell her that Miss Lennox and her brothers were waiting for her outside.

"Miss Lennox and her brothers, you say?" Olivia asked. She had not been aware that anyone but Captain Lennox and his sister had been included in the scheme. But as she stepped out of the front door, she found Susannah, Captain and Mr. Lennox waiting for her there, and they were all clad in riding dress.

Susannah was mounted on her horse, and greeted her with a radiant smile. Mr. Lennox was holding the reins of both his own and Captain Lennox's animal, while Captain Lennox was waiting for her, holding the reins of a grey mare. After having greeted Olivia politely, he introduced the animal to her.

"This is Mabel," he said with a smile. "She belongs to my mother, but since my mother is not too keen on riding, she has very kindly let me borrow her for your purpose."

Mabel was eyeing Olivia suspiciously, as if she meant to ask what trick they were up to. Olivia was glad to have taken some pieces of sugar with her, one of which she gave Mabel as a token of friendship.

While Mabel was quite content munching her sugar, Captain Lennox assisted Olivia in getting into the saddle. There she sat, rigidly, holding onto the reins as if her life depended on it.

"Scared?" Captain Lennox asked kindly. "You need not be, you know -- Mabel is a docile horse, and besides both my brother Adrian and I will be at your disposal, should anything unexpected happen." Olivia nodded, but could not help feeling anxious. She watched Captain Lennox and his brother mount their horses, hoping fervently that Mabel would stand still while they did so. Olivia was quite sure that, if Mabel should make a single move, she would die of fright. Luckily, Susannah came towards her, and said a few soothing words to her. Olivia gave her an appreciative smile.

"I hope you know what an effort I am making for you," she said.

Susannah smiled. "Seeing you look so desperate on this horse does give me a clue," she said. "I would not have asked it of you, had I known how afraid you really were."

"It cannot be helped now," Olivia said. "I will see it through."

"That's the spirit," Susannah said. "I have something very entertaining to tell you to cheer you up, by the way."

"But not now, Susannah," Captain Lennox said, taking his position next to Olivia. "Wait until Miss Paige is a bit more comfortable on horseback. It would be a grave mistake to distract her attention now."

"Admit it, you only want her attention to yourself," Susannah said laughingly, but then fell behind, joining her brother Adrian.

Olivia was glad when they reached the Park. It was not yet the fashionable hour for people to go horse riding, and therefore they had the park nearly to themselves. Gradually, Olivia began to feel more confident, and was surprised to find that she even enjoyed herself.

Susannah joined her again. "You are doing very well," she said approvingly. "Now, are you ready for my news?"

"Of course," Olivia said. "I am always ready for delightful news. What is it?"

"Mama has finally set the date for our ball," Susannah said. "It will be in mid-November. She has already begun to make the preparations. You cannot imagine how excited I am! What am I going to wear?"

"I was wondering when you would say that," Captain Lennox said with a grin. "Why is it that females always end up asking themselves that question?"

"Perhaps because they want appear to the best advantage?" Olivia asked. "It is easier for gentlemen -- they need never worry. Tolerable looks and good breeding will always make them acceptable. But ladies will always be judged by their beauty, and especially by what they wear. -- What do you have in mind, Susannah?"

Susannah then described, in detail, a gown she had seen in one of London's most fashionable shops. Then they met some friends of Captain Lennox's, and so the Captain and his sister fell behind again, while Olivia rode on, under Mr. Lennox's supervision. Olivia did not know why, but she felt safer in Mr. Lennox's care than in his brother's.

Mr. Lennox's horse was magnificent, Olivia thought, although of course she was no judge of horseflesh. Yet she suspected the horse must have cost a great deal, and likely much more than Mr. Lennox could have afforded.

"Is anything wrong?" Mr. Lennox interrupted her musings.

Taken aback, Olivia asked, "No, why?"

"You look upset, Miss Paige."

"I am not," Olivia said.

Mr. Lennox gave her one of his searching looks. "Good," he finally said. "I thought you were anxious, perhaps. Are you quite comfortable?"

"I am," Olivia said and smiled. "Surprising, isn't it?"

Mr. Lennox laughed. "I am glad to hear it, though," he said. "Do you care for a gallop?"

"I had rather not, thank you," Olivia said. "It is a bit too early still, do you not think so?"

"I was only afraid you might be bored, Miss Paige," Mr. Lennox said with a smile.

"How can anyone in constant fear of being thrown off one's horse be bored?" Olivia retorted.

"I thought you were comfortable?" Mr. Lennox said.

"I am, but I do not want to gallop, sir," Olivia said.

Captain Lennox joined them again, telling Olivia how pleased he was with her progress, and expressing his hope that Miss Paige would soon outdo them all.

"As if," Olivia laughed. "Do you think I have not noticed what a breakneck rider you are, Captain Lennox?"

"He ought to be," Mr. Lennox said dryly. "Being a cavalry officer."

"But even I had to learn riding once," Captain Lennox said. "You are a talented pupil, Miss Paige, and I wager you will be a breakneck rider, too, before long."

Olivia blushed. "I do not think I shall ever be," she said demurely.

Mr. Lennox looked at her and smiled. "I have every confidence in your abilities, Miss Paige," he said.

---

Agnes's first contribution to London's social life was a dinner and card party in her home in Half Moon Street. She had invited her entire acquaintance -- the Lennoxes, the Herveys, the Culverthorpes (though the Wesleys had been excluded), Sir Edwin Arncott, Mrs. Somerville and Lord Swafford. Mr. Farnham and some more of Sir Felix's friends were also included in the invitation.

All the guests arrived in time, and since no one had declined the invitation Agnes was greatly satisfied with her first appearance as a hostess.

At the dinner table, Olivia was seated next to Mr. Lennox, a fact that pleased her very much. Her position at the table gave her a good view of Jane Hervey, who was sitting to the left of Lord Burnhope, and who seemed to enjoy herself very much.

"It is amazing how Jane blooms in Lord Burnhope's company," Olivia said approvingly. "Especially if one knows how shy she normally is!"

"Amazing, indeed," Mr. Lennox said, casting a glance across the table. "Though why should she not? William is an amiable fellow, and not ill-looking either." He laughed. "Usually he is the shy one. He may relish the change. Depend on it, Miss Paige, if Jane Hervey were a saucy miss, he'd stay away from her. He cannot abide overconfident females."

Olivia noticed that Sir Edwin was staring at her across the table. Mr. Lennox looked up and followed her gaze.

"Sir Edwin Arncott seems to have a problem," he said with a slight frown.

"He thinks it is his place to protect me," Olivia said lightly.

"From what, Miss Paige?"

"From evil people who prey on me," Olivia said with a laugh. "He thinks you are one of them."

Mr. Lennox laughed.

"His strategy has its faults, however," Olivia continued. "Instead of feeling grateful, as he wished I might, I feel nothing but exasperation. He sets up my bristles by behaving as if her were my father, or an elder brother. I can take care of myself."

"I have no doubt you can," Mr. Lennox said. "But, if I am not mistaken, Sir Edwin seems to admire you, Miss Paige."

"Which makes his tactical error even worse," Olivia said. "He acts as if he were my father or my brother -- and one marries neither."

Mr. Lennox burst out laughing.

"Do not laugh, sir," Olivia said strictly. "I am quite serious."

"So it seems," Mr. Lennox said smilingly, boldly meeting Sir Edwin's disapproving glare. "Let us punish him, shall we?"

"Punish him?"

"For the effrontery he shows in supposing that you need him to take care of you," Mr. Lennox said.

"What do you suggest?" Olivia asked, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Give him something to really worry about," Mr. Lennox said.

"By flirting with you, Mr. Lennox?" Olivia asked.

"I leave the choice with whom to flirt to you, Miss Paige," Mr. Lennox said, smiling. "But let me assure you that I am most ready to be of assistance, should you wish it."

"As long as you are not serious about it," Olivia said.

Mr. Lennox grinned. "Flirtation is never serious, as my brother Bernie would assure you, were he not sitting over there," he said. "You can trust me not to step across the limits of what is proper."

Olivia laughed.

"Well, what do you say, Miss Paige?" he asked.

"I think," Olivia said, giving Sir Edwin a challenging look across the table, "that Sir Edwin deserves some punishment."

---

After dinner, while the ladies were in the drawing room by themselves, Olivia took the chance to talk to Jane and Susannah. For once, Susannah seemed to refrain from teasing Jane about Lord Burnhope. Still, Olivia felt, Jane was not really attending to what anyone said, but seemed to be living in a world of her own. Her eyes were radiant, and there was a constant happy smile on her face. Olivia's heart went out to her. She suspected that Jane had tender feelings for Lord Burnhope, and hoped she would not be disappointed. Not that she believed even for one moment that Lord Burnhope was playing with her affection. No, it was more likely that he, being the modest man that he was, was not aware of them -- and being as shy as he was, he would certainly need a great deal of encouragement, even if he returned Jane's feelings. It was a tricky situation, Olivia thought, and she felt that, if there were any way she could help, she would gladly do so.

When the gentlemen finally came into the drawing room, everyone took their place at the card tables. While the older generation preferred Whist, the younger set decided on a game of Speculation.

Olivia found herself at the card table, seated between Mr. Lennox and Captain Lennox. Susannah, Jane, Lord Burnhope and Mr. Farnham were keen to take part in the game, too. Lord Swafford seemed to be unsure which table he should honour with his presence.

"Lord Swafford," Susannah exclaimed. "Come, do take a seat next to me and play speculation with us! Such fun this will be!"

"I beg a thousand pardons, Miss Lennox," Lord Swafford replied, bowing. "But I am not fond of these round games -- there is a great deal of noise, and yet they are a trifle...flat...and childish, I daresay."

"Indeed?" Susannah asked, undaunted. "If this is how you think, sir, you are well advised to play Whist with your aunt and the Ladies Culverthorpe and Hervey. I can vouch for their being as far from childish as one can be." She turned to her brother, saying with a dangerous glint in her eyes, "I am afraid Lord Swafford is too grown-up to play with us little ones."

"Oh, do not mark him," Mr. Lennox said bitingly. "Lord Swafford considers card-games beneath him. Except for Faro, or so I have heard."

"Says the man who used to spend whole nights in various gaming hells," said Lord Swafford defiantly.

"True," Mr. Lennox admitted with a bland smile. "But I, unlike others, always knew when to stop."

Lord Swafford stared at him for a moment, then turned on his heels and left.

Mr. Lennox's comment had left Olivia speechless. Had he really always known when to stop playing? Could he really say so when he had fled the country because of some gaming debts he had been nearly unable to pay? Even now, she felt, he was living beyond his means. And yet there had been something like censure in his voice when he had talked to Lord Swafford. How could he condemn a man who did the same things as he had done? True, Swafford had insulted Susannah, and had deserved a rebuff. But did this give Mr. Lennox the right to act like a paragon of virtue all of a sudden?

"Shall we start?" Mr. Lennox asked Olivia, giving her a smile.

"Why, yes," Olivia said. "Unless there are some more players to join our table."

"It does not look like it," Lord Burnhope said. "Miss Hervey, may I offer my assistance? Knowing you and your kind heart, I am afraid you will not be able to stand up to my brothers' and sister's impetuosity."

Jane blushingly accepted his offer, and Olivia decided to keep an eye on the two of them for the rest of the evening -- this might give her a clue as to what Lord Burnhope felt for Jane. Her emotions, Olivia thought, were most evident.

Mr. Farnham was the first one to deal, and as everyone turned their first card, it transpired that Olivia was in possession of the highest trump so far -- the Queen of Hearts. Mr. Lennox at once offered to buy it from her. Olivia laughed, and refused to sell it.

Mr. Lennox made another offer -- this time he had raised the price considerably. Olivia laughed again.

"Why are you so determined to have it?" she asked.

"The Queen of Hearts is said to be a lucky card," Mr. Lennox said, with a smile.

"This makes you willing to pay any price for it?"

"Almost, Miss Paige."

"Even though you know that hearts cannot be bought?" Olivia asked, smiling brilliantly.

"The risk is mine, Miss Paige. Now, will you part with this card?"

"No, Mr. Lennox."

He gave her a pleading, puppy-like look. "Not even for my sake, Miss Paige?"

"For your sake, Mr. Lennox, I'll keep my hearts to myself," Olivia laughed.

"I seem to have lost my powers of persuasion," Mr. Lennox remarked to his sister.

"Friendship means nothing at the card table, Adrian," Susannah said. "Olivia, I am sure you are as hardened a gambler as my brother."

"What has the world come to," Mr. Lennox asked, with a sigh.

As the second card was turned, Captain Lennox found he had the King.

"Be glad Miss Paige did not sell her Queen," he said, with a grin. "You would have wasted your money, Adrian."

"Oh, I do not think being in possession of Miss Paige's heart would be a disadvantage," Mr. Lennox said lightly, flashing a smile at Olivia. "No matter what the price may have been."

Not certain whether he was still talking about cards, Olivia blushed, and was unable to say anything.

Then Susannah burst into laughter.

"What is so funny, Susannah," Mr. Lennox asked his sister.

"I am sure Sir Edwin Arncott is going to eat us," Susannah replied, still smiling. "Indeed, the look he gives us says more than words will ever tell."

"Indeed? I wonder what we did to make him angry." Mr. Lennox said, winking at Olivia. Olivia felt relieved. Mr. Lennox's previous remark had been, if anything, a part of their scheme to punish Sir Edwin. Flirtation, nothing more -- and flirtation, Olivia remembered, was "never serious". Somehow, this reassured her. She felt that, if Mr. Lennox ever seriously tried to win her heart, he would consider the task easier than he had imagined. If only she could be sure that he was not a fortune hunter, instead of being sure that he was one, Olivia thought. If only he had a fortune of his own, or if, at least, she could be certain he cared for her and not her inheritance...

Nonsense, Olivia thought and turned her attention back to her cards. He is not seriously interested in me, and I should be glad about it. But, deep in her heart, Olivia knew that she was not.

Chapter 9

As Olivia was looking out of the window the next morning, the weather was so brilliant that she regretted not having an appointment to ride out with Susannah. She cursed herself even more for not having a prior engagement when Sir Edwin Arncott was announced -- he was the very last person she wished to spend some time with. After having exchanged the usual pleasantries, Sir Edwin stated the reason for his visit -- he wanted to take Olivia out in his curricle, if Lady Gordon had no objection. Agnes ignored Olivia's pleading look -- whether on purpose or not, Olivia was unable to fathom -- and was delighted with the idea.

"You were already complaining that none of your friends was available for a walk this morning, Olivia, and that you had no appointment," she said. "You said yourself what a pity it was to be sitting in the house in such weather as this, and what a waste of a lovely morning it was!"

Fine, Olivia thought bitterly. There goes another excuse I might have had. Thank you, Agnes. Just wait till I get home again.

Agnes left her no choice but to thank Sir Edwin for his kind offer, and to go and get dressed for going out with him, even though she did not want to.

While changing into her carriage dress, Olivia decided that she would try everything to discourage Sir Edwin's advances. What made him persevere was a mystery to her -- she had never encouraged him, or had she? With a sigh, she put on her hat and went downstairs to meet Sir Edwin.

While driving to Hyde Park, Sir Edwin did not say much. The traffic demanded his undivided attention. When they entered the park, however, he turned to Olivia and said, "I had to meet you and speak to you alone, Miss Paige."

"I see no reason why you should, sir," Olivia replied coldly. "Whatever you may want to say to me, I am sure it can be said in company just as well."

"Miss Paige!" By the look in Sir Edwin's eyes, Olivia could tell that she had managed to hurt him.

"I suppose you are still angry with me," he said with a sad smile. "If you but knew how often I have regretted to have spoken to you the way I had -- and you seem to have ignored all my attempts to make amends. I admit I deserved what I got -- it was wrong of me to speak ill of your host."

Beneath his outwardly calm demeanour, Olivia felt that he was greatly agitated. Soothingly, she said, "It was very wrong indeed, Sir Edwin, but speak no more of it. Let bygones be bygones."

"But I must speak of it," Sir Edwin replied, for one moment dropping his pretence of superior calmness. "I cannot...." He paused, and then continued more calmly. "I cannot bear you thinking ill of me, Miss Paige."

"I wish you will not dwell on it," Olivia said curtly.

For a while, none of them spoke. Each of them, it seemed, was lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Sir Edwin broke the silence by saying, "I wish you would heed my warnings, Miss Paige. It is quite clear to me that you do not, however -- it pained me to witness Mr. Lennox's marked attentions yesterday evening, especially since you seemed to encourage them."

Olivia laughed. "Sir Edwin, if you take Mr. Lennox's flirtation seriously, I am afraid you are beyond help. Let me tell you that I do not. He amuses me, and I suppose I amuse him, and that is all there is to it."

Sir Edwin gave her a sidelong glance. "Are you certain?" he asked. "Mr. Lennox may have plans of his own."

"Which do not include me, I am certain," Olivia said.

"Your innocence is charming, Miss Paige," Sir Edwin said and added, with a sigh, "It makes me wish I were in a position to protect you."

"Do I look as if I needed a protector?" Olivia laughed. "Believe me that Sir Felix Gordon is very well up to the task of shielding me from undesirable company -- and so is my sister. Now before we are at odds again, Sir Edwin, I must beg you to either change the subject or take me home."

Sir Edwin obliged her by changing the topic -- he had had a letter from Bradenham the previous day and was only too happy to share the news about their neighbourhood. In the end, Olivia reflected, the outing had not been so very bad, and she was glad that there had been some kind of reconciliation between them.

---

When she returned to Half Moon Street, however, Olivia felt cross when she found out that Mr. Lennox had called while she had been away with Sir Edwin.

"Now do not look so angry that you missed him," Agnes laughed when she saw Olivia's expression. "He only dropped in to bid me a good morning, and then disappeared in the study with Felix."

"Still, he was here," Olivia said sullenly.

"I daresay it will not be the last time for him to call, so do not worry," Agnes said, with an amused smile.

Olivia blushed, wondering whether her feelings for Mr. Lennox were so evident. Actually, she was not quite certain what her feelings for him were, but she had to admit that she was not indifferent to him. It was a dangerous situation, in a way. Mr. Lennox was in need of money, and however decent he seemed to be, it was unlikely that he would not try to fix his interest with her, if he came to realise her tendre for him. Olivia had no objection to that - if only she could be sure that he was as fond of her as she was fond of him. The problem was that one could not be certain.

Olivia's musings were interrupted when Sir Felix entered the drawing room. Upon Agnes's enquiry whether his cousin had left already, he said, "Oh yes, he has. He only wanted my advice in a matter of business. I told him I did not feel quite up to advising him in business matters -- and so he left. By the way, he invited us to join him at the theatre in a couple of days. There is the premiere of this play everyone is talking about -- I have forgotten the title, but I am sure you know which one I mean -- and Adrian has been so kind as to secure a box for us."

"You accepted the invitation?" Olivia asked.

"Of course I did. Should I not have done so?" Sir Felix asked. "I thought you might like it. But if you do not want to go, I shall tell Adrian, of course."

"We certainly do want to go," Agnes said. "To be seen at the premiere of a fashionable play can only do us good, after all. It will undoubtedly add to our consequence."

"Will it?" Sir Felix asked, with a laugh. "What a fool I was to think that you might enjoy going to the theatre!"

While Sir Felix continued teasing his wife, Olivia thought of what this invitation might cost Mr. Lennox. The thought filled her with dismay. Why did he do this? Generosity was an amiable quality in a man, of course, but only in a man who could afford to be generous. In Mr. Lennox, it was a fault. If he went on living beyond his means in such a way, he was travelling on the road to ruin -- and he was travelling fast. Was there no means of stopping him?

---

During the following days, Sir Edwin took Olivia out two more times, and those outings were more pleasant than the first one. He avoided any statement which might give Olivia the impression that he was trying to patronise her, and only talked of things that he knew would interest her. He seemed determined to regain Olivia's friendship.

When Olivia was not out in Sir Edwin's curricle, she continued her riding lessons with Jane, Susannah and Captain Lennox -- but unfortunately Mr. Lennox was not with them. According to his brother, he was very busy, although Captain Lennox could not tell Olivia what kept him away from them. Olivia did not see Mr. Lennox until he greeted his guests at the theatre.
She realised that, apart from Sir Felix, Agnes and herself, there were no more visitors in Mr. Lennox's box.

"Aren't there any more guests, Mr. Lennox?" Olivia asked her host, and he shook his head, smilingly.

"You see, I like to spend a comfortable evening with some select friends," he said. "I do not like squeezes, however."

Olivia laughed. "I ought to feel honoured, then, to be allowed into your select circle of friends."

"You may feel whatever you like, Miss Paige," Mr. Lennox said.

"What about your sister? Is Susannah not fond of the theatre?" Olivia asked.

"She is, but she prefers comedies," Mr. Lennox said. "Inviting her would have been quite pointless." He handed her a glass of wine. "I hope you will be able to enjoy the evening nevertheless," he said. "Even without Susannah."

"I think I am going to enjoy myself immensely," Olivia laughed. "I am very fond of the theatre, but I have never been to the theatre in London before." She had a look round. Elegant people were taking their places in the boxes -- ladies in fashionable toilettes and gentlemen with an air of great importance.

"Can you tell me who else is here tonight?" she asked Mr. Lennox. "I know some of these people, but certainly not all of them."

Mr. Lennox took a seat next to her, and spent the following ten minutes pointing out various prominent members of London society to her. With a sigh, he stated that "all the world and his wife" seemed to be crowding in the theatre that evening.

"It is amazing," Olivia agreed. "Look at all these people! Such elegance, too!"

"Some of them are elegant," Mr. Lennox said. "Others only want to be."

Olivia laughed. "You are malicious, Mr. Lennox," she said.

"I admit I am, at times," he said.

"But why?"

"It is part of my nature, Miss Paige," Mr. Lennox said. "But you may rest assured -- I reserve my malice for people who have treated me ill." He smiled. "There is no need for you to fear me."

"I do not," Olivia said determinedly and decided to change the topic. "Your brother told me you were very busy last week."

Mr. Lennox laughed. "But so were you," he said teasingly. "You were out with Sir Edwin Arncott very often, weren't you?"

"Not so very often," Olivia said defensively.

Mr. Lennox laughed. "No, not so very often. Only three times last week. This is how rumours start."

"Sir Edwin Arncott is a good friend of my father's," Olivia said resolutely. "I am not doing anything improper in letting him take me out in his curricle."

"No, indeed you are not," Mr. Lennox said, grinning. "Going out with Arncott is perfectly safe. He is not even in danger of overturning his carriage. Too sedate. Tell me, Miss Paige -- does he bore you very much?"

"Mr. Lennox! What an abominable question!"

"I am sorry," Mr. Lennox said, unrepentant. "So you are bored."

Olivia chuckled. "I am at times, I confess," she said.

"That can be remedied, you know," Mr. Lennox said. "Next time Sir Edwin comes to pick you up, tell him you have a prior engagement."

"How can I when I haven't?" Olivia exclaimed.

Mr. Lennox smiled. "That can be remedied, too," he said. "Susannah has told me that your riding lessons are going very well."

"Oh yes," Olivia said. "I even tried to gallop once."

"Congratulations, Miss Paige. You will end up as an excellent horsewoman, just wait and see. Would you feel up to a longer ride already?"

"It depends on how far one would wish to go," Olivia said.

"How about Richmond?" Mr. Lennox asked. "A friend of mine owns a house there. We could ride there, go for a walk in the park, have some refreshment at his place and go back home. What do you say? Shall we make use of this fine weather while it lasts?"

Olivia sighed. "It sounds like a wonderful scheme," she said. "Yet I do not feel up to it." The regret was evident in her voice and her countenance.

"I could take you there in my phaeton, if you like," Mr. Lennox said.

"That sounds better," Olivia said, her eyes glowing. "Will Susannah and Jane come with us, too?"

"Certainly, if you wish them to," Mr. Lennox said. "I will also ask my brother William, Felix and Lady Gordon. Your sister is a horsewoman, is she not?"

"Oh yes, and quite a keen one," Olivia said. "She will be delighted, I am sure. Will Captain Lennox join us, too?"

Mr. Lennox laughed. "I do not think so. Bernie has never been fond of Daltrey -- that is my friend in Richmond -- so he may stay out of his way."

Olivia would have wanted to ask some more questions, but at that moment the curtain rose, and she had to defer her enquiries for the time being. The play was well worth seeing, she thought. The actors' performance was brilliant, and the play itself was exciting. Olivia watched the proceedings on the stage, fascinated. At times she noticed that Mr. Lennox was not really concentrating on what happened on the stage, but was looking at her instead. When he realised that she returned his gaze, he gave her an unabashed smile, one of the sort that one had to return.

During the intermission, Mr. Lennox suggested his Richmond scheme to Sir Felix and Agnes. Just as Olivia had foreseen, they were delighted with it, and the day after the next was fixed for the excursion.

The door to their box was opened, and Mrs. Somerville and Lord Swafford were admitted. Their conversation was not half as entertaining as Mr. Lennox's, Olivia thought. She answered their platitudes automatically, and hoped they would leave soon. Before they did, however, Olivia had the pleasure of meeting some of Lord Swafford's friends, who were as boring a set as she had expected them to be. Finally, the Swafford party left the box, and the play went on. The rest of the evening was very pleasant, Olivia thought. Apart from the play, which had been most entertaining, the prospect of going to Richmond in Mr. Lennox's phaeton was appealing and did much to make her feel cheerful. Olivia could not deny that she was very much looking forward to it. Hopefully the weather would not prevent their outing.

---

The next morning, it did indeed look as if their trip to Richmond would have to be postponed. It was raining, and Olivia looked out of the window, vainly searching for a blue speck in the sky. Agnes watched her with the same amused smile that Olivia had seen rather often recently.

"Do you think it will stop raining soon?" Olivia asked her sister.

"I do not know," Agnes replied. "It does not look like it at the moment, does it?"

"But it must stop," Olivia exclaimed. "I want to go to Richmond tomorrow!"

Agnes laughed. "In that case, I am certain the weather will improve," she said teasingly.

The butler opened the door and announced Mrs. Somerville.

"I wonder what she wants," Agnes said while they got up from their seats to receive their visitor.

"Knowing Mrs. Somerville, I suppose she will want to share some gossip," Olivia said, resolving herself to her fate.

"I shall order some refreshment," Agnes said. "One should not share gossip with Mrs. Somerville without having some sustenance. Besides, having our mouths full will excuse us from having to answer."

This nearly made Olivia laugh, and she struggled hard to keep her countenance when Mrs. Somerville entered the room.

They spent the first quarter of an hour talking about yesterday's play, and then Mrs. Somerville turned to the real purpose of her visit. Apparently, she had heard rumours concerning Olivia and Sir Edwin Arncott.

"Lady Hervey asked me whether it is a case between the two of you, my dear," she said. "I told her I did not know -- and even if I did, what makes that woman presume I would tell her?"

The fact that you would not hesitate telling your whole acquaintance, I suppose, Olivia thought.

"Well, but I thought, being your godmother, I might ask you whether there is any truth in those rumours," Mrs. Somerville said. "I am in your mother's place, in a way, and you might want my advice."

"There is no truth whatsoever in these rumours, Mrs. Somerville," Olivia said. "Except that Sir Edwin took me out in his curricle a couple of times last week."

"Oh dear," Mrs. Somerville said. "My dear, you must be careful, I entreat you! People talk, you know! I am sure it was a perfectly harmless affair, but you know those gossipmongers!"

"Indeed I do," Olivia said. "But I did not believe even the worst gossipmongers would find any fault with Sir Edwin Arncott, who is a model of respectability."

"So he is," Mrs. Somerville agreed, "and I do not doubt it would be an excellent match if you were to marry, yet I think you could do better. Do not waste your time by bestowing too much attention on inconsequential country squires and younger sons, my dear!"

"Such as?" Olivia asked, outwardly calm but seething with anger.

"The Lennoxes, of course. They are excellent and charming men, each of them, there is no denying it. Good family, too, but I would hate to see you end up following Captain Lennox to India or wherever he means to go, when you could be of first consequence here in London, my dear! Such a waste it would be!"

"Thank you for your well-meant advice, Mrs. Somerville," Olivia said icily. "I shall keep it in mind."

Apparently pleased, Mrs. Somerville then invited them to a rout party at her house, and promised Olivia that she would meet people of consequence there. Olivia did not trust herself to speak to her godmother in a polite way, and left the conversation to Agnes. Both sisters were glad to see Mrs. Somerville go.

"My godmother's intentions are quite obvious," Olivia said, standing at the window and watching Mrs. Somerville walk towards Piccadilly. "She wants me to marry Lord Swafford. I wonder how desperately in need of money he is?" she added acidly.

"Is he in need of money?" Agnes asked. "I would not know."

"Mr. Lennox hinted at it. He said Lord Swafford was fond of Faro and did not know when to stop playing."

"Then I daresay he is right," Agnes said.

"You like Mr. Lennox, don't you?" Olivia asked.

"Who would not?" Agnes asked. "Felix is very fond of him, and besides he saved your life. He does not need any more to recommend him, in my opinion."

Olivia wondered whether Sir Felix had ever told Agnes the whole truth about his cousin. If he had, would Agnes still like him as much as she evidently did? If not, what was Sir Felix's purpose in concealing the truth from his wife? Olivia banished this train of thought. Instead, she turned her attention to the weather again, which looked more promising now than it had done half an hour earlier. Perhaps they would be able to go to Richmond the next day after all.

Chapter 10

Someone seemed to have paid attention to Olivia's prayers -- even though there was a cool mist in the morning, it cleared up as the time for their outing to Richmond approached, and Olivia was happy that their trip would take place after all. The sun was shining, and it promised to be a fine day, perhaps the last one that year.

They were all to meet in Half Moon Street, to have breakfast before leaving. Mr Lennox, Susannah, Jane and Lord Burnhope were a merry addition to their party. Even Jane seemed to be a bit more outgoing than usual, and responded to Susannah's teasing with some kind of repartee. Lord Burnhope, it seemed, had a beneficial influence on her. Susannah tried to convince Olivia that she would be much better off if she joined the riders.

"It is so much more fun, you know," she said. "Do change your mind and ride to Richmond, Olivia! I am sure Adrian would not mind."

"I cannot change my mind now that Mr Lennox has already prepared everything," Olivia said. "Make him send his horses and phaeton back? It would be intolerably rude, after putting him to all that trouble. No, Susannah, I am afraid you will have to do without me."

"You tell her, Miss Paige," Mr Lennox said. He had listened to Susannah's pleading attentively, but had not taken part in their discussion so far. "It will not do to deprive me of such pleasant company, Susannah. It is an un-gentlemanlike thing to do."

Susannah laughed. "There is one fault in your reasoning, Adrian," she said teasingly. "I am not a gentleman. There is a different code of honour for us ladies."

"You have got a point," Mr Lennox said with a hint of laughter in his voice. "I forgot that ladies get away with everything."

"Not with everything, Mr Lennox," Olivia said, laughingly. "Do not scold your sister too much, sir. I am sure she means well."

"No, she does not," Mr Lennox said dryly. "She is just selfish. But so am I, and when our selfishness collides, I am bound to win."

"And here I thought you were trying to please me," Olivia said with a laugh. "What a foolish assumption!"

Smilingly, Mr Lennox replied, "We do want to please you, Miss Paige -- even more so since it pleases us."

When they had finished breakfast, the party set out towards Richmond -- Lord Burnhope and Sir Felix on horseback with Agnes, Susannah and Jane, and Mr Lennox in his phaeton with Olivia. Before he started, he took great care that Olivia was safely wrapped up in some warm blankets, and that she was comfortable.

"Tell me more about your friend, Mr Lennox," Olivia said as they drove through the streets of London.

"Which one, Miss Paige?" Mr Lennox asked. "I have many friends."

"The one we are going to visit today," Olivia said. "Mr Daltrey."

"Colonel Daltrey," Mr Lennox said.

"Oh! He is an army gentleman, then?" Olivia asked.

"He used to be," Mr Lennox said. "But he is no longer in active service. Daltrey was severely wounded in Waterloo, and has been an invalid ever since."

"The poor man!" Olivia exclaimed. "I do hope our visit will not disturb him!"

"No, it will not," Mr Lennox said. "On the contrary, I am certain it will do him good. Daltrey does not go into company very often, Miss Paige -- he says no one wants to be confronted with a cripple when they want to enjoy themselves."

"Such nonsense," Olivia said.

"I told him exactly the same thing," Mr Lennox said with a sad smile. "Besides, his state of health is not so bad. He walks lamely, and needs a stick to support him when he wants to take a longer walk. But he was lucky -- he is in possession of all his limbs, good-looking and good-humoured. There is no need for him to hide. I know men who are worse off than him."

"Is Colonel Daltrey a married man?" Olivia asked.

"No, he is not. He lives in Richmond with his mother and Mrs. Fielding, his sister. They are both widowed -- Fielding was a soldier, too. Killed in action."

"Waterloo?" Olivia guessed.

"Ligny, to be exact," Mr Lennox said. "Daltrey has always felt it very keenly that he should survive while his brother-in-law did not."

"Does Mrs. Fielding have any children?"

"No, she does not, unfortunately. Her children could be a comfort to her, in a way. As it is, she has grown extremely melancholy, and her depression adds to her brother's."

"Some families seem to be prone to misfortune," Olivia said quietly. "No wonder Colonel Daltrey is out of spirits."

"He simply needs to be cheered up," Mr Lennox said determinedly. "I am trying my best to do so. To visit him with a merry party is just one means of doing so."

Olivia smiled. It did Mr Lennox credit that he tried to help his friend.

"Do you see Colonel Daltrey often?" she asked.

"As often as I can," Mr Lennox said. "He is one of my best friends -- one of the few who have proved to be friends in difficult times as well."

"I am looking forward to meeting him," Olivia said. "He seems to be an interesting gentleman."

"You will like him, I am sure," Mr Lennox said.

They drove on, and for a while none of them spoke. Olivia paid more attention to her surroundings than her companion, and he seemed to be deep in thought as well. Then, Mr Lennox remarked on the fine weather, and expressed his hope that there would be more days like this one to be had before winter came.

"Have you got used to the English climate by now?" Olivia asked him. "It is quite different to Italy, I presume."

"Very different," Mr Lennox said and gave her a minute description of Italian autumns and winters. There was a touch of longing in his voice as he talked of Italy.

"I do wonder how you could dive into that lake and walk around in wet clothes last September, and not fall ill," Olivia said. "Just having come back from a much warmer climate, too, and not being used to the English weather any more. I admit I was quite worried about you."

"Were you?" Mr Lennox asked, smiling. "There is no need to be, Miss Paige. I have a strong constitution, and as I have already told you, I hardly ever fall ill."

"You are lucky, then," Olivia said. There was a short pause, and then Olivia asked, "Have you ever thought of going back? To Italy?"

"Often enough," Mr Lennox said earnestly. "But I have promised my brother to stay in England for a while. Yet I am planning to go back as soon as possible."

"Will you leave England soon?" Olivia asked, unable to hide her disappointment. Mr Lennox gave her a surprised look.

"Not so very soon, Miss Paige," he said. "Not before spring, at any rate."

"Of course," Olivia said, reassured for the time being. "A journey in winter is too dangerous, I think."

Mr Lennox laughed. "Apart from that, there is still a promise to be kept," he said. "But I admit that travelling in winter can be uncomfortable. Besides, Luca is prone to seasickness."

"How generous of you to consider your valet's health in the matter," Olivia said with a smile.

"Not generous," Mr Lennox said, laughingly. "Selfish. He cannot attend to me properly when he is sick."

"Does the sea agree with you, sir?"

"Perfectly," Mr Lennox said. "I am a bit out of sorts on the first day of my passage, but afterwards I am fine, usually. -- Are you a good traveller, Miss Paige?"

"On land I usually am," Olivia said, "but I have never been at sea, so I am afraid I cannot answer for that."

By that time, Richmond came into view and they spent the following quarter of an hour talking about the things to see there. Finally, they reached Colonel Daltrey's house, where the rest of the party were already waiting for them. Mr Lennox assisted Olivia in getting out of the carriage, and then led them to the main entrance of the house. It was a large, beautiful building, quite modern, and situated in extensive grounds.

A butler let them in and ushered them into a spacious drawing room, where the master and mistress of the house were already awaiting their visit.

Mrs. Daltrey was a lady in her late fifties, although she looked older, Olivia thought. Perhaps it was her grey hair that made her look so old, or her widow's weeds could have something to do with it. Black was a terrible colour, Olivia believed -- it made one look so pale, and was quite unflattering.

Mrs. Fielding, Mrs. Daltrey's daughter, was a young woman in her twenties. She, too, was dressed in mourning, and although she greeted her brother's guests kindly, she did not seem to be in good spirits. She answered each question in a tearful tone that, Olivia surmised, got on everyone's nerves sooner or later. At the same time she despised herself for thinking so -- who was she to judge a woman who had suffered such a terrible loss? Yet she felt that a part of Mrs. Fielding's behaviour was aimed at her brother -- he was the one who had survived while other, better men had died, and Mrs. Fielding seemed to be determined to make him feel the injustice of this.

Unlike his sister, Colonel Daltrey seemed to bear his misfortune with fortitude. He rose to greet his guests, exchanged pleasantries with the gentlemen and complimented the ladies, and nothing but the ebony cane placed within his reach told them that there was anything wrong with him.

Mrs. Daltrey led the ladies of the party upstairs to some bedchambers where they could tidy themselves after the long ride, and promised them that refreshment would await them in the drawing room when they were finished.

"What a delightful place this is," Agnes exclaimed as soon as Mrs. Daltrey had closed the door behind her. "That drawing room! Did you notice the curtains, Olivia? Such taste! I would dearly like to see the house -- do you think Mrs. Daltrey will allow us to have a look round?"

Olivia, who was just busy tidying her hair, said, "I think she will, if we ask her. I admit I would like to see it as well."

"How was your drive, dearest?" Agnes asked her, sitting down next to her and watching the maid's efforts to arrange Olivia's hair.

"It was perfect," Olivia said. "I enjoyed it very much. Mr Lennox told me some things about Colonel Daltrey, and we talked about Italy -- he said he wanted to go back soon."

"How vexing," Agnes said. "Just as we were getting used to him!"

"Mr Lennox can do whatever he likes," Olivia said, without much conviction in her voice. "Besides, he said he would not start the journey before spring."

"There is still hope, then, that something may happen to change his mind," Agnes said, taking Olivia's place and entrusting her hair to the maid's able hands.

---

After an excellent repast, Colonel Daltrey offered his guests a short tour of the house before they would set out into the garden, an offer that was gladly accepted by everyone. Agnes was satisfied to see that the house was just as elegant as the drawing room had made her believe, and Susannah showed her equal interest by bombarding Colonel Daltrey with questions which he was only too happy to answer. His slight handicap now became evident -- he could not walk very fast, and there was a distinct limp. Yet he did not seem to mind it very much, or if he did, he did not show it.

Olivia liked Colonel Daltrey. He was younger than she had believed him to be, and very handsome, in a way -- although Olivia preferred dark hair in a man, not fair hair like Colonel Daltrey's. His manners were excellent, he was open and friendly, and Olivia wondered what Captain Lennox could possibly have against him. She had not forgotten what Mr Lennox had told her in the theatre -- his brother would be unlikely to join the party because he did not like the Colonel. Why? Unfortunately, this was a question she could not ask -- or if she did, it would not be answered. Olivia could not, for the life of her, determine what there was to dislike in Colonel Daltrey.

They set out in the garden, and while Sir Felix, Lord Burnhope, Agnes and Jane walked ahead of them and had soon disappeared around a corner, Olivia stayed behind with Susannah, Mr Lennox and Colonel Daltrey. They were walking slowly, careful not to leave the Colonel behind. While Susannah and Olivia admired the garden and were most generous with their praise, Colonel Daltrey and Mr Lennox talked about the old days and mutual friends they had not seen for a while. After a while, the Colonel stopped.

"I am afraid I will have to sit down for a while," he said with an apologetic smile. "I cannot walk properly with that useless leg of mine."

"Colonel Daltrey!" Susannah exclaimed. "Do not talk in such a way, sir! It distresses me!"

"I am very sorry to have distressed you, Miss Lennox," the Colonel said. "It was not my intention to do so."

"Let us sit down over there," Susannah suggested and pointed to a stone bench in a bower. "What a charming place! I wish it were summer, with the roses still in full bloom! How beautiful it must be!"

"I will make a point of inviting you next summer when the roses are in bloom, Miss Lennox," the Colonel said smilingly.

"I will make a point of coming to see them," Susannah said, smiling back.

They had reached the bower and sat down on the stone bench, talking about what the place looked like in summer. After a while, however, Olivia began to get bored, and asked the Colonel where the path leading away from the bower would take her.

"To one of my favourite places in this garden," the Colonel said. "Unfortunately I cannot take you there -- Lennox, would you do me the favour and show the ladies the sundial in the herb garden?"

"Certainly," Mr Lennox replied and rose. "Follow me, Miss Paige! Are you coming, too, Susannah?"

Susannah shook her head. "I am a bit tired," she said. "You forget I was not conveyed here in a luxurious carriage, Adrian." She laughed as she saw her brother's indignant expression. "I will stay here and entertain Colonel Daltrey until you return."

"You need not stay behind, Miss Lennox," the Colonel protested. "I can very well take care of myself."

"No doubt," Susannah said. "You will probably indulge in gloomy thoughts until we return -- and I will not let you do this. Now make haste, Adrian, or the sundial will not be much use any more."

Mr Lennox offered Olivia his arm, and off they went. Reaching their destination, Olivia had a thorough look at the sundial which was placed in the centre of an herb garden, laid out in the old style.

"This is a beautiful spot," Olivia said with a happy sigh. "I quite understand Colonel Daltrey's fondness for it. By the way, Mr Lennox, you were right -- I like the Colonel very much."

"I am glad to hear it," Mr Lennox said with a smile. Olivia sat down on the bench next to the sundial.
"I will just rest for a moment," she said, "before going back. I do not want the Colonel and Susannah to wait for too long."

Mr Lennox smiled. "You look charming in these surroundings, Miss Paige," he said. "A picture I would love to paint."

Olivia blushed. "Please, Mr Lennox..." she began. He laughed. "I cannot paint it, Miss Paige; I do not have my sketchbook with me."

"Oh..." Olivia said, lost for an answer.

"Of course, there is still my pocketbook," Mr Lennox said and took it out of his pocket. "That might do -- unless, of course, you do not want me to draw your picture."

With an unsteady laugh, Olivia said, "Why not? Though there are worthier objects, I am sure."

Mr Lennox shook his head, smilingly, and set to work with his pencil, while Olivia tried not to look at him. Only sometimes she raised her eyes and watched him. He was working fast, and concentrating on what he did. Olivia turned her eyes towards the ground again.

"Look at me, Miss Paige," he suddenly said, softly.

Olivia turned towards him. "Like this, Mr Lennox?" she asked him.

"Exactly like this," Mr Lennox said. Feeling embarrassed by his intense look, Olivia lowered her eyes.

"Don't, Miss Paige!" Mr Lennox protested.

"You are intimidating me," Olivia said quietly.

"Am I? Why?"

"I do not know," Olivia said, blushing again and cursing herself for doing so. Was there no way to prevent this?

A couple of minutes later, Mr Lennox had finished his sketch and allowed Olivia to have a look at it.

"But do not expect too much, Miss Paige," he warned her. "It is only a sketch -- it does not do you credit."

Olivia took the sketch in her hand and said, "You have made me too beautiful, sir."

"No, it is exactly as you are," Mr Lennox said with a smile. "Do you want to keep it?"

"What will you do with it if I do not?" Olivia asked mischievously.

"I will keep it myself, of course," Mr Lennox said.

"What if I asked you to burn it?" Olivia asked.

"I would burn it," Mr Lennox said.

"Indeed?"

"Oh yes, and I would keep the ashes," Mr Lennox said, smilingly. Olivia laughed.

"You are absurd, Mr Lennox!"

"I like being absurd at times," he said. "It is better than being boring."

"Let me assure you, sir, that you are never boring," Olivia said.

"But often absurd."

"Not often, but sometimes," Olivia laughed.

"What about that sketch, Miss Paige? Do you want to have it, or may I keep it? Or do you want me to burn it?"

"I think I would like to have it," Olivia said. "Even though I still think it is too beautiful."

"You have not seen it with my eyes, Miss Paige," he said softly, and smiled. "Keep it, but will you do me a favour? Do not burn it -- I am particularly fond of this piece of work." He gave her the picture.

"I promise I will not burn it," Olivia said and put the sketch into her reticule.

They walked back to where they had left Colonel Daltrey and Susannah, and together they made their way back to the house. There, Mrs. Daltrey provided them with some sustenance before they set out towards London again. Susannah had invited the Colonel to her ball, and Olivia hoped he would come -- she would like to meet him again.

During her journey back to Half Moon Street, she was lost in thoughts. What occupied her most was the way Mr Lennox had flirted with her that day.

Keeping the ashes, indeed, Olivia thought. What does he mean by this? Does he want to attach me? And if he does -- is he doing this because he is in love with me, or does he only want me to fall in love with him?

© 2004 Copyright held by the author.

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