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sympathetic.”
“Just so,” Lady Lawrence agreed with motherly pride, and waved Olivia from the room.
She hesitated in the hall, unsure whether she wished to speak with Noah before returning to his sister. When a footman appeared she had him direct her to the Small Library where she tapped timidly at the door.
“Come in,” he called and stood with a questioning expression by the satinwood library table. “Ah, she did not eat you, I see.”
“Well, she is not so terrifying as I had thought,” Olivia admitted as he seated her beside the table, “but I am afraid I displeased her somewhat.”
“Because you would not marry me?” he asked quizzingly.
“No, because I told her I thought you responsible for leading my brothers into their excesses.” His frown lowered the brows over his watchful brown eyes. “I have come to apologize to you for that. It has always seemed to me that someone else must be responsible for their conduct, that they were not so very corkbrained when they were younger. I suppose I lighted on you because of your mutual interest in horse racing. Lady Lawrence informed me that you did not meet them until they were already addicted to the track.”
“I have done nothing to curb their enthusiasm, Olivia, but then I don’t believe my offices would be of any use. Just as yours are not,” he said gently.
“No, it’s very frustrating. And they will only laugh at me now that they can pretend they think me guilty of improper behavior myself,” she said sadly.
Noah realized only too well that they would do precisely that, and he once again experienced a real concern for the girl before him. It would do her good to be away from Stolenhurst and enjoy the country society around Welling Towers with his sister. “Do you wish me to stay here or return to Stolenhurst?”
“There is no need for you to stay,” she said gallantly.
He tried to guess at her emotions, deserted by the one person she knew in a strange household. And yet she might feel uncomfortable in his presence as well. “As I am here, I shall attend to some household matters but I’ll plan to leave again the day after tomorrow,” he temporized, and he did not miss the gratitude in her eyes.
“Whatever is agreeable to you,” she replied as she headed for the door.
“Olivia.” She turned inquiringly to him. “You may stay as long as you please, you know. After all, we are connected.”
“Your mother explained the connection to me,” she remarked blandly, “and it is exceedingly tenuous.”
He smiled down at her. “Nevertheless, we are connected, and, as I said before, Julianna will welcome the company. I can have anything you need sent from Stolenhurst.”
“I’ll think on it,” she promised as she slipped out the door.
Noah reseated himself at the library table and absently picked up a letter opener, drawing it back and forth between his fingers as he thought about Olivia. She was really a very determined, proud young thing, but she had nowhere to go. Attractive, too, even enchanting when she confessed her problems as though they were surmountable.
He shook his head, disheartened. Her situation was touching, she was personable, and probably quite capable of handling an ordinary household but not Stolenhurst. But, Lord, she was so young; two years younger than his own sister. He shrugged off the depression of spirits he was suffering from and hoped that his sister would be able to afford Olivia some pleasant hours.
Chapter Seven
Julianna was delighted to have a companion in her own home. The winter months had been gray and cold, and there was not as much visiting among the households of the neighborhood as occurred in better weather. But Olivia’s visit provided an excuse for morning calls which could not be denied, and the next morning found all four of the residents at Welling Towers on an enjoyable round of calls which was to result in a stream of callers returning the compliment.
Lady Lawrence
“Just so,” Lady Lawrence agreed with motherly pride, and waved Olivia from the room.
She hesitated in the hall, unsure whether she wished to speak with Noah before returning to his sister. When a footman appeared she had him direct her to the Small Library where she tapped timidly at the door.
“Come in,” he called and stood with a questioning expression by the satinwood library table. “Ah, she did not eat you, I see.”
“Well, she is not so terrifying as I had thought,” Olivia admitted as he seated her beside the table, “but I am afraid I displeased her somewhat.”
“Because you would not marry me?” he asked quizzingly.
“No, because I told her I thought you responsible for leading my brothers into their excesses.” His frown lowered the brows over his watchful brown eyes. “I have come to apologize to you for that. It has always seemed to me that someone else must be responsible for their conduct, that they were not so very corkbrained when they were younger. I suppose I lighted on you because of your mutual interest in horse racing. Lady Lawrence informed me that you did not meet them until they were already addicted to the track.”
“I have done nothing to curb their enthusiasm, Olivia, but then I don’t believe my offices would be of any use. Just as yours are not,” he said gently.
“No, it’s very frustrating. And they will only laugh at me now that they can pretend they think me guilty of improper behavior myself,” she said sadly.
Noah realized only too well that they would do precisely that, and he once again experienced a real concern for the girl before him. It would do her good to be away from Stolenhurst and enjoy the country society around Welling Towers with his sister. “Do you wish me to stay here or return to Stolenhurst?”
“There is no need for you to stay,” she said gallantly.
He tried to guess at her emotions, deserted by the one person she knew in a strange household. And yet she might feel uncomfortable in his presence as well. “As I am here, I shall attend to some household matters but I’ll plan to leave again the day after tomorrow,” he temporized, and he did not miss the gratitude in her eyes.
“Whatever is agreeable to you,” she replied as she headed for the door.
“Olivia.” She turned inquiringly to him. “You may stay as long as you please, you know. After all, we are connected.”
“Your mother explained the connection to me,” she remarked blandly, “and it is exceedingly tenuous.”
He smiled down at her. “Nevertheless, we are connected, and, as I said before, Julianna will welcome the company. I can have anything you need sent from Stolenhurst.”
“I’ll think on it,” she promised as she slipped out the door.
Noah reseated himself at the library table and absently picked up a letter opener, drawing it back and forth between his fingers as he thought about Olivia. She was really a very determined, proud young thing, but she had nowhere to go. Attractive, too, even enchanting when she confessed her problems as though they were surmountable.
He shook his head, disheartened. Her situation was touching, she was personable, and probably quite capable of handling an ordinary household but not Stolenhurst. But, Lord, she was so young; two years younger than his own sister. He shrugged off the depression of spirits he was suffering from and hoped that his sister would be able to afford Olivia some pleasant hours.
Chapter Seven
Julianna was delighted to have a companion in her own home. The winter months had been gray and cold, and there was not as much visiting among the households of the neighborhood as occurred in better weather. But Olivia’s visit provided an excuse for morning calls which could not be denied, and the next morning found all four of the residents at Welling Towers on an enjoyable round of calls which was to result in a stream of callers returning the compliment.
Lady Lawrence
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