Laura Matthews by A Baronets Wife Read Free Book Online

you afraid that your own reputation will suffer by these rumors of a liaison with a young, unmarried gentlewoman? I should really like to understand how you could agree to such a scheme.”
    “I have unavoidably damaged your reputation, child,” he said stiffly, “and I wish only to do the honorable thing by you.”
    “I find that difficult to believe and totally unnecessary. Mrs. Dyer is a gentlewoman, and you were perfectly content to damage her reputation.”
    “There is no comparison between the two cases. You are an innocent child, and Mrs. Dyer is an experienced woman of the world.” Noah drew his hand through his hair in exasperation. “No one thinks particularly ill of Lila for her... activities; but it would not be the same with you. At least promise me you will think on it, Olivia. The disdain you could meet with today might change your mind.”
    Olivia turned abruptly from him and disappeared up the staircase, as he watched her with a mixture of chagrin and doubt. Perhaps she could weather the storm that was bursting about her, but it did not seem fair that she should have to, piled as it was on her usual load of care. He would rather adopt her as a sister than as a wife, he thought ruefully, but the situation would not allow for that. What was worse was that the child was right; he did not wish it to be rumored that he had seduced her.
     

Chapter Five
     
    Miss Stewart’s door was locked as usual, and Olivia called to her as she tapped. The door was opened hesitantly and the companion looked past Olivia to make sure there was no one else in the hall before she bustled the younger woman into the room and relocked the door.
    With the first amusement she had felt all day Olivia scolded, “There is no need to lock the door when I am with you, Miss Stewart. Peter tells me you are leaving Stolenhurst today.” The room was scattered about with trunks and boxes into which growing mounds of belongings were being loaded even now. “I can but assume that this has something to do with last night.”
    Miss Stewart’s face paled, and she seemed incapable of speech. Olivia took her hand and pressed it reassuringly. “You must not think that there was anything improper in my going with Sir Noah, my dear. One of our guests was most dreadfully sick , and I went to do what I could for her. The doctor was sent for and seemed satisfied with her condition. She is much better this morning.”
    “No, no!” the companion exclaimed pitifully. “I know you would do nothing wrong, Lady Olivia, but I must leave at once.”
    “You have had no word of troubles in your family, have you?”
    “No. That is, I long to see them again. Yes, I feel I must see them,” Miss Stewart hastened on.
    Olivia regarded her perplexedly. “Then you intend to return to Stolenhurst?”
    “No, no, never!” the companion cried with a shudder.
    “Miss Stewart, my dear,” Olivia said, taking the woman’s hand and seating her on a chair before she knelt in front of her. “Please tell me what the problem is, why you’re leaving. I don’t understand.”
    Miss Stewart’s flustered hands waved about in the air. “I cannot say. You will please indulge me, Lady Olivia. I would rather just leave with no more ado.”
    “But of course you shall if I cannot convince you to stay,” Olivia said briskly. “I shall miss you, my dear. It is not that one of my brothers has been bothering you again?”
    The pale face whitened further. “No, I promise you they have not. Do not question me further, I beg you.”
    Olivia shook her head drearily. “Of course not, ma’am. I’ll help you pack if you’re intent on leaving.” There remained nothing further to be said to the frightened woman, so Olivia spent the next hour carefully avoiding the subject while she assisted in gathering together all her companion’s belongings, the trinkets and clothing accumulated over the last six years. When the trunk was full and the portmanteaus had been strapped,