Led Astray by a Rake (The Husband Hunters Club 1)

“Yes, Theodore Garsed. A fool with more money than sense, but a fool the Monteiths prefer to me. He was there, too, offering her the protection of his name to save her from disgrace. She turned us both down. I won’t go into detail, it was all rather humiliating.”

“She turned you down?” she gasped. “But the girl is ruined. What does she expect to do if she doesn’t marry you?”

“Miss Monteith is a strong-minded woman.”

“No matter how strong-minded she is, she cannot restore a reputation that has been lost. Only marrying you can do that.” Lady Lacey’s haughty tones rose, as if she could hardly believe what she was hearing. “I will speak to her and insist on her doing as she ought.”

“No, Mother. I am grateful, but I will deal with Miss Monteith in my own way.” Nic glanced at the decanter but resisted helping himself to a swig of brandy. Brandy wasn’t going to help what was wrong with him.

“You must try again,” Lady Lacey insisted. “I want you to try again, Dominic.”

“And if she will still not have me—”

“She will have you and be grateful that a Lacey would condescend to marry a village girl.”

Nic’s mouth twitched.

Lady Lacey caught his eye, and waved her hand dismissively. “Yes, she has beauty and education, and that is some compensation for her lack of good family. And she will give you healthy children. Castle Lacey needs an heir and it is past time you provided one. Here is your chance to redeem yourself. If your father were here—” But she stopped and looked away, unable to go on.

“I will make her marry me,” Nic promised, to fill the silence. “If I have to drag her to the altar, then I will marry her. I give you my word, Mother.”

Lady Lacey straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin, her proud face calm, once more masking any emotion. “I am glad to hear it, Dominic.”

He hesitated beside her, and then bent to brush his lips against the top of her graying hair. She stiffened, and he thought she would withdraw, but then she reached up and patted his cheek.

“You will come for supper tonight, Dominic. We will discuss this again.” She gave the invitation—more like an order—as if it were something they did every night.

Nic wondered if he should point out to her that he hadn’t had supper with her since 1828, but decided against it. They were talking again, and it was best not to question it.

He smiled. “Yes, thank you, Mother, I will come to supper.”

Chapter 21

Olivia sat on the swing in the garden, disconsolate, in disgrace. She’d loved this swing as a child. She could remember Sarah pushing her, laughing when Olivia squealed, and cuddling her when she fell off. Now here she was, a grown woman, seeking consolation from a thing of rope and wood.

She’d made her decision.

When she really thought about it there’d only ever been one decision all along. Nic Lacey. She would accept him. She hadn’t told her mother yet, and she didn’t look forward to doing so. This would make her even more upset and angry, and it was possible she might never talk to her daughter again. Olivia knew her parents wanted to protect her, but it wasn’t her fault that Sarah had died, and there was nothing she could do to change that. And they couldn’t live her life for her, nor did she want them to.

She felt better now that the choice was made, as if her fate was set. No going back now. She had always wanted live her life to the full rather than make do with second best, and now she would. Nic Lacey would be her life. Moody and difficult, charismatic and wild, and so sweet, he was and always had been the man for her.

Memories of their moments together made her smile dreamily. In fact she was so caught up in some particularly heart-stopping parts of those memories, she didn’t hear the footsteps approaching her across the lawn until she was no longer alone.

“Miss Monteith, you are looking good enough to eat.”

Olivia started and turned her head. Nic was standing behind her and to the side, smiling, his dark eyes watchful. She wondered if he could read her heated thoughts and instantly set her face into a polite and chilly mask.

“I’m not sure if that is a compliment, Lord Lacey.”

“Oh, it is, believe me.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“Estelle told me. She saw me approaching the door and saved me from another meeting with your mother.”

Olivia looked away, swinging idly. “You can’t blame her for being angry and upset. I have caused a great scandal in Bassingthorpe, probably the worst scandal the village has ever seen.”

Nic didn’t answer her, but she didn’t notice his silence.