Olivia shook her head. “Doctors could not help my father.”
Lord Monteforte pressed her hand with his free one, sending a rush of warmth up her arm and into her heart. “That is not to say they cannot to do so now,” he said, reassuringly. “There have been great strides forward in medicine. I am certain that you have nothing to fear, Lady Olivia. Truly.”
Taking in a deep breath, Olivia tried to let Lord Monteforte’s words wash over her and bring her a little relief. Her mind was clouded with memories, painful aches that stabbed her heart with a fresh agony. Her father had been taken so ill so quickly, and within a few days had been gone forever. What now if it was the same for Margaret?
“I hope you know, Lady Olivia, that I would be glad to continue to support you in this difficult time in whatever way I can,” he said gently, as she struggled to prevent any more tears from falling. “I am aware that now is not the moment to ask whether or not you have considered my request, but I would like to assure you that I am more than willing to be whatever it is you require at this present time.”
It was all Olivia could do not to lean into him, not to rest her head on his shoulder and let her tears begin to flow. She had gone from thinking him cruel and arrogant to now seeing the kindness within his heart and the willingness to support her in whatever way she required. The desire to share with him that, at the very least, filled her heart, and she found herself telling him what was in her heart.
“I will tell you this, Lord Monteforte,” she said, not quite able to look him in the eye. “I do not believe that you are cruel hearted, as I once thought.” Her tears still welling in her eyes, she sniffed indelicately, but forced herself to continue. “You are a kind man, Lord Monteforte. You speak with gentleness and tenderness, and I know that you are genuine in your desire to be of assistance to me.” Finally, she managed to look him in the eye. “I hear it in your voice, I see it in your expression, and I can feel it spreading out from within your heart.”
“You do not know how glad I am hear you say such a thing,” Lord Monteforte replied, pressing her hand again. “I am honest in my intentions, Lady Olivia. I want to do all I can to be a comfort to you, but only in whatever way you desire from me. I will not press you. I will not urge you nor try to convince you to accept my company or the like. If you wish me gone, then I shall go!”
She stopped suddenly, forcing him to do the same. “No, Lord Monteforte,” she said, with as much fervor as she could. “To have you go from me at this moment would only add to my distress. I would never ask you to leave. I would never even think of having you go.”
Lord Monteforte held her gaze for a long moment. Everything seemed to fade around her, the sounds of the other people on the street suddenly muted. Lord Monteforte’s eyes were swirling with hues of greens and browns, making her catch her breath all the more. There seemed to be nothing at all of importance other than those eyes that watched her with such intensity and yet, at the same time, with such infinite gentleness.
“Then I shall always be ready to come and stand by your side, Lady Olivia,” Lord Monteforte murmured, never once lifting his gaze from hers. “The only thing you need to do is ask.”
Chapter Nine
“So, what are you saying?”
Phillip let out a long breath, his head filled with all manner of thoughts. “I am stating that, from what I understand, Lord Dayton and Lord Cammish have an intention to remove the Prince from his present state.”
Lord Franks cleared his throat loudly, catching the attention of every gentleman in the room as well as Phillip himself. “What does that mean exactly?” he asked, a deep frown on his face. “You say that they wish to remove Prinny, but what exactly can they do? And how would they go about it?”
Phillip spread his hands, knowing that it was frustrating to have so few answers, but he could only express what he knew. “I believe that they might be considering one of the King’s other sons,” he said, making an assumption about what the two gentlemen might be intending. “Perhaps they think the next in line would be much more inclined to behave and to act the way they want.”
“Or that they might be easier to manipulate,” said one of the other gentlemen, making a loud murmur of agreement go around the room. “Perhaps, as the enemy of the King, they believe that the next in line will be someone they can use for their own advantage.”
“Making England weaker,” added in Lord Watt darkly. “Then I would suggest, Lord Monteforte, that you remain precisely where you are at present and try to find out all you can. Once you have knowledge of their plans, you must inform the rest of the League just as soon as you can.”
Phillip nodded. “Of course.”
“And then we will move to prevent them from achieving their intentions,” said Lord Franks, a clear anger in his voice. “For the King.”
“For the King,” Phillip echoed, as did all the other gentlemen. Looking about the room, he caught Lord Watt’s gaze for a moment, seeing how uncertain the man appeared. As the other men began to speak amongst themselves, Phillip rose to his feet and came closer to Lord Watt, who also stood.
“You must be careful,” Lord Watt murmured, a clear line of worry lining his forehead. “This is a very dangerous circumstance.”
“All the more reason for me to remain where I am,” Phillip answered, as Lord Watt nodded. “I must know what they intend.” He did not mention Lady Olivia, even though his thoughts turned towards her again. She had been so very sorrowful and fearful when he had come across her just stepping out from the house, and what they had shared had been remarkable, bringing a fresh hope to his spirits. “Lady Margaret – that is, Lord Dayton’s daughter – has been taken seriously ill. I am not certain whether or not the meeting this evening will be of a particularly long duration. It may take me some time to discover the truth of what Lord Dayton intends.”
Lord Watt nodded, his expression still grave. “That is quite understandable,” he said quietly, as Phillip made to take his leave. “Who else is in the house, might I ask?”
Phillip hesitated, wondering why Lord Watt was asking such a question when surely he already knew the answer. “Lady Louisa is the younger sister, and there is also Lady Olivia, who is Lord Dayton’s niece.”
Lord Watt lifted one eyebrow. “That would be the young lady you were walking with two days ago?”
A little surprised that such a thing had been both noticed and brought to Lord Watt’s attention, he answered slowly, “It was. She
was upset, and it was just by chance that I–”
“Do not let your unguarded heart affect your judgement,” Lord Watt interrupted firmly, making Phillip wonder if he had witnessed the moment he and Lady Olivia had shared. “And ensure you send word to me each and every day that you are safe and well. There is something about this situation that troubles me, although I cannot quite state what it is.”
Realizing that their conversation was now at an end, Phillip cleared his throat and tried to set aside his feelings of embarrassment. “I quite understand,” he said firmly, hoping that Lord Watt knew that he took everything Lord Watt had said with great seriousness. “I should go. Please excuse me.” He bowed, then walked from the room, his heart beginning to quicken just a little as he made his way to the carriage. Lord Dayton would be waiting for him, as would the other gentlemen, and he did not want to be tardy. Phillip wondered if the same thing that had occurred the last time would happen again, if he would be asked to remain behind with only Lord Cammish and Lord Dayton. What would they discuss? Would they ask him to speak openly about his thought as regarded Prinny? And if so, what would he say?
“Then it is decided.”