The Captured Lord (The King's League)

“I am sure that he had every intention of doing just that,” Betty said, as they continued to walk quickly towards the shops. “Perhaps something’s happened to make him so.”

Olivia sniffed, trying not to feel the sharp lance of pain that slammed through her heart. “Then he should have sent a note to state that he could no longer attend instead of leaving me to wait for him,” she answered crisply, trying to shake off her melancholy but failing entirely. “As it is, I am quite embarrassed.” It also came from the knowledge that she had done nothing but think of Lord Monteforte these last few days

. Ever since he had appeared the day she had found out about Lady Margaret’s illness, she had been quite unable to loosen him from her mind. Instead, thoughts of him had remained, quite fixed there and filling her heart with such feelings that Olivia did not quite know what to do with herself. She had been quite repulsed by him only a few weeks ago, and now she could think of no kinder gentleman than he. The way he had come to her, the way he had greeted her and spoke with all tenderness to her had filled her heart, filled her very soul, and left her feeling as though she were no longer entirely alone.

Her cousins and her aunt and uncle had never considered her with the same sort of care and consideration that Lord Monteforte had done, and it was that behavior that had stolen her heart. The more she thought of him, the more she longed to be in his company. Her answer to his question as to whether or not she might consider courtship was now no longer unknown. She wanted to accept him, wanted to be close to him, wanted to consider a future with him. What her uncle would say, she could not imagine—for Olivia was still quite convinced that Lord Dayton had Lady Margaret in mind for Lord Monteforte, and besides which, the intention had always been for her cousins to marry first.

But none of this would matter or was worth her consideration if Lord Monteforte had suddenly changed his mind and no longer wished to court her. There was no easy explanation as to his absence, other than for her to think that he had decided he had been hasty in his eagerness to call upon her. But why then would he not simply have sent another note to explain himself?

“Oh, good gracious!”

Olivia stepped back in horror, her hands out wide as she stared down at the ground, to where four books were now lying on the ground, with one face down in a puddle. Hastily, she made to reach for it, only for the gentleman to cry out in loud exclamation and to scoop it up before she could do so.

“I must apologize, my dear lady!” he exclaimed, as the young lady beside him smiled kindly at Olivia, whose face was now burning hot with mortification. “I could not permit you to pick up the book when it was my fault entirely for—”

“I am quite sure that it was not your fault, sir,” Olivia answered honestly, not wanting the gentleman to claim responsibility for something she had done herself. “I was walking in a cloud of thoughts, not looking where I was going. I must apologize.” Her eyes lifted to the young lady, who was still smiling gently, a look of mirth in her eyes. “I should not have been so hasty in my steps. Might I pay for any damage?”

The gentleman shook his head. “Not at all,” he said firmly, being more than a little gracious. “They are all quite all right, I am sure of it.” He smiled at her again. “There is no need to concern yourself. Might I be so bold as to enquire your name?”

“Oh.” Olivia gave herself a slight shake, all the more embarrassed. “Yes, of course. Lady Olivia.” Managing a small curtsy, she looked at the handsome couple expectantly.

“Lord and Lady Watt,” the young lady said, her smile still warm. “Please, Lady Olivia, you must not concern yourself. It is quite all right, truly.”

“That is very good of you to say,” Olivia answered, finally feeling the heat recede from her face. “I was quite lost in thought as I have said and I—”

“You are the niece of Lord Dayton.”

Olivia blinked in surprise, turning to see Lord Watt staring at her, his eyes suddenly stern and the smile gone completely from his face.

“Yes,” she said slowly, as Lady Watt nudged her husband hard with her elbow, making him seem to recollect himself, for he turned his head away and he cleared his throat. “Yes, I am,” Olivia said again. “Are you acquainted with my uncle?”

Lord Watt hesitated then shook his head. “No, I am not,” he said, watching her keenly. “I am acquainted with Lord Monteforte, however, who is very well acquainted with your uncle, I believe.” Sharp eyes held hers, and Olivia felt a sudden shiver run down her spine. “You are acquainted with Lord Monteforte also, I believe.”

It was a statement rather than a question, and Olivia could only nod wordlessly, seeing how Lady Watt frowned, clearly a little displeased with her husband’s severe questioning of Olivia.

“It may be wrong for me to ask, Lady Olivia, and pray do not think me impertinent, but might I ask if you have seen Lord Monteforte recently?” Lord Watt asked, making Olivia’s stomach tighten with the intensity of his gaze. “The reason I ask is that he was due to call, and unfortunately did not appear. I am afraid he is unwell, or that some calamity has overtaken him that I am, at present, unaware of.”

Olivia caught her breath, suddenly feeling a deep sense of dread overtake her as she looked into Lord Watt’s eyes and felt his fear. “Might I ask when Lord Monteforte was due to call?” she asked, a little tightly. “Was it today?”

Lord Watt held her gaze for a moment then shook his head. “Yesterday,” he said quietly. “Yesterday afternoon. He did not appear and though I sent word to his house, there was no response.”

“I too have noted his absence,” Olivia answered quietly, feeling the same confusion in her own heart as was evident on Lord Watt’s face. “He was due to call on me this afternoon but has not done so.” She shrugged and looked away, a little embarrassed. “I thought he might have chosen to stay away or have changed his mind from his intentions, but mayhap I was wrong.”

Lord Watt pressed his lips together and shared a look with his wife that Olivia could not quite make out. There was an anxiety there, she was sure of it, but there was more depth to that look than she could understand.

“I sent a man to the staff last evening,” Lord Watt said slowly, as if trying to judge whether or not she was able to be trusted with such information. “But the staff informed me that he had quit the house and that, as yet, had not returned.” He lifted one shoulder. “In fact, they did not expect him to return until late that evening.”

“And have you checked to see if he has done so?” Olivia asked, unable to stop herself. “If he has not come back to his townhouse, then surely that speaks of some ill that has taken hold of him?”

Lord Watt glanced at his wife again, who was wearing a deeply troubled expression. He let out a long breath, whilst Olivia could not help but let her anxiety grow all the more.

“I think I should have done as you suggested,” Lord Watt muttered, looking a little upset with himself. “I should have gone to his residence this morning and spoken to him.”

“And if he was not at home?”

“Then…” Lord Watt shook his head, having appeared to have been on the verge of saying something more, only for him to then think better of it. “Then I would have put other plans in place. I will put other plans in place if it becomes clear that he is not at home.”

A surge of anxiety captured Olivia’s heart as she looked at Lord Watt, aware of how his deep frown and the lines on his forehead betrayed a deep sense of worry that he was clearly choosing not to verbally express. Something began to burn into her mind, a sense that all was not as it seemed. Lord Monteforte had absented himself from both his friend’s house and now his planned time with her – which meant that something was clearly wrong. Her heart began to quicken. Was he ill? Near death?