The Legacy Debt

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I can not say for sure how many times in my life that I have truly been surprised by someone; the number is so small I could count it on one hand. The first, when my father bought me my very own horse at the age of seven. The second, when my aunt took me to Bath for a month where I managed to enjoy my first Roman style hot spring. The final was when James kissed me on the dock when I was fourteen. Three times, and that's not to say that I do not care for surprises and that many other attempts had not been made; I have merely seen through all their masks.

This morning would be my fourth time being surprised. I awoke to find that Lady Katherine had snuck into my room overnight and crawled into my bed beside me. When I awoke, I found her, red eyed and vulnerable laying on the pillow next to me.

"Did I wake you?" she sniffed; a handkerchief was raised next to her cheek.

"You did not, but you gave me quite a shake," I admitted.

"I didn't know what else I could do but come directly to you. I've surely made a mess of things around here already," she confessed.

"Your love for George hasn't actually stopped despite your formidable match has it?"

"No and we continued on for months after I was married as well. Edward, Lord Melbourne, suspected and while he is a true gentleman he never came out and asked me directly. Instead he reserved to keep me under his watchful eye at all times," she paused and dabbed at her eyes with the cloth. "When Prince Phillip announced that he would be taking his wife and their court to Halloway Park, I knew that it would be when Edward would be away and he would be unable to make it. I knew George would be coming too and that I'd have to avoid him, but it was better than not being near him at all,"

"Why didn't you tell me all of this? Could you imagine what would have happened had I ended up marrying him?" I searched her face for an answer, but it was clear she was just as shocked by the whole thing as I was.

"We had lost touch Olivia. I didn't know how you would react and what if he did have a chance at happiness with you?" she stopped herself and took a deep breath. While she was trying to be supportive, she was not speaking in earnest about what she felt. "I apologize for not telling you and I am sorry that we had to get caught by you with August,"

"I suppose he is who I will have to focus my fabricated courtship in him then," I smiled a bit to myself; he wasn't so bad to focus on. "What will you do when Lord Melbourne arrives?"

"I will need your help; can you not entertain George as well as August so that he may believe that the affair has indeed concluded?"

"Of course, but will it not be awkward for you watching George and I?" I stopped before continuing and looked at Katherine for a moment. She seemed quite worried, beyond that of one who is worried only for her husband's jealousy. "What are you not saying?"

"What do you mean?" she whispered.

"Does he beat you?" I asked, keeping my voice in a hushed tone. She shook her head no. "Then what are you so afraid of other than his jealousy and arguments?"

Her eyes closed and she began to sob with tears soaking into my pillowcases. She bunched up the handkerchief into a fist and hit the pillow a few times. Her auburn curls flying violently as she did so. I backed up a bit until she finished her tantrum of despair. She pulled the covers below her waist and brought my hands to her stomach. Her waist was still trim, but it was obvious she was showing me her soon to be swollen belly.