“He’s agreed to find me a husband,” she repeated.
“The Duke of Stone?”
“Yes,” she affirmed, thinking of the waltz they had shared and what a dream it had been to be in his capable arms upon the dance floor.
“But didn’t you yell at him and tell him what an oaf he was? And now he’s to aid you in your plight?”
“Yes,” she said, amazed herself. “Isn’t it a miracle?”
“Indeed,” Olivia replied, laughing.“I am so very happy for you, even if I am confused.”
“I am confused all of the time now,” Jack teased.“But at least I will be able to help my family, which is the most wonderful thing in the whole world.”
“You did not seem to think that the Duke of Stone was so terribly wonderful the last time we spoke,” Olivia pointed out gently.
“Well, things can change,” she replied with a shrug. The world, she’d discovered in the past months, was terribly changeable. Nothing was constant. Nothing was safe.
She lifted her chin and declared, “I needn’t be a wallflower any longer. I can change.”
“I hope you don’t, dear friend,” Olivia said. “You are a wonder, and I worry that being on the mart, hunting so fervently, will force you to see just how unkind people can be.”
She studied her friend, who was supposedly the envy of all as the season’s diamond, and wondered what might have induced Olivia to feel thus.
No doubt, many a mama was quite jealous of her beauty and her good nature.
Olivia frowned as they strode up to The Serpentine and gazed upon the swans arcing their way over the water.“I have had to change my personality more than once, until society thinks me perfect. Mama trains me almost every day. How to talk, to walk, what is allowable. I can go from speaking about dogs and horses to the price of a stud at New Market in a moment. Or trill about lace and opera the next.”
Her friend gave a rueful smile.“I will tell you that, while I think that acting is an admirable profession, though thetondoes not, I do not enjoy it. Mama was remarkable. She can be one person one moment, and an entirely different one the next. I cannot be bothered with all this traipsing about.”
Olivia whipped toward her, her brow furrowed.“Oh, Jack. I would dearly love to simply sit and read the plays rather than perform for all society this silly role of Most Eligible Girl.”
Jack squeezed her hand again. “I know it is very difficult for you.” She grew quiet as she considered the couples walking Rotten Row in their silks and jewels, hoping to be noticed.“It’s so strange, is it not? You have exactly what I should wish for and seemingly, in many ways, I have what you wish for.”
Olivia nodded. “It is true. I would dearly love to be a part of your family.”
“And I should dearly love to know the bailiffs weren’t going to take our furniture away,” she groaned.
“Jacqueline, I am being so terribly selfish. Your concerns are great. Mine are insignificant,” Olivia rushed.
“Don’t you dare,” Jack countered swiftly.“It is never a small thing to long to be yourself.”
Olivia’s eyes shone for moment before she blinked fiercely and asked grandly, “Do you think the Duke of Stone would assist me in the finding of a fellow with a title and a large library?”
Jacqueline laughed at her friend’s honest assessment of her needs. “I don’t know. He seems a very generous sort of soul. Perhaps you should ask him.”
And as if the conversation could bring about the presence of a person, she spotted her brother in the distance, accompanied by the Duke of Stone.
“There they are!” she exclaimed.
Olivia’s eyes widened. “No, not now. Not when I have a spot!”
“You do not have a spot, Olivia.” She wished she could shake Lady Fairweather for making Olivia so terribly concerned with her appearance.“You look perfectly marvelous.”
“I do not. You see it is right there.” She pointed to the edge of her chin.
Jack squinted. “I can see nothing.”
“Clearly, you are in need of spectacles,” Olivia groaned.