He held up his hands. “You are the widow of my cousin. It would be improper for you to live here still, especially since I am a bachelor with no family. And because you are the countess, it isn’t right that you would labor at all, especially in a job as demanding as steward. Olivia, I know that Henry provided income for you. But if you need anything more. Please let me know.”
Olivia’s nostrils flared as she digested his words. “What am I to do with myself? Tell me, Max, because I cannot sit around some drawing room in London, gossiping and fending off lecherous lords.”
“You are young and beautiful; you could find another husband easily.” The words clawed at his chest as he said them out loud. But he needed to be fair to Olivia. He couldn’t let his feelings mar her chances for happiness.
“Belhaven is my home.” Her hands slapped down on the gleaming tabletop, rattling the china. “It always has been.” Her bottom lip trembled—a small movement that mirrored the sadness in her eyes. Then she turned and raced from the room.
Max sat down heavily in his chair. That conversation had gone to shit quickly. How was he supposed to know she would be so upset about the bloody land steward? He ran a hand through his hair. And he hadn’t even got a chance to give her the damn letter. Again.
Chapter Four
Olivia took alarge bite of honey cake. “I don’t want to talk about it,” she said around the mouthful of the sweet confection.So delicious.The creamy honey-flavored center of the cake melted in her mouth. Mrs. Buxley was a master at baking.
“Olivia, you are clearly overset. Please tell us what is going on,” Charlotte asked. Her friend sat across the table from her at the tea shop. Her green eyes were bright with concern.
“I’m fine.”
Susanna leaned forward, laying her forearms on the linen-covered table. “That is your second cake, dear.”
“Is this about yesterday? We know that this time of year must be hard for you.” Eleanor wrapped her arm around Olivia’s shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze.
Olivia set down her fork. She glanced around the table at her friends. Susanna arched one auburn eyebrow in question. Ellie stared at her with serious eyes that missed nothing. And Charlotte sat with her hands folded atop her pregnant belly, patiently waiting for Olivia to disclose what was the matter. None of them would pressure her further, well, perhaps Susanna. But these caring women had supported her through the last year; if anyone understood, it would be them. She sighed. “It is about yesterday, but not in the way you think. He’s here, at Belhaven.”
“The new earl?” Susanna asked.
“Yes.” She nodded. “He arrived yesterday, a day early. All alone, he came in like a specter out of the rain. And well, he’s so…and he said…” Olivia didn’t know where to start. Max had her emotions in such a tangle. Old feelings mixed with the new reality of the gorgeous man that now owned her home. The home where she could no longer live.
Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose. She knew that he was right. That her idea of staying on as the land steward was farfetched. Nobody on the estate would think it was strange; she had been filling her father’s shoes for years now. But nobody outside of Belhaven Manor knew that she handled all the accounts, that she made the decisions about next year’s planting and how many new sheep they needed to purchase. The guise that some man was handling the books was always there to protect her reputation. But damn it, she was the one who checked in on her families when she came to collect rents. She cared about her tenants. The idea that she would no longer be able to do that broke her heart.
“Tell us about Maxwell Drake. He is the missing cousin, yes?” Ellie asked.
“Yes, his father was Henry’s father’s younger brother. His father was a diplomat, and the family lived overseas often. Max used to come home with Henry during school breaks. He and Henry were fast friends.”
Charlotte nodded. “I remember him somewhat. I think Lucius might have known him as well.”
“We, the three of us, were friends.” She ran her finger around and around the top of her teacup. “And then Max and I were more than friends.” She glanced up and caught Susanna and Charlotte exchanging a look of wide-eyed surprise. “It was puppy love. We made sweet promises to each other. But then he left to take a job that his father arranged.”
“What is his profession?” Ellie asked.
“He hunts down antiquities for a museum, I think. He is good with languages and figuring out puzzles. He said he has most recently been in Italy pursuing some painting. He always did like to unravel a mystery.” Olivia smiled.
She remembered when Max had been obsessed with the stone outcropping on the eastern edge of Belhaven’s land. The ancient stones called out to him, he’d said. She had enjoyed watching him walk around and take rubbings of the markings on the stones. His books open around him; he would compare the markings and try to figure out what language they could be. Max always muttered to himself when he was thinking, his long legs eating up the ground as he paced back forth with a book in hand.
“Italy! Fascinating,” Susanna said. “When can we meet him?”
“Susanna, she hasn’t even told us what he’s done to upset her.” Ellie frowned.
“This morning at breakfast, he reminded me that it would be unseemly for me to stay on at Belhaven. That perhaps I should go to London and find a new husband. That he would help me if I needed anything.” She scooped another forkful of cake into her mouth. “He’s already hired a new land steward.” She brandished her fork like a small sword, imagining she could stab Maxwell Drake in the heart.
“So, he plans to stay on at Belhaven?” Susanna asked.
Olivia shrugged. “I have no idea. I got so upset I didn’t ask many questions. I just yelled at him and stormed out.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“He makes me so angry. I guess I harbor more resentment about the past than I thought. After a few months, his letters stopped coming. Busy with his new life, he forgot all about me.” Olivia stabbed at the last piece of her cake. “Who will take care of my tenants now? Some stranger hired out of London?”
“He sounds dreadful. Domineering, careless.” Ellie crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Good for you for yelling.”