Page 77 of Deceiving an Earl
“I’m not marrying Oliver, Philip. I’m marrying William. I had hoped you would be happy for me.”
He scowled, and she was reminded of the year or so after Arthur’s death when Philip had done nothing but scowl.
“Armbruster was teaching me things. How to read the estate books. About agriculture and how to improve the Fieldhurst estate. I still have much to learn.” It was the first time since Arthur’s death that Philip admitted that his education was lacking. She credited Oliver for the change in her son.
“You will. In time.”
He sat forward. “What are you saying?”
Ellen looked away, unable to face her son. “I think it’s best that Oliver not come around any longer. I’m engaged to another man now. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”
“He wouldn’t be here for you. He’d be here for me.”
“I’m sorry, Philip. I’ll find someone else to teach you what you need to know.”
Philip jumped up, his face twisted in anger. “No. I’ll not have it.Hewill teach me what I need to know. He’s brilliant. I’mluckyhe wants to help me. Did you know that he tripled the value of his estate in just ten years? He’s as rich as Croesus, and he did it all himself.”
She had known all of that, because for all of these years she had followed Oliver’s life. She had read the papers and listened to the gossip and told herself that she didn’t care, but she had cared. She still cared…very much.
“And that is important to you? Grand houses? More money?”Her seventeen-year-old voice floated back to her over the years, and she was transported to Hyde Park and the early days of her relationship with Oliver.
He shook his head. “The excitement of new ventures is important to me. Discovering new ways to do things is what’s important.”
“Well I think it’s marvelous and ingenious and I have no doubt you will be a raging success.”
And he had been a raging success, just like she had predicted. And now his son was enamored of him, wanted to be like him.
“I’ve told him that you no longer need his services.” She faced Philip and forced herself to witness his devastation.
“I don’t have to listen to you,” he said. “I’m practically an adult now. If I want to see Armbruster, I will.”
“Don’t do this, Philip. I forbid it.”
He laughed. “Forbid? And what are you going to do? You can’t even send me back to Eton without his word to the headmaster that I am ‘reformed.’”
“I’ll find a way.”
He stepped closer to her and, as always, when they were standing next to each other she wondered what had happened to her lovable little boy. He was taller than her now, and his shoulders had widened over the summer. The sun had bleached his hair, and he looked so much like Oliver that she was ashamed to think that no one would notice.
His gaze went to her cheek, and he cocked his head to the side. Ellen tried to turn her head so that cheek wasn’t visible, but he touched her chin with his finger.
“You’re bruised.”
“It’s nothing,” she said a bit breathlessly. “I…I ran into an open cupboard door helping the maid clear old linens out of the closet.”
He looked deep into her eyes, really looked. She lowered her lids, because she didn’t want him to see the truth and the fear.
“If he laid a hand on you I will kill him.” The words were said softly but with an edge that made her shiver.
“I merely ran into an open cupboard door.”
He stepped back and contemplated her for a long moment. Then he walked out, slamming the door closed behind him, and she realized they’d never finished their discussion about Oliver.
…
Oliver was going over papers regarding a new shipping venture he was considering investing in. These were the things that made him feel alive, made his blood hum through his veins.
The possibilities, the risk, excited him like nothing else could.
