Page 72 of My Secret Duke
His gaze came to rest on her face, reading her distress and concern, but instead of explaining, she saw him make the decision not to tell her. “Nothing to worry about,” he said in that infuriating way that men did when they thought they were being protective. Then he patted her hand in a brotherly fashion, and walked away. She might have followed him, she was angry enough to, but Charles suddenly appeared, and he prevented her by taking her arm in a firm grasp.
“You will only make it worse,” he said with an apologetic grimace. “Freddie is there, and he will take care that nothing occurs that is outside the law.”
“But what is happening?” Olivia looked for Ivo, who had now reached the soldiers. Justina slipped an arm about her waist, but even her calming presence did nothelp.
“Your Grace,” the lieutenant’s voice rose, easily heard above the chatter. “You are to come with us to answer charges under the Customs Act.”
“What charges?” Gabriel challenged, looking from the soldiers to Ivo. “This is ridiculous! You are interrupting a private gathering for God’s sake!”
“Bringing contraband into England. Smuggling.” Lieutenant Harrison answered with a self-righteous look on his face. He reminded Olivia of a man at the end of a very good meal.
The murmur throughout the room rose to a roar as Ivo was surrounded by the soldiers and led from the ballroom. Crying out, the Dowager Duchess of Northam tried to reach him, but her daughters held her back, just as Charles had held Olivia back.
Olivia was shocked—Ivo arrested for smuggling?—and yet now that the moment of his arrest had passed, she was not as shocked as she should be. If anyone was going to be involved in such a risky venture, then it would be Ivo. He had even told her that Whitmont was an area famous for its smugglers, and that his family had been there for centuries. Of course they would be involved in smuggling.
Charles had followed the arrest party outside but soon returned. He went straight to Gabriel, and the two men conferred in quiet, serious tones.
“How dare they!” That was Ivo’s mother, her daughters on either side of her, all looking anxious. “Someone must do something. Immediately!” She glared about her, as if expecting some knight in shining armor to step up and volunteer his services.
Gabriel would know what to do. Olivia hurried overto him, joined by Justina, who wanted to know what Charles had heard from Freddie. When Charles turned to her sister, there was such a look of tenderness in his eyes… Olivia knew then that what was between them was more than an infatuation. They were a couple.
“Freddie says he can help a little,” Charles explained, “although he has a position to maintain. The important thing is he’s on the spot to make sure none of the revenue men overstep.”
Gabriel frowned. “Do you think they will?”
Charles shrugged. “I hope not, but Harrison seems to have a grudge against Northam.”
Gabriel considered this before adding, “Arnott might be able to help.” That was when he noticed Olivia’s presence, and his frown deepened. “I think the ladies should carry on with the dance. We should behave as if we have no doubt whatsoever of Northam’s innocence, and that this is just an annoying mistake, which will soon be rectified.”
Olivia opened her mouth, but Adelina, who was standing behind her, spoke first. “Itisa mistake. Heisinnocent.” She desperately searched their faces. “Isn’t he?”
Gabriel responded reassuringly. “We’ll do our best to see your brother released as soon as possible, and with the least amount of gossip.” He looked about at the guests, who were agog with excitement, and his expression turned resigned when he met Felicia’s outraged stare. “I’m sorry your send-off has turned into a circus.”
After her mother’s actions during Justina’s coming-out ball, Olivia thought tonight was probably well deserved. All the same, there would be talk. She waited for the usual rush of dismay, that this was yet another nail in the coffin of her family’s endeavor to be respectable.Another scandal that would sweep them back to seclusion at Grantham. But instead, to her surprise, the full force of it did not come. Even the uncomfortable vision of a cartoon of Ivo being dragged away only made her slightly uncomfortable. She would not allow strangers to rule her life, not anymore.
It was because she loved Ivo. He had been about to ask her to marry him! Yes, he might have broken the law, and Olivia might think him a reckless fool to have risked so much for a few bottles of brandy and a lace handkerchief. But she would wait until he was home, safe, before she told him that. Smuggling was not something she knew a great deal about, so she could not know how deeply he was involved. Could she marry a smuggler? Would he agree to stop if she asked him? She thought he would, but if there were decisions to be made, they would make them together.
Humber was lurking in the background, and Gabriel instructed him to fetch Mr. Arnott and inform him of the situation with the Duke of Northam. Humber pushed his way through the guests, who sounded like a hive of angry bees.
“We will soon sort this out,” Olivia’s brother said. Did he look at her a little longer, as if he knew…?
“I think Felicia has had her send-off.” The dowager had arrived to join them. “And a memorable one it was too.” Her dark eyes flashed. “Olivia, a word.” She headed toward her favorite sitting room.
Olivia wanted to make some excuse. This was definitely not the time for a confrontation with her formidable grandmother, but when was the right time?
As soon as the door was closed, the dowager began to speak. “Viscount Carey has proposed to the Fletchergirl. You remember? The wallflower. Northam danced with her not so long ago. It seems he prefers a mouse for a wife.”
She looked disgusted, and Olivia sat down beside her on the sofa. “I am surprised,” she admitted. “We seemed to be getting on well.”
“You didn’t give him enough encouragement. Such a pity about Prince Nikolai,” she mused. “I have tried to keep in touch, but lately, he has not responded to my messages. He has distanced himself from us, and I don’t blame him. It is a great pity though.” She smoothed the sleeves of her gown rather viciously. “I did my best to prepare the ground for you.”
Olivia knew the time had come to be honest with her grandmother. She knew if she wasn’t, there would be another suitor trotted out before she could draw breath. “I didn’t want to marry the prince, and he certainly didn’t want to marry me. We are too dissimilar, and I could never live up to his standards. I’m sorry, Grandmama. I know such a match would have meant a great deal to you and the family.”
The dowager looked at her coldly, and Olivia awaited a tongue-lashing about ingratitude, but then the elderly woman sighed. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. “You are probably right,” she admitted reluctantly. Her eyes opened again, and she seemed to be staring into the past. “His father was just the same. High in the instep and thoroughly dislikable. Niki was brought up by his grandfather, and I had hoped he would take after him. Such a delightful man. But unfortunately, it doesn’t appear to be the case.”
“You knew his grandfather?” Olivia prompted curiously. She remembered the scandalous things Felicia hadsaid, and wondered if there was any truth in them.
The dowager’s dark eyes fastened on her, and she hesitated, but then seemed to decidewhy not? “Yes, I knew him well. You may find this shocking, but I was in love with Nikolai’s grandfather. We had an affair.” She waved a hand to stop Olivia replying, not that she could have. She was too surprised to say a word.
