Page 81 of Not Exactly Mr. Darcy
“And it’s exactly that sudden turnaround that makes us wish to offer a word of caution. You were not like this earlier this year. What happened?”
Liv happened. He half smiled at that. Liv, who brought life … and helped him live. George had once mentioned Olivia was named after ONJ, so Liv was like her namesake, bringing cheer to others. “The Hall has been blessed with some new enthusiastic volunteers, who have brought a new zest to proceedings.”
“Zest?” Lord Atwood’s nose curled, like he thought Liam was talking about a lemon.
“Zest.” Zeal. Passion. Gusto. Things these men may have possessed once upon a time, a long time ago.
Lord Atwood’s eyes narrowed. “I understand that one of these people is a young lady.”
He tensed again. “Yes. What of it?”
“Do you not feel that perhaps you might be being taken for a ride?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“This young lady. What do you know of her? Have you had her investigated?”
“Excuse me?”
“How do you know she is who she says she is?”
How dare he? Liam controlled his tone with an effort. “Because she’s the head steward’s granddaughter, whom my family and I have known for years.”
“You’ve known the steward perhaps but not the granddaughter. And have not granddaughters been known to, let’s say, misrepresent who they are?”
“I really don’t understand where you’re going with this.”
“We are urging caution, my boy.”
Liam recoiled at those last two words.
“You know very little about her, and from what we’ve heard, she’s inserted herself into your home, and wishes to ensconce herself into your legacy.”
“Are we referring to the same woman? If you’re referring to Olivia Bennett, she has done nothing of the sort. She does not live with me, she lives with Veronica Hastings in the village. And she had kindly offered to give of her time to help the Hall, without asking for a penny. That hardly sounds like the freeloading gold digger you seem to be accusing her of.”
“But why would she do that?” Sir Humphrey, another of Father’s friends, asked.
“Because she cares about the Hall. She cares about the village.”
“Or is it that she hopes to become the next Lady Fitzbrowne?”
Heat steamed through his chest, up his throat, begging release in a word he wouldn’t say.Lord, help me!He closed his eyes, inhaled, then released it slowly, eyeing Lord Atwood. “Is that why Camilla visited the Hall recently?”
To his credit, Lord Atwood didn’t flinch. “She was concerned about you. As are we all.” His eyes narrowed. “Has this Olivia person ever had the management of a stately home before?”
She’d mentioned something about helping at a manor near her hometown in Australia, but he didn’t think she’d run it. “No.”
“Then what in heaven’s name were you doing giving her charge over Hartbury? Is she pretty, it that it?”
“Yes. Wait, that’s not why—”
“William, you don’t need to feel embarrassed. You are not the first man to be led astray by a young lady’s charms, so to speak.”
His neck heated. “For Pete’s sake,” he muttered, before saying more loudly, “You’ve got quite the wrong end of the stick.”
Sir Humphrey shook his head. “I don’t believe we do. There is no other explanation for why you, a man who for years has basically hidden away, content to let us steer this ship the way we best feel fit, should suddenly renounce those ways and throw himself headlong into a cause that is doomed for failure.”
“It’s not doomed. We are making progress. We need more time, but we will get there.”
