Seven
Megan Bryce To Catch A Spinster
I t had been almost a se’nnight since Nathaniel had come to her that night and Olivia was feeling quite a bit restless. Anxious. Impatient.
Oh, she saw him nearly every day. He came calling regularly, and danced with her repeatedly, and everyone in the family called him her Mr. Jenkins.
She refused to be seen anywhere else in public with him and had tried to limit one dance per night with him, but she could hardly refuse him a second one, especially as he asked when she was surrounded by her family.
She had explained that she was trying to be discreet to protect his reputation but he had merely laughed. She couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit excited and alarmed with his public attentions.
But if her Mr. Jenkins did not commit to a private rendezvous soon she was going to start screaming.
Olivia took a deep breath and smiled at Mary. She now realized why Nathaniel had been cautious in introducing her to the acte d’amour . No longer was she content with dances and kisses. She wanted more. Needed more. No wonder young women were kept oblivious to the marital act until safely married. It would not do at all to have young women chasing after men, knocking them to the ground and having their wicked way with them.
She saw Nathaniel enter the room and tried not to run to him like some lovesick ninny. She smiled pleasantly when he caught her eye and ignored her rapidly beating heart as he made his way to them.
“Mrs. Eliot, Miss Blakesley.”
“Mr. Jenkins.”
“Would you have the next dance free?”
Olivia scowled at him. “Really, Na– Mr. Jenkins. You just can’t come dance with me as soon as you walk in the door. Wander around a bit, mingle. You are giving the gossips too much to work with.”
Mary hid a laugh behind her fan. “Are you often scolded by the women you seek out, Mr. Jenkins? I’m surprised you take it so well.”
He smiled. “I don’t take it to heart, Mrs. Eliot. She insists on preserving my bachelor reputation despite my decided lack of enjoyment in it. If it weren’t for how sweetly she welcomes my company when she is not worrying what others think, I would leave her be.”
“My sister? Worrying about what others think? Sweet?”
Mary looked at Olivia and smiled so happily that Olivia shuddered. Her mother would take one look at Mary and assume Nathaniel had proposed right then and there.
Mary sighed. “Oh, Olivia.”
Olivia turned away from her. “Oh, all right. Let’s go dance.”
Nathaniel chuckled, taking her hand in his.
“Nathaniel, you are all but declaring your intentions with this tomfoolery. My family will be stricken when nothing comes of it.”
“Perhaps something will come of it.”
Her face darkened with anger. “You and I both know that isn’t true. We have an agreement. You are not holding up your end.”
“I thought part of it was wooing and winning.”
“You’ve wooed, you’ve won. Now stop it.”
“I wonder why I don’t feel as if I’ve won.”
Olivia muttered, “It is because you have not been fulfilling all your contractual obligations.”
A diabolical smile lit his face and Olivia nearly tripped over her own foot.
“Do you feel as if I have been ignoring a certain aspect of your education, Olivia?”
She chose to ignore him rather than risk looking a besotted fool and was taken completely by surprise when her mouth opened of its own volition and hissed, “A week!”
“It has seemed like an eternity to me.”
She felt slightly mollified. “Then why have you not come?”
“It was to give you time, Olivia. You were quite sore after.”
“True, but that went away quickly.”
“And then it was because I wanted to visit you.”
She thought for a moment. “You didn’t visit because you wanted to visit?”
“It does sound silly when you say it, but I do not like my passions to get out of control.”
“Ah. Yes.” She smiled. “I do turn most of the men around me into ravenous beasts.”
“You make one out of me.”
She laughed. “I don’t believe you but it is a pretty excuse.”
“It is the truth but if you won’t believe it then let’s move on from excuses and on to plans.”
Her stomach flopped. “Plans? Have you resumed control of your beast then?”
He shook his head. “I am afraid he will be in control for quite some time. I no longer care.”
“Well then, when shall I expect your ravenous beast?” And why, oh why, was that thought so titillating? Nathaniel so in passion that he lost all control?
“Perhaps tonight I can rein him in enough to not scare you.”
“Please don’t on my account. I am slightly interested in meeting him.”
Nathaniel coughed, nearly missing the next step. “Dear God.”
And Miss Olivia Blakesley, for the first time in her life, giggled.
Mr. Nathaniel Jenkins had come to the conclusion this past torturous week that Olivia Blakesley was the woman he had been waiting to marry. He had never met a woman who intrigued him more. Who could surprise him with her thoughts and conclusions. Who tormented him with her diabolical choice of dress.
He was not made to marry any young girl who thought the color orange was sophisticated. He preferred somber colors. He preferred high necks, not floating cleavage. He preferred conversation and debate. He preferred Olivia.
He wanted to marry her. They were perfect for each other. He did not in the least fear that she would have nothing to do with her day, her life, than coddle him or want him to coddle her. She had interests. Even better, she had interests that would not cost him an obscene amount of money.
Of course, he would marry her even if she wanted him to build an observatory, but he considered that highly unlikely.
She was passionate. Far more passionate than he had expected from any gently bred lady of the ton .
She was far more curious than any lady of the ton . He would need to keep her satiated, intrigued. He wouldn’t want her trying to buy other men.
A dark moment passed while he wondered if she would proposition some young buck if Nathaniel did not keep her satisfied. He shook his head. She had resorted to that out of desperation, and she was at least twenty-seven. It wasn’t as if she had begun propositioning strange men as soon as she’d entered society.
His previous vision of a cold, duty-filled marriage died around her. No sneaking off to a mistress for love, or to his club for thought-filled conversation. He could easily imagine years of happiness tucked away in the country arguing and laughing.
Yes, Olivia was perfect. And thankfully, already his.
They were meant to be.
This time Olivia had provided the blanket, and she paced beside it waiting for him. She had waited every night for a week, on the chance that he might come. She had felt like a silly ninny every night when he hadn’t. If it weren’t for his attentions during the daylight hours, she would have assumed he’d had his pleasure and was done with her. Truthfully, he had performed his obligations. They should end the whole thing.
But she didn’t want to.
When he’d told her starting a physical relationship changed things, she’d thought he’d been exaggerating. Perhaps it was simply because it was new to her, but she found herself thinking of him all day long. When he was close and she could smell him, she often thought she might faint from longing. It was embarrassing! She, of all people. Felled by passion.
Olivia exhaled loudly when he found her. He had come. The night was cool and she was glad she did not have to wait long for him, for his heat.
Nathaniel bent to one knee, bringing a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.
Olivia took a step back. “What are you doing?”
“I’m asking you to marry me.”
“Oh, Nathaniel. I can’t marry you.”
Nathaniel stared. “Pardon? Have you become engaged to someone else while I wasn’t looking?”
Olivia frowned. “Of course not. But you are simply feeling guilty for taking my...”
“...maidenhead?”
“My innocence.”
“As you said before, Olivia, you were not an innocent. Inexperienced, and I rectified that, but you were definitely not an innocent.”
True. But she couldn’t help feeling that this was a mistake and blamed it on his honor. He had ruined her for marriage, she was sure he thought so, and proposed to her out of guilt.
“Nathaniel. I can’t marry you.”
“Why not? We are eminently suited for each other.”
“I would make you a terrible wife. I have been alone for too long.”
Nathaniel shook his head.
“Yes, I have. Not even you would let me sneak outside every clear night.”
“Well–”
“And what about children? I’m not sure I’m mother material. I don’t like being constantly distracted.”
“Olivia–”
“I do like being an aunt, it’s true. But I get to go home at the end of the day. When they stub their little toes, it’s not me they go running to.”
“Olivia, I hate to mention this but we have been intimate. You may already be pregnant.”
Olivia stared at him indignantly. “I thought you had taken care of that!”
Nathaniel shrugged. “There is always the possibility.”
She sat down in silence, considering. Finally, she shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“And you’re right, I wouldn’t let you sneak outside every clear night. It’s too dangerous and I can’t believe your father allows it.”
“I told you.”
“But I would build you a tower. An observatory that you could escape to but would be safe.”
She stared at him, torn between laughter at the idea and amazement. Had he considered this already?
“An observatory?”
“With your easels out there already– a chair, blankets. You could simply slip up there and I wouldn’t worry.” He laughed. “I was just congratulating myself on choosing an inexpensive wife.”
Olivia shook her head. “It wouldn’t be the same.”
“It would be better.”
“I like helping my father with the estate. Truthfully, he hasn’t cared for the books in nearly five years.”
“I don’t see why you would have to stop doing that. Indeed, I would enjoy input from you about my estates.”
She shook her head. “I am as free as any woman could ever be. My life is exactly as I want it.”
He took her hand. “When I am with you, my future does not seem so dark. When I am with you, life is colorful and wonderful. Can you not say the same?”
She whispered sadly, “Nathaniel...”
He let go of her hand. “Think on it, Olivia. We are perfect for each other.”
She shook her head. “It’s impossible. Perhaps we could go on like this.”
Nathaniel rose, taking a step back. “Perhaps not. One day we will both tire of sneaking around.” He pointed at the hard deck. “We will tire of bruised backsides. We will tire of having to separate at the end of the day.”
Olivia said nothing, merely watched him with sad eyes.
He turned to leave and she rose from her chair quickly. “Will you not stay tonight?”
He shook his head. “I came offering you the stars and all you want is the moon. I will not settle for less, Olivia.”