Chapter Thirteen
The next morning, Kitty made her way down the stairs to the first floor, nervous. She hadn’t seen Oliver since his mother had interrupted their conversation the previous evening. In some ways, it was good that she hadn’t. Their discussion had been close to ending in a full-blown argument.
Instead of going to his bedchamber, she’d gone to sleep in her own, leaving the door unlocked between their rooms. Oliver had stayed on his side.
Kitty supposed it was for the best. She did want to discuss the illicit books with him further, but first, she’d needed time to think.
It hurt that his first solution had been to step away from selling government-banned books. He knew nothing about it.
So many women relied on the books sold at Larson’s Bookshop. Kitty wouldn’t stop selling them. She couldn’t.
She reached the first floor and continued down the hallway. Chatter from Hazel, Julia, and Anna drifted out of the breakfast room. Kitty wondered if Oliver was in there as well.
Taking a deep breath, she walked through the doorway. Her sisters and Julia beamed at her, oblivious to the events of the night before. Eloise sat closer to them, and Oliver was at the head of the table, obscured by a large newspaper.
“I’m glad you made it to breakfast, Kitty. You must be feeling better,” Hazel stated.
She flushed. Would she ever escape her lies? Oliver lowered his newspaper slightly. His piercing blue eyes studied her. She wanted to understand what he was thinking, but his impassive expression revealed nothing. Her heart cracked, wondering if this was how it would be between them now.
“Good morning, Oliver,” she tried.
His eyes flared momentarily with warmth, but then it was gone. Hurt followed by annoyance coursed through her. Oliver had never been so distant around her. She didn’t like it. But it was you who kept secrets, her mind mocked her.
She bit her lower lip guiltily. Her husband’s gaze dipped down to her mouth, and her body began to hum. Desire didn’t care if she and Oliver were in an argument.
He cleared his throat. “Good morning.” Then he yanked the paper back up, and she could no longer see him. She glanced at everyone else at the table, who frowned at their exchange. Oliver was being intentionally short with her and not hiding it.
“Come sit next to me, Kitty,” Eloise said, smiling.
She joined her mother-in-law, who was being far kinder than she expected. Did she know?
The staff placed a plate of fruit and eggs in front of her, and Kitty ate, hoping Oliver would engage with her at some point. But he remained firmly behind his paper, apparently absorbed by current events. She wanted to stomp over to him and pull it down.
“Kitty, are you going to the bookshop today?” Anna asked.
Oliver clutched his paper tighter, and Kitty realized he was using it to ignore her. Her annoyance spiked higher. “No, I plan to spend my day here.”
“I want to look at the new books,” Anna sulked.
“We can go in a few days,” she assured.
Oliver stood suddenly, and all their gazes flew to him. Her husband wore a deep blue jacket and trousers today. He looked wonderful. She tightened her hands on her teacup, trying her best to appear indifferent.
His gaze flitted around the room before landing on her. “I have an appointment but shall return late this afternoon.”
She didn’t know what to say. He also seemed unsure and a little restless as he nodded to everyone before he strode from the room. Unable to stop herself, she rose and followed him out into the hallway. “Oliver.”
He stopped and turned back to her.
“Shouldn’t we discuss this?”
Walking to her, Oliver said, “My meeting is with an investigator.”
“I can tell you whatever you need to know about the books.”
Her husband shook his head. “It is to learn what your uncle has been up to.”
She blinked, startled. He reached out and stroked her cheek; sadness flitted across his face. “I know you didn’t trust me before, and we do have a great deal to talk about, but first, I’m determined to ensure he doesn’t ever bother you again.”
“These books and the women who buy them are important to me.”
He pinned her with a disappointed yet stern stare. “Yet, you decided not to share such a significant part of your life with me.”
“You are the Marquess of Everly. I was trying to shield you and the title from scandal. You don’t understand what it is like to live with a secret.”
He shook his head and let out a heavy sigh. “The Everly family is not perfect, but we protect each other. Still, in order to do that, we have to share.”
The guilt settled in Kitty’s stomach, and she hated the feel of it. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Let’s take some time apart and then speak later today.”
She watched as Oliver strode down the hallway into the foyer and out the front door. Was he angry? Or hurt? Kitty sighed and re-entered the breakfast room, plopping down in the chair she’d left.
Hazel asked, “Is something amiss?”
“My son found out about your sister’s illicit book publishing. They are having a row.”
“How long have you known?” Kitty, surprised at her statement, asked Eloise.
“Since before you wed. Every lady of the ton who wants to acquire an illicit book knows.”
“I didn’t,” Julia interjected.
“I’ve made a mess of things, but I was trying to protect you all from scandal. I imagine it was hard enough to accept my family into yours because my father was a merchant and held no title.”
Julia snorted and glanced at her mother. “Kitty, it seems you aren’t the only one omitting information.”
Confused, Kitty asked, “What do you mean?”
Eloise smiled. “I’m the daughter of a tavern owner. I met Oliver’s father serving ale to him. His parents made up a new background for me when my husband refused to give me up.”
Kitty could feel her eyes widen at the revelation. No! Was it true?
Anna covered her mouth and giggled. “You are tricking the ton.”
Eloise winked at her. “I am.”
How did she pull it off?
Her mother-in-law smirked at her. “Lords and ladies only see what they want to. You will learn, my dear, this family is very good at keeping secrets from the London gossipers.”
“I would have never guessed,” Kitty said.
“Didn’t Oliver tell you when he showed you our wall of ancestors? The family is riddled with scandals.”
Kitty’s face heated as she remembered how she and Oliver left his tour of their family wall to head to his bedroom before he could tell her about more than a few people.
Now she wondered if—had they stayed there—if she would have learned their secrets and been compelled to tell him her own.
All this would have been avoided. She shook her head in disbelief.
Eloise smiled at her reassuringly. “I think you shocked Oliver, but don’t worry. He will make sure you are protected.”
“He suggested that the business shut down the underground portion of our book publishing and sales,” Kitty revealed.
Eloise raised her brows skeptically. “He won’t. Oliver would never be so high-handed. If he said that, it was out of anger or confusion.”
“You should show him what it is like and explain how helpful it is to so many women,” Anna suggested. “Women of the ton and from all walks of life.”
“I want to go!” Julia exclaimed.
Eloise shook her head. “First, let Kitty introduce your brother to what it is all about.”
So it was decided. Kitty would bring Oliver to the warehouse and explain the books. He would understand; he had to. She glanced at Eloise, still somewhat shocked. She had worked at a tavern.
As if reading her thoughts, her mother-in-law turned and winked at her. “We Everlys are good at keeping our secrets quiet.”
Oliver sat in Benton Smith’s office as the man paced back and forth.
He’d just come from Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s establishment.
She’d provided him with information on Dominic Larson and an investigator who could look into him further.
What he learned was that Kitty’s uncle had been spending money at an alarming rate. He would be back to bother her.
“I can’t believe she didn’t tell me he was blackmailing her. We talk about everything,” Smith exclaimed. His words were mixed with hurt and anger. Oliver wasn’t the only one Kitty had kept secrets from.
“I think she hoped he would go away permanently, but I just visited the Lyon’s Den and spoke with the proprietor. She had a great deal of information on him. He is known to spend at an outrageous rate. I’m certain he will ask Kitty for more.”
Smith poured two glasses of brandy, handing him one. “I have no doubt. He was always harassing Kitty’s father for money. Where is Kitty?”
“We are not on the best of terms after she revealed everything.” Oliver hated saying the words aloud. It caused a searing ache in his chest. His wife had not trusted him enough to share something that meant so much to her.
Smith took a sip of his drink and frowned. “Kitty worried that the books would create a great scandal for your family. I’m sure even more so with Dominic skulking around.”
“The Everlys are rather adept at keeping secrets. I wish she had told me.”
“Are you quarreling?”
He wasn’t sure what they were doing. “I suggested we shut down the line of illicit books.”
Smith shook his head. “You will break her heart. It means everything to her.”
“My suggestion might have been ill-informed and certainly not what she wanted to hear.”
Kitty’s solicitor smirked. “You need to see the books and understand how much good it provides. If you do, shutting it down would seem irresponsible and reckless.”
“I said it out of anger, if I’m being honest. I was hurt she kept something she cares about so deeply a secret from me.”
“My lord, I can assure you it was only to protect your family name.”
He nodded, agreeing with Smith. “Please call me Oliver. I hope we can be friends.”
Kitty’s lawyer and trusted family friend smiled at Oliver. “Call me Benton, then.”
That evening, Oliver arrived home much later than he anticipated.
He’d visited with the investigator and stayed much longer than he’d planned.
As he strode down the hallway, he was shocked by how quiet it was.
Everyone was likely at some evening event somewhere in Mayfair.
He almost walked past the drawing room, but caught a glimpse of Kitty curled up on a sofa.
Oliver stepped into the room, and she sat up.
His wife was a beautiful sight. She still wore her day dress, and some of her dark hair fell down her back.
She bit her lip and studied him, ready to fight if he wanted to, but he could see the sadness in her eyes.
She didn’t want to argue any more than he did.
Sighing, he sat on the edge of the sofa, wanting to be near her even though they were not on the best of terms. “I don’t want to fight, Kitty.
Yes, I am hurt that you kept something from me.
But I would never try to stop you from doing something you believe in so strongly. I just wish you had told me earlier.”
She seemed to sink a little into the sofa, as she released the tension she must have been holding. “I’m sorry. I worried about your family’s title and the impact this would have if it was revealed. Then Uncle Dominic was around, threatening to go to the papers.”
He nodded. “We barely know each other. In some ways, I understand why you kept it a secret, but know, Kitty, that I love you. Scandal be damned.”
She smiled at him. Oliver reached for Kitty, pulling her into his lap. “I mean it. Even if it does come out, I would endure any scandal for you.”
“I love you,” she said, cuddling into his chest with her head under his chin. She fit there perfectly, and he was glad he’d made the decisions he had instead of just responding in anger. He could have lost this wonderful woman.
He kissed the top of her head. “I met with several people today, including your solicitor, Mrs. Dove-Lyon, and an investigator. I should have taken you with me. I’m sorry.”
Kitty shook her head. “No, I trust you.”
“Your uncle is spending money at a rapid rate. According to Benton, especially, he will most likely be back to bother you. But this time, I plan to meet with him and put a stop to his blackmail schemes.”
She burrowed into him further. “I should have told you sooner.”
“I hate that you and your sisters’ last living relative is so awful.”
Kitty lifted one of his hands and kissed the knuckles. “You are my family now. I couldn’t want for more than you, your mother, and Julia.”
He pulled her close. “Will you do me a favor?”
“Anything, my love.”
“Come upstairs with me. I slept like rot without you by my side. I’m exhausted.”
“Me too,” Kitty said as they untangled from each other and stood. Oliver grasped her hand, not wanting to let her go. “We will sleep, and then tomorrow morning you will explain your specialized publications to me.”
Kitty beamed. “I would like that. We will go to the bookshop and printing press warehouse.”