Her mother had improved in the weeks since Olivia had been home. She’d gained a little weight and was able to stay awake for longer periods of time. Olivia had spent hours nursing her mother, spooning broth between her cracked lips or adjusting her pillows so she might sit.

When she wasn’t with the viscountess, Olivia spent time with Richard. The new arrangement was certainly an adjustment for Richard who had been used to having his mother all to himself. But the housekeeper had a grandson close to Richard’s age, and Olivia had encouraged the boys’ friendship. And just recently she’d employed a governess for Richard who would begin his formal education. So Richard had much to occupy him. Olivia spent her free time with him, and when she was not with him he played with his friend, spent time in his studies, or visited with his grandfather. She was surprised at how accepting her father had been of her son. She’d thought he would balk at the idea of a bastard under his roof, but he seemed to genuinely like his namesake.

They had still not told Lady Carlisle about Richard, and if she had heard the sounds of the boys playing, she hadn’t asked about it. Olivia’s father said knowing about Richard, knowing the events that must have led to Richard’s conception, would upset her mother too much. Olivia agreed. The viscountess’s health was fragile. On the other hand, she felt like she was lying by not bringing up such an important part of her life.

But then what was important changed from day to day. Jasper had been important to her, and he’d all but deserted her. He hadn’t come to call and hadn’t answered even one of the letters she’d given her father to send to him. Her father said he thought he’d heard Lord Jasper was busy with his clients. She knew Jasper didn’t think he’d be acceptable to her family, but she had thought she’d be able to convince him otherwise. He’d said he wouldn’t abandon her, but he’d done exactly that.

And it hurt. Because she did feel abandoned, and she missed Jasper so much her chest hurt when she thought of him.

She told herself he hadn’t been absent because he didn’t care. He’d done it for her own good—or some other ridiculous notion. She told herself to fight for him. She wouldn’t make disappearing from her life that easy. As soon as she had a bit more time, she would send for him or go out herself and find him.

Of course, the thought of going out was rather daunting. Withernsea was out there. Somewhere. Several times she’d asked her father if word had gotten out that she had come home, and her father had reassured her that her return to London was not widely known. Olivia almost wished she was important enough for her return to have made all the papers. She might have relished the chance to see her old friends, especially those prone to gossip, and say whatever she could to ruin Withernsea’s reputation. She would certainly like to see him scorned by London Society, but more than that, she didn’t want other girls to suffer what she had at his hands.

As her mother grew stronger and Olivia had time to reflect on her past and her future, she realized she wanted to expose Withernsea for the blackguard he was. Most people wouldn’t believe her. Or worse, they would blame her for her own rape. But if she spoke out, her words might make other girls and their parents think twice before trusting Withernsea.

Olivia herself didn’t know if she could ever truly trust another man again. She wanted to trust Jasper. She wanted to believe he would not abandon her. Deep down a part of her whispered that she was a fool. Of course, he’d left her. Why would he say with someone like her? That voice was growing louder and louder, especially when she was with Richard. Not only had Jasper deserted her, he’d deserted Richard. And Richard was the one who suffered.

“But Mama,” Richard said as they ate their toast and porridge together in the nursery one morning. “Jasper said we would see him all the time in London. Why doesn’t he come?”

She brushed a hand over Richard’s unruly hair. “I don’t know, darling. Perhaps something unexpected came up.”

“Can’t we go see him?”

“No. That’s not appropriate,” she said, though she’d been thinking along the same lines. “He must call on us.”

Richard stuck his lower lip out. “Sometimes I liked it better in our cottage. There weren’t so many rules, and I could run outside without shoes on. Nanny always makes me wear shoes. Even inside!”

Olivia gave her son a sympathetic look and rubbed his shoulder.

“And I miss Clover. Do you think she’s being cared for?”

“Yes. I wouldn’t have given her to anyone who wouldn’t love her.”

“Do you think she’s forgotten us too?” The too was obviously a reference to Jasper. Olivia understood Richard’s anger, but she didn’t want to fan it. If Jasper wasn’t to be part of their life, then she should encourage Richard to move on. She should probably do the same.

“I don’t know,” she said. “But would it be so bad if she had? I don’t want her to spend her last years pining for us. I hope she’s happy and doesn’t give us more than a passing thought once in a while.”

Richard smiled. “I want that too, Mama.”

“Now you’d better finish eating because I hear your governess has a lesson on mathematics planned for this morning.”

His face brightened. “Oh, good. I love mathematics!”

“I know. And later today you shall have to tell me all you learned.”

“I will, Mama.”

She left her son with his governess and made her way to her mother’s room. She was stopped by Dimsdale before she could reach the viscountess’s room. “Your father wishes to see you in the library, Miss.”

With a nod, Olivia turned and took the stairs to her father’s library on the ground floor. The door was open, and he looked up expectantly when she arrived.

“How is my grandson this morning?” he asked.

“Very well. He’s enjoying his studies.”

“Good.” He lifted a stack of paper from his desk and flipped through what looked like invitations. “You’ve been home a couple of weeks now and your mother is doing much better. I wondered if you might be willing to accompany me to a few social functions.”

Olivia stared at him. Then, seeing he was serious, she gripped the back of a chair before taking a seat. She clasped her shaky hands together firmly. “I hardly think you want me at your side, my lord. I’ve been gone five years, and I know there must have been a scandal when I disappeared.”

“Your mother and I managed the scandal,” he said. “We worried about you. You are home now, and you are our daughter. There’s no reason you can’t go about in Society.”

“You can’t be serious. You know I won’t be accepted. Even if no one knows about Richard, and I pray they do not, my reputation has been ruined. I can well imagine the rumors spread about me.” Feeling more confident in her argument, she stood. “Not to mention, I do not want to go out in Society. I haven’t missed the balls and the pleasure gardens and the theater.” Very well, she had missed the theater.

“Livvy, is this about Withernsea? I told you I will deal with him. There’s no need for you to live like a hermit.”

Olivia wanted to trust him, to believe him, but she couldn’t risk seeing the duke again. The very thought terrified her. “If I go out he will learn I’ve returned.”

Her father leveled a serious look at her. “He knows you are home, Livvy.”

Olivia sank back into her chair, her skin turning cold. “How did he find out?” she asked, her voice little more than a whisper.

“I don’t know. He’s never given up searching for you. Perhaps Lord Jasper went to him and—”

“No.” Olivia shook her head. “Lord Jasper would never have told him.”

“I suppose one of the servants might have been indiscreet, but we’ve had them for years. Those who gossiped were let go long before.”

Olivia shuddered. “I don’t think it was the servants or Lord Jasper.” She looked up from her hands and into her father’s eyes. “I didn’t come home because I wanted to. Not completely. I’d intended to send Lord Jasper back to London and either stay in my cottage or move Richard somewhere we’d never be found. I came home because someone else had found us.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lord Jasper found me weeks ago, but when he climbed the path to the cottage, he was attacked by a man with a knife and wounded. Richard found him, and I nursed him back to health.”

“Yes, I know some of this. Surely it was a random attack.”

“We can’t know that. A storm moved in and it rained for days. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen another storm like that. The path was washed out and we were trapped inside. No one could get to us, and we couldn’t leave. Lord Jasper had no proof the attacker wasn’t just someone hoping to rob him, but when we found footprints and evidence we had been spied upon, we suspected it was the same man or a man from Withernsea.”

“And so you came back.”

“I could have run again, but how long until I was found this time? And Richard is growing up. I can’t hide him in a dark room all day. I can’t deprive him of other children and an education. I came back to reclaim my life.” She waved a hand. “Not what it was before. I don’t want the balls and the musicales. But I don’t want to live in fear, and I want to be part of a family again and for my son to know his grandparents.”

“Then you should not live in fear. Come with me to a ball. I want you to enjoy your life.”

“And what if Withernsea is there?”

“I’ll make certain he is not on the guest list.”

She’d wanted a chance to speak to others about the duke and expose him. Perhaps this was it. And yet the thought of seeing the duke terrified her.

“What do you say, my dear?” her father asked, smiling with encouragement.

Olivia rose. “My head is pounding. I can’t think. We should discuss this later.”

The viscount stood as she went to the door. “I need to respond to these invitations, Livvy. I can’t wait any longer.”

Olivia stopped with her hand on the casement. “I trust you, my lord. Pick one, and I’ll try to make you proud.”

***

“THIS IS A FIRST, LITTLE brother.” Jasper’s eldest brother, Martin, Earl of Shrewsbury, stepped into the drawing room. The countess, a pretty blond who had prattled on the last ten minutes about the weather and fussed over the tea cart nervously, rose. Jasper stood respectfully.

“If you’ll excuse me, my lords, I’d like to peek in on Mary.”

“I’m glad to hear she’s doing well,” Jasper said.

The countess blinked at him with wide blue eyes. “Thank you, Lord Jasper.”

“I will see you at dinner, my dear.” Martin watched her go then gestured for Jasper to sit again. Jasper hadn’t ever paid much attention to his brothers’ domestic arrangements. He’d been on the Continent when they’d married, and he’d only met their wives briefly. The ladies were from good families and came with sizable dowries. That was all that seemed to matter to his father, the marquess. But today Jasper had watched Martin with his countess. And he’d paid attention when the lady had mentioned her husband. There didn’t seem to be any particular affection between them. They had married out of duty and obligation and produced a child as was expected. Since the child hadn’t been a male, Jasper supposed they would have to produce another.

“You’ve never come to call before,” Martin said. “What is the special occasion?”

“I’ve called before.”

Martin raised a brow, looking very much like their father. “When you had no other choice. We used to be friends, Jasper. I always liked you better than Hugh when we were boys.”

“Saint Hugh?” Jasper used the old sobriquet for the middle brother. “I should hope you like me better than that self-righteous prig.”

Martin smiled. “And yet I see Hugh more than you these days.”

“Yes, well, masquerades aren’t the fashion, and I scare women and small children without my mask.”

“The war changed you,” Martin said, eyes narrowing.

Jasper gestured to his mask. “As we just discussed.”

“Not only your appearance, but your personality. You used to enjoy the theater or a house party. Now you seem to prefer skulking in the shadows with thieves and prostitutes.” Martin leaned forward. “If you wanted, you could become the most popular man in the ton. That mask gives you an air of mystery that would make more than one woman swoon.”

“I have no interest in making women swoon.” There was only one woman he wanted to affect in that way. “But I do seek information about a certain woman.”

“And you came to me? Isn’t finding out secrets your specialty?”

“And how is it you think I come by these secrets? I ask the right man or woman the right questions.”

“Go ahead then.” The earl looked mildly interested now.

“What do you know of Miss Carlisle, daughter of Viscount Carlisle?”

Martin shrugged. “Nothing. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen the woman.”

Just then the drawing room door opened, and the countess stepped inside. “I’m sorry to interrupt. Shall we set another place at the dinner table? Lord Jasper, you are welcome to dine with us.”

Martin glanced at Jasper, who shook his head. The earl gestured to his wife. “Lord Jasper can’t stay for dinner, but he has a question that I can’t answer. Perhaps you can.”

The countess smoothed her already perfectly coiffed blond hair. “Of course.” She gave Jasper a nervous smile. “What is it, my lord?”

“Have you heard anything of Miss Carlisle, daughter of Viscount Carlisle?”

“Just rumors really.”

Jasper nodded. “What rumors?”

“That she’s returned to London. No one knows where she has been these past years. Some say the Continent, others speculate she ran away to Gretna Green to marry a secret lover.” As she spoke, she seemed to forget about Jasper. Her face became more animated. “Of course the Duke of Withernsea refuses to speak of her or hear her name mentioned in his presence. His close friends say he still considers himself betrothed to her.”

“I hope you aren’t associating with Withernsea,” Martin said, mouth curved down with distaste.

“I have more sense than that,” she said. “But Lord Richlieu is part of his circle and Lady Richlieu and I are both members of the Ladies Society for the Betterment of Orphans and Widows.”

Jasper almost rolled his eyes. If the ladies of the society did anything more than sip tea and gossip, he was the Duke of Wellington.

“And Withernsea hasn’t been to see her?” Jasper asked.

“No one has seen her. Carlisle keeps her locked up tightly. His wife is ill, and the family isn’t at home to callers.”

The information was nothing Jasper didn’t already know. Carlisle was obviously keeping Olivia safe. Jasper didn’t need to continue watching over her. He could go back to his old life. The thought didn’t fill him with any anticipation.

“But...”

Jasper had been about to take his leave. At the countess’s drawn out word, he stilled.

“This is rumor, you understand. What I told you before is fact, but this is...well, I don’t like to gossip.”

Martin coughed, and when his wife gave him a sharp glance he mumbled, “Excuse me” and covered his mouth with a handkerchief.

“I don’t gossip either, Lady Shrewsbury. I assure you, whatever you say to me will be held in the strictest of confidence,” Jasper told her.

She glanced at her husband, and Martin nodded his agreement. Approval given, she looked about the room to ensure no servants were present and then gave him a shrewd look. “I heard,” she said, voice low, “that Viscountess Carlisle is improved of late and Miss Carlisle and her father have accepted an invitation to a private ball.”

“Whose?”

“That I do not know.”

“But you know something else,” Jasper said, recognizing the look on her face.

“Whichever ball it is, Withernsea will also be in attendance.”

Jasper closed his hand tightly. “I need you to find out which ball it is.”

Martin shook his head. “Lydia doesn’t work for you.”

That was her name—Lydia. And for a moment he’d forgotten she was his brother’s wife and a countess. “My apologies. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“Oh, but I don’t mind,” she said, voice breathless. “It actually seems rather exciting!”

Martin looked at Jasper as though to say now-look-what-you’ve-done.

“I’ve delayed your dinner long enough,” Jasper said. “I should take my leave.”

“You’re welcome to stay,” the lady said, this time seeming to mean it.

“I’m needed elsewhere, but thank you.”

Outside the town house, Jasper felt hopeful for the first time in days. He had no doubt the Countess of Shrewsbury would discover what he wanted to know. And if Olivia was planning to go out, he would be there to keep her safe from Withernsea, even if she no longer wanted to see him.

Two days later a note from his brother arrived at his rooms. Jasper opened it, but it wasn’t Martin’s handwriting. It was the pretty script of a lady.

Tonight. Lord Forsythe’s ball.

Jasper didn’t have an invitation, but he’d never let that stop him before.