A Season of Hope by Caldwell Christi

Author:Caldwell, Christi [Caldwell, Christi]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: Christi Caldwell
Published: 2013-11-26T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Ensconced in his own quarters for the better part of four hours, Marcus observed that the household appeared to have finally slept. He held a copy of A Legend of Montrose, one of Sir Walter Scott’s more recent works.

He’d read the same line over and over.

Usually, he could lose himself in the written word but Olivia, with her antics that day, had managed to weave her way into his thoughts. First there had been the snowball fight, then the chopping of the yew tree, and supper. The old duke had insisted that Marcus join him and Olivia for the evening meal.

Marcus had tried his best, citing a breach in propriety, but that had only fueled the duke’s insistence. Danby answered to no one. No, Society’s strictures didn’t apply to Danby or any of his off-spring, it seemed.

Marcus had been forced to labor through the partridge soup, baked egg Florentine, roast beef, and rout drop cakes. Olivia had sat across from him, her gaze cast down upon her plate. She’d shoved her fork around her barely touched food.

All the while, Danby had filled the silence.

Marcus closed the book and set it aside his nightstand table. Had it been that she’d been unable to stomach the sight of his hideous visage while she supped?

She wouldn’t be the first person to lose her appetite in his presence.

The thought of that stung like so many knives being plunged in his stomach.

Except, she had not shunned his presence earlier that afternoon. She’d looked at him. Talked to him. Treated him as a whole man. Something, really only Danby had done since he’d returned from war.

Even the household staff who answered to Marcus were careful to avert their gazes whenever he spoke to them. Over the years, he had caught enough glimpses of horror and repulsion that that he didn’t delude himself into believing the staff’s reactions stemmed out of respect for his position as steward.

He’d ceased caring about such reaction years ago.

Until Olivia.

He didn’t want her to look at him and see a monster of a man.

Marcus swiped a hand over his disfigured cheek. Little hope wishing for things that couldn’t be.

As it was, Olivia would remain with Danby another ten days and then would return to her parents. At which time she would wed that old bastard, Lord Ellsworth.

Marcus jumped to his feet and began to pace his quarters. He raked a hand through his hair.

He had done a remarkable job of shoving thoughts of her to the side. Lady Olivia Foster deserved more in a husband that a nearly faceless monster. Through the years, there had been moments when he had picked up a pen to write her. In the end, he’d wrinkled the parchment into a messy ball and hurled the missive into his hearth. What young lady would desire a husband whose mere appearance roused revulsion in young and old alike?

He’d thought he’d buried Olivia, along with the dreams he’d had for their future.

Then in the span of a few days, she’d gone and upended his entire world.

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