The Elusive Wife Read Online Free PDF

Lady Margate had died, along with the baby boy she had delivered two months early.
    Devastated, her father withdrew from his daughter, concentrating solely on his work while Olivia lost herself in music. When she reached her fifteenth year, feeling guilty at his lack of paternal interest and guidance, Lord Margate arranged for Olivia to study at a boarding school in London. A scant two years later, he’d summoned her home where she was shocked to discover that he had become a virtual recluse.
    Although she had shown promise as a classical pianist, Olivia had assumed the running of her father’s home and had put her dreams behind her. After three years, restlessness had settled in, all the way to her bones. She had feared that life would pass her by while she cared for her father’s house and had no life of her own.
    About two months ago, Lord Margate had answered her unspoken concerns when he summoned her to his library. “My dear, I’ve arranged for you to be married.”
    She’d stared at him with growing horror. Her father never did things lightly and once he decided on a course of action nothing swayed him.
    “I don’t understand, sir, has someone offered for me?”
    “Yes. Well, not exactly offered. Your betrothed is your godfather’s son.” He pushed back from his desk, glanced briefly in her direction, then rose and began to pace. “I know my announcement comes as a surprise to you, but it’s for the best.”
    “Father, no one arranges marriages anymore.” She sat with her hands clenched in her lap, the only outward sign of her distress.
    He stared at her for a moment. “Don’t fool yourself. Most marriages are arranged. Perhaps not with a total stranger, but certainly the matches made among our class are done with parental nudging.”
    “Yours wasn’t,” she said quietly.
    Turning away from her, Lord Margate stopped and gazed out the window. “Yes, you are right, Olivia. Your mother and I had a love match.” He faced her once more and sighed. “But that is rare. Very rare.”
    “I don’t understand. Why this man—a stranger to me? And why now?”
    Releasing his breath, he smiled. “I know the Earl of Coventry quite well. We were very close at one time, which is why he is your godfather. Even after we left England, he and I corresponded regularly. I know the type of man he is and the type of man his son would be. He will be kind and thoughtful, and see you are well taken care of. You’re nearly one and twenty, and need someone to look after you, provide you with children. And you need to return to England where you belong.”
    “I have the feeling you’re not telling me everything. Why now?”
    Lord Margate sat in the chair next to her, and enveloped her ice cold hands in his warm ones. “I did a great disservice to you, keeping you away from your home all these years.” He put his hand up as she started to protest. “No, hear me out. You should have been in London for a Season, presented to the Queen, and attending balls and parties. I lost interest in everything when your mother died, for which I can’t tell you how sorry I am. Now it’s too late.”
    He got up again and walked over to stand in front of the fireplace. “The doctors tell me my lungs are in grave danger of simply wearing out. They blame it on my cigars.” He regarded her, his gaze filled with love. “As much as I would like to send you to London to do all those things, I would rest much easier if I knew you were already settled with a husband and a home of your own.”
    …
    Apparently at ease with having made arrangements for his only daughter, within a couple of weeks her father had declined to a point where he was completely bedridden. He had looked so frail as he lay against the pillows, his face as white as where he rested his head. She had moved closer to him when he had waved her over. He had attempted to sit up, but she had placed a gentle hand on his chest to keep him from moving. He had grasped her hand in