25.
~ Olivia felt giddy when she woke up the next morning. Her steps seemed lighter as she almost flew downstairs where she knew Harold would be waiting for her at breakfast. She had expected to have the meal alone with him and was surprised to see Eames and the object of her affection talking quietly. The two men's heads bent down and their voices low and serious.
She was disappointed she could not be alone with Harold. She wanted to talk to him about last night and that kiss that had sent happy dreams to her.
"Good morning, gentlemen." Olivia said pleasantly as she sat next to Harold who looked uncomfortable.
"Morning." the younger man said as Eames started to eat his breakfast and ignored everyone else.
"I see the rain has stopped." Olivia said conversationally as she helped herself to a cup of coffee.
"Harold will be taking you back to London after we've eaten." Eames said gruffly.
Olivia almost dropped her cup in shock and Harold glared at the older man.
"What? So soon?" she asked and gave Harold an imploring, confused look.
"I'm afraid something has come up that will require our immediate attention, Miss Bradford." Harold said reasonably. "It's nothing that you've done, in fact, we've loved having you here." he went on and Eames didn't bother to hide the sourness in his own face.
"What's happened, if I may ask?" Olivia said with a shaky breath.
"Personal business." Eames said sharply. "The time has come for you to go back to America. You came here for answers about your mother and I gave them to you. Now, it's time for you to return to your father's house and attend what ever silly all girls finishing school he's no doubt sent you to."
"I completed finishing school years ago, you great oaf." Olivia snapped at Eames who looked happily surprised by the outburst.
"Olivia-" Harold said calmly.
"I'll start packing." she interrupted and stood up.
"Wait." Harold called after her as she all but fled the dinning room.
She was trying to hold back hot, angry tears at the idea of being driven from her mother's house like this. Of Harold and Eames rejecting her. How could she have been so stupid as to think that Harold would want her to be his bride? Want her for anything other than a novelty or a distraction from his no doubt tedious life of looking after Eames and Felicity.
"Olivia, please wait." Harold called as she tried to out race him to the stairs and he quickly caught up with her.
"Don't!" she snapped at him and pulled away.
"Look, I apologize for how Eames is acting right now." Harold said sadly. "Something has come up with Felicity and he's angry about it. It's nothing to do with you."
She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to look indifferent.
"Although, I think he liked you calling him a big oaf." Harold teased. "So few of us can get away with it."
He was grinning at her and she refused to give into his charms.
"I ned to pack. If, in fact you mean for me to leave." she said stiffly.
"I think it's best." Harold said.
She looked at him in surprise. What he had said last night, that wasn't true? He didn't mean to court her; marry her?
She pretended not be wounded as Harold tried to take her hand as they climbed the stairs to her room.
"I'll have the driver take you to the train station. If your plans to London are flexible, perhaps we can have dinner in Town." he offered.
"You won't be taking me back to London?" she asked.
"I'm sorry. This is a delicate matter with Felicity." he admitted sadly.
"I see." she whispered.
"Olivia, please stay in London a few more days." he said and tried to take her hand again.
She moved away from him and clutched the hand he sought in hers. Not wanting to grant him the privilege of pretending they were more than what they were.
"We can talk more then." he said hopefully.
"Talk. About what you said last night?" she said in a mocking voice.
Harold looked wounded.
"I meant what I said last night. I've come to have great affections for you and want to see you more socially." he said in a calm, well practiced voice.
"More socially than here?" she asked as they stood outside her rooms and Harold, out of respect, stayed out in the hall. His feet rooted to the doorframe but not allowing himself the temptation of entrance into her bedroom.
"I think it would be easier if you were to stay in London. Away from Eames and Felicity." Harold said gently as she packed her small traveling bag.
"No matter." Olivia said briskly. "My funding is such that I would hardly be able to afford a few nights of decent lodging, and the trip home. I'll be gone soon enough and you can find another diversion."
"Olivia." he said and stepped over the thresh hold of her bedroom, closing the door behind him and shutting them off from the rest of the world.
"What are you doing?" she breathed as there was man in her room. She was alone with a handsome, young man in her room who had kissed her and spoke of bedding her as his newly minted bride.
"I'm sorry you're so upset. I never meant for it to be this way. Stay in London a few days, please?" he asked.
"Harold, you should leave." she whispered and felt her cheeks heat up.
"You can stay at my house until your ship leaves. What we have to do with Felicity won't take longer than a day at most." he promised.
"What is it you have to do with Felicity?" she asked. Suddenly curious about this strange turn of events.
"It's nothing that concerns you." he said sadly.
"She's my sister." Olivia told him.
Harold looked troubled.
"Felicity," he said in a tragic sort of voice. "she's always been different. I'm sure you've noticed that."
"Yes. She's very high spirited." Olivia offered.
"We have to make plans for Felicity." Harold confessed.
"What do you mean?" Olivia asked. "For school?"
"No, not for school."
Olivia didn't understand.
"She has these moments." Harold told her. "It's important to keep her sheltered."
"I don't understand." Olivia told him.
"Felicity... Eames doesn't want her to leave Blue Rivers." Harold said with some difficulty. "I've convinced him to send her to a place in Town. Just for a little while."
"You're sending her away?" she asked.
"Yes." Harold told her sadly.
"I've barely met my only sister, my only blood link to my mother, and you want to send her away?"
She shook her head. This wasn't what she wanted for her sister. How could Harold do such a thing? Why would he send Felicity away? There was nothing wrong with her. She was just like any other teenage girl with too much freedom and money. Surely they didn't think a boarding school at her age would do any good.
"Olivia, it's complicated." Harold sighed.
"It's not." Olivia said feeling tears bloom in her eyes. "It's not complicated at all."
~ Felicity woke up to voices. Muffled voices coming from the next room. They were not as clear as the voices the entered her mind during her bad spells. Those voices were like little black birds who perched on her shoulder and squawked hateful things to her.
'Mother died because of you. Papa never loved you. Harold hates you. Olivia is going to take your place, Julian used you.' the black birds cawed at her.
She pressed her ear to the wall and heard the voices saying her name.
"Harold, Felicity's just young, she'll grow out of it." Olivia was saying.
"No, it's past that." Harold's voice was sharp. "We've made arrangements for her to go tonight."
Felicity felt her blood run cold. Everything the black birds had told her was true. They didn't love her. They were going to send her away and forget about her.
She backed away from the wall, hating the cage of Blue Rivers now. She hated Papa and Harold and most of all, Olivia. She would kill her before she ever accepted her as Harold's wife and her sister-in-law.
The hatred she felt for the whole of her family was so bitter and sour, she almost vomited.
Instead, the air felt tight and claustrophobic.
"I won't go." she whispered. "I won't go."
She was quick to throw open her closet and locate her traveling bag and necessary papers. Money was not the problem for her Harold always thought it was. She wasn't nearly as frivolous with cash as he believed. She spent her money, but was quick to forget she even had any. Often calling her brother in a panic to ask for more and never realizing she had hundreds of dollars in the beaded evening bag she kept for emergencies.
She counted out enough cash to take her almost anywhere she wanted, finished packing her light bag and left Blue Rivers without notice.
The path that lead to the train station wasn't used as much since cars had become more popular and Felicity enjoyed a nice walk.
She had time to change her mind and go back home. Plead her case to the men who hated her and wanted her gone.
"No." she whispered to the black crows who flew around her head. "No, I'll go and stay with Philipa and then I'm off to America. I'm almost of age now. Papa can't tell me what to do."
She bought a ticket to London, and had plenty of time to make a getaway before Harold, still too enamored with Olivia, even noticed she was gone.