The Christmas Secret Read Online Free

handkerchief.
    Olivia’s scalp tingled with foreboding. “I have a cousin—”
    Edward’s gaze turned even harder. “Thank you, madam, but I do not need your assistance in determining what is to be done. If there is no one to marry her, then I shall send her to St. Brendan’s convent in Ireland with a generous endowment. That ought to keep her out of sight. As for the child, the sisters may determine what is to be done with it.”
    “What?” Miranda said, looking stricken. Olivia felt the blood drain from her body. Mr. Tolly turned from the window, his brow furrowed with a deep frown. “What do you mean, what is to be done with it?”
    “It is a bastard child, Miranda,” Edward said. “It will be better off raised by an Irish crofter than seeking acceptance in our society. If you think that I intend to put you up and allow you to raise some bastard child at the end of my purse strings—”
    “You will not take my child from me!” Miranda exclaimed.
    “And you will not presume to tell me what I will or will not do,” Edward said tightly.
    The tone of his voice was bitterly cold, and Olivia knew from experience it would go from bad to worse. Frantic, she stepped in front of Miranda. “My lord, perhaps you might consider an alternative?”
    “By all means,” he said grandly, flourishing his hand at her. “Amuse me with your suitable alternative, for the Lord knows I am in want of amusement after this news.”
    “Olivia, I cannot give my baby to anyone!” Miranda said tearfully behind her. “I won’t!”
    Olivia willed Miranda to be silent and shifted closer to Edward, blocking his view of Miranda completely. “My lord, my father’s young cousin lives in a small manor in Wales and has four young children. It is quite remote and there is very little society. Perhaps Miranda might go there, and when the child is born, my cousin will take her in.”
    She heard Miranda gulp down another sob.
    Edward’s brows lifted. “That is your idea? Send her to this agrarian cousin?”
    He was the black cat now, toying with the mouse. Olivia never won these rounds, but she never stopped trying. “To remove her from your sight, my love,” she said. “My cousin is my father’s blood—I know she will not speak of this to anyone,” she added desperately, but Edward chuckled, as if Olivia was speaking nonsense.
    He stood up from his perch on his desk and put his fingers under Olivia’s chin, forcing her to tilt her head back so that she was looking into his cold, dark eyes. “Dearest Olivia,” he said, sighing a bit. “Do you honestly believe I would trust anyone in your family? Anyone? Was it not your family who deceived me into believing that you were the best match for me?” He lowered his head and touched his lips to hers, sending a shudder of revulsion through her. “We both know that you were the worst choice for me.”
    She wanted to claw the smirk from his face. She was aware of Mr. Tolly somewhere in the room, of Miranda whimpering behind her. “I am aware of how much you despise me, Edward,” she whispered. “But do not punish Miranda for it. She’s done nothing to you.”
    Edward’s cruel smile returned. “She will go to St. Brendan’s convent on the morrow, or she may go to hell.”
    “No!” Miranda sobbed, and collapsed, sinking down to her hands and knees. Olivia whirled around and knelt beside her, trying to help her to her feet, but Miranda was inconsolable.
    “Stand up, love, stand up, ” she urged her sobbing sister.
    “I shall marry her,” Mr. Tolly said clearly. Olivia’s heart lurched in her chest. Her gaze flew up; Mr. Tolly had appeared at Miranda’s side and exchanged a look with Olivia as he leaned down and took Miranda by the arm and pulled her to her feet. Olivia stumbled to hers, gaping at him. He was mad, quite mad, to offer such a thing, but Mr. Tolly had a firm grip of Miranda and was looking at Edward, his eyes slightly narrowed.
    Edward laughed. “ You will marry