Chapter 10

"My dear young cousin, if there's one thing I've learned over the eons, it's that you can't give up on your family, no matter how tempting they make it." Rick Riordan

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Chapter Ten

Olivia struggled to keep up with Kit's quick pace as he walked down to the stable. Being so tall, his strides were much longer than hers.

Kit had thrown his valuables and a few spare garments of clothing into a knapsack and that was it. He was ready to leave his home and his family.

Olivia could not say that she knew Kit extraordinarily well. They had developed an odd sort of friendship, but they were yet to get to know one another properly. But in saying that, she could have never predicted that Kit would have this sort of anger inside of him.

Kit was frustrated with his father, and that frustration had brought all sorts of repressed feelings to the surface. Kit and Cassian had exchanged words that Olivia was certain they would regret.

On the one hand, Olivia was proud of Kit. He had never stood up for himself before. Kit had stated what he wanted. He had made the decision to follow his own passion, his own ambition, as opposed to his father's ideas of what was best. Even more than that, he had explained his reasons so beautifully to his parents.

On the other hand, Cassian's reaction had initiated the aforementioned unpleasant words exchanged. Cassian had not been able to comprehend what Kit was telling him. Instead, he had been focused on the fact that Kit had continued to see Olivia when he had been instructed not to.

Olivia knew there was bad blood between their families. But she had been a mere child when they had last met. How could Cassian dismiss her without even knowing her? How could she be held accountable for the sins of her parents?

Cassian had said that she was inconsequential, but that was irrelevant. Olivia was guilty by association in his eyes.

Olivia was rarely affected by harsh words. She was used to being called all sorts of colourful names by those who did not understand her choices, but rejection was something that did hurt her.

The wound of rejection never really healed.

"Kit, you really ought to go back there and speak with your father," urged Olivia, who was quickly becoming out of breath as she ran along behind him.

"You heard what he had to say," Kit said dismissively. Olivia could hear the pain in his voice. "I need to go, Olivia. I need to make my own way. I need to be the sort of man someone like you could be proud of."

Olivia stopped in her tracks as a childish smile spread across her face. Kit wanted her respect. He wanted her help on this next adventure. She was valuable to him. Olivia, nor her ideals, had never been much use to anyone.

Reality quickly settled back in and Olivia kept on moving. "Kit, I know you will regret leaving your family like this. I know you love your father!" she called again after him.

It was Kit who stopped in his tracks this time. He turned around and immediately captured her gaze with his intense, blue eyes. He covered the distance between them in seconds, standing only a foot from Olivia as he stared down at her.

"It is true, I do love my father," he confirmed quietly, not breaking eye contact. Olivia held her breath. "All I have ever done, every action, has been to appease my father, to show him my love and respect. I will always be eternally grateful to him. I am not ignorant of where I might be at this moment had he not shown me such kindness. But that does not mean he has the right to dictate my life for me. You, Olivia, have shown me the type of life that I want to lead, an honourable life, and I hope one day my father will accept it, and accept you. But I have no plans to wait around for him to come to that realisation." Kit smiled down at Olivia. "I want you to do this with me, Olivia."

Olivia exhaled. She had been trying to enact change, to make a difference, for years. She had never achieved anything really. She had been mocked, knocked back, and ridiculed more times than she could count. She had frequented half a dozen gaol cells and she had escaped severe punishment by a whisker.

With Kit, Olivia was certain that she could succeed. They could succeed. Kit understood what it was to be poor and uneducated in this country, and he had the money and influence to bring about real change.

No matter how Olivia screamed and shouted, her gender would always be a limitation until someone like Kit was in parliament.

Olivia had the great ability to exert confidence, and appear to others as though she had no insecurities. But she did. She had many, all courtesy of her loving mother. But Kit's faith in her, and his belief in what she stood for, made her feel more powerful than ever.

Everything her mother had ever said, every name and every cold, cruel word, mattered not. She was powerful, and someone believed in her. Kit believed in her. This feeling was intoxicating, and Olivia knew, if she was not careful, that she could easily lose her heart in this fight.

"Olivia?"

Olivia snapped out of her thoughts to find that Kit was still standing just as close to her.

"What were you thinking about so intently?"

"My mother," she answered truthfully.

"Your mother?"

Olivia nodded. Her mother was, and continued to be, a subject of great pain for Olivia. She looked up at Kit with hopeful eyes. "I would like to tell you about our relationship sometime."

Kit softened. "I would like to hear about it," he said sincerely.

"In Hertfordshire," added Olivia, who changed her tone to sound more determined, "after you win."

Kit chuckled. "You are with me?"

Olivia nodded. "Yes, I am with you," she agreed. No truer words had ever escaped her mouth.

Kit and Olivia rode to her grandfather's estate for shelter, so that they could make plans to travel in the morning.

No sooner has they crossed the threshold of Murray Park, Olivia was intercepted by her aunt.

"Olivia!" scolded Lorna. "You really must stop leaving the house without telling me." At that moment, Lorna realised that Olivia was not alone, and her brown eyes went to assess Kit. She recognised him instantly. "Mr Kensington," she greeted suspiciously, "we were not expecting you."

"I apologise for the intrusion, Miss Murray," said Kit.

"Can Kit stay here the night?" Olivia asked. "We will be leaving in the morning," she added almost inaudibly.

But Lorna heard it. She placed her hands on her hips and looked at Olivia as though she were a naughty schoolgirl. "We?" she said icily.

Olivia nodded sheepishly. Her aunt had always been too good to her. Lorna had never truly scolded her, or absolutely forbidden her from doing what she wished. Lorna always told Olivia when she disapproved, but her actions were always Olivia's choice.

"Miss Murray, if I may," interjected Kit. "I have decided to nominate myself to parliament. I will be contesting a county seat in Hertfordshire in the upcoming election near Christmastime. Olivia has agreed to help me. Truly, she is indispensable."

Olivia smiled. She was indispensable.

Lorna arched a brow. "Is he the one standing for election, or are you planning another game of dress-up? Hertfordshire is a lot farther for me to travel to get you out of prison, Olivia."

"Yes, yes," she promised. "Kit is the one who is standing, I swear."

Lorna seemed to accept the truth. "Olivia, you cannot go without a chaperone," she then objected. "And I cannot leave Papa."

Olivia's face fell. "A chaperone? I go out on my own all the time! I have never needed a chaperone!"

"You have always needed a chaperone," Lorna countered, "but I have given you freedom because I have not been able to leave Papa. Olivia, it is far too inappropriate to travel with a man alone. Think of your reputation!"

"Kit is not any ordinary man. He is my friend," insisted Olivia, "and he will protect me. Besides, whatever reputation I had was shattered the first time I was arrested. What do I need it for anyway?"

"Oh, I do not know," said Lorna sarcastically, "a marriage one day?"

Olivia knew her reputation was far too unpredictable for many, many families to want to align themselves with her, not that she cared. Marriage to any one of the hundreds of stiff gentlemen in this country would poison her.

"Well, as I have no intention of marrying, your objection has no grounds," insisted Olivia.

Olivia noticed Lorna's eyes subtly flick between her and Kit, before she pursed her lips in a sort of knowing smile. What was that supposed to mean?

"If you insist," she murmured. "Perhaps you might like to speak to your grandfather first, though. His knowledge of politics might surprise you. He is up in his sitting room." Lorna left them.

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I apologise for how short this chapter is. Literally as I wrote the last sentence I received an email that required my immediate attention. I have just been dealing with that for the past hour and I'm a bit agitated and anxious and I really am not in the mood to keep writing. I did have a bit more planned for this chapter, but I will include in the next one.

Everything should be okay!

Enjoy your days! I'll update again soon. Xxx