Chapter 13

"At the very moment when people underestimate you is when you can make a breakthrough." Germany Kent

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Chapter Thirteen

The county seat in Hertfordshire was currently held by Whig politician, Lawrence Powell. From what Olivia had discovered in her brief research of Powell himself, and the seat, Powell looked after the interests of the rich men who supported him, such as merchants and bankers.

Powell did not support reform in voting, and instead relied on those with financial means to keep him in power.

It would be difficult to persuade Powell's supporters to endorse Kit instead. They had an easy parliamentary vote on their interests with Powell. Kit, however, would not be a conformist.

The Tories, however, were eager for a win. Olivia believed that the Tories thought Powell weak in comparison to some of his other Whig colleagues, and as such, vulnerable to losing his seat. Powell was noted for having a few scandals attached to his name, mostly involving women that were not his wife. Of course they had been hushed away, but discretion in the first place would have solved the problem of a tarnished reputation.

Staying faithful to his wife in the first place could have also helped the situation.

Olivia was confident that if Kit could look after the interests of these rich men, he could achieve real change.

Perhaps it was premature, but Olivia had already written ahead of Kit's candidacy. Of course she had not received a reply as they were so soon departing, but Kit was an excellent choice in candidate.

He was highly educated. He was the son of a respected businessman. He had also been knighted by the King over the summer. Olivia hoped that Kit's reputation would be enough to secure more votes purely so that he did not have to bargain with leeches.

As the carriage moved into the city of Hertford, Olivia knew they were in the heart of the seat that Kit would be contesting. He would convince these people to put in him power. He would be the beginning of change, and Olivia would be right alongside him.

She could feel the nerves in her stomach flutter and the reality startled to settle in. This was it. Everything she had ever hoped to see come to fruition would start today.

Olivia stole a glance at Kit, whose eyes were fixed on his window as she watched the city go by. Olivia felt so attached to Kit already, which was a very confusing feeling. Olivia had effectively handed Kit all of her hopes and dreams, and to potentially fail again was heartbreaking. But she felt as though the attachment was quickly growing into something more daunting. Neither her mother nor Aunt Lorna had ever explained things to her properly, but Olivia knew what it was to find a man attractive.

She had known it eight years ago when she had given Kit her very first kiss.

What was even more frightening to Olivia was the fact that she felt that desire resurfacing, and there was only one direction in which they could go if she gave into that desire.

Wife. Mother.

Olivia wanted so much more than that. Her life was not meant to be like every other girl's. If it was, then she would not have been born with the spirit that she had. She was meant to be a champion, not a politician's wife.

Kit turned towards her suddenly, his excited green eyes catching her staring at the back of his head. "What do we do now?" he asked her.

"We get to know the people. Your people," replied Olivia.

It was not long after Kit and Olivia's arrival in Hertford that the Tories did announce Kit as their candidate for the next election. Kit's reputation spared him from needing to meet with the senior parliamentary members. They did not have to know of his true ambitions ... yet.

The flurry of interest in Kit was suddenly extraordinary, but Kit handled it beautifully.

He did exactly as Olivia said. He got to know the people. In order to drum up popular opinion of his character, and therefore to interest those who were financially able to vote in the election, Kit canvassed by visiting the churches, schools, and hospitals. He listened to their concerns, and often proposed careful solutions.

Kit needed to be clever. He needed to listen to and support these people, but he could not promise them the world in a way that would discourage the rich from pursuing him as their MP.

Olivia hated that part. But she understood the rules.

Olivia did her best to help him in this endeavour. She spoke highly of her friend, and informed everyone who would listen of Kit's fine, fair character. But the question she received most often vexed her.

"Are you Mr Kensington's wife?"

"No," she always replied, "I am Mr Kensington's political advisor." To which Olivia received smirks, grimaces, and looks of utter confusion.

Nevertheless, Kit's popularity was immense, and it grew by the day. They had only been canvassing in Hertford a fortnight before Kit was invited to dinner by Mr Frank Hadley, the wealthiest banker in the county.

Olivia had not been expressly invited, and had not intended to go. She did not want the rudeness of arriving uninvited to take away from the importance of the evening for Kit. But Kit has insisted that she accompany him, and had written to Mr Hadley expressly requesting an invitation for his political advisor as well.

Olivia could not pretend that she was not terribly flattered that Kit referred to her as such as well.

Olivia dressed in the best gown that she had brought with her. It was red, and perhaps too dramatic a colour for dinner, but her mother had picked the fabric a few years ago when she still cared about Olivia's affairs. Olivia liked it nonetheless. Olivia wore only a golden cross around her neck and a red ribbon in her hair as her accessories.

Once she was ready, she sat down at the writing desk in the little hotel in which they were staying. Her room was small, but comfortable. Kit was staying in the room next door.

Olivia looked over herself once more in the mirror. Perhaps her choice in dress was a little too theatrical. These were serious, conservative men that she was to converse with this evening. Olivia ran her fingers over the soft, linen skirt and grabbed a fist full of the material in her hand.

She could almost hear her mother telling her she was ridiculous.

"What I wear is of no consequence," decided Olivia. "It should be what I have to say that is important."

While she waited for Kit to collect her, Olivia opened the letter that had arrived from her aunt while they had been out canvassing that day.

It read:

Dearest Olivia,

I was so glad to receive your letter, and to hear that you were well and had found somewhere safe to stay. Papa is glad, too. I explained it as best I could. I believe he thinks you are downstairs, the poor dear.

I hope you are finding Hertfordshire to your liking. I hope the people are receptive and the outcome is favourable. Might I again remind you not to don male clothing and vote in the election yourself. Hertfordshire is a little far for me to travel to pay for your bail. Perhaps if you plan on doing anything reckless you might allow me to speak to Mr Kelly about it first.

Olivia stopped. She wondered if her aunt was wanting an excuse to talk to the charming magistrate who had so rattled her in their first meeting. Olivia continued.

Mrs Kensington came to visit me today. She calls herself Faith now, but I did know her as Anne all those years ago. She wanted to know if I had received any news from the two of you. Could you please ask Kit to write to his poor mother? Whatever happened between him and his parents, he owes them news of his safety. She looked so heartbroken, the poor lady, and in her condition, too! I would wager she has not two full months before the child comes.

Olivia had not the heart to ask Kit over the last two weeks if he had written to his family. He had not mentioned them, and Olivia knew it would be a topic of soreness if she were to bring it up. But thinking of her aunt so sad, and so far along with her child, Olivia knew it was the right thing to do.

We love you and miss you, dear girl. We think of you often, but never have to wonder what you are up to. You are off changing the world. I am proud, no matter how you vex me at times.

Be safe.

All my love,

Lorna

Olivia folded her aunt's letter and put it away. She would reply in the morning. She and Kit needed to get through this evening successfully, and then she would broach the subject of him writing to his own family.

Just as she stood up from the desk, there was a soft rap on the door. Olivia rose from her chair and answered it. Kit was standing there, straining his eyes to look down at his untidy cravat.

"I don't know what is wrong with this bloody thing," he cursed, "but it will not tie correctly."

Olivia immediately saw the problem. Kit was nervous. "Your hands are shaking. Let me." Olivia brushed Kit's hands away, which led to him looking away from his cravat and at Olivia.

Kit's green eyes immediately widened. "You ..." he gasped.

Olivia stepped away bashfully. Perhaps she really ought to change. She had been called a devil child a dozen times. Perhaps wearing red would only encourage such thoughts. "My mother ordered it several years ago ... said it went with my hair ... I don't know. What do you think?"

Kit cleared his throat and managed to compose himself. "I think you look perfect," he said sincerely.

Olivia felt her cheeks turn the colour of her dress. "Let me sort that cravat out," she said, changing the subject. She had lots of experience fixing cravats. Her grandfather needed the help as his fingers were not as nimble as they once were. She quickly tied it at his collar and stepped backward to admire her work. "Now you are perfect, too."

Kit did look very dashing. Like Olivia, he had adorned his best suit. Of course, he had barely brought anything with him from Derbyshire, and so his best suit needed to be purchased. His breeches were far too short, owing to his height, but they were carefully concealed inside his newly polished boots.

"Shall we?" Kit offered Olivia his arm.

She nodded, and accepted it, and together, they left her room.

The journey to Mr Frank Hadley's home was short. He lived in close proximity to the city, and to his bank. His house was the finest townhouse on Dudley Street, and several carriages were stationed outside. This was to be quite the affair.

Olivia could see that Kit's hands were shaking again. She immediately took his hand to calm him as they stepped out onto the street. "You only need to do what you have been doing this past fortnight. Making these people trust you."

"Only?" Kit replied sarcastically. "I don't want to be a puppet, Olivia."

"Then don't be!" she retorted. "You are open to negotiation, but you have your own principles. We have practiced this," she reminded him. "I will not leave your side," she promised.

Olivia felt Kit hold onto her hand even tighter. "Good. Don't."

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I was going to include the dinner in this chapter then I realised how long it was already and thought I would have to leave it for the next one!!

I have an assignment to do tomorrow, but if I get it finished early enough I might be able to write again. If not, it will hopefully be Saturday. If not then, I have 5 days off over Easter! Either way you'll get another chapter soon!

This will be my first assignment since October! I have 7 assignments left of my Master's Degree, and one of them is my thesis. I'm scared!! I am so close to finishing guys! Do you realise this time next year I will be close to finishing Term 1 with my very own class! And hopefully I have my own class and someone hires me! I am so ready to be done with school. This is my 6th year of study!

You guys, and I'm throwing it wayyyy back, first met me as I was finishing Year 11 in high school. I've grown up a lot since then. I was actually thinking about this the other day. I was walking down my stairs and nearly fell down them because I was so mind blown. But I've graduated from high school, a diploma, a bachelor's degree, and nearly a master's, been working this whole time, and have written over 20 novels in just 7 years. I think that deserves another holiday. Byeee, off to Europe again!

What a ride. Thanks to my OG readers - I still see you voting. I remember your screen names from way back! And thank you to the new ones who have joined me along the way. Welcome to my end of chapter ramblings. They are always so invigorating.

And I'm still getting new ideas. I think I will be teaching and writing. Perhaps I'll have to space them out over school holidays but I still enjoy writing for you. I've had ideas for two other books outside of this series that have been stuck in my head lately. One set in this time period with a heroine unlike any other I've written. And another one set in medieval times. I'm not sure if I'll write that one as I'm not as familiar with that time period as I am with this one.

I watched Braveheart and this story came to me and I can't get it out of my head. Damn you Mel Gibson.

Okay, that's enough for now. I'm off to fix my pedicure. I didn't cure one of my toes for long enough and the polish has crinkled. Don't you hate that? Girl problems.

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