A Lord for Olivia by June Calvin

his love for the land and admiration of her abilities to manage it, her nephew was loudly quarreling with him, convinced he had deliberately provoked his sister into her resounding refusal.
    â€œNot fair,” Edmund protested. “Nor was the wager itself fair. You led me to think you had a homely, plain sister, eager to wed. Knowing her as you do, you must have been foxed beyond reason to propose the wager in the first place.”
    â€œI hoped you’d take your time with her, court her. Thought you might win her over, at least enough that she would marry to please me. But I think she refuses to marry to displease me! And then you go and insult her and end all hope!”
    Jason seemed to grow angrier and more agitated the longer they talked, so Edmund turned and walked away.
    â€œWhere the devil do you think you are going?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. It will come to fisticuffs or worse, if you go on any longer.”
    â€œOh, ho! A duel. Well, I hope you may challenge me, you card cheat.”
    Edmund whirled on him. “Take care, bantling.”
    â€œWhy? Why should I? You have just forged the last chain in my shackles. At least a duel would relieve the tedium.”
    It was at this point that Olivia and Lavinia arrived back at the door to her office. “A duel? No, no!” Olivia raced into the room. “You can’t! I won’t allow it.”
    Jason snarled. “Don’t pretend that you care a whit for me, Livvy, for it won’t fadge. I’m leg-shackled to you for life, and I’ve no taste for a long one, on such a tether!”
    Olivia shrank from the bitter ferocity of his expression. All her aunt’s fears seemed confirmed by Jason’s shouted words and livid face. Truly frightened for him, she turned an imploring face to his opponent.
    â€œLord Edmund . . .”
    â€œYou needn’t fear, Miss Ormhill. I won’t act as your brother’s executioner. I am not quite that low, in spite of your assessment of me.”
    Olivia studied his tense, almost haggard expression. He must have truly been devastated by his brother’s rejection, and my words were so harsh. Not for the first time in her life, she regretted her hasty tongue.
    â€œI must apologize for my remarks, Lord Edmund. They would have been rude in any event, but after hearing the story from my aunt, I realize I have wronged you.”
    His face softened marginally. “Not so completely as I wish I could claim. I was desperate and drunk last night, a good combination for causing a man’s sense of right and wrong to slip.”
    â€œAs my brother’s did, with less excuse. Now, Jason, I want you to release Lord Edmund from his obligation to us, and to restore his property.”
    â€œNo, I can’t accept that,” Edmund protested. “He won allfrom me, fair and square. The marriage idea was ridiculous. I should never have entered into such a bargain in the first place. What we can do, Jason, is go back to the stake I proposed first: a year of my labor in exchange for its worth.”
    Olivia and Lavinia both objected to such an idea, while Jason said with a sneer, “Which is exactly nothing, as Mr. Dutton so accurately observed.”
    â€œNot true. Did I not understand you to say, Miss Ormhill, that you needed help with your haying?”
    Olivia Ormhill once more looked disdainfully at him. “I hardly think you could be of much help.”
    â€œWhy not? I am strong and willing. I will work alongside your crew from sunup to sundown—you’ll see. And once the haying is done, I will find other ways to make myself useful through the year.”
    She shook her head, amusement lightening her expression. “You are a gentleman, Lord Edmund. What I need is someone who knows how to load a hay wain.”
    â€œWhy?” Jason demanded. “What is wrong with old Bleck and the Joneses?”
    â€œThey have found employment elsewhere, at