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Olivia pressed her lips together. James had called it a solution. She only had two days before he returned, and suddenly two days did not seem nearly long enough to decide whether marrying a duke was madness.

But what choice do I have now?

Olivia looked toward the window, where pale morning sunlight had begun to creep across the carpet. Somewhere beyond those grounds, James was presumably making arrangements for a child he had known for scarcely a day, whilst she was expected to decide whether to become his wife.

It is absurd, reckless, and possibly the worst idea I have ever entertained.

Unfortunately, it was also the first choice that felt like her own. She pressed a hand against her racing heart and thought of the baby asleep in her arms.

Two days. She had two days to decide whether to choose duty or madness. For once, she rather hoped madness would win

Then again, Olivia thought grimly, compared with marrying Lord Boulton, perhaps madness deserved a fair chance.

She looked at Louiza who had tears in her eyes.

Chapter Six

"Over here, hurry," Olivia whispered down the corridor.

Louiza came up the back stairwell used by the servants and tiptoed into Olivia's bed chamber.

Olivia had finally managed to secure a few precious minutes alone with Louiza, though even that required an amount of deception that would have made their mother scandalized.

Louiza had been kept in a small chamber at the opposite end of the house, supposedly because Lady Charnley believed separation would improve their behavior, though Olivia suspected her aunt merely wanted to prevent the twins from conspiring.

The moment the door closed, Olivia pulled her sister into an embrace, holding her tightly as though someone might appear and drag her away again.

"I have been worried about you," Olivia whispered, stepping back to examine Louiza's face. "They have treated you dreadfully."

Louiza gave a small shrug, though Olivia saw the sadness behind it. "I am all right."

"You are being made to sleep in a room scarcely larger than a cupboard and Lady Charnley has you carrying trays."

Olivia folded her arms indignantly. "That is not all right."

Louiza smiled faintly. "And you are being marched toward marriage with a man who looks as though he was born disappointed. I think I would take dealing with a mop any day."

Olivia's indignation faltered. "That is also true."

"Still, I want to take some of the burden off of you. I think we should take turns being the maid," Olivia said.

"What?" Louiza was confused.

"We look alike. Aunt cannot tell us apart. So, I see no reason not to alternate being the maid," Olivia said.

"I suppose we could try that. The other servants are very kind, it is not so dreadful," Louiza said.

"Good then it is settled," Olivia said.

They sat together upon the edge of the bed, their shoulders touching as they had done since childhood. Olivia felt a familiar ache at the thought of how quickly everything had changed. They had always been together, even when their mother had tried to separate them, and now they were being kept in different rooms as though distance could somehow make them less alike.

"If I marry Lord Boulton," Olivia said quietly, "we will be separated for good."

Louiza turned toward her. "Perhaps not."

"Louiza." Olivia's voice softened. "You know it is true. Once I am married, Mother will have no reason to keep you near me, and Aunt Jane certainly will not. Our other sisters have gone off to live their own lives, and we scarcely see them now."

The thought hurt more than Olivia wanted to admit.