“Where are you going?” Octavia asked.
“I also have friends here, and I believe a game of cricket is planned and I hope to participate.”
“We will also be leaving,” Leopold announced.
Octavia stared at Leopold. “I am to watch them both without the assistance of either you or Augustus?”
“Our cousin does not need to be surrounded by so many females set on marriage. He has not been a duke for so long. Therefore, we are going to visit the small golf course MacGregor added to his land and maybe play.”
“Golf!” Octavia exclaimed.
“It is only six holes as he had no room for more, but I anticipate an enjoyable competition with the other guests.”
“You must allow His Grace to be around females eventually. You cannot shield him forever.”
“I will, after he has been sufficiently warned and is able to protect himself.” With that the two walked away. Leopold treated the Duke of Ellings as if he were a child on leading strings.
Ellings glanced over his shoulder to Octavia, smiled and shook his head. He was humoring Leopold but was also likely glad to have him discourage misses intent on marrying a duke.
Resigned to the fact that she would be playing chaperone all afternoon while her brothers enjoyed themselves, Octavia strolled after her younger sisters so that they could return to Meredith and decide if they were going to participate or observe any activities.
She remembered having such friends. That had been before any of them married. Everything in her life had changed when she became a wife, and she hoped that before the Season ended that she may reacquaint herself with those she had once been close to. It was also likely that she would not be returning to her brother’s estate at the end of the Season. Crispin wasn’t expected back for months and there was no reason to give up the privacy of his home. Then she would decide what she wished to do for herself.
Octavia slowed her steps as her sisters joined Lady Meredith, but only because it was Bolton who stood with her, though at a slight distance. Why was he there and not Shrewsbury, the brother of the girl?
Actually, none of them needed to watch over the three as this was a picnic and several people were present. Though, she should still keep watch as Aurora could behave foolishly even though she was three and twenty, and Sabina, at twenty, had been the most sheltered of her siblings which also made her the naivest. Therefore, Octavia would chaperone so that neither younger sister decided to walk off with a bachelor or worse, rogue.
This was ridiculous. She stood on one side of the girls, further away and Bolton stood on the other, at the same distance. She didn’t approach because she feared what the gossips may say next, yet the distance was notable as well.
“We wish to watch the Cricket match,” Aurora announced.
Octavia nodded then followed once again until they came to the field.
Teams were being settled upon and that was when she noted Augustus and Shrewsbury preparing to play.
She did enjoy watching Cricket and found a place in the shade while her sisters and their friend whispered amongst themselves, likely discussing which bachelor they preferred. Oh, she remembered being the same and prayed that her sisters were not as foolish as she had been.
Then she set that thought aside. She would not allow them to be such.
“It is rather ridiculous that we remain apart while we are both supervising charges who are spending their time together,” Bolton said as he strolled over to stand next to her.
“I prefer not to have gossips further speculate.”
He shrugged. “They will do so whether you speak with me or not.”
She supposed he was correct, but that didn’t mean she liked it. “Why are you not playing Cricket?”
“Someone needs to watch over Meredith as her brother seems to have forgotten his duty. He likely is not even aware that Bethany has wandered off with Miss Theresa Claxton. Thankfully, Bethany is not as silly as Meredith tends to be.” He then smiled and his gaze heated. “Besides, why would I possibly want to participate in the sport when I can stand here, alone with you? You are, after all, the most beautiful woman present.”
Oh, he was a rogue, and she must remember that he possessed a silver tongue and not be swayed by his words, even though a mere glance set her heart aflutter.
This would never do. She would not be susceptible to Lord Bolton even though he may be exactly who she wanted. However, when and if that determination was made, it would be on her terms and not because she’d been seduced by a rake before he understood her rules.
Angelo had considered taking part in the Cricket game but reconsidered. After he had seen all three gentlemen abandon Lady Kepple and her sisters, he knew that the younger sisters would join Meredith, thus giving him a perfect opportunity to speak with the widow again, under innocent circumstances.
Though, each of their encounters had been innocent regardless of what the ton might believe.
He bit back a smile. The encounters may have appeared innocent, but their topics of conversation and his thoughts on what he would like to do with Lady Kepple were far from pure.
