Octavia glanced around quickly. There were few people near, and they were all involved in conversations or looking at the wares vendors were selling.
“Nor am I likely to do so,” she hissed.
“Likely, which is not never.” He grinned.
“Are we shopping for a shawl for your mother, or do you simply wish to irritate me?” she asked loud enough for anyone within earshot to hear.
“Why can I not do both,” he returned with a smile. “Tell me of rule four?” he asked more quietly.
Chapter 10
“Is Lord Bolton courting you?” Lavinia asked after their younger sisters’ callers were gone for the day.
“Do not be ridiculous,” Octavia responded. “Who put such nonsense in your head?”
Lavinia handed her the newssheet folded in a way that it was the first thing Octavia read.
* * *
Speculation continues with regard to Lord B and Lady K. Instead of rejecting Lord B, or walking away from him as Lady K had done thus far, she instead strolled The Bazaar with Lord B by her side. Perhaps he is not seeking his next mistress after all. Are they merely friends or is there a courtship in the making?
She tossed the newssheet back to her sister. “I wish someone else would behave poorly and create a scandal so that the ton could ignore me, and anything Lord Bolton may wish to do.”
“Do you really wish someone else suffered a scandal?” Lavinia chastised.
“No. I should not wish ill will on others, but I wish attention to be cast away from me.”
Thankfully the butler appeared with her bonnet.
“Where are you going?” Lavinia asked.
“The callers have left, and I am no longer needed here.”
Further, she didn’t wish to suffer any further judgement from her sister. “Will you be at the Chester Ball this evening?” Lavinia called as she was stepping out of the house.
“Yes.”
Octavia didn’t wait around long enough for her sister to ask anything else of her. She also didn’t wish to return to Crispin’s home just yet. While she enjoyed her privacy, it was also very quiet. Her entire life she’d lived in homes filled with people; at Crispin’s, there were only servants who were quiet and disturbed her only when necessary.
Standing on the walk, she glanced one way and then the other, not certain what to do with herself, then turned toward Piccadilly. What she needed was a distraction and a new book would be just the thing. Hatchard’s was not so difficult a walk either there or back to Bolton Street where Crispin had his home. Further, it was a pleasant day for a stroll.
Perhaps she might discover a riveting novel that would take her mind off Lord Bolton.
He was all she thought about, or so it seemed. Bolton had not been at the ball last evening, thank goodness, but that didn’t mean that Octavia hadn’t looked for him. She could have spent that time observing the other known rakes, and she did for a short time, but they were of no interest to her.
The only man that she wanted was Bolton.
He was also agreeable, so why was she reluctant to accept his offer?
Her body certainly responded to him, and she was confident that he would be an attentive lover, yet she continued to reject him because she feared others may learn.
Blast! Bolton may have already ruined her plans for the Season. Even if she didn’t speak to him again, she would be watched, which would hamper her plans on taking another lover.
Well, that would never do. She was determined to engage a lover whether it be Bolton or not, even if she had to retreat to the country so that nobody knew.
With determination, Octavia continued to walk along Piccadilly and was quite happy when she arrived at the bookshop. Not only had she enjoyed being out, but rain clouds were forming above. With any luck, the rain would be over before she needed to return home.
Oddly, it wasn’t nearly as busy as she remembered. Not that she minded as Octavia would prefer to be left alone and not involved in any conversations. She wanted to explore the bookshop and the worlds of wonder and imagination that filled the shelves. She did a slow turn, not certain where to begin as she had not arrived here with any book in mind, nor any idea of what type of book she was in the mood for reading. Therefore, she simply walked the aisles until something appeared to be of interest. Even if she did not find a book today, she was happy for the distraction from family, gossip, and Lord Bolton.
