Octavia thought for a moment. “Yes, it was, but do you think anyone would believe that you are only interested in friendship with a widow? You do have a reputation.”
“They will if we show them that is all we really are.”
“To what purpose?” she demanded.
“So that when you finally allow me to show you that I am a most attentive lover, they will no longer be interested that we spend time together. We will have become tedious, and they will seek out further entertainment to gossip about.”
Octavia was certain that any time spent with Lord Bolton could never be dull.
He was also certain that she would allow him in her bed.
“When we are no longer gossiped about then, and only then, will I give any consideration to your proposition.”
It was then that he grinned down at her as if he had won something and while Octavia should be panicked, instead anticipation settled in her belly.
Angelo only needed a bit more time to convince the ton that he and Octavia were merely friends and nothing more. It would be difficult, but he had no doubt that it would be accomplished. Once it was, he would be a lover she would never forget.
“Now that we have established what our future may hold, why don’t you tell me what your fourth rule is?”
“Very well.” Octavia nearly rolled her eyes. “Avoid gentlemen who seek attention or crow about their conquests for after you allow him in your bed, your name will be the first that he mentions when next in White’s. Society may believe that it is the women who gossip, but gentlemen also share what they have heard with their wives.”
“I would never crow about a conquest, nor would I ever consider a mutual night of pleasure as such. Further, I never speak of intimacies.”
She tilted her head and studied him. “Then how is it that you have such a reputation with widows.”
“It has not come from my lips, I can promise you, but I have no control over what those I have encountered say after we part.”
He stepped closer, they were alone, and he so wanted to kiss her.
Octavia stepped around him.
“I have what I have come for. Good day, Lord Bolton.”
Frustrated, he turned and followed her down the stairs to the ground floor and nearly cursed under his breath when he noted a few matrons below watched Octavia. They would notice him too, but he did not let on that he had even seen them and concentrated on following Octavia, scrambling for something to say to make the ton lose interest. If they were friends, nobody would care.
Friends! He must make everyone believe that they were nothing but mere friends.
“Are you saying that you will not assist me,” he said as he drew to her side.
Octavia frowned and looked up at him.
“You said the other day that you would be of assistance and now you will not.”
“I thought I explained.”
“Yes, but I trust your judgement more than my mother’s.”
She pursed her lips and turned away. He knew the moment she saw the matrons for her back straightened and her shoulders grew tight.
“If I agree, will you cease following me about London?”
“Yes.”
She blew out a belabored sigh. “Very well.”
“I have the list with me, and we can review it now?”
There were only two matters that had been pressing. The first was to seduce Octavia, the second was the list of misses his mother would like him to consider for marriage so he combined his two needs into one and prayed that Society believed him. He also hoped that Octavia played along, but as she wanted as much peace as he, she likely would.
