She didn’t put him in this state intentionally, simply specified what she wanted. It was also a reasonable request. He had also been truthful. Had it been any other Season and if circumstances were not what they were, he would have granted her that month. But he had made a promise to himself that he would enjoy his last Season of freedom to the fullest and that did not include tying himself to one woman for a month. By the time they parted, it would be May, leaving only six or so weeks left to fully enjoy a debauched life before he would be forced to seek out the woman he would be tied to until he or she kicked up their toes.
Except, right now he couldn’t think of widows, mistresses, or potential brides. On his mind was Octavia and the disappointment that he would not know her in the most intimate of ways.
She wanted him just as much, but he doubted that she would negotiate the terms she had set for herself, so he hadn’t even tried.
Her husband had been a true arse. A wife should not worry about her husband’s attention being divided between her and another woman, yet Octavia had suffered that during their courtship, through betrothal and within days of their wedding. No wonder she wanted to experience being the only one who mattered.
Angelo wanted to give her that month. To worship as he had said and to experience the joys of being with her, but could he give up on his immediate plans for a full month?
He nearly snorted. He’d not taken a lover since he had returned to London for the Season and that had been a month ago. There had been plenty of opportunities, but he had not been interested. In fact, it had been nearly three months since he had shared a bed with a woman, and here he was wondering if he could last a month with one woman.
He valued his freedom and the loss of such was what frightened him because it was only a matter of months when he’d enjoy that no longer. It wasn’t being tied to her for one month, but not being free to do as he wished.
“Is it true?” Shrewsbury asked as he approached.
“Is what true?” Angelo was almost afraid to find out what gossip his cousin had heard.
“That Lady Kepple is going to act as matchmaker and help you find your bride?”
Angelo bit back a smile. “We have discussed such.”
“You have a list, why do you need further assistance?”
It really made no sense that he would seek aid, but he could think of no other excuse for why he and Octavia were both in the bookshop. “She knows all the candidates and as she has warned me away from her sisters, it is only fair that she helps me in finding my bride.”
“Ah, punishment for rejecting you.” Shrewsbury laughed.
“Or I do need her assistance,” Angelo returned. “I certainly do not want my mother interfering and would rather rely on someone I can trust.”
Would that gossip fall apart if Octavia never spoke to him again? There was no reason for her to do so since he would not agree to rule number nine. Instead, he would watch as she came to know other rakes.
None of them would be good enough for her, nor would they give her what he could.
Blast! He desired her like no woman before and Angelo knew that if he did not have her, he would not be able to concentrate on other women.
Except, he had only been reacquainted with her for a sennight and just learned the rest of her rules tonight.
Perhaps all he needed was time. His obsession would certainly come to an end. She was new and had he not overheard her whisper about taking a lover he may not have even approached her.
Time was what he needed and before he knew it, Angelo was certain that he would be enjoying the Season as he had originally intended, and Octavia would be put from his mind.
“This should be enjoyable to watch,” Shrewsbury chuckled.
“Except I believe she only agreed so that I would quit badgering her, and she has no real interest in helping me.”
Shrewsbury frowned. “You seem overly disappointed. There are several ladies who would be quite happy to play matchmaker.”
Angelo glared at his cousin. “Most of them being mothers with daughters to wed. Lady Kepple has no ulterior motive.”
Chapter 14
This was for the best, or so Octavia told herself. She had not anticipated that when she decided to take a lover that she might develop an emotional attachment, which could be very dangerous. She wanted pleasure, she did not want love or even infatuation, but besides wanting Bolton in her bed, she truly liked him.
He clearly did not feel the same, which was proof that she was simply another conquest to a rake. They would have shared a few nights of enjoyment and then he would have moved on to the next widow until he finally married.
Octavia also knew that asking for a month was unusual, though she really did not know how these matters usually worked. However, when she originally decided on her plan, she had wanted a rake of her own for the entire Season. It had been a foolish idea since she couldn’t even manage to find a rake for a month.
Was she wrong in asking for more than a few nights? If so, then she didn’t wish to find a lover at all. If it was simply bed sport, she could choose any rake and likely lure him home, but she didn’t want that emptiness. She wanted a companion, friend, and lover for a limited duration of time and then they would part ways.
