“Then why call on me at all?”
“I wish to spend time with you where others cannot readily listen and while we are up here, they cannot.”
Happiness engulfed her and Octavia did her best to keep it suppressed but Angelo was making it difficult.
“I take it you slept well last night.”
Her face heated. “Do hold your tongue. Someone may hear!”
“There will come a time when you do not want my tongue still.”
She sent him a questioning glance. “Whatever do you mean?”
“It would be better to show you.” He led the horses into the park. “Though you did not ask, I will still tell you that I did not sleep until I returned home and once I did, I had the most pleasant dreams of you.”
This surprised her. “You did not drift off at all?”
“I did not dare. I feared that I might sleep too late and then I would be caught, and discretion would be ruined.”
“I am sorry. Had I known, I would have remained awake, or you could have left.”
“You misunderstand, Octavia. I wanted to stay and be awake. I enjoyed holding you; I had never done so before and it was comforting and peaceful.”
Her heart warmed. “Yes, it was.”
“However, when I come by tonight, our activities shall be, um, more active.”
“Tonight?” she squeaked.
“Unless you have changed your mind again.”
“No. It’s just that…” How did she explain?
“There is nothing to be nervous about, Octavia. Did you forget that I intend to worship you?”
Goodness, she wished she had a fan to cool her hot skin.
“We could dine again.”
“I have the Richards’ ball and I cannot cry off another ball or my sister would be quite cross.”
“Then I too shall attend,” he determined. “Then you shall leave, and I will wait the appropriate time as to not invite suspicion and then take my leave and come to you.”
Butterflies took flight in her stomach, and she suffered a combination of anxiety and anticipation.
“Unless you wish that I leave first, and I could be waiting for you in your chamber.”
“Oh goodness no,” she blurted out. Then calmed herself. “Servants talk, as you know. I do not know if Crispin’s servants would because I do not know them well enough, but I am not willing to take the chance. Even if they only gossip within the house, they may write to my brother, and I would rather him not know what I was doing while he was away.”
Angelo laughed. “I will wait until the servants retire.”
“The house will be dark, save for my chamber. I will keep a lamp lit.”
The ball had been agony. Octavia danced and flirted with dandies, widowers and rakes. She was freer tonight than he had witnessed in the past and wondered if it was because they had come to an agreement or maybe she was tired of being the watchful sister.
They did not dance, though he would have liked to. However, they did take a turn about the room, their heads closer together, whispering as matrons tried to overhear their discussion. A few times she would nod in the direction of misses gathered so as not to single any female out and give her hope.
Angelo should feel guilty, but he did not. Besides, he really was meeting potential candidates each day. He would dance with them or enter into a conversation just so he could find fault, decide that she would not do and cross her off his mother’s list. Of course, if one did intrigue him, he would consider her for later, but to date, only Octavia held any interest, and he was now quietly walking up the stairs of the house where she temporarily lived.
