“Thomas,” the Duke growled. “Why is my plate empty?”
“Oh!” Thomas jumped on the spot. “I am sorry, Your Grace. I did not… I will be right back.” He hurried from the room, and the Duke watched him with narrowed eyes.
Octavia frowned at the reaction. Likely, he was just annoyed that Thomas had not served his breakfast yet. But what if there was another reason…No, Octavia. Enough of that! Do not be ridiculous!
The breakfast that followed was a rather awkward affair.
The Duke was not one for small talk, nor was he one to make the effort. He ate mostly in silence, refusing to join the conversation or looking as if he heard what was being said.
Aaron, for perhaps the first time in his life, was quiet and well-behaved. He stayed in his seat, he did not touch his plate of food, and he watched his father the entire time, a look on his face that suggested the world revolved around him.
Henry, too, was still quiet and moody, so much so that he hardly even seemed to notice the Duke’s presence.
That left Octavia to make the effort and try to turn this little surprise into one worth having.
“I was just about to tell the boys what I have planned today,” she said to the Duke.
He did not respond.
“Would you like to hear? No doubt you are curious.”
He looked at her, a warning in his eyes, but she just smiled back, not giving him the chance to intimidate or cower her.
“It is too nice of a day to spend indoors,” Octavia continued pleasantly. “So, we will be spending it outside. I want to see how advanced Aaron’s mathematical skills, so I have come up with a little game…”
She spoke pleasantly, happy to over-explain her lessons, knowing the Duke would not respond, while knowing that he listened. Despite how cold he was, how disinterested, she wanted to please him, and she wanted him to be impressed.
While the Duke was the last one to join them, he was the first to leave. The moment he finished eating, he pushed back his plate and stood.
“You’re going?” Aaron said, disappointment heard in his tone.
“I am,” he said simply, walking down the table and toward the door. “As I said earlier, I am busy today. But good luck with your lessons.”
“Thank you for joining us,” Octavia called after him. “Can we expect you tomorrow?”
He paused at the doorway, turned, and looked right at her. There was a warning in his stare, because he must have heard the mock lightness in her tone. Octavia looked right back, refusing to bow down and refusing to be intimidated. Rather, she smiled, even fluttering her eyes.
“Maybe,” he said finally. “We will see.” A final look of warning, and he strode from the room.
The moment that he was gone, Aaron turned back to his old self. If anything, he was even worse. It was as if all the energy he had not used while his father was there had built up and needed to be released before he exploded.
“Are you almost finished?” He stood on his seat and looked expectantly at Octavia. “Hurry up! I want to go outside.”
She did not rise to the bait. “When I am ready, we will.”
“But –”
“If you think to rush me, you can think again.” She looked up at him, letting him know that she would not break under his insistent badgering. “However, I do wonder how you think I am going to allow you to join my lesson before you wash your hands…”
“Oh!” He jumped down from his chair. “Yes. My hands! I…” He looked about the room, his body trembling.
“Run along,” she said to Aaron. “Once you are finished, we will be ready to go outside.”
“All right!” he screamed and then took off, laughing the whole time.
Henry sighed and pushed back his chair. “I’ll wash up too…”
“Henry…” Octavia reached across the table and took his hand. “Is something the matter?”
