Fredrick nodded. “I remember the first time that Mother forgot who I was. It hurt, and I struggled with it. How could a mother forget her own son?”
“How did you reconcile it?”
“Mother is trying her best, and we need to meet her where she is,” Fredrick replied. “She isn’t going to get better and we need to cherish the time we have left with her.”
Octavia leaned over and placed her needlework on the table. “I will admit that I wasn’t prepared when Mother forgot me.”
“No one ever is,” Fredrick said. “But you will regret it if you waste your time on needlework instead of spending it with Mother.”
“I know, but I am bonding with my companion,” Octavia joked.
Fredrick shifted his gaze to Mrs. Harper and said, “It is astonishing how much she can sleep through.”
“I have come to find her snoring soothing.”
“That is odd, Sister,” Fredrick teased.
Carson stepped into the room and announced, “Lady William Woodville has come to call. Are you accepting callers, my lady?”
Octavia was surprised that Ruth was here, considering how they had left things the last time she had called on her. But she wasn’t about to turn her friend away over a misunderstanding. “Please send her in,” she said.
Fredrick rose in anticipation of their guest.
As Ruth stepped into the room, she had a look of unease on her face and she was gripping her reticule tightly in her hand.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me,” Ruth said, stopping near the door.
Fredrick bowed. “It is a pleasure to see you,” he greeted.
Ruth dropped into a low curtsy. “My lord.”
Turning towards Octavia, Fredrick said, “If you will excuse me, I have work that I need to see to, but I hope to go riding later today.”
“I would like that very much,” Octavia acknowledged.
Fredrick offered them both a pleasant smile before he departed the room.
Ruth remained by the door and she looked utterly nervous. Octavia decided she needed to set Ruth at ease or else this conversation would go nowhere.
Gesturing towards a chair, Octavia asked, “Would you care to sit, Ruth?”
“I would, thank you.” Ruth glanced at Mrs. Harper as she lowered herself down onto the chair. “I have come to apologize. I was completely out of line yesterday and I feel awful.”
“You are kind to apologize, but, if anything, I should be the one who apologizes to you,” Octavia started. “I had no right to pry into your business.”
“You weren’t wrong and that is why I reacted so terribly. Ididn’t want you to be right. I just wanted my husband to want me.”
Octavia couldn’t help but wonder what Ruth wasn’t saying, causing her to ask, “What has Lord William done now?”
Ruth sighed as she relaxed her posture. “I am unable to get a good read on him. One moment he is attentive and kind, and the next…” Her voice stopped. “He is aloof. It is exhausting trying to keep up with his emotions.”
“Give it time,” Octavia encouraged. “You hardly know one another.”
“That is what I keep telling myself, but I just wanted an easy relationship like you and Harred have.”
With a shake of her head, Octavia said, “You are mistaken. Harred and I do not have a relationship.”
“Forgive me, but I thought you two had an understanding of sorts.”
