Fredrick frowned. “I can’t promise that. If he becomes too familiar with –”
She spoke over him. “Even if he is too familiar,” she stated. “If you can’t promise that, then I shall abduct Harred and take him to Gretna Green tonight.”
“Typically, it is the man that absconds with the woman,” Harred pointed out.
She arched an eyebrow. “You are not helping, Harred.”
Harred put his hands up in front of him. “My apologies. Please proceed with your threat. It is very frightening.”
“Fine, I will not shoot your fiancé for any reason,” Fredrick conceded. “But can I at least engage in fisticuffs with him?”
Octavia pretended to consider her brother’s words. “I will allow fisticuffs,” she said, knowing full well that Fredrick wouldn’t make good on his threat.
Fredrick offered his arm. “Shall we go inform Father of the news?”
As Octavia placed her arm on Fredrick’s sleeve, she replied, “We must tell Mother as well. I know she might not remember it but I have to try.”
“I think that would be the right thing to do,” Fredrick agreed.
Fredrick started leading Octavia away from Harred and she realized there was one more thing she had to do. “Wait!” she exclaimed.
“What is wrong?” Fredrick asked as he stopped on the path.
With quick steps, Octavia hurried back to Harred, went up on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips firmly against his.
“Octavia!” Fredrick shouted.
She released Harred and said, “You must promise to call upon me later.”
“Nothing could stop me,” Harred responded.
Spinning on her heel, Octavia felt almost giddy as she declared, “Now we can depart.”
Epilogue
It had been three weeks since Harred had declared his love to Octavia and had offered for her. Three long weeks. And Fredrick had done everything in his power to ensure that they hadn’t had a moment alone with each other.
That is why Harred was resorting to such tactics as he stood outside of Octavia’s bedchamber window- in the middle of the night- with a handful of small rocks. He just wanted the opportunity to speak to her before their wedding tomorrow.
He reared his hand back and tossed one of the rocks towards her window.Clank. He waited for a moment before he took aim again.
After his third attempt, the window opened and Octavia stuck her head out. “Good heavens, what are you doing?”
“I am here to serenade you,” Harred declared.
“Are you mad?” Octavia asked. “You might wake Freddy, or worse, Fredrick. Either one would chase you out of our gardens.”
Harred smiled. “I am madly in love with you and I am willing to risk their wraths just to spend some time with you.”
Octavia’s face softened at his words. “We are getting married tomorrow and then we will never have to be apart.”
“I am counting down the moments.”
The window next to Octavia’s opened and Anette stuck her head out. “Harred?” she asked. “What are you doing here?”
“I am here to speak to Octavia,” he replied.
“At this hour?” Anette spoke over her shoulder as she said, “It is Harred. He is here to speak to Octavia.”
