The sound of Freddy wailing could be heard in the distance.
“It would seem that someone is proud of themselves,” Fredrick acknowledged with a smile.
Octavia turned towards her father and asked, “How is Mother faring today?”
All traces of humor vanished from her father’s countenance. “She keeps stopping mid-sentence because she forgets what she was speaking about,” he said. “It is not a good day, I’m afraid.”
“The doctor did warn us that she would get progressively worse towards the end,” Fredrick advised.
“Yes, but we do have a problem,” her father remarked. “Your mother is confused and she is adamant that she wants to meet Octavia’s new husband.”
“But I don’t have a husband,” Octavia said.
Her father nodded. “The doctor believes that she has internalized Roswell’s marriage but has conferred the thoughts and feelings onto you.”
“Oh, dear,” Octavia muttered. “What are we to do?”
Fredrick’s next words were so out of character for him that she feared she’d misheard him. “I think we find Octavia a husband, and quickly,” he said.
Octavia placed a hand on her hip. “Pardon?” she asked, daring him to continue. He couldn’t possibly mean that, could he?
Her brother put his hand up, no doubt in an attempt to still her anger. “Hear me out first before you reject my idea.”
Octavia arched her eyebrow but she didn’t say anything.
“Mother is dying and we don’t want to upset her in her final days,” Fredrick said. “We could ask Lord Kendal to play the part of a devoted husband.”
“Why would he go along with such a charade?” Octavia asked.
“If we explain our reasoning, I do believe Harred wouldn’t take issue with it,” Fredrick said. “Besides, you would only have to meet with Mother on a few occasions.”
Octavia bit her lower lip before saying, “I do not like the idea of lying to her.”
Fredrick placed a hand on her shoulder. “Just think of it as a tender mercy,” he said.
“I think it is a brilliant plan,” their father interjected.
“You do?” Octavia asked.
Their father’s eyes held a profound sadness to them. “I normally do not condone lying, but your mother’s grasp on reality is gone. I say we give her some peace right now.”
Octavia could understand where her father and brother were coming from. And she would do anything to help her mother, even if it meant she would pretend to be married to a man that she had only just become acquainted with.
“Very well,” she said. “I will do this for Mother.”
Fredrick smiled broadly, almost too broadly. What was her brother up to?
Chapter Five
The sun was high in the sky as Harred exited his coach and stood in front of White’s. He had received a message that Fredrick wanted to meet with him here. It had better be important because he had much more work that he had to see to. He didn’t have time to dilly-dally at a gentlemen’s club. If so, he was no better than his brother.
A liveried servant opened the door and allowed him entry. As he stepped into the hall, he saw Fredrick was sitting at a table and drinking a cup of tea. That was an odd choice of drink, especially for this type of establishment.
Fredrick met his gaze and put his hand up in greeting. Harred returned the gesture and headed towards his friend.
Once he arrived at the table, Harred asked, “Pray tell, what is so important that we needed to meet here?”
With a knowing smile, Fredrick replied, “I thought you could use the break from your work.”
