“No, it is William that needs to have some sense knocked into him,” Harred stated. “It seems my words are falling on deaf ears when it comes to him.”
Fredrick gripped his teacup so tightly that Harred was afraid he was going to break the cup. “I would be happy to speak to him,” he growled.
Harred didn’t think that conversation would go well, considering his brother did not take anyone’s advice to heart. “That won’t be necessary,” he assured his friend. “Besides, I wouldn’t give the bet much heed. Gentlemen place ridiculous bets in that book all the time and most of the time they lose.”
His words seemed to appease Fredrick. “Just remind Lord William that he is not welcome at my townhouse, for any reason,” his friend said.
“I will.” Harred pushed his teacup away from him. “I should depart. I have far too much work that I must see to before I depart for the House of Lords.”
“But I just got here,” Caleb attempted.
Harred rose. “Perhaps another time,” he suggested. But he knew that it was an empty promise. He didn’t have time to waste, and sitting idly at White’s was a luxury Harred couldn’t afford. His utmost priority was to ensure he didn’t fail.
Caleb didn’t look convinced. “You work too hard,” he said. “Life isn’t about working until the day you die. You must enjoy it.”
“I’m afraid that is not possible, at least not yet. Once my estate is thriving, I will be able to take some time for myself.”
“Don’t put off happiness that you can have today,” Caleb advised. “You don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”
Happiness? What an elusive thing. No, he didn’t have the time or energy to seek out happiness. He was just trying to get through each and every day, and he was barely doing that.
“Good day, gentlemen,” Harred said before he started to walk away. He knew that Caleb was just trying to help, but he didn’t need anyone’s help. He was doing just fine on his own. But he couldn’t even fathom his own lie.
Octavia sat at the writing desk in the drawing room as she dipped the tip of her quill into the concoction that she’d made. She had wanted to see if she could write a letter using invisible ink and she had been successful. At least, she thought she was. She would need Fredrick to hold up the paper to a flame to see if it worked.
The sound of her companion’s snoring filled the small room and she wished that she could rest soeasily. How Mrs. Harper could sleep sitting up in a chair was beyond her, but she seemed to be asleep more times than not.
After she placed the quill down, she blew on the paper to dry the ink. She felt silly blowing on a page that appeared blank but she was hopeful her experiment had worked.
Fredrick stepped into the room. “Good afternoon,” he greeted.
Octavia placed her finger to her lips. “Shhh,” she urged. “Mrs. Harper is sleeping.”
Her brother looked unimpressed, but he did lower his voice. “What has kept you occupied today?”
Rising, Octavia walked over to her brother and extended him the paper. “I wrote you a note.”
He accepted the paper and turned it over. “There is nothing here.”
“Or is there?” Octavia smirked. “I used invisible ink to write the letter.”
Fredrick gave her a look of disbelief. “How did you know how to do that?”
Octavia shrugged. “I asked our cook and she told me the ingredients that I would need. It was rather simple.”
“Dare I ask how Mrs. Harris knew how to make invisible ink?”
“I didn’t ask, and she didn’t divulge the information,” Octavia replied. “Now you just need to hold it up to a flame to confirm I did it correctly.”
Fredrick folded the paper and slipped it into the pocket of his jacket. “I will do so later, but you need to go get ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“Lord Kendal is coming to take you on a carriage ride through Hyde Park,” he revealed. “Is that what you are going to wear?”
Octavia glanced down at her pale pink gown. “What is wrong with what I am wearing?” she asked.
Fredrick’s eyes perused the length of her. “I suppose that will do.”
