“You suppose?” Octavia asked. “Do you even know anything about fashion? Mother insisted that I had new dresses commissioned for my Season. This gown is the height of fashion.”
“I will admit that I do not know enough about ladies’ fashions to have an opinion, but I do know you will need a hat.”
Octavia reached up and smoothed back her dark hair. “You are right, but I do not understand why you care so much.”
Fredrick placed a hand to his chest and feigned outrage. “I am your brother and I greatly care about all aspects of your life.”
She eyed him curiously. Her brother was definitely up to something but she wasn’t sure what it was. Was he trying to play matchmaker, she wondered. He had never been one to do so before, so why now?
Fredrick continued. “Lord Kendal has agreed to act the part of a devoted husband to you, for Mother’s sake.”
“He did?” she asked. The thought both excited and terrified her. Why was that? It was just a ruse, nothing more.
“That is why he is taking you on a carriage ride so you two can become better acquainted with one another,” Fredrick said.
Octavia was truly grateful for Lord Kendal’s assistance but why had he agreed to it in the first place? “What does Lord Kendal get out of this arrangement?” she asked. “Surely he isn’t doing this out of the kindness of his heart.”
“Actually, he is,” Fredrick said. “He sympathized with our plight and he agreed to help- willingly. So you don’t need to worry.”
“But he intends to take me on a carriage ride through Hyde Park,” Octavia pressed. “What will people think?”
Fredrick lifted his brow. “I hadn’t taken you for someone who cared what others thought.”
“Usually I am not, but it is a concern, is it not?” she asked.
“You are overthinking this, my dear sister.”
“Or you areunderthinking this, my dear brother,” she countered.
Taking a step forward, Fredrick placed his hand on her sleeve. “Just go on the carriage ride and humor me. Everything will work out; you will see,” he said. “Remember that you are doing this for Mother.”
Octavia lowered her gaze as she shared, “She did ask about my husband this morning.”
“What did you say?”
“I told her that he was away on business but he would visit her soon enough,” Octavia replied. “Mother perked up after that and asked me all kinds of questions about him. I tried to be as vague as possible, but it was difficult.”
“Be strong,” Fredrick encouraged.
“I don’t think I can be,” Octavia admitted. “With every passing day, every conversation, I am watching Mother slowly wither away right in front of me.”
Fredrick opened his arms and she stepped into them. As she rested her head against his chest, she allowed herself to cry. It was tiring to pretend to be strong. She was breaking on the inside, but she didn’t want anyone else to know how much she was suffering.
A knock came at the front door and it echoed throughout the main level.
“Lord Kendal has arrived,” Fredrick announced.
Octavia stepped out of his arms and swiped at her cheeks. She hoped she didn’t look as if she had been crying. She couldn’t bear the thought of anyone pitying her.
Fredrick reached into his jacket pocket and removed a handkerchief. Without saying a word, he extended it towards her.
Carson stepped into the room and said, “Lord Kendal would like a moment of your time. Shall I show him in?”
“Give us a moment,” Fredrick ordered before turning back to face her. “Do not fear. You do not appear as if you have been crying.”
“That is a relief,” she murmured.
Fredrick’s eyes held compassion as he assured her, “It is all right to cry and let your emotions out. No one will fault you for that.”
