She could feel her heart take flight at his words. He wanted to spend more time with her, and she felt giddy at the prospect. In a calm, collected voice, she replied, “I would be honored to.”
“Wonderful,” he replied. “I shall see you there tonight, say eight o’clock.”
Octavia didn’t know why she couldn’t look away but she found she didn’t want to. It was as if he had a hold on her and she wondered what he saw in her gaze. Could he see morethan anyone else saw? Perhaps he saw things that she couldn’t even see herself.
Lord Kendal’s voice was low as he said, “If you are not opposed, I would prefer if you continued to call me Harred in private.”
“Then it is only fair that you call me by my given name.”
“I would like that very much,” Lord Kendal responded.
Her brother’s voice came from further down the corridor. “Harred,” he said, loudly. Much louder than was necessary. “Thank you for visiting with our mother today.”
Harred took a step back, creating more distance between them. “It was my pleasure.”
“Well, we do not want to keep you from your other tasks,” Fredrick said. “Do we, Octavia?”
With a shake of her head, she replied, “We do not.”
“I shall take my leave, but I will see you both at Lady Sarah’s soiree this evening,” Harred said before he walked down the corridor.
Fredrick crossed his arms over his chest as he gave her an inquisitive look. “I thought we decided we weren’t going to Lady Sarah’s soiree.”
“I changed my mind,” Octavia shared.
“You are not one to change your mind, especially about soirees,” he reasoned.
Octavia patted her brother’s sleeve. “Do not use your ‘spy skills’ to analyze me. It is very unbecoming of you.”
“That is not what I am doing. I am merely asking you a question, and it has not failed my notice that you are attempting to avoid answering it.”
“That is not true. You asked a question and I answered it,” Octavia said. “You are just not happy with my response.”
“Because I feel as if you are keeping something from me.”
Octavia decided it was best if she changed subjects and hoped he wouldn’t press her on it. She glanced at the door and said, “Mother was asking about you.”
Fredrick uncrossed his arms and dropped them to his sides. “Fine. Do not tell me the truth, but just know that I am onto you.”
“Yes, Brother,” she said as she brushed past him.
It was true that she hadn’t planned on going to the soiree this evening, but Harred had disrupted her plans. And she found that she had no objections.
Chapter Eight
Harred didn’t think that anyone could ruin his mood after spending time with Octavia earlier that day but he was wrong. William managed to do just that.
He sat across from his brother in the darkened coach and couldn’t help but notice how William was glowering at him. It didn’t affect him much. He was used to William’s fits of temper when he didn’t get his way.
William had no desire to attend the soiree this evening, but his wife had asked him if they could go. Rather than turn her down, William agreed to go but was intent on showing his discontent about it. It was rather childish of him, but Harred expected no less from his brother. William seemed to believe that life revolved around him, and everyone else was not nearly as important.
Harred hoped that his brother would at least attempt to play the part of a devoted husband. Surely he could do that for one evening, for his wife’s sake?
The coach came to a stop in front of Lady Sarah’s townhouse and it dipped to the side as the footman exited his perch. The door was promptly opened and Harred waited asWilliam and his wife exited the coach before he stepped onto the pavement.
William took Ruth’s hand and placed it into the crook of his arm. Without saying a word, he escorted his wife to the front of the line, bypassing the other patrons that had been waiting patiently to go inside.
He wondered if his brother would ever change.
