Octavia placed the painting down and leaned forward in her seat. “Fredrick has visited you many times. Daily, in fact,” she said.
Her mother raised a hand to her forehead. “Why can’t I remember that?”
“It is all right,” Octavia encouraged. “If it helps, I will ensure Fredrick visits you today. I know he always looks forward to it.”
“I would like that very much,” her mother responded.
A knock came at the door before it was opened by her mother’s lady’s maid. “Good morning,” Nancy greeted, holding a tray in her hands. “I have come with your breakfast.”
“You can take that right back down to the kitchen,” her mother stated. “I have no desire to eat such a bland offering.”
Nancy didn’t look upset by her mistress’s refusal. “Why don’t you look at what the cook has prepared for you before you turn it away?” she asked as she placed the tray on the bed.
Her mother stuck up her nose at the food. “I would prefer to eat pudding.”
“For breakfast?” Nancy asked. “You know the doctor would never allow that. He suggested you eat some toast and eggs.”
“I am quite sure that I do not like eggs,” her mother responded.
Nancy picked up the teacup from the tray. “Perhaps you would care for a cup of tea,” she suggested, extending it towards her.
Her mother made no effort to take the teacup as she complained, “I would prefer chocolate.”
As she returned the teacup to the tray, Nancy said, “You need to eat, my lady. You are already too thin.”
“Then find me food that I will eat,” her mother promptly said.
Octavia felt some sympathy for her mother. Why couldn’tshe eat whatever she wanted? Hadn’t she deserved that right? But the doctor believed a bland diet would help her memory. She wasn’t convinced of that.
Nancy picked up the tray and moved it to the table next to the bed. “I will speak to the doctor and see what we can do.”
Her mother reached under her covers and retrieved a piece of dry sweetmeat. When her lady’s maid wasn’t looking, she plopped it into her mouth and winked at Octavia.
Octavia resisted the urge to giggle. Her mother loved her treats and she was glad that she was eating something.
The door opened and her father stepped into the room. He glanced at the untouched plate of food with disapproval before shifting his gaze to his wife. “Fanny, you need to eat to keep your strength up,” he said.
“Then tell the cook to make me pudding,” her mother retorted. “I will eat pudding all day, every day.”
“You could get sick if you ate so much pudding,” her father mused.
Her mother tilted her chin. “I used to eat pudding for breakfast, but no one seems to believe me.”
With a sigh, her father said, “You never ate pudding for breakfast. In fact, you would eat one egg, one piece of buttered toast and a cup of tea. It was always the same.”
“That doesn’t sound right,” her mother responded.
Her father turned his attention towards Octavia. “Lord Kendal is waiting for you in the drawing room,” he shared.
At the mention of Harred’s name, she felt herself smile. “I shouldn’t keep him waiting,” she said, rising.
“Do bring Harred by for a visit soon,” her mother remarked. “It has been far too long since I have seen him.”
“You saw him yesterday, Mother.” Octavia picked up one of the paintings and held it up for her father’s inspection. “What do you think of this painting?”
He shrugged. “It is nice, I suppose.”
Octavia stepped closer to her father and kissed him on thecheek. “Thank you,” she said. “I know I can always trust you for an honest response.”
