“Then why is he treating me so standoffishly?” Lady William asked with a solemn expression. “My father told me that I would eventually be embraced into Society since I married the son of a marquess and to be patient. But how will Society ever accept me if my own husband won’t?”
“Your father was right. You must be patient,” Octavia said. “You are only newly married. I am sure couples deal with this all the time.” Did they? She had no idea.
Lady William reached for the teapot and poured herself a cup of tea. “I tried to make Shrewsbury cakes this morning and I failed,” she admitted. “I have never made a bad batch before. I even offered one to Harred before I realized how terrible they were.”
“That could happen to anyone,” she attempted.
“Has it happened to you?” Lady William asked.
“No, but that is only because I have not cooked anything in my life,” Octavia admitted. “I doubt my cook would even let me in the kitchen to attempt such a thing.”
Lady William took a sip of tea before revealing, “My mother was poor growing up and she was insistent that we learn how to do things for ourselves. She thought it was a vital part of our education.”
“I think that is a good thing. Our differences are what makes us unique.”
“I was taught that thetondisapproves of anyone that is different,” Lady William remarked. “My father was adamant that I must conform if I want to be accepted.”
The worst part about this conversation is that Octavia knew that Lady William wasn’t entirely wrong about theton. They weren’t exactly a forgiving lot and they loved nothing more than gossiping about other people’s misfortunes. Fortunately for her, she had yet to make a misstep in Society and had been left alone for the most part. It also helped that her father was a marquess.
As Octavia tried to think of something to say that might give Lady William some ounce of comfort, the butler stepped into the room and announced, “Lady Rushcliffe has come to call, my lady.”
Lady William looked around in surprise, as if she could scarcely believe it. “Lady Rushcliffe is here to see me?” she asked. “Did she say what she wanted?”
“I asked her to come,” Octavia explained. “She is newlymarried herself and I thought she might be able to offer you some advice.”
“I do hope so.” Lady William turned her attention to the butler. “Please send her in.”
The butler spun on his heel to do her bidding.
A moment later, Lady Rushcliffe stepped into the room and smiled warmly at their hostess. “Thank you for agreeing to see me,” she said.
Lady William quickly reached for the teapot. “Would you care for some tea, Lady Rushcliffe?” she asked, her words sounding rushed.
“That would be lovely,” she replied. “But please, I must insist that you call me Enid. All my friends do.”
While Lady William poured a cup of tea, she said, “Thank you, Enid. You must call me Ruth then, both of you. I do not care to stand on formalities either.”
Enid came and sat across from them on the camelback settee. “This is a lovely home,” she acknowledged as she looked around the extensively furnished drawing room. “It is full of charm.”
“It is Lord Kendal’s townhouse,” Ruth said as she extended a teacup to Enid. “William wants to move out as soon as the negotiations end for my dowry.”
“I see,” Enid responded. “And what of the furniture? Is it yours?”
Ruth shook her head. “No, this all belonged to William’s mother. She collected the pieces before she died and no one has had the heart to move it yet.”
“I find that sweet,” Enid said before taking a sip of her tea.
In a low voice, Ruth asked, “Did Lord Rushcliffe argue with your father in regards to your dowry?”
Enid choked on her tea. “Heavens, no,” she replied. “I had no dowry. My father was just happy that I married Lord Rushcliffe.”
“You didn’t have a dowry?” Ruth asked. “How did you come to marry Lord Rushcliffe then?”
Lowering the teacup to her lap, Enid explained, “I was married once before Lord Rushcliffe. I ran off and married someone that I thought I loved, but he deceived me.”
Realization dawned on Ruth’s expression. “I read about this in the newssheets. Your husband died under interesting circumstances.”
“He is dead, and that is all I wish to say about it,” Enid said. Her voice emerged soft and firm, and there was more emotion in that quietness than Octavia would have thought possible.
