“It is long overdue,” Harred replied. “Your wife is welcome to stay until you have secured proper lodging or until she decides to return to her father.”
Lord William moved to stand in front of his brother, his nostrils flaring. “You have no right to order me around like I am some peasant.”
Harred held his gaze, showing no sign of hesitation. “I have every right and I am done trying to help you. I do believe I have coddled you for too long and it is time that you go about it on your own.”
The tension in the room was palpable as Octavia watched Harred continue the standoff with his brother, neither one appearing to be willing to concede.
Ruth walked over to Lord William and placed a hand on his sleeve. “I will speak to my father about releasing my dowry if you go.”
Lord William broke his brother’s gaze and turned towards his wife. “That is most gracious of you,” he drawled. “Come, we will go now.”
Ruth didn’t make an attempt to move. “I think it would be best if I remained here for the time being.”
“Why?” Lord William asked.
“You are drunk and aren’t acting rationally,” Ruth explained. “Father will never agree to see you in this inebriated state.”
Lord William reached for her arm. “No, but he will agree to meet with you.”
Ruth yanked back her arm and stepped out of his reach. “No, William. I think not.”
Lord William’s mouth dropped open. “You think not?” he repeated back. “Who do you think you are? You are nothing but an upstart.”
Octavia opened her mouth to defend her friend when Harred spoke first. “Leave now or you will be escorted out,” he ordered. His tone brokered no argument. “Do not make this harder on yourself than it already is.”
“Fine!” Lord William exclaimed, tossing up his hands. “I will go, but this is not over. I will return tomorrow and we will finish this conversation.”
No one spoke as Lord William departed from the drawing room. His exit was followed by the main door being slammed shut.
With kindness in his voice, Harred addressed Ruth. “Are you all right?” he asked.
Ruth’s eyes were moist. “I will be,” she replied. “Thank you for what you did. I do hope that William calms down before he returns tomorrow.”
Fredrick spoke up. “We should go, Octavia,” he said.
Enid jumped up from her seat. “I should probably go as well.” She approached Ruth and reached for her hand. “Thank you for a lovely visit. I shall call upon you again.”
Octavia studied Harred for a moment, taking in the telltale signs of his tension. Yet, as she looked deeper into his gaze, she detected a new layer of sadness that had etched itself into his eyes. It was a silent sorrow, hidden beneath a façade of composure, and it became evident that turning away his brother was affecting him more than he was letting on.
Harred met her gaze, and she felt embarrassed that she had been caught staring at him.
“I shall call upon you later today, assuming you have no objections,” he said. She felt a thrill of excitement course through her body at the prospect of seeing him again.
“I shall be looking forward to it,” Octavia responded. And that was the truth. She didn’t think she would ever tire of seeing Harred. She was growing far too dependent on him. But she wasn’t afraid of that thought.
Chapter Thirteen
It had been hours since he had thrown his brother out of his townhouse, but Harred was still reeling with anger. How dare William treat his wife so distastefully, especially in front of her guests? What had he been thinking? But that was easy to answer. William was only thinking about himself, just as he always did. Harred had said it over and over, and it made it no less true.
How he wished his father was here, and not for the first time. He had made that blasted promise to watch over William, but he couldn’t enable him anymore. It was time for his brother to see what he was capable of.
The coach came to a stop in front of the House of Lords and Harred went to open the door. As he stepped down onto the pavement, he saw Lord Rushcliffe approaching him with his usual solemn expression.
“Good afternoon, Greydon,” Harred greeted.
Greydon came to a stop next to him and said, “I understand that you tossed your brother out of your townhouse earlier today.”
“I did,” he replied. “I must assume that your wife told you the circumstances around that decision.”
