“An excellent point.” Evelyn nodded. “I do believe you have solved the mystery.”
Octavia smiled. “I do not think I have seen you before, Evelyn. Are you recently debuted?”
“Heavens, no,” Evelyn blurted out with a snort. “I have been out in society for three years.”
“Five for me,” Octavia said, leaning in, giving the conversation a conspiratorial air.
“Five?” Evelyn could not conceal her shock, for the young woman was absolutely beautiful, and appeared to have the wit and charm to go with it.
Ifthislady could not catch herself a husband, how on earth was Evelyn supposed to?
Octavia nodded. “I was too zealous in my debut Season, and I am mostly settled upon the idea of spinsterhood now. But that does not mean that I cannot enjoy a garden party.”
Evelyn resisted the urge to ask the young woman what had happened in her debut Season to put her off the notion of marriage, for they had only just met; it was not her place to be nosey. Yet, she could not recall seeing the name Octavia in any of the scandal sheets across recent years, though she would have to sift through her collection to be completely sure.
If it was not a known incident that had hindered Octavia’s chances, then it stood to reason that it was probably a more private matter.
“I was just about to fetch refreshments,” Evelyn said, keen to get to know this pleasant woman more. “I do not suppose you would care to join me, so I can at least make up for what was knocked out of your glass?”
Octavia beamed. “I should like that very much.”
Together, side-by-side, the two women ventured into the cool of the manor. Evelyn might not have had much luck with gentlemen, but perhaps she was getting better at making friends.
“Do you know Lord and Lady Throckley well?” Hugo asked, as he stepped forward to press his palm to Selina’s.
“Not so well, no,” Selina replied, her gaze distracted, searching the crowd.
“Are you looking for someone?”
Selina glanced back at him as they turned in a slow circle. “Evie. I said that I would help her today, so I do not like that she has wandered off alone.”
“Help her? In what regard?” Hugo said, surprised to find that he was genuinely curious.
Indeed, perhapshecould offer some assistance, as he had done in Hyde Park. True, all he had done was nudge a toad off Evelyn’s shoe, but he liked to think he was capable in many regards.
“I cannot share that,” Selina replied with an apologetic smile.
Hugo could respect that. It was proper for there to be loyalty and privacy between friends. Why, there were things that he had seen and heard among his peers and friends that he would never breathe a word about to anyone, even under duress.
That is one thing we have in common.
“Have you walked in the gardens yet?” he said as they turned a circle in the opposite direction.
Selina shook her head. “I have not, though I am eager to. It will be nice to pretend that I am in the country.”
“You really must relish the outdoors, Miss Parsons.” He remembered Evelyn mentioning her friend’s penchant for it.
“Oh, I do,” Selina replied with a fond smile. “If it were not for the weather and other engagements, I would never beindoors.”
“Do you like to take long walks, then, when you are in the country?” It was not his best flirtation, but he was beginning to think that was not as important as finding out what else they might have in common.
Selina’s face brightened. “Very much so. There is a hill near my father’s manor, and I climb it almost every day when we are there. I adore the forests and the fields, especially when the wildflowers are in bloom. Indeed, I am quite the wild creature when I am at our family’s country seat. Sometimes, I can be gone all day, quite content in my own company.”
“On occasion, there is no company quite as good,” he agreed.
He had never given much serious thought to actually finding a bride, despite his mother’s constant harassment on the subject,but as he looked at Selina, he realized that she was probably exactly what a manshouldlook for in a wife. She was beautiful, they had enough things in common, she knew how to conduct herself, and though she was a little distant, he could sense that she was not dull. There was a lively enough spirit within her, yet not so lively that she would cause any trouble for him.
And if she favors her own company, then she would not mind us mostly living our own lives.
