Caleb leaned forward in his seat and addressed Octavia. “How are you enjoying your first Season?”
“It is…” Her words trailed off. “May I speak plainly?”
“I would prefer it,” Caleb replied.
“It is hard to be jovial when I feel like my whole world is crashing down,” Octavia shared. “But my mother wants me to enjoy myself this Season.”
Anette placed a hand on Octavia’s sleeve. “I’m sorry. That must be hard.”
Octavia brought a smile to her lips but it didn’t look convincing. “We all have our burdens that we must bear, do we not?”
“It makes it no less hard,” Anette responded.
A silence descended upon the group and Anette felt no need to try to force a conversation. Sometimes it was better to just sit in peaceful stillness.
The rowdy crowd below them started to quiet down as a man walked out on stage. In a bellowing voice, he started a monologue.
Octavia leaned towards her and lowered her voice. “Are you bored yet?”
“It has only just started,” Anette replied, keeping her eyes on the stage.
“True, but I can already tell by the way the play started that I am going to hate it,” Octavia said.
Roswell nudged his sister with his arm. “Quiet, Sister.”
“Anette is bored as well,” Octavia said. “She just told me.”
With a shake of his head, Roswell responded, “Anette said no such thing. You seem to forget that you are a loud whisperer.”
“I am not,” Octavia defended.
Caleb leaned into Anette. “Roswell is right,” he said. “Your whisper is entirely too loud. It is akin to a goat’s squeal.”
Octavia swatted at her brother. “Caleb just insulted me. You need to defend my honor.”
“If you recall, I offended you first,” Roswell said.
“Good point,” Octavia remarked. “Anette can defend my honor.”
“Anette?” Roswell asked.
Octavia gestured towards the reticule around Anette’s wrist. “She always carries a pistol in her reticule.”
“You wish for Anette to shoot me?” Roswell asked.
“No?” Octavia replied in a hesitant voice.
Anette giggled and tightened her hold on her reticule. “I am not going to shoot anyone.”
“That is probably wise,” Octavia agreed. “If Roswell was shot, it would be a terrible inconvenience for me.”
Roswell looked heavenward. “Dear sister, will you not at least try to pay attention to what is happening on stage?”
“I will try,” Octavia said, turning her attention to the stage.
After a prolonged silence, Octavia exhaled audibly with a dramatic sigh, causing Anette to grin against her gloved hand.
Roswell wore a serious expression, yet there was still a hint of amusement in his gaze. “What now?” he asked.
