Octavia furrowed her brow. “Why?” she asked. “What is so wrong with getting married?”
An image of Anette came to his mind, but he quickly banished it. It didn’t matter what he wanted. He was an agent of the Crown and that came with a great responsibility.
Knowing his sister was still waiting for a response, he replied, “There is nothing wrong with getting married, but I am not interested in the marriage mart.”
“Even if you fall in love?”
Roswell did not like this line of questioning. It reminded him of the sacrifices he had to make for King and Country. He wasn’t the only one, either. Spies only got married to protect their cover, nothing more.
Bringing a smile to his lips, Roswell asked, “Aren’t you being rather nosy this evening?” He hoped to distract his sister, but it didn’t work.
“I just want to understand.”
“Not everything is black and white,” Roswell said. “There are many shades of gray in between.”
Carson stepped forward and opened the main door. “The coach is out front, my lord,” he informed them.
They exited the townhouse and headed into the coach. After they sat across from one another, Octavia said, “I think it is rather silly to drive to Anette’s townhouse. It is only a block away from ours.”
“Mother would have wanted us to,” Roswell said.
At the mention of their mother, Octavia’s face softened. “That she would have,” she agreed. “I kind of miss Mother chiding me for the silliest infractions.”
“Silly?” Roswell repeated. “You were quite the rebellious child. I have no doubt that it was for a perfectly acceptable reason.”
“Fair enough,” Octavia admitted. “We should take advantage of the time that we have left with Mother.”
“I agree, but it is hard.”
Octavia gave him a sad smile. “I just wish we could go back in time. Back when Fredrick was home and Mother was more like,” she hesitated, “Mother.”
“Fredrick will return, but I hope it won’t be too late for him to say goodbye to Mother,” Roswell said.
“How do you know Fredrick will return?” Octavia asked. “He could die just as easily.”
Roswell knew that Octavia had a point, but he didn’t dare admit that. Fredrick was fighting in the war, and that came with a great many risks. He didn’t quite understand his brother’s reasonings, but Fredrick had always been passionate about doing what was right, regardless of the consequences.
Octavia closed her eyes tightly, as if she were willing the tears away. “I don’t know what I will do if they both die.”
“If the unthinkable happens, we still have each other. We still have Father.”
“Thank heavens for that,” Octavia murmured.
The coach came to a stop in front of Lord Oxley’s townhouse and it dipped to the side as a footman exited his perch. After the door was opened, Roswell stepped out and reached back to assist his sister.
Once they were both on the pavement, Roswell dropped his hand and tugged down on his waistcoat. “Don’t be controlled by the fears in your mind. Mother wouldn’t want that for you,” he encouraged.
“What am I supposed to think of instead?” Octavia asked.
“Have hope in your heart.”
“And if I have none?”
Roswell held his arm out to escort his sister inside. “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.”
Placing her hand on his arm, Octavia said, “That is what Mother always says.” Her words were soft, but he could hear the sadness in her voice.
“And it still rings true.”
