He offered their mother a kind smile. “Yes, Mother. I have returned home from the war to see you.”
With a wave of her hand, their mother said, “Come closer so that I may have a look at you. It has been far too long.”
Fredrick approached the bed. “How are you faring?”
“You don’t need to fuss over me,” their mother replied. “Since you are home, does this mean the war is over?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not. But I received permission from Wellington to come home.”
“That was kind of him,” their mother acknowledged. “Did you hear that Roswell got married to Anette?”
“Yes, I attended their wedding. It was quite lovely,” Fredrick replied.
Octavia knew their mother was trying her best and she appreciated her more for it. She wished that there was a way that she could help her.
Their mother perused the length of Fredrick. “You are looking sharp this evening,” she said. “You must ensure that Octavia dances with only the finest gentlemen there. No rakes or fortune hunters; you must promise me.”
Fredrick tipped his head. “I promise. You need not concern yourself with that. No one that isn’t worthy of Octavia will come near her.”
His response seemed to satisfy their mother. “Thank you. Now off with you two,” she encouraged. “I am going to close my eyes for a spell.”
Rising, Octavia said, “Goodnight. I shall visit you tomorrow after my morning ride.”
“I shall be looking forward to it,” their mother responded before she closed her eyes.
Fredrick took a step back and gestured towards the door, indicating Octavia should go first. “The coach has been brought around front,” he informed her.
As Octavia walked towards the door, her eyes remained on her mother. She looked so pale and weak in the expanse of the feather mattress. She knew it was only a matter of time before she visited this bedchamber and her mother would no longer be here.
She stepped out into the corridor and let out the breath that she hadn’t even realized that she had been holding.
Fredrick looked at her with concern. “Are you all right?”
“No… yes… I don’t know what I am,” she admitted. “I just hate seeing Mother in such a state. I just wish there was a way to help her.”
“I’m afraid not. The doctor told us that her mind will keep slipping until she dies.”
“That is not very comforting,” she muttered.
“I am sorry that I haven’t been here to help you with Mother,” Fredrick said. “I can only imagine how hard it has been for you.”
Octavia glanced at her mother’s bedchamber door before saying, “Frankly, it has been awful. I struggle every day to maintain some type of composure, but I feel as if I am failing terribly. What is worse is that Father hardly even notices me anymore because he is so focused on Mother. What will happen to him once Mother has passed?”
“I don’t rightly know,” her brother admitted.
“I wouldn’t have made it this far if it wasn’t for Roswell. He has helped me tremendously, but I know he is dealing with his own struggles,” Octavia said. “I just wish you would lie to me and tell me that everything will work out.”
Her brother offered his arm and started leading her down the corridor. “Do you truly wish for me to lie to you?”
“No, that wouldn’t help. Although, you should know that Roswell was much better at comforting me,” Octavia remarked, feeling the need to lighten the mood. “Sometimes, he even brought a biscuit with him to deliver bad news.”
“I did treat you to Gunter’s earlier today. Was that not sufficient?” he asked as they descended the stairs.
“I suppose it was.”
Fredrick’s lips twitched. “Why do I have to work so hard to win your favor?”
“If you want to be my favorite brother, you must go above and beyond,” Octavia explained with a wave of her hand.
