Octavia let out a sigh. “Love is freely given. You cannot force such a thing.”
“I can.” Ruth walked over to the door and stopped. “I trust that you can see your way out.”
She didn’t even have a chance to respond before Ruth disappeared through the door, leaving her alone.
She wondered what had just happened. Was she wrong to voice her concerns over Lord William’s abrupt change? It just seemed too convenient.
Regardless, it was time to leave. She had been dismissed by Ruth and she had no desire to tarry where she wasn’t wanted.
As she stepped into the entry hall, she saw Harred descending the stairs.
A smile came to his lips at the sight of her. “Hello,” he greeted. “What a pleasant, unexpected surprise to see you.”
Octavia returned his smile. “I came to call on Ruth,” she informed him.
“Is she not in the drawing room?” he asked, coming to a stop in front of her.
“No, we spoke but she didn’t like what I had to say,” she admitted.
He seemed surprised by her admission. “I can’t imagine that to be true.”
Octavia lowered her voice and asked, “Have you noticed anything unusual between Ruth and Lord William?”
“Yes, I have,” Harred replied. “By all accounts, my brother is appearing enamored with his wife.”
“Does that not seem odd to you?” she pried.
Harred glanced over his shoulder before saying, “I am questioning my brother’s intentions. I must assume it is to gain access to Ruth’s dowry.”
“That is what I fear as well,” she said. “Poor Ruth wants to believe it is genuine, though.”
With a glance at her sleeping companion in the corner, Harred asked, “What do you propose we do?”
“Can you speak to your brother?”
“I do not believe that will do any good. He doesn’t listen to me.”
Octavia blew out a puff of air. “Ruth is upset with me for daring to bring it up. I don’t think she will listen to reason on this one.”
“We will figure it out… together.”
She quite liked the sound of that.
He stepped closer to her, but still maintained a proper distance. “I am sad that we do not get to play the part of husband and wife any longer.”
“Are you?” she asked. “I thought it would be rather burdensome for you.”
“Quite the opposite, in fact,” Harred said, his eyes holding her transfixed. “There is no one else I would rather be in a fake relationship than with you.”
Octavia felt the same way, but she didn’t dare admit that. If she did something so foolish, he would see right through her. And he would know that she had developed feelings for him. Feelings that were not reciprocated.
Mrs. Harper snorted and her eyes flew open. “Good heavens, did I fall asleep again?” she asked as she stretched her arms.
Harred stepped back and created more distance between them. “If you have no objections, may I call upon you later today?”
“I have none,” Octavia promptly replied. She felt a blush crawl up her neck at the rush of her words. Dear heavens, she was being far too brazen.
“Wonderful,” Harred said.
