Octavia remained rooted in her spot as she stared at Harred. She knew it was impolite to stare but she couldn’t quite seem to help herself. She wanted to memorize every curve of his face.
Mrs. Harper rose from her seat. “We should be going, mylady,” she urged. “You do not want to take up too much of Lord Kendal’s time.”
Her companion’s words broke the spell that had come over her and she turned her attention towards Mrs. Harper. “Yes, you are right.”
Harred bowed. “Enchanted as always, Lady Octavia.”
She dropped into a curtsy and murmured her goodbyes. How she wished she could tarry with Harred. The thought of staying with him forever was very appealing. But that was not an option. He had his life and she had hers.
As she walked towards the door, Harred’s voice stopped her. “Lady Octavia.”
“Yes?” she asked.
Harred closed the distance between them and reached for her hand. He brought it up to his lips and kissed the air above it. “I know you came to see Ruth, but just seeing you lifted my spirits.”
“It was my pleasure,” she said, pleased that she found her voice. His touch was causing her heart to do inconvenient things.
He held her hand a moment longer than what was considered proper before he released it. “I will be seeing you shortly.”
“I hope so,” Octavia said.
Mrs. Harper cleared her throat. “Shall we, my lady?” she asked, impatiently.
Octavia knew it was time to leave, no matter how much she didn’t want to. “My lord,” she acknowledged before she walked out of the townhouse.
She didn’t speak as she went to sit in the coach and Mrs. Harper sat across from her. The moment the door closed, her companion said, “Well, that was entirely inappropriate. Lord Kendal should never have kissed your hand.”
“I thought it was sweet.”
“That is the problem,” Mrs. Harper said. “You seem to lose rational thought when you are around Lord Kendal.”
Octavia didn’t feel like being lectured… again. Her hand still tingled from Harred’s touch and she closed her eyes, reliving the moment. With every touch, every glance, she was falling more and more in love with Harred.
Chapter Eighteen
Harred reviewed the accounts as he sat at his desk in the study. He was biding his time until he could call on Octavia. It had been a pleasant surprise to see her earlier today and it had lifted his spirits. He had wanted to press his suit but he was unable to do so since Octavia’s companion had been rather eager to leave. What he wouldn’t give for just a moment alone with her.
He hoped that she did care for him as much as he did for her. But that might just be wishful thinking on his part. Either way, he wasn’t about ready to give up. He would fight for Octavia. She was a woman worth fighting for.
William stepped into his study and performed an exaggerated bow. “Mitchell informed me that you wanted to see me, your lordship.”
“I could do with less theatrics from you,” Harred said.
“And I could do without you ordering me about,” William countered. “But we are stuck with one another.”
Harred should have known that their previous conversation wouldn’t have solved all of their problems. But he had hoped it would have at least softened William towards him.
William stepped further into the room and dropped downonto a chair that faced the desk. “What do you want, Brother?”
He decided to be honest with his brother, not caring if it stoked his anger. “I am concerned about your relationship with Ruth.”
“You are?” William asked. “Were you not the one who told me that I needed to work on repairing my relationship with Ruth?”
“I did, but—”
William spoke over him. “I did exactly what you said, and it is still not good enough for you,” he said, his voice rising. “You are unbelievable.”
Harred leaned forward in his seat. “I just want to ensure your intentions are honorable.”
