“I can only imagine, especially since Ruth was your friend.”
Octavia bobbed her head. “She fooled me into believing she was something she was not, and I can’t believe I didn’t see it earlier.”
“Why would you have?” Harred asked. “You have always managed to see the best in people. It was no different with Ruth.”
“It must be a relief that you know that Lord William wasn’t behind the attempts on your life,” Octavia remarked.
Harred grew solemn. “He came to me this morning and apologized for his behavior. He couldn’t believe we had gotten to a point where I would believe he was capable of such a thing. His demeanor was so different from the way he usually is that I believed him.”
She nudged her shoulder against his. “We are alike in more ways than one. You also see the good in people.”
“Yes, but it wasn’t until I met you that I started doing that.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
Harred’s eyes left hers and roamed over the gardens. “It is a beautiful day, is it not?”
Octavia inwardly groaned. This was not going well. It appeared that Harred had run out of things to say to her and was now commenting on the weather.
“It is rather nice touring your gardens without worrying about an evil peacock that is determined to attack me every time I set foot in his domain,” Octavia said.
“You poor thing,” Harred teased.
Octavia pressed her lips together before saying, “I never did get to thank you for what you did for my mother. It was rather nice playing pretend with you.”
“How is your mother faring?”
Her eyes grew downcast. “Not well. She is struggling to remember even the simplest of things and she is growing more paranoid of the servants.”
Harred slipped his hand over hers and said, “You are not alone in this. I am here for you. All you have to do is but ask.”
“I know and I am most grateful for that.” But she wanted more from him.
“I don’t know how you can endure what you do and still have a reason to smile,” he remarked. “You are extraordinary.”
Octavia felt buoyed by his comment. Perhaps he did care for her, maybe even love her? After all, he always said the most kind things about her.
Harred stopped on the path, his boots grinding on the gravel as he turned to face her. “Octavia, I am glad that we have this opportunity to be alone. I have been meaning to talk to you about something.”
“As do I,” she admitted.
“Would you care to go first?”
No.
But she could do this. She just needed to muster up the strength to tell him how she felt. The time to be bold was now.
Octavia cleared her throat. “I… uh…” Her voice trailed off. It was much harder than she thought to declare her feelings. And why was that? She knew he wouldn’t laugh at her, but the fear of him not reciprocating her affection petrified her.
Harred must have sensed her discomfort since he suggested, “It might be best if I go first, assuming you have no objections.”
She nodded slowly. “I have none.”
Harred’s eyes never wavered from her face as he shared, “I rather enjoyed playing the part of your husband but I grew tired of it.”
“Oh, I see,” she murmured, not knowing what else she could say. She was disappointed that he hadn’t enjoyed the role as much as she had.
In a gentle voice, he continued. “After a while, I realized that I wanted to stop pretending and truly be your husband.”
