“It is a shame he is related to Lord William,” Fredrick remarked. “It is surprising that he hasn’t died in a duel yet.”
“Perhaps people have finally acknowledged that duels are barbaric, and, more importantly, illegal.”
A look of seriousness came into Fredrick’s eyes as he advised, “Just be wary of Lord William. He is a man that is not to be trusted.”
“You do not need to tell me that. My spy senses already confirmed that to me,” Octavia said.
The corner of Fredrick’s mouth quirked up. “Your ‘spy senses’?”
“I may not technically be a spy…”
“For obvious reasons.”
“…but I do believe I have the instincts of a spy.”
He laughed, just as she had intended. “I would be remiss if I did not tell you that the first rule of being a spy is that you don’t talk about being a spy. Ever.”
Octavia shrugged one shoulder. “I would have already learned that lesson if I had been entrusted with being a spy. Unfortunately, your friend, Kendrick, won’t give me an assignment.”
“Kendrick is not my friend, and he won’t give you an assignment since you are not employed by the agency.”
“Perhaps I should be a spy for hire.”
Fredrick let out an amused-sounding huff. “Dare I ask what is a ‘spy for hire’?”
“I do not think I could explain it any more clearly.”
“This conversation is going in circles. It would be best if we departed since you informed Lord William we were doing so after your dance with Lord Kendal.”
“It was the only way to get out of dancing with him without feeling guilty for refusing him,” she admitted.
Fredrick placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry he put you in such an awkward position, but you handled it with grace. Mother would have been proud of you.”
“That is high praise coming from you,” Octavia joked.
Removing his hand, her brother said, “Forgive me. I may have drunk one too many glasses of champagne while I waited for you and it is making me too complimentary. I will have to work on that. I do not wish to inflate your ego more than it already is.”
Octavia’s eyes left his and roamed over the room. “I think it is a grand idea if we left now. I can’t wait to take off these uncomfortable shoes and replace them with my slippers.”
“Poor thing,” Fredrick said. “After you put your slippers on, we could play a game of chess.”
“What is the point?” she asked. “I always beat you.”
“That is not the least bit true. I am two games ahead.”
“For now. But before that, I was on a winning streak and I was five games ahead,” Octavia pointed out. “To be honest, I was rather embarrassed for you.”
Fredrick shook his head. “That is in the past, and you must focus on the future,” he said as he led her towards the front of the ballroom.
“That is rather convenient of you to say now that you are winning.”
It wasn’t long before they stepped out of the townhouse and started down the line of coaches. Once they arrived at their crested coach, a footman stepped off his perch and opened the door.
Fredrick pointed further up the line of coaches. “It would appear that Lord Kendal is not staying for the rest of the ball either.”
She followed her brother’s gaze and watched Lord Kendal step into his coach. He had mentioned he had only come to collect the dance with her, and it seemed that he had spoken true.
“Octavia,” her brother said as he held his hand out.
