Harred gave her a thoughtful look. “I will tell her not to read any of your private correspondences.”
Her mother bobbed her head. “That is wise,” she replied.
“Now this may take some time since the constable will expect a thorough list,” Harred explained. “You will need to be patient. Can you do that?”
“I can, and will,” her mother asserted.
Harred grinned. “Very well,” he said. “Shall we start now?”
Her mother returned his smile, and it was the first time that it reached her eyes in a long time. “I think that is a fine idea.”
A knock came at the door before it was opened, revealing Nancy.
The lady’s maid approached the bed with a tray in her hand. “It is time to take your medicine,” she said.
“Do I like the medicine?” her mother asked.
Nancy placed the tray down on the table. “Yes, but you prefer it with a cup of tea.”
Harred caught Octavia’s eyes and he said, “I should be going.”
A line along her mother’s brow appeared. “Where are you going?” she asked. “Do you not live here with Octavia?”
Without a hint of hesitation, Harred replied, “I just came from the House of Lords, but I need to review a bill that I proposed.”
Her mother nodded in approval. “Do you know my father?” she asked. “He frequents the House of Lords as well.”
Octavia interjected, “Your father passed away nearly fifteen years ago.”
“That is impossible,” her mother replied. “I just saw him yesterday when he came to visit. We talked about my upcoming Season and we made plans to visit the menagerie.”
She didn’t wish to fight with her mother so she decided it would be best to concede. “My apologies, Mother. I must have forgotten.”
Harred reached for Octavia’s hand and asked, “Will you walk me to the door, my dear?”
“I would be happy to,” she replied.
After they walked into the corridor, Octavia expected Harred to release her hand but he made no effort to do so. Not that she minded. She rather liked being this close to him.
Harred glanced at her and said, “Your poor mother seems to be getting worse.”
“She does, but that was ingenious on your part about having her make the list,” Octavia acknowledged. “With any luck, she will stop accusing Nancy of stealing from her.”
“My neighbor had dementia and he grew increasingly paranoid of his servants. My father would oftentimes find him wandering the pavement, shouting that his servants were trying to kill him,” Harred shared. “My father proposed he made a list of every time one of his servants tried to kill him and it seemed to calm him for a period of time. He carried the list everywhere he went.”
“Well, I do thank you for your kindness towards my mother.”
“It is the least I can do,” Harred said. “Our true character is revealed by how we treat the people that can offer us nothing in return.”
As they descended the stairs, Octavia asked, “Have you heard from your brother yet?”
“Not yet, but I am sure he will return home soon. Nodoubt he is licking his wounds and blaming me for his troubles.”
“You did the right thing.”
Harred sighed. “I hope so,” he replied. “No matter what happens between us, we are still family. Although, he might be trying to kill me, so there is that.”
Octavia saw the pain in his eyes and she knew that his decision had cost him more than he could have ever imagined. It hurt her to see him so conflicted about his brother.
