“I win on my own merit,” Fredrick said.
Octavia’s lips twitched. “If you say so, Brother.”
“I have long suspected that you cheat, but I can’t prove it,” Fredrick said with amusement in his eyes.
“That is only because you constantly lose,” Octavia bantered back.
Fredrick gestured towards the dining room. “Let’s eat our dessert before we settle this once and for all in the game room.”
“Very well,” Octavia said as she stepped into the dining room.
As Harred went to follow her, Fredrick placed a hand on his shoulder and stopped him. “Do avoid being so familiar with my sister or I will have no choice but to challenge you to a duel.” His voice was hard and held a warning.
“I understand,” Harred responded.
Fredrick dropped his hand and the warmth returned to his voice. “Good, I am glad that we understand one another.”
Harred watched as Fredrick disappeared into the dining room before he let out the breath that he had been holding. How in the blazes was he going to press his suit with Octavia when Fredrick was always around?
Octavia tried to ignore the blatant look of disapproval on her companion’s face. Mrs. Harper was determined to press her point, despite Octavia never asking for her opinion in the first place.
“I think this is a terrible idea,” Mrs. Harper declared, her hand waving in front of her. “We should turn this coach around and go home.”
“There is no reason to.”
Mrs. Harper scoffed. “A young lady should never call on a gentleman. What you are doing is disgraceful.”
Octavia sighed. “I am not visiting Lord Kendal,” she explained for what felt like the umpteenth time. “I am calling upon Lady William.”
“Who happens to live with Lord Kendal,” Mrs. Harper stated with a shake of her head. “Just think about what people would say if they saw you enter Lord Kendal’s townhouse.”
“I do not care what people think.” Which wasn’t entirely true, but she didn’t want her companion to think she was softening towards her argument.
“But you must!” Mrs. Harper exclaimed. “If you don’t abide by the rules of Society, you will become an outcast. Perhaps you will even have the misfortune of becoming a spinster.”
“There are worse things,” Octavia argued.
“Worse than becoming a spinster?” Mrs. Harper asked. “Name one.”
Octavia knew that she might come to regret this, but she was tired of her companion’s haughty attitude. “Being trampled by a coach. Traveling in a hot air balloon and having it fall out of the sky. Being kicked in the head by a donkey.”
Mrs. Harper frowned. “You are an impertinent child.”
“Furthermore, I would rather be a spinster than lose an arm,” Octavia said. “Because if I lost an arm, everyone would point at me and call me the ‘one-armed lady.’ They might even throw trash at me.”
“Good heavens, what an imagination you have,” Mrs. Harper stated.
The coach came to a stop in front of Lord Kendal’s townhouse, thankfully ending their conversation. The footman stepped off his perch and went to inform the butler of their arrival. Once the main door was opened, the footman returned to the coach and opened the door.
Octavia exited first and promptly headed towards the main door. The butler was standing to the side and greeted her politely. “Please come in, my lady,” he said.
“Thank you,” she responded.
Mrs. Harper had followed her into the entry hall just as she let out a yawn. “My apologies, but I did not sleep well last night.”
Octavia bit her tongue and she tried to refrain from remarking on what Mrs. Harper had just said. Her companion never slept well and was constantly falling asleep in the most inopportune places. But, quite frankly, she didn’t mind. She didn’t think she needed a companion.
Mrs. Harper continued. “I believe I will remain out here in the entry hall and close my eyes for a moment. You don’t need me, do you?”
