"So you intend to return to London,” he said as they stepped out into the brisk air.
“Yes, I will probably do so as Julius travels. I don’t anticipate living with Cressida will be delightful. Somehow, I doubt the honeymoon has changed her disposition, but one could only hope she’s calmed down slightly. More likely I will go live with Caius and Eliza. She needs me at this time.”
Eliza was still a sore topic, the source of all the contention between them. “She will make a wonderful mother, I’m sure,” he said. “And I’m sure you will be a very protective aunt.”
“I can’t quite conceive that there will be a child and it will grow and be a part of our family.”
In a way, he understood. Children were such a foreign concept. He could definitely see how it would be hard to anticipate how a child would fit into the family. It must change a family significantly.
“I was the last child in my family,” she continued.
“I was the only.”
“Do you not miss having family? I couldn’t imagine not having my family. As deeply vexing as my brothers are, I couldn’t imagine living without them.”
“I will be honest and say that for a long time, it didn’t matter to me, but of late... it’s become a central theme in my mind.”
“So you don’t have to rely on strangers to come rescue you when you’re in trouble?”
“Until now, I’ve always prided myself in not getting into trouble.”
“Some things not even you can control.”
It was even hard to imagine he would have a wife and children. How many children would he have? One, five, somewhere in between? He’d have no clue how to deal with them. But there was an emptiness, and he knew he would fill it with his own family.
“And what of you? Mr. Fervoy will not receive your attention anymore, I take it.”
“No, he has disappointed me.”
“Are your standards so high men cannot help but disappoint you?”
Octavia looked annoyed. “One has to have some standards. This is the most important decision of one’s life, wouldn’t you say?”
“It is,” he conceded.
“I don‘t want to spend my life making excuses for someone, or making excuses for why I’m not happy in my marriage. Do you not see the difference in people who are happy and those who aren‘t?”
Of course he did, which was why he’d held hopes for Eliza for longer than he should have. “But happiness may stem from not expecting people to be perfect.”
“If merely decent is too high, then my standards will simply have to remain high. I’m sure someone will live up to them. I only need one, after all.” Octavia stroked her hand up and down her arm.
“Then I hope you will find him. You are cold. We should return inside.” Saying that, he’d enjoyed the fresh air after being so long inside. Such a simple thing that he had completely taken for granted.
“What is taking Julius so long? He should be here by now,” she said when they started walking back to his house.
“Maybe they don’t want the honeymoon to end,” he suggested.
“One can only hope. If it was me, I probably couldn’t wait to be out of her company. And that is the very reason I have high standards. I require a better fate.” The mood was lifted, but he did seem to understand her better after this discussion. She was trying to safeguard her own happiness, which, when looking back on it, she’d been trying to do for her family as well. Certainly not a quality he would scoff at, and maybe if he had family, he would be the same.
Then again, no one was like Octavia Hennington.
Returning inside, Octavia took up her vigil by the window and waited. It couldn’t be long now, she’d stated, unless they were having a very leisurely route. Their typical return journey from Dover involved staying at the Stoney Marsh inn, and leaving shortly after breakfast service started meant they would be here soon. She watched and intermittently checked the clock. “He’s here,” Octavia said excitedly, having spotting Julius’ carriage coming through the row of trees.
Rapidly, she walked to the main entrance and opened both of the doors. Iciness flowed into the room and even the salon as she did, but it did not dampen her excitement. Granted, while she insisted Julius was her most annoying brother, she was happy to see him. Perhaps absence really did make the heart grow fonder.
Finn stood and shifted closer to the door so he could see. It might be a surprise for Julius to see him, and in the state he was in, too.
The gravel crunched as the carriage came around, the horses excited to be home again. They pranced a little with their eagerness to return to their stables. The driver jumped down and nodded to Octavia before opening the door.
Julius’ head popped our first. “Home!” he said and stepped out. “Come on, my sweet,” he said as he turned back to the carriage and helped Cressida out, who certainly didn’t look worse for wear.
Even Lord Hennington came to join him at the door.
“It’s so good to be back,” Cressida said. “The most exciting journey, but it’s not home, is it?”
Octavia smiled through gritted teeth. Only an idiot wouldn’t see that she found her new sister-in-law unbearable. “Welcome home,” Octavia said with a forced smile.
“I hope the place hasn’t fallen apart in our absence.” Under Octavia’s watch? Not likely.
“How was the continent, brother?”
“Still there, I am happy to report.”
“Venice was marvelous,” Cressida said. “They had some truly gifted seamstresses. The most amazing velvet brocade.”
“We explored what must have been every shop in Italy,” Julius said wryly. Then he looked over. “Father, … and Lord Fortescue?”
“Mr. Hennington,” Fortescue said with a nod. “I’m just passing on my way to London.”
“Ah, right,” Julius said as if there was nothing curious about it. “Anyone fancy a drink? Something reviving is called for.”
“Yes, please take the trunks out to our bedrooms,” Julius said to the footman. “The new rooms, not the old.”
They all walked inside and Octavia rubbed her arms to release the chill in the material. Cressida pulled off her hat pin and then handed her hat to Octavia without a word, as if she was a servant.
With an even tighter smile, Octavia took it and Cressida walked into the salon.
“I suspect you are in for a joy of a time,” Fortescue said quietly.
“I don’t know why she insists on treating me like I’m going to serve her.”
“She’s making a clear statement of rank.”
“I know that,” she replied with annoyance. “I simply don’t care about her rank. That’s not how things work in this family.”
“Is it worth your time to engage in a dominance fight with your brother’s wife?” he asked.
“I’m not—,” she started, but couldn’t fully support her own argument, because she was engaging in a tussle for dominance. Perhaps not one she’d started, but she was in it all the same. Finn had never realized there was such a competitiveness between women and where they stood. “I just can’t stand the fact that I no longer feel comfortable in my own home.”
Walking over, she placed Cressida’s hat on the nearby table and left it there, clearly refusing to engage in an outright tussle with Cressida’s dominance attempts. Stopping for a moment, she stroked her forehead and exhaled. Julius’ return also brought back the new sister-in-law, and this change had forced her to leave her house and home. It couldn’t be a nice position to be in, but from what he saw, she refused to crumple with it. That strength in her served her now.
“What’s that contraption you’re wearing?” Julius asked when he joined the others in the salon.
Chapter 27
HAVING JULIUS’ NEW WIFE was trying for Octavia, but she did her best to rein in her temper. Not successfully, or particularly gracefully, but she did the best she could. By the look of it, Octavia wasn’t used to reining in her emotions or express
ing her thoughts.
Lord Hennington didn’t budge his schedule one bit. People had to work around him and put up with it, and Finn did admire the man’s lack of caring for the foibles of others. Unfortunately, that lack of caring also extended to Octavia’s struggles, particularly as Cressida felt she needed to take over the running of the house.
Change was difficult, particularly when one didn’t choose it. Exactly like he hadn’t chosen this injury. Everything in his life had changed, and there had been nothing he could do about it. For him, though, his life would return to the way it had been—hers never would.
“I shall leave tomorrow,” he said to her in the salon after supper.
“Are you well enough to travel?”
“I’m stronger every day.”
She smiled. “Good.”
“We met some truly marvelous people,” Julius said and Octavia’s attention was drawn away. Finn turned to Julius, too. “We met Frederich von Zweibrücken.”
“A bona fide prince,” Cressida added.
“Lovely man, who is going to join us in London in a few weeks.”
“Inordinately handsome,” Cressida said. “Loves spending time in Italy.”
“Actually, he seems quite keen on travel. So we are to host him.”
“We’ll throw a proper ball in his honor. You’ll all have to come,” Cressida said excitedly.
“And you’ll be interested, Fortescue,” Julius said. “The man has some interesting ideas of opportunities in the Far East.”
Finn’s success was based on investing in areas he knew, not wild speculation, but he would certainly listen. Julius wasn’t a fool that gambled more than invested, so if he said it was interesting, it probably was. “I look forward to meeting him.”
“I expect I will return to London shortly as well,” Octavia said.
Something in him wanted to offer that she travel with him, but it would be inappropriate.
“I have to retire,” he said to her. He could feel his energy finally running out.
“Yes, of course,” she said, looking concerned. That look of concern had so annoyed him when she’d first turned up at his house, but he found it more endearing now. Probably because he had strength again and didn’t feel he was being pitied. There was something a little thrilling about the fact that she cared. Granted, she would probably show kindness to anyone who was so egregiously injured, but it still somehow gratified him that she did care.
Caring was a quality he’d started to notice of late—particularly how rare it was. Society was filled with politeness and etiquette, but true caring was more rare than he’d realized. Mostly, he hadn’t cared, having been perhaps too young to realize how important that quality was.
But his energy really was flagging and he bid the company goodnight. His room was dark, but the fire kept it warm and he left it dark, luxuriating in the feeling of taking the brace off. He was getting better at not using his back when he undressed. Obviously, he could call for help, but after all the help he’d received of late, it was nice to manage himself.
With a groan of relief, he lay himself down on the bed and closed his eyes. Perhaps he was pushing himself a little too hard. The truth was that he wanted to impress Octavia. It may not have been a truth he wanted to own, but he was too honest with himself to deny it. Too much of his attention and thoughts revolved around her at the moment. That could be because between her and her father, she was the prettier one to look at. Was it simply familiarity that drew his interest? Because any chance to argue with her and he was happy to take it.
It could also be that she slipped from his mind when he returned to London. Or even that he was simply grateful to her for caring for him. He didn’t know. What was true was that she was no longer his enemy in his mind. Thorny and pushy, yes, she would always be. She may even insult him to his face exactly as she had before, but he would never see her as an adversary again.
Sleep claimed him.
*
It was shortly after dawn that he woke. It was going to be a long day of travel, so he wanted to get as much of it done while he still had energy. Otherwise, he would spend it here and then feel unwell as he traveled. No, he needed to leave at the earliest opportunity. None of the family would rise and he didn’t want to wait. They would understand under the circumstances.
The maid came to tend the fire. “Could you tell Mr. Tennyson that I’m preparing to leave?” he asked as the young girl finished her task. She nodded and curtseyed before quietly leaving the room. “And then they can have their games room back,” he said to the empty room.
Most of his morning routine was finished by the time Mr. Tennyson attended him. Finn was half-dressed and Mr. Tennyson helped him put the brace on. “Your carriage is being prepared,” the man said. “Do you wish to breakfast before you leave?”
“No, I’ll spend my energy on the travel as much as possible,” he said. “Could you pass my regards and gratitude onto his lordship, and both Julius and Octavia? I’m not intending to be rude by leaving so early, but I must conserve my energy as much as possible.”
“Perfectly understandable. I’ll let them know.”
“Thank you,” Finn said as the last strap of the brace was put in place. “And hopefully someday soon, I can retire this device of torture.”
“It serves you well to wear it.”
“I am aware, but I’ll tell you that after this, I will never regard a corset the same.”
“As you say, my lord,” Tennyson said. “Shall I prepare a hamper for you?”
“That would be much appreciated. And thank you for your consideration and care.” Yet another person to be grateful to. “It’s been very kind of you all to put me up. I have never had to be so dependent on others.” And rarely had he been so free with his thoughts either.
“A pleasure. If you’re ready, I’ll have your trunk prepared and carried out to the carriage. It will take but a few moments.”
“Thank you,” Finn said again and got out of the man’s way. The house was utterly quiet, the only noise being the standing clock in the salon. It really was a lovely house, and this had been where Octavia had grown up with her brothers. It wouldn’t have been the softest environment, and she was a product of that.
Finn opened the main door and stepped outside. It was cold, but it was a clear day, which would be good for travel. Even in the time he’d been here, he’d grown so much stronger, recalling having to lie down for most of the journey here. If it now became too cumbersome, he would do the same, but he suspected his strength would last for most of it. A good chunk of it, anyway.
The carriage was driven around and the horses looked strong and restless. They knew they were heading out to traverse the land, encounter new smells and sounds. He wondered if they disliked London. He imagined they would.
It pulled up and footmen came out of the house with his trunk, and then Octavia, hastily dressed with her hair down. He hadn’t seen her so informal before.
“You’re leaving,” she said, even as he’d told her yesterday.
“Thought I wouldn’t waste energy waiting to go. Again, thank you for taking care of me.” There were lines on her face from sleeping, and her cheeks were red from being warmly snuggled in bed. “You didn’t have to come see me off.” But he was inordinately touched that she had.
“Heal well,” she said, clearly feeling this moment of awkwardness. “I suppose I’ll see you at the ball for this marvelous prince.”
“As I was personally invited to meet him, I wouldn’t dream of being rude and abstaining.”
Her eyes were like jewels when she looked up at him, the cold wind keeping her cheeks rosy. She smiled. All he wanted was to kiss her right then, but he couldn’t. Without the brace, it would be a different story. So instead, he stepped closer and kissed her on the forehead. It had a much more muted satisfaction, but it was an intimacy. “Thank you,” he said as he stepped away from her.
She looked embarrassed and surprised. Perhaps he had embarrass
ed her—stepped out of bounds, but he didn’t regret it. The taste of her skin lingered on his lips and her scent so close.
“For the kindness you’ve shown me, I will forever be grateful. I will never be your enemy, and if you should need something from me to repay you, you have but to ask.”
“I don’t need to be repaid,” she said.
They stood there and he had to get going, or he would kiss her again—still unable to reach her lips. At this point, he wasn’t sure a kiss would be well received. There hadn’t really been a point where a kiss had been encouraged from her side. The urge came from him, and it came from gratitude. And now he had kissed her. “Good day,” he finally said and nodded his head. “Now go, or you will be privy to how inelegantly I can get into a carriage these days.”
That finally got a smile from her. Perhaps kissing her had been a step too far. The urge had been there for days, however.
Chapter 28
Lord Fortescue was grateful to her, which was understandable—and so he should be for everything she’d done for him. He was grateful because she had seen him at his very worst and had gotten him through it.
The kiss on her forehead had lingered for hours after he’d left. Although having to deal with Cressida the rest of the day had wiped away ghostly kisses. Cressida was inordinately excited about the visit from this Bavarian prince. It would certainly increase her standing in society to be mingling with continental royalty. It was quite a coup, socially speaking.
“I do hope my gowns will arrive from Paris in time. The pink one would be perfect,” Cressida said and the carriage swayed. After hours, all had tired of conversation, but Cressida hated the quiet and would intermittently strike up conversation. “The blue one would be tolerable, but the pink would be preferred. What shall you wear, Octavia?”
Miss Octavia Insists (The Henningtons Book 2) Page 14
