“I am sure we will be fine,” Octavia said with a grateful smile. “But we do appreciate it. Henry…”
“We do.” Henry nodded eagerly before frowning at his empty plate. “Is there dessert?”
“Henry!”
“Of course there is,” Dorethea laughed. “I was hoping you would ask! A growing boy like you, dessert must be the first thing on your mind.” She turned in her chair and indicated to the valet who stood in the corner. “Tell the kitchen staff that Master Henry is ready for dessert.”
“Master Henry?” Henry said with a scrunched face.
“Get used to it,” Dorethea chuckled. “Get used to this…” She gestured to the dining room. “This is your life now, Henry. Both of you. It is high time you started to live it.”
It was their first supper together as a new family. It was their first supper in their new home. It was their first supper as their new selves, and Octavia knew that she should have been grateful.
I am grateful. I am beyond thrilled for this blessing. I… I… I am just tired, is all. Tomorrow, surely, I will feel better.
Octavia had been feeling off ever since they arrived at Redgate Manor. Not that she allowed it to show.
Dorethea had greeted them upon arrival, and her happiness, as well as her excitement, was enough that Octavia was able to forget her troubles for a short time. The woman was undoubtedly elated and overjoyed that she had finally found her grandchildren, and such was her happiness that Octavia did not want to ruin it.
She spent the day showing Henry and Octavia their new home.
It was a large manor, similar to the Duke’s, although not quite so big, and not nearly so rich. A two-story affair, made of large rooms and expansive hallways. There was a small library. There was a music room. There was everything that Octavia could ever need or want from a home.
They were introduced to the staff, also, and told that whatever they needed, whenever they needed it, all they had to do was ask.
Dorethea showed Octavia her room, promising that they would go shopping and buy her a new wardrobe. She did the same for Henry, and Henry’s confusion at the concept was as adorable as it was heartwarming.
By far, the most tender moment came when Dorethea showed Octavia and Henry a portrait of their mother. This saw Dorethea burst into tears, and before long, they were all hugging, while Dorethea thanked God that she had found them.
The woman wanted to do right by Octavia and Henry. She was determined to make their lives as perfect as she could. Again, Octavia was grateful… she just struggled to feel it, in the moment.
“Now, to business.” Dorethea leaned back as her plate was collected. She folded her hands on the table and looked at Octavia. “Oh, do not look so worried!” she laughed. “But I do feel that some things need to be discussed. Better to get it out of the way now than later.”
“Discussed?” Octavia frowned. “What are you…”
“Henry’s education will be taken care of, of course,” she said. “I have already sent out for a new governess. He will have the best education. Isn’t that nice, Henry?” She looked at Henry who pushed his lips together as if in protest.”
“Henry…” Octavia warned.
“I thought I would… Aaron said we could do our lessons together.” He looked hopefully at Octavia.
“Maybe in the future,” Octavia said. “For now, your grandmother is right. You need your own governess.”
“As for you, dear.” Her grandmother turned on her. “It might be in bad taste to discuss such topics, but you are… how old? Twenty-seven, yes?”
“That’s right.”
She sighed. “As I feared. Not a disaster, yet. But we ought to hurry if we are to avoid a scandal.”
“I don’t… what scandal?”
“That you are single, dear,” she said simply. “Without a husband. Now that you are a baroness, it will be expected that you are courted. If you were a little younger, we might not be in such a rush, but…” She sucked through her teeth. “You see the problem? You know how this darn town is!”
Octavia’s stomach sank.
It was not such a crazy notion, she knew. Just as she knew that her grandmother was only doing what she thought was best. At twenty-seven, a woman of the peerage ought to be married because if she were not, people would begin to question why.
Nonetheless, such reasoning did not make Octavia feel any better. And despite herself, knowing how foolish it was, she wondered if maybe the Duke…would it be such a crazy notion?