The office was less dusty and Octavia took it in, along with the dark-haired woman. “So this is where you keep yourself. I hope the children of the country appreciate your efforts.” On one of the walls, there were drawings made by children. Whose, she had no idea.
“We believe so. I’m not sure you’ve met Mrs. Broadman, my partner.”
The dark-haired woman stepped forward to shake her hand, which was a bit bold for standard etiquette. But this woman was not ruled to politeness and etiquette. She was something else entirely, and Octavia was a little curious. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. Enchanted,” Octavia said with a nod while she shook her hand. “I’ve just arrived back in London and thought I’d come see how you are. Caius is still at Bickerley, I believe.”
“Yes, dealing with the harvest.”
Mrs. Broadman gathered up a bundle of papers. “I’ll leave you to reacquaint,” the woman said and smiled as she left the room. It was curious how loyal Eliza was to that woman. They seemed to be close friends. Unlike many, Octavia didn’t have a best friend as such, two closer friends in Rose and Annabelle, but they weren’t as close as some, and less so as they’d both married. She had lots of friends and even more acquaintances, but not one she knew as intimately as one would a best friend.
“I didn’t want to be out and about too late, so I thought I’d come see you here. I suppose there isn’t a cafe nearby?”
“There’s a pub not far away,” Eliza said with a note of uncertainty. “Or we could go to my house. It isn’t far.”
“I’m sure we can get some tea here,” Octavia said, looking around. “It’s been a long journey.”
“You’ve just returned?”
“Today, actually.”
“I’ll organize some tea,” Eliza said and walked out of the room. She returned within a minute. “Please sit,” she said, indicating over to the window where two chairs stood. Then she moved and carried over a small table and placed it between the chairs. It would serve. Octavia sat down. She could see down onto the street from her position.
“It’s a shame you couldn’t join Caius in Bickerley for the harvest season,” Octavia said.
“Caius said he’d be busy the entire time, and we have a big order to get out the door. Schools start very soon, so we have a great many orders to process.”
“Have you been to Bickerley?”
“Yes, I went a few months back.” Well, that was something, at least.
“It’s a handsome house. I always thought so. I haven’t visited in years. Our uncle was meticulous in how he kept things, but you know how the elderly are. Things slip. Denham would be a mess if it wasn’t for me. Father has no interest at all. I do wish he’d marry, but he shows remarkably little interest.”
“Julius seems to take after him,” Eliza said. So her and Caius were not close enough that they discussed Julius’ relationship.
“He’s involved with a woman at the moment. I think he intends to marry her.”
“Oh, I had no idea.” Was that a sign that they weren’t as close as they professed? “Is she a good choice for him?”
“Terrible, but you know Julius, you can’t tell him anything. She’s of the right pedigree, so he’s content.”
A look of concern crossed Eliza’s features. It really was as if every emotion was written on her face. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Julius will get the marriage he deserves,” Octavia said dismissively. As he utterly refused to listen, Octavia had stopped being concerned about his choices. They were his choices to make, and if he wished to spend his life with someone like Cressida, then that was his choice. Maybe they got on perfectly together. “One doesn’t always understand the things that make others happy.”
Astounding as it was, people weren’t the same. Not everyone saw things the way she saw them, despite the perfect logic. But neither of her brothers were logical and reasonable when it came to their women. That much she’d learnt in her time. Eliza was a good choice for Caius. He’d chosen well, but he’d been too emotionally invested to see the forest for the trees when the storm had come, and he’d suffered dearly for it. So had Eliza. Except she had turned her misfortune into a thriving business.
“I take it you enjoy this,” she said. “The cut and thrust of business.”
“I do,” Eliza said. “It’s like a child. Something you create and nurture, then watch grow.”
More importantly, would there be real children to nurture? Were they… trying? Surely they had reconciled to that point. It wasn’t something one could ask.
“Well, I do hope you allow yourself some time for leisure,” Octavia said. “You are the only sister I have, and I hope you’ll spend some time with me. And even if Julius marries this woman, you will still be the only sister I have.”
Eliza chuckled. “I’m pleased you see me that way.”
“Of course. So please come to supper one evening.”
“As none of the men are here to see to us, we will have to do so for ourselves.”
One of the mistakes Caius was surely making was squirreling her away in his townhouse, while what she really needed was to be drawn into society again. No doubt it was one of Eliza’s fears, and how could she embrace being Lady Warwick if that continued? No, she had to be reintroduced, so she would learn that there was nothing there to fear. And there would be nothing to fear—Octavia would see to it, and God help anyone who tried to reject her.
“We should definitely plan an evening,” Octavia said with a smile.
Chapter 4
A LULL OF ACTIVITY FOLLOWED the harvest and Finn felt a little lost. The barley was in and sent for dehusking, a process
