“Then maybe you are the right man for her.”
“Of that I have no doubt.”
“Why don’t you stay for supper? You can make your way back in the morning after a good rest. Octavia can do without you for another day.”
“It would be my pleasure,” Finn replied. Granted, he wanted to rush back to London, but it was a shrewd investment to develop good relationships with her father.
*
Finn went straight to Caius’ house so he could speak to Octavia. She should know at the earliest opportunity that they had her father’s approval.
As the carriage pulled up by the house, he got out and took the steps two at a time until he reached the door. He knocked and waited. The curious one-armed butler answered the door.
“Is Miss Hennington in?” he asked.
“Aye,” the man said brusquely and showed him in.
“Who is it?” a man said.
“Lord Fortescue,” the butler replied, and Caius Hennington came out of his study.
“Fortescue,” he said with surprise.
“I am here to see your sister.”
“Is that so?”
“I am going to marry your sister.”
The man considered him. “You’ll have to get past our father.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Caius,” Octavia said. “Father has always said who I marry will be my choice. Lord Fortescue,” she said with a quick curtsey. Finn watched her as she came down the stairs.
“Well, your father sends his regards.”
“I suppose that saves us from having to elope. Now go away, Caius. I wish to speak with my fiancé without you gawking at me.”
Caius grumbled, but he did as he was asked and returned to his study. “No closed doors!” he ordered.
“Does he expect me to ravage you on his sofa?” Finn asked as Octavia led him into the salon. “Your father suggested I find an easier wife,” he said with a smile, “but I said I couldn’t possibly. It was much too late for me, I am a caught man.”
“You make it sound like a sentence.”
Leaning down, he kissed her. It had felt much too long since he’d tasted her and smelled her lovely hair. Putting his arm around her, he drew her close. The entire trip was worth it, this entire thing was worth it. The injury. It had brought him her and he would do it again if he had to. “The banns have been placed.”
“I suppose we must tell everyone,” she said and he loved that she held him in return. Her cheek was on his chest and they simply stood like that.
“Would you like a grand ball to announce it?” To be honest, at this point, he was happy to never attend a ball again, but if she wanted one, it would be the grandest ball that ever was.
“No, I think a supper would be nicer. Something smaller where one can hear oneself think. Besides, if I invite some people and not others, it will all get messy.”
“Then a supper it is. Maybe we’ll hire in the chefs from the Savoy.”
“That is actually an excellent idea.”
Chapter 38
WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE an intimate supper to announce the engagement turned out to be an evening with about thirty guests. There were simply people who needed to be there. Some of her friends, some of his, and her family. Sadly, Finn didn’t really have anyone to invite. There was a cousin, but he lived in the West Indies.
Still, it was more of an intimate evening with their closest friends. Octavia found no reason to throw a ball for the sake of her engagement. Her social standing had diminished in importance for her utterly. She simply didn’t care now. Obviously, invitations would come and they would accept some, but the competition for social advancement was something she simply couldn’t be bothered with. For some people, it occupied their lives, but Octavia didn’t understand what the prize would be. Power, probably. For herself, she had always coveted the power to do as she pleased. An aim that was too perilous in the heights of social success.
“Rose,” she said with her hands held out when a dear friend arrived with her husband. Most of her friends were married already and busy with children and houses. It had made her friendships more distant and she’d mourned that, but it was the way of things. Now she was marrying and it seemed a common worry amongst her friends would be lifted. “It’s so lovely to see you.” Although she expected her friends had been curious to receive invitations to dine with Lord Fortescue, a man they had never met.
“I take it our invitation is your doing,” Rose said after greetings all round. “Is there a special purpose for this evening?”
A consequence of being such a liberal person with her thoughts was that she was utterly useless at keeping secrets. “The night will have to unfold,” she said cryptically, but Rose already knew. She knew her well enough to discern that there would be an announcement.
Again, Rose leaned in to kiss her. “He must be very worthy then. Congratulations. I am inordinately pleased.”
Finn was chatting to some of his friends across the salon. Octavia hadn’t met a single one of them yet. He always seemed so solitary, but perhaps his friends were disappearing into marriages one after the other too.
“You will have to come tell me about it,” Rose said, having followed the direction of her gaze. “Is Annabelle coming?”
“I believe so. I’m sure she’ll be here soon, but please, have a drink and enjoy the evening. I must meet my brother,” Octavia said, seeing Julius arrive with Cressida, and Lydia in tow. Octavia went to greet them. Her brother kissed her on the cheek, and then Cressida. It felt practiced and icy. At no point had Cressida warmed up to her.
