Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

T he sun peaked in the sky as Octavia reached Redbeck House in Surrey.

The carriage pulled up outside the grand country estate as Octavia hoped and prayed that Lady Haxford would welcome her with open arms.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped from the carriage and made her way to the front door where she waited for a footman to see her inside.

The grand entrance struck her as elegant when she glimpsed the vases of fresh country flowers. It was clear to her that Lady Haxford cared deeply for the appearance of her house.

“May I help you, Lady…” A tall distinguished-looking man in black livery stepped forward. His sandy brown hair was only just beginning to turn grey.

“I am Lady Octavia Wakefield, the Duchess of Sunderley. I am here to see my cousin, Isolde, as well as Lady Haxford.” She held her head high and began to remove her gloves.

The man’s brown eyes widened in shock as if he knew exactly who she was.

“Of course, Your Grace, if you wouldn’t mind waiting for just one moment? I am not sure if this Lady Isolde you mentioned is currently in.” He bowed respectfully as his cheeks flushed with color.

“I do not mind waiting; there is nowhere else that I need to be at present.” Her pulse raced with anticipation when the man hurried down the passage and disappeared behind a door.

Her nerves got the better of her when the sound of muffled voices floated down the hall. It almost sounded as if people were arguing before the man reappeared. Clearing her throat, Octavia quickly made as if she were examining a vase of roses.

“Lady Haxford will see you now if you would care to come with me, Your Grace.” His cheeks seemed even more flushed as he bowed once again and led her down the hall.

It felt like an eternity to Octavia as they made their way down the hall and stopped in front of the mahogany door.

This is it.

She held her breath and almost shut her eyes as the butler placed his hand on the door and pushed.

“Octavia, I…” Isolde suddenly stood, her thin frame shaking slightly as her doe-like eyes widened in shock.

Feeling as if she were about to faint, Octavia matched across the tiny parlor and threw her arms around her cousin’s shoulders.

“Don’t you ever dare do that again.” She felt the tears falling down her cheeks before she could stop them.

Isolde seemed to hesitate for a moment before wrapping her arms around Octavia and crying.

“There now, I think you can bring us another cup for tea, Henderson. It would seem that the cousins have a lot to catch up on.” The older woman’s voice broke through Octavia’s daze.

She had been so focused on seeing her cousin that she hadn’t even greeted the lady at her side.

Sniffing back her tears, Octavia turned and curtsied to Lady Haxford. “I am so sorry for barging in like this, My Lady.”

“Stuff and nonsense.” The woman waved her apology away with her hand as if she were chasing a fly and smiled. “Any family of Isolde’s is welcome in my home. Please have a seat, you must be exhausted after such a long journey.”

The woman’s thin lips curled into a welcoming smile that set Octavia at ease. Her greying blonde hair had been pinned to the back of her head in a very tight bun.

Isolde forced a smile and returned to her seat before starting to apologize. “Octavia, I am so sorry for everything that I’ve put you through. My only intention was to stay out of sight for a while until everyone forgot about the engagement. I didn’t for a second think that Papa would force you to marry that cold duke. By the time that I heard about your wedding, it was already too late. A week had passed, and there was nothing to be done…”

She opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water as she sought words.

Reaching over, Octavia placed her hand over Isolde’s to silence her.

“I am not angry at you, dear cousin.” She considered her own words for a second. “Well, I was at first, but I’m not angry anymore. I’m only upset that you left for so long without sending words. Your father and everyone else have been worried sick about you.”

Isolde sniffed back her tears and offered Octavia a thankful smile. “I promise that I’ll never be that selfish ever again. I acted out of fear more than anything else.”

Feeling as if she understood where her cousin was coming from, Octavia turned to Lady Haxford. “I want to thank you for taking such good care of my cousin. She looks better and healthier than she did when she left London.”

“It was only my pleasure; my dear departed friend’s daughter is always welcome in my home as are you. I presume you will be staying the night instead of riding back home in this frightful weather.” Lady Haxford gestured to the clouds building on the horizon. “I would seem that you have brought the rainy London weather with you to Surrey.”

“Thank you, Lady Haxford, I would be forever in your debt,” Octavia thanked her profusely, having dreaded the long ride back to London.

Using her walking stick to push herself up, Lady Haxford stood with great difficulty. “I presume that the two of you have plenty of things to catch up on. I will instruct the maids to prepare a room for you.”

Isolde stood and helped her mother’s oldest friend to her feet. “Lady Haxford, would you mind if Octavia and I took a turn about the gardens?”

“Do as you please; just don’t wander too far from the house. The Duchess must be tired, and it looks like rain on the horizon.” The older woman touched Isolde’s cheek with such loving affection that Octavia realized why her cousin had run to her for help.

“Thank you, I owe you more than I will ever be able to repay you.” Isolde leaned in and gave the older woman a kiss on her cheek.

Walking arm-in-arm, Octavia and Isolde breathed in the fresh country air that carried a hint of rain.

“I wanted to apologize again for all the trouble that I’ve put you through, Octavia. I can’t imagine what you have been through. If I had known that Papa was going to marry you off so soon, I wouldn’t have left the clue in the library.” She seemed sad as she looked at her feet.

Giving her cousin’s arm a gentle squeeze, Octavia tried to reassure her. “I understand why you did what you did. I only wish you had come to me sooner, and I’m sorry that I didn’t think of looking in our favorite place. I could kick myself for not looking in the library. Which reminds me…” She paused and let go of her cousin’s arm.

Isolde watched as Octavia reached inside her dress and unclasped the necklace.

“You brought it with you.” She clapped her hands together gleefully, reminding Octavia of all the good times they had shared.

“Of course, I know how painful it must have been for you to leave behind your precious mama’s keepsake.” Octavia placed the chain around her cousin’s neck and fastened the clasp. “Thank you for leaving it for me.”

Isolde’s large brown eyes filled with tears that clung to the ends of her naturally long lashes. She was the polar opposite of Octavia in every way possible, yet there was a natural beauty about her that shone through her eyes.

“Let’s not cry anymore, not when there is still so much to discuss.” Octavia took her arm once again and continued their stroll down the long garden path.

The neat rows of flowers and floral scents reminded her of home and the roses she had planted.

Home.

It suddenly occurred to her that she thought of the Duke’s country manor as home. She hoped he’d let her spend more time there even if it was only when he went to London. The villa in Rome seemed like a lonely prospect now as she thought of all the servants and Mrs. Farley. Each one of them had unique quirks that she treasured deep within her heart.

“Of course, you must tell me what it’s like being married to the Duke. He always struck me as such a cold man. A handsome one, but cool and distant.” Isolde broke through her train of thought.

“It… it was certainly eye-opening. That I can say for sure.” Octavia forced a smile, feeling as if she’d spent the past week forcing a facade for the sake of everyone around her.

“I can only imagine. Did the Duke not mind you coming this far without him?” Isolde chattered away, seeming chattier than Octavia recalled, but then again, she herself had changed a great deal in the past few weeks.

Swallowing hard, she hid her sigh. “No, the Duke does not mind. In fact, he wanted the marriage even less than I did, if you can believe that. We came to an agreement that suits us both. We will remain married in name alone while the Duke runs his estate and affairs. I on the other hand will travel the world at leisure and only make appearances as his wife when necessary.” She tried her best to muster the strength to pretend but felt the weariness in her bones.

The long ride from London had given her plenty of time to think, but the only conclusion she had come to was that she was better off on her own.

“That is perfect, isn’t it? You’ve always wanted to travel the world without being tied down by marriage. I feel more at ease now knowing that you’re getting what you’ve always wanted.” Isolde sighed thankfully as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. “I can’t imagine a more perfect ending.”

“Neither can I.”

Octavia sensed the deceit in her own voice, even if Isolde did not. She was finding it increasingly harder to breathe as she thought of Simon and everything she’d left behind at the mansion. She’d never pictured herself as the homely type who wanted nothing more than to build a family, yet her heart felt emptier without the prospect.

Isolde suddenly brightened again. “I just had the most marvelous idea. Now that I know you are able to travel, you should come with us to Scotland. Lady Haxford has been longing to travel for quite some time, and I do not relish the thought of returning home just yet.”

The more sensible side of Octavia's brain took over as she stopped her cousin in her tracks and turned to face her.

“Isolde, your father has been worried sick about you; before we go anywhere at all, you and I need to return home. A proper end to all of this is long overdue. Now, before you say anything at all, I will go with you. It’s better to get it over and done with; you can’t run away from the consequences forever.”

Her cousin’s eyes suddenly widened again with shock, giving her the doe-like appearance of innocence that had always won Octavia over in the past.

“I guess you are right. I must face my father.” She cocked her head to the side and stared quite intensely at Octavia. “You know, something about you has changed. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but you seem more responsible now.”

Looping her arm through Isolde’s, Octavia changed the direction and began to lead them back up the path.

“Marriage will do that to a person. Would you like to hear about the time that I climbed a giant oak in pursuit of an ancient gardener and had to wait for the Duke to come to my rescue?”

Isolde’s mouth opened slightly in shock. “You did not.”

“Oh, I did, that and more.” Octavia took a deep breath and began to regale her cousin with tales of married life as a duchess.

She told her everything from the rose bushes to the dance and the tree, yet she couldn’t bring herself to speak of the feelings she harbored in her heart.