A Season for Honour

Chapter 4

Octavia felt like she had been incredibly rude to the newly arrived Captain Fallbrook. When she had first seen him, all she had done was stand and gape at him like a tongue-tied fool. She had even had to rely on her ten-year-old son to find out who he was, and then introduce him to the rest of the family. If that was not enough to make their guest feel unwelcome, there had also been Miss Sydenham's unhelpful reaction to him. When Charles had politely introduced his governess, she had not made any effort to hide the haughty look of disapproval she apparently felt towards him. It would not have surprised Octavia if he just turned around and left.

During the half an hour that they played cricket, Octavia did not say anything to him. She was far too embarrassed by her appearance. She was aware that her hair was no longer in its neat chignon and that her day dress was spotted with green blotches that she had acquired when she had fallen over on the grass at the beginning of the game. How was Captain Fallbrook ever going to take her seriously as Charles' mother, if she behaved like a hoyden? She knew that ladies, especially widows, should not be playing cricket in front of the servants. They should be sitting with decorum in the drawing-room reading or improving their needlework skills.

Over the past few weeks, since Freddie had told her about Charles' new tutor, she had tried to imagine what he would look like. She knew that he was an officer and had fought bravely at Waterloo, and she also knew that after the battle, he had sold his commission and returned to London. Octavia had not met many officers, in fact, she had met none. But in her imagination, they were always dressed in their red regimental uniforms and were always very serious. They did not join in cricket games, and they certainly did not look at you with the unmistakable look of laughter in their eyes.

In fact, Octavia was still unsure if his expression was indeed laughter. His almost intense gaze had evoked an unusual reaction of warmth deep within her. It had taken her so much by surprise, that she could feel her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

When the game finally came to an end, the small party made their way back to the house. Octavia, who, to her own shame was still tongue-tied, walked across the lawn to the back of the house. As she held her daughter's hand and half-listened to the young girl chattering away about the game, she knew that her own attitude towards Captain Fallbrook would have to change. She gingerly felt her hair that was now almost loose about her shoulders with her spare hand and wondered if she would be able to sneak upstairs and repair the damage the boisterous game had done. But she knew that it would be impossible to leave the stranger alone with just the children and Miss Sydenham. She let go of Olivia's hand and quickly twisted her long hair and pinned it roughly into an untidy bun. It would have to do for the present, she thought to herself, as she took Olivia's hand once more. Now she had tried to put a little order into her unruly hair, all she had to do, was pluck up enough courage to talk to Captain Fallbrook, with the authority and confidence of one who was in charge of their own household. She certainly did not want to repeat any of the unfortunate experiences she had had with Charles' other tutors. She needed him to know that there were conditions attached to his continuing employment, and it would be her, and not Freddie, who chose whether he stayed after the probationary period of a month. She wanted him to be in no doubt, that she set the rules at Northleigh; no one else.

As she walked behind Charles, who was talking animatedly to Captain Fallbrook about the game they had just played, she began, at last, to feel a little more relaxed. Captain Fallbrook, to his credit, did not look annoyed at the constant barrage of questions that her son was asking him.

Once they had arrived in the drawing room and Octavia had ordered refreshments to be served, she plucked up the courage to engage him in conversation.