A Season for Honour

Chapter 16

London: May 1818

'This is exciting,' Katie said as she linked her arm through Octavia's, 'are you glad you agreed to come?'

The two friends were enjoying a quiet morning stroll in Hyde Park, along with William, Katie's son and Olivia. They had all arrived in London a couple of weeks ago before the season had begun in earnest. Katie had wanted to come early so that they could both, in Katie's words, "kit themselves out for the upcoming season." And, since they had arrived, Katie had been true to her word. Octavia was certain that they had visited every single shop on Bond Street at least twice and that they had bought at least half the contents of each shop. She had spent a small fortune on bonnets, gloves and numerous accessories that she could not even remember purchasing, and that was before they had visited the exclusive boutique, where both women were measured for an entire new wardrobe of dresses. Octavia could not believe that she would need as many new clothes, but Katie had said that if one wanted to cut a dash, then one needed to look the part. Octavia was not at all sure that she had wanted "to cut a dash," but Katie had promised to make this season rememberable, and that, according to her, meant being dressed in the first stare of fashion.

Katie had not accompanied her husband to London for the previous season. Last spring, she had still not fully recovered her strength after the birth of William, and she was still grieving the death of her younger son, who she had called Henry. She had told Octavia that she had decided to stay in Yorkshire so that she could recuperate her strength. However, Octavia suspected that they had quarrelled, and Freddie had left to put a little distance between himself and his wife. Since the terrible events of that night when her son had been stillborn, Katie had changed. She was no longer the carefree woman with a wicked sense of humour, who loved life to the full; she had become listless and tired.

When Freddie's absence that should have been for only a few weeks, stretched out into months, Octavia became increasingly worried about her friend's health. It saddened Octavia to see her once-gregarious friend shutting herself away from the world and refusing to see visitors. Therefore, Octavia had decided to take matters into her own hands. She had managed to persuade Katie that she was ready to put aside her own years of seclusion and join society. This challenge had been the very thing that Katie had needed to snap her out of her lethargy. Katie had risen to the occasion and had taken Octavia to the local assemblies in Harrogate and York, and had also introduced her to their neighbours. Far from disliking the experience, Octavia, to her surprise, found that she liked the company of others. And, when Freddie finally returned in the Autumn, nearly five months after he had left for London, so that he could escort Charles to Eton, Octavia still regularly accompanied them to selected social functions.

Octavia had not been sure whether she should accept the invitation to join them for the season in London at Sommerville House. Even though Katie had begun to get better, her relationship with her husband had not improved. Octavia suspected that she had been invited to provide a buffer between the two warring factions. These days, they barely talked to each other, and Octavia was worried that their once stable loving relationship, would soon be broken beyond repair. However, they had both been very persuasive. Katie had assured her that she was ready to make up for the lost season and was planning on attending as many ton events as she could possibly squeeze into the next two months. She was determined to introduce her friend to as many eligible gentlemen as she could find, and maybe even attract a little attention for herself.

Octavia smiled at Katie and squeezed her arm. 'Yes,' she said, smiling at her, 'I am glad I came. I never knew there could be so much green in London. It is like we have walked into the countryside.'

'I told you that London was not all pavements and buildings. Hyde Park is an oasis in the middle of the city. Once the rest of the ton arrive,' she said as she looked around her, 'the park will be crowded at this time of day. It will be the perfect time for us to show off our new wardrobe.'