Page 64 of The Rules of Courtship
Eliza stared down at the bundle of yarn in her lap. She closed her eyes and breathed out slowly.
“Is it the baby?” Ruth asked, leaning forward in her seat.
“No.” Eliza leaned back on the settee, putting her knitting on the cushion beside her. “My father came to speak to me yesterday. I know what is ailing Oliver, and it is not quite what you think.”
Ruth’s heart pounded, her pulse thrumming through her body. Again, Oliver had a hardship and did not share it with her. It explained his behavior when they rode together a few days ago, but it did not explain why he felt he could not confide in her.
Eliza cringed. “You really ought to hear it from him. It is not my information to share.”
“But you know it.”
“I do.”
“Is there another woman?” Ruth asked, holding her breath.
“No, nothing like that. It is…personal…to Oliver. It has nothing to do with matters of the heart. At least, not in the way you imagine.”
“So it will not affect his relationship with me? He is determined to use his mourning to give us time to find a way to break our engagement, but I…” Ruth caught her breath, finding herself whispering, afraid to speak the words aloud that she felt so deeply in her heart. “I do not want to break it.”
“You love him,” Eliza said, her smile warming.
Ruth closed her eyes. “I do. As much as I want to remainwith him forever, however, I cannot force him into a marriage he does not desire.”
“If he wants to end the engagement, he is probably doing so for your benefit. Wait until he shares this information with you, and you will understand.”
But Ruth did not want to wait. She wanted Oliver to feel he could trust her.
Male voices sounded through the window, coming toward the cottage, and Eliza picked up her knitting and resumed making her blanket. She smiled softly, widening her eyes in a silent message.
Ruth likely looked as forlorn as she felt. She covered her disappointment as the door opened to admit Eliza’s husband, Jacob, with Ryland just behind him.
“Brother,” Ruth said, surprised at how even her voice sounded. “I did not expect to see you here. Have you brought Aurelia?”
“Not today,” he said, shooting her an amused look. “She is working with Edmund on a surprise at home just now.”
“For your birthday?” Ruth asked.
“It is actually why I’ve called,” Ryland said, ignoring the question. He dipped his head to Eliza. “Good day, Mrs. Ridley. Forgive my sister’s rudeness.”
“I am familiar with Ruth’s lack of conformity. You did not bring Peter with you?”
“The lads need more time, so I will convey him home this afternoon, if that suits?”
“He would far prefer to spend his day with Edmund and Tom than managing the bellows for me,” Jacob said. His cheek was dark from the forge, sweat glistening on his forehead.
“You have Tom as well?” Ruth asked. She had been so lost in her own mind that she had not noticed the lack of her younger brother’s presence at home that morning.
“Yes.” Ryland ran a hand through his hair. “Aurelia isinsisting on having a small dinner party on my birthday so the boys can perform their surprise for all of us. I insisted we keep it very intimate, but we would like to invite you both.”
“What of me?” Ruth asked.
“You are not invited,” Ryland said easily. “I cannot have my sister making something out of nothing, and the fact that this dinner is on my birthday is but a mere coincidence.”
Everyone in the room knew him to be grossly underestimating his wife. They also knew him to be teasing his sister.
“Thank you. I would love to come,” Ruth said, as if her brother had been extending a heartfelt invitation instead.
“As would we,” Eliza added.
