Page 66 of The Rules of Courtship
“Of course.” She bit her tongue and refrained from pointing out that he had intended to see her home, lifting her hand in a farewell as he turned his horse and rode away. His desire to return to his wife was very understandable.
Ruth fought the temptation to ride for Oliver’s house and directed her horse home, instead.
The church servicewas longer than usual the following Sunday, causing Ruth an inordinate amount of anxious tapping. She was fidgeting worse than her young brother, and Tom was not yet ten years old. It was difficult to remain still whenwatching the back of Oliver’s head, where he sat two rows ahead of them.
Papa had been waiting for Oliver to come and see him, but as of yet, there had been no meeting made. Ruth was eager to speak to him, which made the service stretch on, her attention flagging. She chanced a glance at her father and found a slight increase between his brows as he, too, looked at Oliver. Was Papa upset? Confused? He had the right to feel both of those things after a man had announced an engagement with his daughter, then failed to speak to him about it. It was not in Oliver’s nature to put off a meeting like this, especially not one with Papa, which made Ruth believe his problems at home were far worse than she had previously imagined.
And still he would not confide in her.
When Mr. Chatham finally brought his thoughts to a close, Ruth’s heart hammered. She had not spoken to Oliver since they had departed the evening of their ride together. He had been holed up in his house all week with his family. Indeed, she had been surprised to see him walk into the church that morning.
When everyone rose after the service had ended, Ruth tried to follow Oliver’s movements through the church. She was stopped outside her pew by Mrs. Hanson, a widow who lived on the High Street.
“You look beautiful today, dear. Is it true? I heard the news, and I am exceedingly happy for you.”
Ruth gritted her teeth, watching Oliver slowly make his way toward the door. He was getting away. “What do you refer to?”
“Your engagement, dear. We are overjoyed for you. It is time, do you not think?” She had a twinkle in her eye when she leaned in. “You are not too old to bear children yet, though. Do not fear.”
“It had not crossed my mind,” Ruth said with a smile. Inside, she seethed. Old? She was not yet twenty-five. “If you will excuse me?—”
“You will want to marry him quickly, dear,” Mrs. Hanson continued. “If he goes into mourning, you might miss your chance.”
Ruth swallowed her retort, watching Oliver slip outside. “I must go. Thank you.” She brushed past the matron and down the aisle, making it outside in time to see Oliver climb into his curricle and take the reins from one of his grooms. She stood on the lawn while a warm breeze swept over her neck and watched him drive away, his frown evident from here. Something wasverywrong.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Rule #24: Do not give more credence to the opinions of Society over those who truly care for you
Oliver couldn’t facepeople. He had believed he was capable and ready to attend church that morning, but even the familiar congregation had pushed him far past comfortable. He had known for less than a week of his true parentage but had hardly been able to think of anything else. Each face in the parish looked at him with pity, but which of them knew he was losing an uncle and not a father, in truth? Surely the men on Captain Rose’s ship had known he never married. As much as his family had wanted to keep this secret forever, could they truly have managed it as well as they had believed?
Had Lord Rocklin known the truth when he had invited Oliver to his house party? No. Certainly not, for he would not have approved of an illegitimate man courting either of his daughters.
That gave Oliver the oddest measure of relief. At least he could safely assume the majority of England was unaware.
He sat at the dinner table late Sunday night, swirling wine in his glass while his food remained untouched.
There was one family who needed to be informed of the true state of his birth, but he could not bring himself to do it. Over the previous days, he had consistently found the simplest reasons to avoid visiting Willowbrook and having the conversation he needed to have with Ruth’s father. Oliver could not expect Wycliffe to approve of a union between Ruth and an illegitimate man. He knew this. But still, every time he told himself it was time to ride to Willowbrook and speak to them, he balked.
Above that, he had learned he had a half-brother in the village, but he could not bring himself to approach him either. How did one go about sharing that information?Good day, Mr. Ridley. Did you know we share a father?
Oliver swallowed more of his wine and pinched a bite from his roll.
“Mr. Rose?” Harrison said, quietly waiting by the door. “Captain Rose is asking for you.”
“Now?” Oliver asked.
The butler nodded.
To be interrupted during dinner made concern wave like a flag in his chest. Oliver drained the rest of his wine, then tore another bite from the roll so his stomach would not be entirely empty, before following the butler from the room. The rest of his family had gone home for the evening, but he knew his uncles intended to return in the morning. He could hardly refuse them, not when it was their brother who lay in bed ill.
The room was still overly warm, stuffy from the fire and closed drapes. Oliver went directly to the side of the bed. In the last few days since the truth had been revealed, he had found his anger toward his uncle dissipating, leveling into something farmore comfortable. Where he used to wonder why he could not enkindle more love from his father, he now recognized his uncle treated him exactly as an uncle ought.
They had reached an understanding with one another. He only wished he had known sooner.
“Can I fetch anything for you?” Oliver asked, taking the chair closest to the head of the bed.
“My book.”
