Page 69 of The Rules of Courtship
“I do not fault him.” He gave her a kind smile. “I should not have said anything, but I worry for you. It is strange; that’s all.”
Papa had seemed overjoyed when Ruth and Lady Helena had told him to expect a visit from Oliver on their return, but that quickly shifted to skepticism when the days had dragged on and Oliver never arrived. It did not help that news of their engagement had spread quickly, though no one was aware that the bride’s father had yet to provide his blessing—had yet to even be asked.
When they finished eating and the women rose to leave, Ruth caught Oliver’s gaze across the table and nearly missed her footing. His eyes were heated, devouring her from a distance. She hardly breathed as she walked back to the drawing room.
The rest of the evening was no better. Edmund, Tom, and Peter had fashioned puppets themselves and wrote a play about Ryland, featuring most of the people in the room in one way or another. The performance was humorous and intelligent. It proved to be a good distraction for a quarter of an hour before card tables were pulled out and teams were decided.
Eliza and Jacob had taken Peter home as the games were dealt, due to her exhaustion. Ruth remained on the sofa the rest of the evening, hardly participating in the conversations taking place around her. Her eyes tracked Oliver for the rest of the evening, growing more agitated the longer he kept his distance. It was reminiscent of the night at the house party when he had avoided her, making her hands shake in concern and frustration. She knew him to be keeping something from her, and while this was not the place for a conversation of any depth, it was hurtful and surprising he did not seek her out at all.
As the evening wore on, he had seemed to loosen around the other guests, but still he had not approached her. She ought not to find it offensive, as he was grieving. But Ruth wanted to be the person he ran to, not the one he kept away from. She should be a support, not a source of distress.
When Lady Helena approached to tell her she had sent for their carriage, Ruth wanted to be anywhere but in that room. She was selfishly bothered. He had lost hisfather, for heaven’s sake.
“Tom has been fairly well-behaved, but I think poor Tilly has minded him enough for one evening,” Lady Helena said. “We really ought to be on our way home shortly.”
“I am ready,” Ruth said, and she could feel the weight of her stepmother’s gaze.
“I need to hug my son first.” Lady Helena glanced at Ryland. “You have time if you’d like to speak to Oliver before we leave.”
Had it been so obvious that she wanted to be near him? They were not acting as a recently engaged couple ought to. That much was plain.
Ruth rose from the sofa, smoothing down her skirt, her pulse jittering wildly. She passed Samuel speaking to Ryland and found Oliver alone near the window. She did not analyze the fact that he would have rather stood alone than approach her, and pasted a smile on her face.
“Ruth,” Oliver said, turning toward her.
“How are you?” she asked, skipping the niceties. “Or should I not ask you that? Perhaps you’ve been overrun with the question all evening and would like to speak of anything else.”
His green eyes were steady. “You can ask me anything you would like.”
Anything? A list of questions blew through her thoughts.Do you care about me? Why have you not come to see my father? Is your grief going to change our arrangement?
She swallowed, her throat going dry. “I only want to know if there is anything I can do for you.”
His mouth quirked up on one side, but the smile felt sad. “We have the solicitor coming in two days. After that, we will better know the state of things, and my aunt and uncles can return to their own houses.”
“You’ve had company all this time?”
He shot her a dry look. “I believe they think they are helping.”
Which meant, in reality, they were doing the opposite. “Would you like to meet for a ride in the morning?” she asked, her heart racing.
His eyes cut to hers. “Will we remain on our horses?” he asked, making her draw in a quick breath.
Had he truly brought that upnow? “Yes.” She straightened. Her eyebrows lifted in challenge, but her heart raced.
The smile on his mouth only widened, his voice lowering. “What would I have to do to entice you off the horse?”
“Speak to my father. He has not been terribly fond of hearing me accept congratulations when he has yet to bestow his blessing on our supposed union.”
Oliver nodded, his smile faltering.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Have I done something to upset you?”
“No. Why would you think so?”
She held his gaze. “You have been ignoring me.”
The heat from earlier flashed in his eyes again. He gave the smallest shake of his head. “I must keep my distance from you, Ruth. If I am near you, I need to touch you.”
