Page 9 of The Rules of Courtship
“You are thinking,” Eliza said. “I can tell.”
“Samuel should come to Lord Rocklin’s house party. If it is not too late, I think it is a good idea.”
Eliza’s eyes narrowed. “You will not push him away the entire time?”
She would not give up her rules, but she did not need to in order to findSamuela spouse. “On the contrary. He would be my personal project.”
“In that case, I will tell him to remain far away. This is more frightening than enticing,” she joked. “What are you planning?”
Ruth was unable to respond as Jacob approached Eliza and put his arm around her waist. He towered over her, tall and foreboding, but his eyes were soft. Warm sunlight drifted over them,making the grass look greener and the sky bluer. Ruth asked him about the cot he had been carving for the baby, and he told her of the spindles his apprentice, Peter, had made.
“Samuel,” Eliza said, her smile brightening as she registered her cousin approaching. “Ruth was just telling me how much she is looking forward to seeing you at Lord Rocklin’s house party.”
Samuel’s gaze flicked to Ruth, confusion appropriately passing over his face. His golden hair was styled perfectly, the pomade shining in the sunlight. He was handsome, even if his green waistcoat was too bright for church and his watch carried too many tinkling fobs.
“Was she?” he asked, his skepticism evident.
Oliver stood behind Samuel, looking at Ruth. Now was when she should have responded, but she couldn’t find the words. His green eyes trailed over her suspiciously before he smiled at his cousin. “You seem tired, Lizzie,” he said.
“We should go home,” Jacob said, seeming to agree.
“But we’ve only just begun talking?—”
“They will be here again next Sunday,” Jacob argued. “And I am certain you and Ruth will make a point of seeing each other before that.”
Eliza conceded the point. “I suppose that is true. Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.” Once they started walking away, Samuel turned his full attention on Ruth.
Oh, dear. Had she made a mistake in assuming she could route Samuel’s attention to another young lady? It was too late to retract her plan now that it was in motion. Besides, if it worked, she would be able to do away with the bulk of her rules. They were, in part, designed to keep him from asking to court her.
Goodness, was she truly going to do this? The way his blue eyes trailed her now, she felt like she had just offered to make anentire dinner when she hadn’t the first notion how to even heat the stove.
Helping Samuel find a bride would be far easier than roasting a turkey, would it not?
“I must be honest,” Samuel said, “I haven’t felt too interested in the Rocklin party until now.”
“Should I be offended?” Ruth said playfully. “You must have known I would be there.”
“Now I’m not sure wild horses could keep him away,” Oliver muttered.
Samuel grinned unrepentantly. “Indeed. You can find someone else to watch your cellars, can you not, Cousin?”
Oliver gave him a flat look. “I think they will be in better hands with my housekeeper, anyway.”
“It’s decided then.” Samuel looked from Ruth to Oliver. “We are going to have a lovely time together, I think.”
Ruth wished she could say the same. She held Oliver’s gaze for the briefest moment, somehow feeling like she had made a grave error in judgment.
Chapter Four
Rule #4: Jealousy should be reserved for horses
Lord Rocklin’s house was nearly an hour from Harewood. The Wycliffe women endured the entire ride during a summer rainstorm that rocked the carriage and made Lady Helena ill. Ruth spent the ride rubbing her stepmother’s back and periodically pounding on the ceiling to stop the carriage when she thought Lady Helena might be sick.
When they arrived at the Rocklin estate, Mrs. Hull, the housekeeper, showed them to their rooms straight away, while Mama’s maid went to fetch ginger tea. Ruth helped her stepmother into her dressing gown and under the bedclothes. Her deep chestnut hair was unfastened, splaying on the pillow behind her head.
“Will you try to eat something?” Ruth asked. She dipped a cloth in cool water and twisted most of the water out before resting it on Lady Helena’s forehead.
“I could not.” Lady Helena closed her eyes. “Forgive me,darling. Can you go to dinner on your own, or shall we request a tray for the evening?”
