Page 26 of The Rules of Courtship
“I would much rather be exhausted than bored,” Jane muttered, smoothing a hand over her pink gown.
Ruth found herself agreeing with that sentiment. She lifted her bird, eyeing its misshapen beak. Sighing, she lowered it to her lap again. “I think if I stay indoors much longer, I’ll fall asleep. Would anyone care to walk outside with me?”
Catherine touched her cheek thoughtfully. “My complexion prefers to remain here. I avoid sunlight whenever possible, and I already spent a good deal of time outside yesterday.”
The very notion of avoiding sunlight made Ruth feel queasy. She longed for fresh air and wind on her face.
Jane looked as though she might agree to a walk, but a glance from her sister kept her silent. Lady Helena looked up from her conversation as though ready to accompany Ruth if no one else was interested.
“I’ll walk with you,” Miss Edmonds offered. “My handkerchief is best left as it is, or I will ruin it with too much detail,” she added, though her colorful bouquet of flowers suggested otherwise. It was a bright splash of various colors, the lines and petals obvious even from this distance.
Ruth instinctively covered her rudimentary bird, hoping no one else had noticed it. “That would be lovely.”
None of the other ladies wanted to join them. They fetched their bonnets and gloves. Miss Edmonds waited on the veranda when Ruth returned from gathering her things, spinning her parasol idly on her shoulder. She smiled warmly as Ruth approached, revealing nearly-straight teeth. Her pale blue gown looked well-worn but elegant, and her raven hair was styled impeccably. It was no wonder Oliver had seemed so taken with her last night.
“Have you walked in the garden yet?” Ruth asked.
“I have in summers past. Would you like to see the fountain? Lord Rocklin spent time in Italy and tried to recreate an Italian effect in his garden here. The sculpture on the fountain is meant to look similar in style to those he appreciated abroad. At least, that is what I’ve been told.”
“I’ve never been to Italy, so I’ve nothing to compare it to.”
They walked together along the pebbled path. Ruth adjusted her bonnet to shield her eyes from the sun. The garden was trimmed with precision, with flowers and shrubbery arranged in symmetrical patterns. It was a large square broken into paths by triangular plots and well-trained bushes. Ruth didn’t know the names of most of the plants, but she thought it looked romantic and exotic.
As the ladies strolled, they spoke of their homes and friends. Miss Edmonds shared her admiration for her brother’s loyalty and support as she searched for a husband. Four Seasons she had hunted, and thus far had only met with gentlemen who did not deserve the descriptor.
“Is Mr. Edmonds not in search of a wife?” Ruth asked. He had not seemed uninterested, at least.
“It is not his priority at present,” Miss Edmonds replied, frowning. “I do not think he’s opposed to marriage, exactly. He wants to see me settled first.”
“That is commendable.”
“It’s simply reality. If I obtain a husband, Philip no longer needs to worry over my welfare. I’ll be cared for.”
“And your parents?”
There was a slight hesitation before she answered. “They grew ill nearly five years ago. We’ve been on our own ever since.”
“How awful,” Ruth breathed. Her mother had died when she was young, but while she felt the loss, Lady Helena had stepped into the role with elegance and love, and Ruth had not been left wanting. She did not know what she would do if she had lost both of her parents, if she had been left alone.
“My father was a landowner, and my mother the daughter of a vicar. But after they died, we discovered my father’s debts.” She looked down before raising her gaze to Ruth. “My brother sold the estate to pay the debts and purchased a small house in London. We are happy there, but it is not home.”
“Why did you choose London instead of a home in the country?”
“Philip thought it best. I think he would have struggled to see the house he inherited owned by another if we had remained.”
It had clearly been a sacrifice, all the same.
They came upon a tall, white fountain, enclosed in a ring of high shrubbery. The statue was raised on a stone pedestal with a round pool of water surrounding it. It resembled a maiden holding a bouquet. She had a wreath in her hair, carved from white stone, and small cherubs etched into the pedestal at her feet.
“Interesting,” Ruth said, unable to find a more flattering word.
Miss Edmonds gave her an impish smile. “It is meant to be Lord Rocklin’s wife and his two daughters.” She tilted her head to the side, studying it through narrowed eyes. “My brother hasalways thought it a strange homage. When the water is flowing, it sprays from the flowers in her hand.”
Ruth surveyed the cherubs meant to be Catherine and Jane. She did not know if they resembled the women as infants, but she found their expressions to be far from happy. “Would it not have been simpler to hire a portraitist?”
“I do not believe simple was their aim. Shall we keep walking? There is a path through there that leads directly to the pond. It is a bit of a walk. Did you bring your half boots?” She glanced at Ruth’s feet, seemingly pleased to see her in sturdy attire.
“Isn’t that where the men are fishing?”
