Page 42 of The Rules of Courtship
“He would be a catch, Ruth,” Lady Helena said. “Your father had his own ideas when he sent you here, and they did not include Mr. Bailey, but if you like the man, you ought to find time to know him better. This is an opportunity to find a husband, and I do think he would give you a good life.”
Ruth was entirely too aware of Oliver’s proximity and the embarrassing nature of this conversation, but what could she do? She cleared her throat. “I will think on it.”
“You would need to love him, of course. We want nothing less for you. But if you accepted a courtship by the end of the house party, we could invite him to our home for a few weeks. Do not feel hurried, darling. We only want what’s best for you.”
The best thing for her now would be solitude and perhaps a pillow to scream into.
“I will think on it,” Ruth repeated tightly.
Lady Helena let out a sigh. She made it to the door before stopping and turning back. “Oliver is worrying me. Do you know why he has been acting differently today?”
She did, but it was not her secret to share. “It has been a hard year for him,” Ruth said vaguely.
“Indeed, poor man. I would like to see him happily settled and in love, as well. I do hope he finds someone.”
“Yes, well, perhaps he will.” Ruth’s cheeks flooded with warmth. She opened the door and smiled, hoping the dimness hid her blush. “Goodnight, Mama.”
“Goodnight.” Lady Helena pulled her in for an embrace before leaving.
When Ruth closed the door, she twisted the key to lock it this time, then slumped against it and briefly closed her eyes. “She is gone.”
Oliver poked his head out from beneath the bed and looked at her. The sight made her chuckle, the heaviness in her chestuncoiling the slightest bit. Pushing away from the door, she moved to help him out from beneath the bed.
“You are covered in dust,” she said, swatting at his back and the arms of his jacket.
Oliver glanced at her over his shoulder. “It is probably unsafe for me to leave just yet.”
“Probably.” Ruth sat on the edge of her bed and rubbed her eyes.
Oliver hesitated before sitting beside her. “You could have told your mother about my father’s illness.”
“I did not know if you would approve.”
“I understand.” He looked ahead. “What did you think of her opinions about Mr. Bailey? The man does seem like a good match. I was unaware of the state of his finances, but that must come as a relief.”
Ruth’s stomach flipped. She was not thinking about Mr. Bailey at all. She was thinking about Oliver’s strong hands and how they would feel wrapped around hers. But she shouldn’t. After all these years, if Oliver had any feelings for her, he would have made them known. “Yes, but he is not eligible if he has an arrangement with Miss Edmonds.”
“You think him to be her beau?”
“He is the most logical choice.”
“How do you know the woman wasn’t lying?” Oliver asked. “A way to deter you from setting your sights on Bailey?”
“Because she did not provide a name.” Ruth pulled her braid over her shoulder and fiddled with the blue ribbon at the end. “I discovered who he was by using the power of deduction.”
Oliver nodded, running a hand over his chin. He turned to look at her, shaking his head. “The party has not yet reached the halfway mark. Much can happen in a week.”
It felt like a promise, though she did not know why. “Shall we do away with our agreement?” she asked.
“On the contrary.” Oliver stood, stretching his shoulders. He looked down at her. “I think we need it now more than ever.”
Chapter Fifteen
Rule #15: Never race on uneven ground
As it turned out, the distraction Oliver needed had been in front of him all along: helping Ruth find a husband. The words skated across his mind like blades on ice, uncomfortable, unable to find purchase on the smooth, cold surface. But there were two gentlemen showing some interest in her—Mr. Bailey and Mr. Edmonds—and Oliver made it his objective to learn as much as he could about each man.
Wycliffe was not here to do it, so Oliver would do so in his stead, as promised.
