Page 81 of The Rules of Courtship
“Indeed. I wished them all to Jericho. But we’ve come about in the end.” Papa waved toward the door. “Come, your mother will want to hear the news.”
“Before that, I have something else to share,” Oliver said. “I was tasked with coming to inform you that Eliza is having her baby.”
Ruth gasped. “It is too early!”
“Alas, she felt the same way,” Oliver muttered.
“Is the doctor with her?” Papa asked.
“The entirety of her family is with her. The doctor was sentfor and should be there now. She is set up at Boone Park if you would like to return with me, Ruth.”
She looked at her father. “May I?”
“Of course. But first, you really ought to share the news with your mama.”
“She is likely to find it quite anticlimactic. We already announced an engagement to her weeks ago,” Ruth said.
“Yes, perhaps.” Papa winked. “But this time, it’s real.”
Lady Helena was situatedin the nursery, reading to Tom from an aged book of fairy stories that she used to read to Ryland when he was a small boy. She glanced at the couple standing in the doorway and lowered the book.
“Can we ride now, Ruth?” Tom asked, leaping up from his seat beside his mother and rushing toward her. “You promised to ride with me yesterday and you never did.”
“Because you were sent to your room for making a mess of Cook’s dinner.”
He scowled. “I told her I was sorry.”
Lady Helena closed the book and set it down. “Ruth cannot ride with you today, darling. She is preparing to receive her friends.”
Drat. “That is today?” Ruth asked.
Lady Helena gave her a look of longsuffering. “Yes. The Temple twins intend to arrive this afternoon. We discussed it, Ruth. You wrote the letter.”
“My days have gotten away from me.”
“The Locksley assemblies are tomorrow.” Lady Helena gave Oliver an apologetic smile. “I am sorry you cannot join us.”
“I am only sorry to miss the opportunity of your company for an evening,” he said smoothly.
“Well said.” Ruth grinned. “Mama, you will be happy to hear that Papa gave his blessing.”
“Oh, darling, thatislovely.” Lady Helena smiled warmly at them both. “It is too bad we cannot have a dinner to celebrate soon. The moment you have put off mourning and are feeling ready, we will host something.”
“Thank you,” Oliver said.
“What’s more,” Ruth said, “Eliza is at Boone now having her baby. Mama, Imustgo to her.”
Lady Helena drew in a slow breath, her mind working over the problem. “And the Temple twins?”
“Is it truly so abominable if I am not here to welcome them? The assemblies are not tonight.”
“It is impolite,” Lady Helena said. She glanced at the window, her brow knit in thought, then nodded. “I really ought to chaperone you to Boone. But you are engaged now, and surely they will understand my absence. You will return as soon as you are able, though? The Temple twins might not be as pleased by the arrangement.”
“Of course.” Ruth grinned, throwing her arms around her stepmother. “Thank you, Mama.”
“I love you.” She reached past Ruth to take Oliver’s hand and give it a gentle squeeze. “I am thrilled for you both.”
“Can I ride with them, Mama?” Tom asked, bouncing on his toes.
