Page 82 of The Rules of Courtship
Lady Helena smiled patiently down at him. “If Jameson will accompany you and bring you back home, andbothRuth and Oliver approve, then it is acceptable to me.”
Tom turned eager eyes on them. “Please?”
“No racing,” Ruth said sternly.
“No racing,” Tom repeated in a promise he would most certainly break.
“Then yes, you may come.”
Oliver nodded, and they set off toward the stables. He took Ruth’s hand, pulling her close to his side as they walked. The sun shone on them, the wind ruffling their hair, and despite the unknowns ahead of them, Ruth had never been happier.
“You know,” Oliver said, drawing her a little behind as Tom ran on ahead. “Despite my utter lack of funds and the fact that we have to wait several months to be married due to my period of mourning, I’m not sure I have ever been happier than I am in this moment.”
“Never?” Ruth asked with a mischievous smile.
He narrowed his eyes. “What are you scheming?”
“Nothing particular.” She pulled him around the corner of the stables and stopped just under the apple tree. “I need a treat for Rosaline,” she said quietly, her arms going around his neck.
Oliver’s smile widened, pulling her a few more steps until they were out of sight of the house and anyone leaving the stables. “You are not a married woman yet, Miss Wycliffe.”
“Nearly,” she said, reaching up on tiptoe to press her lips to his.
Oliver drew her close. She lost herself in the feeling of being wrapped in his arms, knowing he wanted her forever, that he loved her, that they would get to spend the rest of their lives in a partnership powered by love and mutual affection.
“Can we run away together?” Ruth asked. “I do not wish to wait six months.”
“Captain Rose was my uncle,” he reminded her, leaning back to look in her eyes. “I only need to wait three months.”
“What would people think?”
“I am not sure, but if it is agreeable to you, then the only person I would like to request an opinion from is Jacob Ridley.”
“Eliza,” she breathed, pulling away. “We must hurry.”
Oliver pulled her back for one more lingering kiss that sent heat traveling clear to her toes before letting her go.
“Ruth!” Tom called, his little voice carrying from the stables. “Where are you?”
She laughed, pulling Oliver along. “Three months sounds much better than six.”
Oliver smiled at her, plucking an apple from the tree as they passed it. “I thought the same thing.”
Chapter Thirty
Rule #30: Always beware of who might be lurking around the corner
It was not until later that evening that Eliza gave birth to a noisy baby girl. The infant’s cries rang through the halls of Boone Park, and the party waiting in the drawing room—comprised of Eliza’s mother, father, sister, niece, Samuel, Oliver, and Jacob’s young apprentice, Peter—exchanged glances of profound joy. Ruth had left hours ago. She could not justify waiting any longer when her visitors had likely already arrived. While Oliver had been sad to see Ruth leave, he had felt a calm about him, understanding that for the rest of their lives, their separations would only ever be temporary.
He had made sure Eliza and Jacob had everything they needed before taking himself off to bed. It had been a long day, but it had ended very well.
The following morning, Oliver was awake before the sun. Instead of taking a ride, he went in search of Harrison to see toit Eliza had been cared for overnight. When he made his way down the corridor toward the staircase, he happened upon Jacob, coming from the direction of Eliza’s chamber.
“How are they doing this morning?” Oliver asked, thinking of his cousin and her brand-new daughter. The corridor was dim and quiet, the rest of the house asleep.
“Quite well, both Eliza and Lydia.”
“And Peter?” Oliver asked, curious about the lad. He knew Eliza and Jacob had brought Peter into their hearts as well as their home.
