Page 8 of The Rules of Courtship (Hearts of Harewood #3)

Chapter Eight

Rule #8: Always allow adequate room to escape unwanted suitors. A perfectly acceptable excuse is retiring early

Dinner had long since passed, but despite eating a healthy, full meal, Oliver’s stomach felt strangely uneasy. He had spent too much energy watching Ruth and Samuel during archery earlier and the tea which followed. He had once again failed to properly pay attention to his own partner.

Miss Temple had been polite, but she had undoubtedly felt ignored. It was a shame Oliver had wasted the opportunity to speak to her more, to better learn what she was like. Now, the whole group was gathered in the drawing room late in the evening. He realized he had no notion of her temperament—or that of the other two women in attendance, Miss Jane and Miss Edmonds. All because he could not seem to ignore Samuel and Ruth laughing together.

Making Ruth laugh had previously been reserved for Oliver, while Samuel received patient, distant conversation. Had Oliver made a mistake in convincing Ruth to give Samuel a chance?

No, of course not. He only needed to accept these new changes to his relationships and friends. As they grew older and more of their original group of friends were married or paired off, things would continue to change even more. Such was the nature of life and growth.

Though that did not make it any easier to bear.

Ruth and Lady Helena took up positions at a card table with an older couple—the Watsons, he believed. He had yet to meet them, but they appeared to have a longstanding relationship with Lady Helena, who seemed to have overcome her illness.

Samuel stood near the fireplace with Miss Jane and Mr. Edmonds, holding court with a humorous anecdote. He had a talent for putting most people at ease. Whether they did not take him seriously because of his outlandish style or he won them over with his ready wit, Samuel did not struggle for friends. Now, it seemed even Ruth was allowing herself the freedom of being friendly with him again—all because of Oliver.

He scanned the rest of the room until he found Miss Edmonds and Miss Temple speaking together beside the bookcase. Miss Temple nodded to her friend, turned, and walked from the room, leaving Miss Edmonds behind.

He supposed this was a good time to approach her. He could apologize for being aloof earlier when he should have introduced himself, but what good would that do? Someone else had done the honors, and he hadn’t spoken a word to her since. No, he needn’t remind her of his impolite behavior. Oliver needed a wife, he needed funds, and there were respectable, eligible ladies in this very room. It was time he took his hunt more seriously. He had spent so much time thinking about Ruth, he had allowed his own prospects to fall to the very bottom of his priorities and get lost among the dust.

Oliver pulled at his cuffs and straightened his waistcoat as he crossed the room. Miss Edmonds remained beside the bookcase, her hands clasped lightly in front of her while she appeared to search the spines.

“Are you looking for one in particular?” Oliver asked.

She didn’t startle, so she must have seen him approach, but her eyes remained on the books. “I was hoping to find something that might catch my interest, but thus far, the vast majority seem to be about agriculture or sermons.” She gave him a faint smile. “Not exactly what I had in mind for pleasant reading.”

“Not nearly as exciting as a novel.”

“It does not need to be a novel. I could find interest in a history,” she said, “or perhaps a book of poetry.”

A lock of her raven hair had fallen from her coiffure and trailed down the back of her slender neck. She was pretty in an understated way, her delicate and wispy features reminding him of the porcelain doll his grandmother had kept on her bedroom mantle. Miss Edmonds’s brown eyes flicked to him. “Are you an accomplished reader?”

“Not unless you consider agricultural books to be considered accomplishments,” he said dryly. “The majority of my time recently has been spent improving my estate.”

Miss Edmonds turned toward him, her shoulders facing him more. She was carefully guarding her expression, but her body communicated that he had piqued her interest. “Would I have heard of it?” she asked.

“Doubtfully. I only inherited earlier this year. I’ve lived in the house with my grandmother my entire life. Now it has fallen on me to keep the crop rotations and livestock from utterly collapsing,” he hedged. It wouldn’t do to give the impression he was flush in the pocket. “It has not been too great a burden, though.”

“No, I imagine the burden was in needing to read multiple books about agriculture. ”

Oliver laughed. “The year would have been much more pleasantly passed with decent novels instead. I agree. Though I’ve enjoyed the challenge. Mr. Wycliffe, my neighbor, has been an excellent source of knowledge and advice. He’s certainly saved me from ruin. I hadn’t the faintest idea what I was doing when my grandmother first granted me control.”

“You must be very grateful to him.” She looked across the room, likely searching for Ruth or Lady Helena.

Oliver took great restraint to avoid doing the same.

“I have lived in London for the last few years,” Miss Edmonds said. “Except for the occasional visit to the country when we are invited, I haven’t left Town at all. I miss living on an estate with sunlight and land.”

Oliver would go mad if he was forced to live in London all year—or any large town, for that matter. He needed his daily rides and fresh air as much as his body needed food and sleep. The houses and buildings in London were so stacked upon each other, there was nowhere to feel the enormity of the earth. Only people—too many people.

London was manageable for a short time, but nothing more than the Season or a quick visit. “It must be a great trial to feel so confined.”

“Indeed, there are times I wish I could ride my horse across the valleys, but then recall that we no longer have horses or valleys at our disposal.” She gave a rueful smile, shaking her head.

Oliver could not imagine being forced to give up riding, but he felt saying so wouldn’t be polite. Instead, he turned his attention to the shelf and noticed a set of The Female Quixote . Reaching for the first volume, he pulled it down and turned the cover over. “Have you read this one?”

Miss Edmonds shook her head. “No, but I would like to.” She accepted it, flipping to the title page. “ The Adventures of Arabella, ” she read. “I’ve heard this is quite amusing. ”

“In that case, if you do not enjoy the book, you cannot lay the blame at my feet.”

“On the contrary. You found it on the shelf, so you will be entirely at fault for my wasted hours if it is a miserable read.”

“Well, I hope it isn’t.”

Mr. Edmonds approached, looking very much like his sister, and glanced between them with mild interest. What was his financial situation? If Miss Edmonds had been forced to move to London and give up her horses, surely she did not have a decent portion awaiting a marriage. But if her parents had tied up a dowry, protecting it, then perhaps…

“We are forming a table for whist,” Mr. Edmonds said, drawing Oliver’s attention. “I need another set. Would you both like to join us?”

Oliver looked to the card table where Ruth and her mother had been sitting. They were still there, but another table had been brought in beside it, where Miss Jane sat shuffling cards. Samuel stood behind Ruth’s chair, speaking to Lady Helena, so he must have opted not to play. Again, the sense of envy snaked through Oliver’s stomach, but he shoved it aside. “I would like that very much. Miss Edmonds?”

She curled the novel under her arm before placing her hand on his proffered elbow. Her eyes searched his for a moment in a manner more weighted than he was used to. “I would like that very much.”

Oh, dear. She had undoubtedly been conveying something to him, and Oliver, being a man, hadn’t the faintest idea what she wanted him to understand. He swallowed, leading her toward the whist table and doing his best to appear interested in what she was saying about the last book she had read.

Courting took a significant amount of effort. He needed help. Wasn’t Ruth supposed to narrow down his list of women? He wanted her advice and insight. Glancing at her as he took his seat at the whist table, he decided that a private conversation with Ruth was in order.

Perhaps on horseback, in the quiet of the morning, when they could be alone.

“Are you ready, Mr. Rose?” Miss Edmonds asked.

He brought his attention to the cards in his hands and smiled. “Yes.”

Oliver and Miss Edmonds made a fortunate and intelligent team. Together, they had won the game three consecutive rounds.

“I suppose you don’t want to shuffle teams now?” Mr. Edmonds asked, giving his sister a flat look. Miss Temple had returned to the room and taken Miss Jane’s place after the second game. Neither of the Temple twins were very good at cards, but it was not obvious from watching their faces. They clearly enjoyed playing, regardless.

“As long as we continue to win, I plan to keep Mr. Rose as my partner,” Miss Edmonds said with an air of authority.

The proclamation was a bit much for Oliver, but he did not argue with her. Mr. Edmonds raised his eyes above Oliver’s head. “Miss Wycliffe, would you care to join us? We are about to begin another game.”

“I will spectate,” she said. “You already have four.”

“Nonsense.” Mr. Edmonds began to stand. “You can take my seat.”

Miss Temple looked over her shoulder, searching the room, the golden curls at her temples swinging with the movement. She huffed a breath. “No, take mine. I wanted to dance tonight, but I cannot find my father to gain approval. Shall I look for him again?”

Miss Edmonds glanced around the room before her gaze dropped shyly to the table, nodding. “Yes, please do. A dance would be splendid.”

Kellinger and Bailey were sitting near the fire, chatting amiably, a picture of opposites—Kellinger in a fine green coat and yellow waistcoat, a patterned cravat at his throat and hair styled in the Brutus manner, Bailey beside him in dark navy and neutral colors. They appeared to be a fop with his staid companion, and Oliver wondered briefly if that was how he and Samuel appeared to others, as well.

He searched the room for his cousin and found Samuel with Miss Jane, playing a game of chess against the far wall. Lord Rocklin was nowhere to be seen.

Ruth took Miss Temple’s vacated seat, and the cards were dealt. She looked at Mr. Edmonds sitting across from her. “I must warn you. I haven’t had the greatest luck tonight.”

“You and I can lose together, then,” he said, flashing her a grin. “My luck is the same as yours. We will enjoy ourselves, at the very least.”

“Naturally,” she agreed.

The game continued with Ruth and Mr. Edmonds devastating the other team and winning by a large margin. Oliver leaned back in his seat, gathering the cards near him and tossing them into the center of the table. “Our luck’s run out then, Miss Edmonds.”

She gave him a smirk. “I suppose we could not have expected it to last forever. Good things usually don’t.”

“That is a cynical viewpoint.”

“No negativity tonight, Emily,” her brother said with an edge of reprimand. “We are enjoying the time we have with these fine people.”

A look seemed to pass between the siblings—a communication only they understood. Oliver glanced at Ruth and found her watching them with mild interest as well. She seemed to have caught it, too .

“Shall we try again?” Mr. Edmonds asked, gathering the cards into a stack and shuffling them.

Ruth pushed back from the table. “My mother wanted an early night, and I think I will join her. She is not yet entirely recovered from her illness these last few days.”

“Does she have need of anything?” Oliver asked. He had noticed Lady Helena leave the drawing room an hour ago, but hadn’t thought much of it. Mr. Watson had departed around the same time.

“Companionship, I imagine. She does not like me to waste time sitting beside her, as she says it, so she has spent a good deal of the day alone. I am sure she would prefer my father, but I am all she has tonight.”

“Do not underestimate how much she adores you,” Oliver said.

Ruth gave him a look before her eyes shuttered, hiding her feelings. “Yes. Well, good night.”

A chorus of replies answered Ruth while she rose from her chair and left the room.

“We have not gone out to look at the stars yet, Philip,” Miss Edmonds said to her brother.

“Stars?” Miss Temple asked, joining them again.

“We haven’t been to the countryside since last summer,” Miss Edmonds said, “and you know how difficult they are to see in London.”

Miss Temple seemed to warm to the idea. “We should go outside and look at them right now.”

Mr. Edmonds looked to the door Ruth had just disappeared through. “Or perhaps we can do it tomorrow and make a game of spotting the constellations.”

“Why can we not make a game of it now?” his sister asked.

He held her gaze for a moment.

“There is no reason we cannot go out to the balcony now,” Miss Temple said. “Then set a constellation activity for tomorrow night as well.”

“Very well.” Miss Edmonds rose. “We shall have the advantage for the additional time tonight.”

Oliver had watched the conversation volley swiftly until he found himself standing on the balcony that led out from the drawing room, overlooking the dark hills and clusters of trees surrounding the distant stream. The stars were bright, their light shining like speckled white paint across a navy canvas. He was surprised Miss Edmonds preferred this over beginning the book she had selected. She had put off starting it for the duration of four rounds of whist already.

Miss Edmonds drew in a sharp breath. “Incredible.”

“Indeed. It makes you wish you lived in the country, does it not?” her brother said.

She looked at Oliver before returning her gaze to the sky. “It does.”

Sometimes Oliver struggled to understand what the fairer sex meant to imply by their subtle looks and turns of phrase, but in this particular instance, Miss Edmonds could not have been clearer.

She wanted to live in the country, on an estate, in a comfortable home with horses at her disposal. Currently, she believed Oliver—or more accurately, Boone Park—was her ticket to achieving that goal. If she had three thousand pounds in a marriage settlement, she could be the answer he needed as well. But why did she seem to lose interest and look away from him, her attention elsewhere? Her meaning was clear, but something wasn’t quite right.

He swallowed against a suddenly dry throat and pinned his gaze to the sky. If there was a reason he shouldn’t consider Miss Edmonds, he needed to know.

This was why he had made the arrangement with Ruth. It was up to her to find out for him.