To Catch A Suitor by Sarah Adams

Author:Sarah Adams
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2020-02-29T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“I never got a chance to ask you about your morning with Lord Hastings yesterday,” said Rose as she and Elizabeth continued down the sidewalk toward Hatley House. Elizabeth hadn’t seen Mary since her move to Kensworth House. She had been meaning to visit, but every time she had considered it she'd thought of their last conversation and Elizabeth would talk herself out of it. She remembered that look in Mary’s eye—sad and heavy, but unwilling to talk about it with her younger sister who she clearly didn’t trust to rely on her to help with her troubles. The rejection still stung.

So, Elizabeth had been avoiding her sister. Robert, however, had sent a note over to Carver that morning requesting Rose and Elizabeth to come visit Mary. “But under no circumstances must Mary know that I have written on her behalf.” Elizabeth could almost see Robert hovered over a desk, quickly dashing off a note, fearfully looking over his shoulder in case Mary should find him out and spend the rest of the day scolding him for trying to take care of her without her approval.

Mary could be frightening when she wanted to be.

The sun was bright and warm against Elizabeth’s skin as she tipped her face up toward the sky, squinting at the light and trying to decide how to respond to Rose. My time with Lord Hastings was something of an intriguing disaster and I have no idea how my relationship with him will end. No. That wouldn’t work. Since Elizabeth was hoping this courtship with the viscount would see the distance, she didn’t want to put him in Rose’s black books by telling her about his manners toward the children.

So what to tell Rose? It was absolutely wonderful and I’ve fallen madly in love with him! Definitely not. She was a terrible actress and could never be that convincing.

“Too late,” said Rose, pulling Elizabeth to a stop with her on the sidewalk. “You took too long to answer. Now I know you had a terrible time.” Elizabeth wondered if she just kept on moving, would it keep Rose from asking any more questions? Worth a try.

“Elizabeth Ashburn, stop right there.”

Elizabeth stopped and winced as she waited for Rose to catch back up. Rose crossed in front of Elizabeth and paused. She was a tiny yet fierce woman. Elizabeth watched, resisting a smile as Rose tugged at the bonnet strings under her chin as if she could barely tolerate the thing being on her head. Rose had never been an admirer of fashionable ladies’ bonnets. It made Elizabeth laugh to see her sister-in-law so uncomfortable.

“What happened with Lord Hastings?” asked Rose.

“Well…” Elizabeth swallowed and considered.

“The truth, if you will.”

Elizabeth sighed. “He was a bit pompous in the beginning and we didn’t exactly have the best time.”

Rose looked relieved that Elizabeth had suffered a bad morning with the viscount, but then she seemed to remember that she was trying to be supportive of Elizabeth making a match with the man and frowned.

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