To Forge Her Fate: A Clean Regency Romance (Hearts of Harewood Book 1) by Kasey Stockton

Author:Kasey Stockton [Stockton, Kasey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Golden Owl Press
Published: 2024-03-11T00:00:00+00:00

When the meal came to a close and the group had gathered again in the drawing room, Mrs. Lindell requested servants to roll up the rugs and begged Miss Porter, an elderly woman in the parish, to play on the pianoforte. It was as Mama predicted, the family making it seem like the idea was borne of the moment when in fact they had likely been considering this well in advance.

Eliza stood against the wall with her cousin, waiting for the rugs to be dragged away and the chairs to be pushed to the edges of the room. Ruth approached and took her hand, giving her fingers a squeeze. “It is so lovely to look across the room and see you here. I’ve been attending these wretched events on my own for far too long.”

“I wish it felt just as lovely to be here.”

Ruth’s nose wrinkled. “You have not enjoyed yourself?”

“Dinner was nice.”

Ruth peered at her. “I’ll forgive you for avoiding the question since we are surrounded by people.”

“But you’ll expect a full accounting tomorrow?”

“Noon?” Ruth asked. “My house?”

Eliza couldn’t help but smile. “Excellent.”

Ruth looked up and seemed to notice Oliver for the first time. She dipped her head and shoulders in a small curtsy. “Good evening, Mr. Rose.”

“Miss Wycliffe.” He bowed to her. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

“I am, I thank you. Though I would be happier if certain gentlemen would leave me be.”

Oliver nodded knowingly. “Mr. Emeril.”

She looked at him sharply. “No, of course not. He⁠—”

Mr. Montlake appeared behind them, and Eliza watched with interest while Ruth pasted on a smile.

She turned to greet the gentleman. “Good evening again, Mr. Montlake.”

Oliver looked between Ruth and Mr. Montlake with a questioning expression. “How are you this evening, Montlake?” he asked.

“Quite well, quite well. They are lining up for the dance. Would you do me the honor of partnering me, Miss Wycliffe?”

Ruth stepped closer to Oliver and clung to his arm, her fingers digging into his dark blue sleeve. “I fear you are only a moment too late, sir. Mr. Rose has only just asked me.”

Oliver took a beat too long to corroborate her story, making Eliza want to kick him into action on Ruth’s behalf. This was clearly the man Ruth had mentioned needing a reprieve from. Eliza hadn’t even known he was pursuing her friend with such zeal. She only knew him faintly, as he was a friend of her cousins’, but she could sense Ruth needed a break.

“Perhaps the next, then,” Mr. Montlake said. He turned to Eliza. “Would you care to dance, Miss Rose?”

She supposed being a concession was better than sitting out entirely and watching everyone else dance. She gritted her teeth together and nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

They took their places in the line while piano music filled the room. Eliza caught her mother’s pleased expression when she passed her in the course of the dance, but she also passed many other faces curiously watching, waiting to see what she would say or do. Why was

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