To Catch A Suitor (Dalton Family 2)

He pretended a face of heartbreak before turning his eyes to Elizabeth. “Do you see how she treats me, Elizabeth? Kicking me out of my own home.” He shook his head, looking again to Rose. “Such a cold hearted woman.”

Rose chuckled, pretending to squirm out of his arms again. “And you’re entirely too lovesick. I think a good round of boxing is exactly what you need.”

He smiled mischievously. “I don’t think that’s what I need.”

Elizabeth pretended to cough to cover the embarrassed laugh that came, unbidden, from her mouth. She wasn’t alone in those feelings. Rose’s face turned a bright shade of pink that Elizabeth had never seen on her confident sister-in-law before. Perhaps coming to stay with a newlywed couple wasn’t the most intelligent plan after all.

“Out,” said Rose, looking as if she was torn between embarrassed, angry, and amused.

“All right, all right. I’ll go.” Carver leaned down and briefly kissed Rose’s cheek. But then he quickly pulled away, touching his fingers to his mouth and pulling a deep, put on frown. “Just as I suspected. Ice cold.”

Rose gave him a flat look before trying to kick him. Carver laughed fully—a sound that Elizabeth had never thought she would hear from her brother again, before he had met Rose—and jogged away from his wife and out the door.

Elizabeth let out a sigh. “You two are going to be difficult to live with.”

“Hopefully you won’t have to live here and endure it for too long,” said Rose, taking a seat on the settee.

Elizabeth pretended to be offended. “Already wishing me gone?” She sat on the opposite end of the settee with Rose, tucking her feet up under her skirts.

“You know what I meant. Hopefully, you won’t have to wait too long before your hand is claimed by a certain someone who shall remain unnamed.”

Elizabeth was glad that she had confided her feelings for Oliver to her sister-in-law when they were last at Dalton Park. Usually, Elizabeth kept her feelings to herself, more comfortable with them remaining hidden than exposed, especially in a family of Elizabeth’s size where keeping a secret seemed to be optional. She had no doubts that the moment Mary or Kate or Carver learned how she felt toward Oliver, the rest of the family would be in the know before the end of the day. It’s simply how things went in their family. And it’s why Elizabeth tended to keep things bottled up.

But Rose...she was different. From the first day Elizabeth had met Rose, she had proven herself to be a solid confidante. Not only was she a trustworthy secret keeper, but she was a good listener. And in a family where everyone was talking, it was nice to be heard.

Elizabeth let out a tense breath, recalling the last time she and Rose had discussed this topic. Rose’s suggestion had been for Elizabeth to encourage the attention of other gentlemen, to hopefully open Oliver’s eyes and help him see her as more than the child who used to tag along on his adventures with Carver. But the more Elizabeth considered the idea of trying to make Oliver jealous, the more uneasy she felt. Only a sad, pathetic sort of woman could be satisfied with love gained through manipulation.

“That certain someone shall remain unmentioned because there will never be a reason to mention him again,” said Elizabeth, deciding it was more comfortable to look at the floral print on her dress than to meet Rose’s eyes.

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s nothing. I’ve simply decided it’s time to move on from my feelings for…the aforementioned man.”

Rose’s expression pinched. “Has something happened between you two?”

“No.” Well…an almost-kiss that was hardly worth mentioning. Which was the problem. There was never anything worth mentioning. “Frankly, I’m tired of harboring a love which will only ever be one-sided. He sees me as his dearest friend, and that’s all. I’m ready to broaden my horizons and look for someone who will return my affections.” She should be awarded a medal of some kind for managing that speech in an unaffected voice.

Rose remained quiet.

Elizabeth fidgeted with the fabric of her dress. “Which is why I am hoping that you might help me.”

“Help how?”

“Well, I was hoping that you would help me become more confident as a Societal woman. Stand out a little more.” Oh, she felt ridiculous asking this. “I want to catch the eyes of eligible gentlemen, but I don’t think I can do it as I am now.”

Rose laughed. “Why ever not? Elizabeth, you’re stunning. I will be very shocked indeed if you do not catch every gentleman’s eye—not only the eligible ones.”

“That’s only because you haven’t seen me in social situations. I’m a bumbling nightmare of awkward interactions.”

“I’ve seen you at Dalton Park. You seem just fine to me.”

“That’s different. I’m comfortable there. And I’m only ever surrounded by family at home.”

“And Oliver. You’ve never seemed awkward or uncomfortable around him.” That’s because Elizabeth never felt more comfortable in her life than when Oliver was near. But that was beside the point.

“Oliver doesn’t count. I’m trying to forget him, remember?”

Rose sighed. “Yes. I just…” she broke off and shook her head. “Never mind.”