To Catch A Suitor (Dalton Family 2)

He will never love me in that way.

“You’re frowning,” said Oliver.

She lifted her chin and forced herself to meet his eyes. Friends. She knew her place. “No. Only lost in thought.”

“And what thoughts would those be?”

“I was only thinking of Miss Barley, and wondering what your opinion is of her?” For so many years she had been forced to hear about the latest young woman to steal Oliver’s attention. By reopening that line of communication, she was inserting herself back into the role of devoted friend.

His boyish grin made her insides ache. “I think her eyelashes are quite fantastic. Do you agree?” She couldn’t answer the question, and she was angry at him for finding the woman—and her obvious attention—attractive.

Elizabeth dug her nails into her palm. “Mr. Turner,” she forced her voice to stay calm and unwavering as she faced him. His smile dropped entirely at the formal use of his name. She hoped he wouldn’t notice that her hands were actually trembling. “I would like to make Lord Hastings's acquaintance. Would you be able to make the introduction for me?”

His eyes remained fixed on her for two breaths—his face unreadable. Was he contemplating? Was he irritated at the idea? Jealous? No. Elizabeth wouldn’t let herself hope for such a thing.

The same cold and disconnected smile from a moment ago spread again over his mouth, and he nodded. “Of course. I’d be more than happy to make the introduction. Hastings has a good reputation. I think you two would…deal well together.” She noticed Oliver tug at the top of his cravat, but other than that, he seemed completely at ease with the idea.

“Wonderful.” She smiled, and then took another glass of champagne from a tray when a footman came around again. She was going to need all of the liquid courage she could get if she was going to attempt to become exactly what Miss Loxley had predicted.

Elizabeth was done being the adventurous young girl from Dalton Park. She was quite through being infatuated with Oliver. It was time to shake off her nerves, step into the role Miss Emma had worked for years to mold Elizabeth into, and claim her heart back from a man who would never love her in return.

She was going to become the first and last woman to catch the eye of the Unobtainable Lord Hastings.

Chapter Eleven

How had Elizabeth gone her whole life without ever having tasted champagne? It was magnificent. And the more she consumed, the more she enjoyed it. In fact, the more she consumed, the more she enjoyed everything. Even Miss Barley’s eyelashes were beginning to look more appealing. Elizabeth especially liked the way the feather, in the hair of the matron with whom she was conversing, seemed to be dancing. How amusing, to have a dancing feather! Where had the woman even found such an accessory? Was there a bird still attached to it somehow?

She had just opened her mouth to ask the woman when Oliver’s voice boomed, seemingly out of nowhere. When had he even walked away? They had just finished dinner and were waiting again in the drawing room for the butler to announce them into the ballroom for the entertainment portion of the evening, and then Oliver had excused himself and left her in the care of…oh, right. He had left her with Rose. Rose! She had lost Rose! …No, there she was, right beside Elizabeth, where she had left her. Ever-faithful Rose.

“Lady Elizabeth, Lady Kensworth, may I present to you, Lord Hastings.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened when she realized the man she had decided to make fall in love with her was standing just in front of her. And he was staring at her. Why was he staring at her? Had he already fallen in love with her?

Oh. No. It was because she wasn’t talking. Were all of these words simply in her head, then?

“Pleased to make your acquaintan—” Rose started to say but Elizabeth’s voice suddenly realized how to work again and it shot out of her mouth like a cannon.

“So wonderful to meet you, my lord,” said Elizabeth, with a confident smile and a curtsy. There. She’d spoken and she had done such a fantastic job of it that she rewarded herself with another big sip of the lovely, bubbly drink.

Lord Hastings cleared his throat and bowed. “A pleasure, Lady Elizabeth. And Lady Kensworth, I offer my sincere congratulations on your recent marriage.”

“Thank you,” said Rose, and again Elizabeth was amazed at Rose's poise, despite the fact that she had been a wanted thief only a month ago.

Oh, dear. Elizabeth was suddenly worried she was going to blurt out that Rose used to be a wanted thief. She covered her mouth to protect the words from escaping on their own. “I feel very lucky to be joined to such a wonderful family,” continued Rose. She glanced at Elizabeth, frowning ever so slightly at the hand pressed over her mouth. “And to have gained such lovely sisters.” Rose removed Elizabeth’s hand from her mouth and wrapped it around her own arm. How nice that she wanted to snuggle.

Only Elizabeth couldn’t really focus on snuggling Rose just then because Oliver’s face looked pinched, and she wondered why he should be scowling in such a way. “Is your cravat too tight?” she blurted out.

Oliver’s eyebrows flew up and he looked between Rose and Lord Hastings before settling his gaze back on Elizabeth—a small tentative chuckle escaping from his mouth. “No. Why do you ask?”

“You look grumpy.” She noticed everyone’s faces suddenly looked as if they had just peeked again at the painting on Vienna’s ceiling, and she wondered if she had said something wrong. But…what was it she had said again? Elizabeth’s memory suddenly escaped her. And had her tongue always felt so heavy?

“Perhaps it is a bit too tight. I believe I’ll go and attempt to retie it before we move into the ballroom.” Tie what? And why was Oliver always trying to get away from her lately? Because, he clearly was. It was probably her offensive shrubbery dress.

“Lady Elizabeth,” said Lord Hastings, in his lovely baritone, after Oliver walked away. “I understand this is your first Season?”

“Forgive me,” Rose interrupted, placing a hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “I must leave you for a moment. I can see that Lord Kensworth finds himself backed into a corner with Lady Humphrey, and he keeps flashing me the look of the desperate, in need of rescue.”

Lord Hastings chuckled. “By all means, go save your husband. I, myself, have succumbed to the same fate once or twice and would not wish it upon anyone.”