To Catch A Suitor (Dalton Family 2)

He was going to propose for certain. Lord Hastings was going to ask her to marry him. She would be given the opportunity to become his wife.

It didn’t matter which way Elizabeth formulated the statement, it didn’t settle well in her mind.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

It didn’t matter how old Oliver was. Standing outside of Pembroke always filled him with dread. He was reminded of that old deserted cottage on Dalton Park’s grounds that he and Kensworth had found once and determined to be haunted. Oliver had told Elizabeth about it and she had promptly demanded that he take her there. Elizabeth, being the brave girl that she was, had insisted that they go inside. It had been dark, with spiderwebs covering every corner, and boards falling off the sides of the cottage. Although he would never have admitted to Elizabeth, he had been terrified to go into that place. Dreaded it. But Elizabeth had given him a mischievous smile and said that if it was haunted, she simply must go inside because she’d always wanted to meet a ghost.

He'd held her hand that day as they had stepped through the door—so Elizabeth wouldn’t be scared—but looking back, he knew it had been as much for his sake as hers.

Pembroke was twice as frightening to Oliver as that old haunted house. He wished Elizabeth was with him to hold his hand. Only she could chase away the ghosts that haunted it.

Once inside the house, he didn’t feel much better. Instead he felt as if a vice was clamped around his neck, choking him. His father was dead, but part of him feared that the man would step out from behind one of those dusty curtains or emerge from one of the closed doors.

Oliver walked slowly through the foyer, hearing the boards beneath his feet creak in a way that used to make him cringe. It had never been good to alert his father to his presence. Better to be silent and hide away most of the day. But Frank Turner wasn’t there anymore to hear those boards creak.

He didn’t make it more than a few steps into the house before his feet just stopped without his permission. They wouldn’t go any farther into that darkened home and he wasn’t in a mood to fight them. Painful memories were all twisting and taunting around him. Perhaps it had been a mistake coming there. Kensworth was an idiot to think this would bring him closure of any kind.

He knew he had to fully enter that house eventually, but the moment didn’t have to be now.

Oh, blast, blast, blast.

He had found her.

Elizabeth had been avoiding any alone time with Lord Hastings since she had overheard him and his sister talking in the library the previous day. And she had certainly been avoiding him since Carver had pulled her aside that morning and informed her that the viscount had asked for his permission to propose. Apparently Elizabeth had been correct, an

d her potential new husband was something of an overachiever who had already written to Papa and asked for his permission to wed Elizabeth. Papa had responded that he would defer to Carver to make the decision since Carver had a better understanding of Lord Hastings's character.

Carver gave his blessing.

Wonderful.

No, really, it should be wonderful, shouldn’t it? This was exactly what she had wanted. Exactly what she needed—a man who she wanted, and who wanted her in return. There was only one flaw in her plan: Elizabeth didn’t want Wesley. She had tried to rip her heart back from Oliver’s hands but, hang the man, his hands must be filled with glue because her heart wasn’t budging. It was most inconvenient.

And now, Elizabeth had been walking for at least an hour, thinking that surely she would be far enough away from Lord Hastings to avoid him, giving herself a little more time to make up her mind. But he had found her.

Elizabeth pasted a smile on her face as Lord Hastings approached on horseback.

“There you are,” he said, and with a smile as wise as his horse, came to stop and dismounted. “I was beginning to think you had lost your way.” Thankfully, the sound of more hooves came from behind him and Carver appeared. She nearly sighed with relief. They wouldn’t be alone after all.

He noticed her eyes settle on her brother and he smiled. “I asked Lord Kensworth to come with me to find you. I thought it would be more proper this way.” Much more proper. Also, far less romantic, had she actually been hoping for a bit of romance with him.

“Hello, darling,” said Carver pulling his horse up beside them but not dismounting. “Lovely day, isn’t it?” That put-on smile made Elizabeth want to pinch her brother. He was up to something, she could feel it. He never smiled like that unless he was especially proud of himself. What had he done?

“The loveliest. I’m afraid that’s why I’ve been out wandering for so long. I hope I haven’t ruined any plans Lady Hastings might have made for us.”

“None at all.” Lord Hastings paused a moment, his brows pulling together slightly. “There was an outdoor luncheon and a bit of lawn games with a few of our neighbors, but nothing other than that.” So, she had ruined plans. Poor Lady Hastings. Elizabeth really hadn’t meant to be gone so long. But sometimes when she made her way into nature, she lost all sense of time. Especially when the weather was so mild and agreeable as it had been lately. It was a problem. A wonderful problem, Oliver had always said.

“I’m terribly sorry. She must think I’m the very worst sort of guest for getting lost to my own devices all day.”

“If she is disappointed, it is only because she was hoping to get to know you better.” Why must he be so kind? Ever since that day in Hyde Park when he had admitted to Elizabeth that he was shy, she had never again seen that harsh, pompous side to him. Unfortunately, she had also yet to see any sort of fun or life from the man either. He was simply always…nice.

Elizabeth pulled in a deep breath through her nose and forced herself to keep smiling. “Well, then. I shall go back straight away and make it up to her.”

“Shall I walk with you? I’m sure Lord Kensworth wouldn’t mind riding a bit behind so we might…talk a little more privately.” Lord Hastings shot an inquisitive look to Carver. The two were in cahoots, it seemed.

Thankfully, that gave Elizabeth the opportunity to give her helpful brother a look that said don’t you dare leave me with this man or I will cut your hair off while you are sleeping.

Carver digested the look Elizabeth gave him and with an amount of ease that would have impressed Rose, he said, “Actually, Hastings. I was hoping you might be able to show me around the estate a bit before we are needed to change for dinner. I don’t think Elizabeth minds, do you darling?”