Elizabeth had to look at him now. She tried to look as confident as possible. “I believe it does. Lord Hastings—Wesley”—she tried out his Christian name, which she had learned during their last walk in the park, but it just felt wrong on her tongue—“has hinted toward a possible proposal in the future. I believe he intends to finalize the engagement at Addington Hall. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had already written to Papa to acquire permission.” Until a few minutes ago when Oliver had told her to accept the invitation, she had intended to refuse his hand. Picturing forever with Lord Hastings had become too difficult. But now…
Now things were different. Oliver still did not love her, and it was more than time to move on with her life.
“Elizabeth,” asked Carver with a furrowed brow. He looked briefly to Rose and then back to her. “Are you sure this is what you want? Lord Hastings…do you love him?”
She sighed. “Not everyone gets to be in love before they marry, like you and Rose.”
“That’s not what I asked,” said Carver.
She looked in her brother’s steely grey eyes. In the past, she would have lied. She would have said whatever she needed to so that he wouldn’t challenge her decision or think she was weak. But somehow, that day had changed her. Her desire to prove herself had fallen away and all that was left was who she was and how she really felt.
“No. I don’t love him. How could I when it’s Oliver that I truly love? I always have and I’m afraid that I always will.” Carver looked as if he were going to say something, but Elizabeth hurried on and cut him off. “But tonight he made it clear to me that he will never love me in return. So I will go to Addington Hall and if Lord Hastings proposes to me, I will accept, because I want to be with someone who desires me.”
Carver had yet to blink. His brows were pulled deeply together. She was ready for him to disagree, to push her in a direction that he thought would be best for her. Possibly even demand that the carriage be turned around so he could storm into Hatley House and insist that Oliver marry Elizabeth. But he didn’t. He sighed and nodded softly. “Very well. We will send our acceptance, then.”
Elizabeth let out a relieved breath.
“And Elizabeth,” continued Carver but in a different tone than she’d ever heard from him before. It was the same one he used when he spoke to Mary. “Thank you for all you did for our sister today. I hate to think what would have happened had you not been there to intervene. Had I been in your shoes, I don’t know that I would have been strong enough to do all that you did today.”
Elizabeth smiled, some of her pain melting away. He saw her. Her brother saw her. “I’m more than certain you would have handled it just fine.”
Elizabeth and Carver smiled at each other for a moment, a new friendship blooming between them. And then Rose’s voice cut through, irritated and clipped. “This is all well and good. But may I just express what I know everyone is thinking and admit that I hope Oliver trips and falls down the stairs?”
A laugh burst from both Elizabeth and Carver. “No!” Elizabeth said through a chuckle. “That is not what I was thinking. Nor will I ever wish for such a thing. I will always hope the best for Oliver.”
“I don’t know,” said Carver. “He is my best friend, and I love him like a brother—but I wouldn’t mind seeing him with a few bruises just now. I was really hoping you two would make a match of it.”
“You were?” Elizabeth asked, remembering the reason he had given Rose for his hope a few weeks ago. “So that I always have someone to protect me?”
He chuckled. “You mustn’t say it with such disdain. I am your older brother, Elizabeth. Like it or not, I shall always hope for someone trustworthy to protect you with all of his being. But that’s not the only reason I have hoped for your match.” He paused and a sad smile curved on the corner of his mouth. “You two seem made for each other.”
Elizabeth felt very unwanted tears prickling her eyes again. “Apparently not.” A tear dripped down her cheek and landed on her skirt. She ran a finger over the new dark spot on the navy fabric.
A handkerchief appeared in her lap with the very worst embroidered monogramming she’d ever seen. She smiled tentatively up to her sister-in-law as she wiped her tears. Carver reached across the carriage to squeeze her hand, his face growing serious in a way she couldn’t trust as earnest. “Are you positive I cannot simply go beat Oliver to a pulp until he decides to marry you? Because I assure you, it can be accomplished.”
“Nice try. You’re not getting out of the house party, Carver,” said Rose, leaning forward to enter the conversation he was pretending was private.
“Blast,” he said, sitting back firmly against his seat. “No offense, Elizabeth, but I’d rather have a tooth extracted than spend the week with Hastings and his family.” Well, that made two of them. That thought did not bode well for her future happiness.
Elizabeth watched as Rose scooted closer to Carver and wrapped her arms around one of his. “Perhaps it won’t be so bad.”
He lifted a brow and looked down at her. “No?”
A flirtatious smile played on Rose’s lips. “I’ll be coming with you.”
That smile only grew and Carver leaned down as if he were going to kiss Rose. Elizabeth groaned loudly, forcing them both to look at her with lifted brows. “I swear to you, if I have to endure an entire carriage ride to Addington Hall listening to you two acting like this”—she gestured wildly in the air toward them—“I will ride my own horse outside the carriage and scandalize everyone who passes by.”
Carver just raised his brow again. “That actually sounds rather tempting.”
Rose shoved him in the ribs and he winced with a smile. “Fine. I shall refrain from kissing my wife in your presence.”
“Thank you for your sacrifice,” said Elizabeth.
“But know that one day you will want to kiss your husband when I am nearby, and you had better believe there is no chance I shall allow it after you have forced my own restraint.”
It was meant to make her laugh. But instead, dread settled in her stomach.
If she married Lord Hastings, she doubted she would ever be filled with that desire.