Page 67 of Rival to Resist
“But youcouldsupport Mr. Yorke.”
“I could,” she admitted—in the way she might admit she could sleep in the ice house.
“But you are not because…”
Caroline shot her friend a puzzled look. “I have no wish to see another Brightmoor elected. I thought you would agree.”
“And I do, but surely, you do not think Mr. Yorke and Mr. Brightmoor comparable.”
“Why not? Brightmoor had no true interest in Trelowen beyond the seat it gavehim.”
“And you believe Mr. Yorke’s interest stops there as well?”
“It certainly did when he arrived.”
“And now?”
Caroline regarded her friend, then turned her gaze forward again. “I do not know. Regardless, Richard made me promise not to make an experiment of Trelowen. He expected me to vote for Oswald.”
Eliza grimaced sympathetically. “In his short time here, Mr. Yorke has done more and shown more of himself in Trelowen than Mr. Brightmoor inallof his time as MP. Not to mention he is far more likable…” Her eyes teased Caroline.
“Are you trying to persuade me to support Mr. Yorke as MP or plight my troth to him?”
Eliza’s smile grew. “Are you open to either?”
“No,” Caroline said, though her chest quivered with the lie.
Eliza regarded her for a moment. “Very well. I must have been mistaken.”
They walked in silence for a few moments, Caroline debating whether to ask her to expound. She was afraid of the response.
And yet more curious still.
Eliza did not respond immediately, but a little wistful smile formed on her lips. “I can still remember the first time I met Samuel, you know. It was at a Michaelmas dinner. I was wearing a new gown—pale jonquil with the most delicate white embroidery. I had not been there above five minutes when our eyes met across the room. It seems silly to say, but even in that moment, I felt something. Something new and different. An instant connection.”
Caroline’s chest squeezed.
“I put it aside, for I knew how ridiculous it was to think such a thing of a stranger. But then we were introduced”—her smile grew—“and I could see it in his eyes. He felt it too. It was not love, for that took time to grow, but it was the soil for it, I think. Fertile ground.”
Caroline remembered her first encounter with Mr. Yorke in the street. She had felt something similar—and he had too, she was nearly certain.
Before you despised me, you quite liked me, I think.
She had indeed. Which had made the discovery of his purpose in Trelowen all the more disappointing.
“That inexplicable feeling of kinship grew,” Eliza said. “It is what sustained us and made it feel as though we had never parted whenever he returned home. I often wondered how it was possible we could experience such a marvelous, all-encompassing thing while everyone else went on with their lives, blissfully unaware—or perhaps unfortunately aware, for it is a feeling I wish everyone could experience.”
Caroline’s chest ached strangely as Eliza regarded her.
“It is that sort of kinship I thought I recognized between you and Mr. Yorke.” She stopped and turned toward Caroline. “Was I wrong?”
Caroline’s heart thrummed as she met her friend’s gaze. She shut her eyes and continued walking, too restless to stay inplace. “I do not know. I cannot trust what I feel. Nor am I even certain Iwishto marry. I stand to lose a great deal of independence if I do—not to mention my votes.”
“Of course,” Eliza said. “There is much to consider, and for all my teasing, I would never dream of counseling you in your affairs.”
“I wish you would! Undoubtedly, you would manage far better than I.” Caroline turned toward her and took her by the hands. “You must know how I value your opinion, Eliza. Do you truly think so highly of Mr. Yorke? Do I judge him too harshly?”
Eliza’s hands squeezed hers. “I do think highly of him. I think he is better for knowing you—and you for knowing him.” She hesitated. “You must be the judge of your own heart, of course, but I hope you shan’t think too poorly of me if I presume to say one last thing?”
