Elizabeth had a plan. A plan that she didn't know would work or not. It all hinged on the attraction factor and Sam. The attraction between Caledon Hockley and Sam's sister Katie and whether Sam would stand for it or not. She loved Sam, but he was awfully protective of his sister. But if she could get him to back off and allow things to happen...their own relationship could be saved by the fact of Cal falling in love with someone else...that someone being Katie, who seemed to be somewhat fond of the Hockley heir.
She didn't even know if her plan would work, but she had to try. But first, she wanted to run the plan by someone else. Maybe she was being delusional or hoping for the impossible. Someone else's advice would help her see the situation more clearly. She spotted Rose, heading back to her own quarters after getting Molly settled into her own room. Elizabeth quickly dashed out into the hall and grabbed Rose's arm, stopping her in her path.
"Rose, can we talk? I need to run something by you," Elizabeth asked, wringing her hands. She had no idea what Rose would think about her idea, which she thought was brilliant, to be quite honest.
"Of course," Rose nodded, unaware of what Elizabeth had to talk about. "Shall we go to your quarters? We should have privacy there. Or we can go to my room if you would feel more comfortable..."
"Your room may be best. I don't want to take the chance of Bradley or Grandfather overhearing us," Elizabeth shrugged, feeling a little paranoid. Bradley and Grandfather usually don't go near her room, but she didn't want to take any chances of them overhearing her.
"Alright. Follow me. It'll just be the two of us. I gave Anne the rest of the day off," Rose explained, leading the way to the group of rooms that she and Jack shared. She led Elizabeth into the sitting area, picking up some of Jack's paint brushes as she went. "I'm sorry about the mess. Jack tends to leave his art supplies wherever he's working."
"No need to apologize, Rose. This is your home. You guys are free to do with it as you wish," Elizabeth chuckled. Truthfully, she loved how Rose and Jack had designed it their part of the mansion. There was an artistic elegance to it. It fit Jack and Rose perfectly. The artist and his lady.
"So what do you want to talk to me about?" Rose asked, taking the living room chair while Elizabeth took the loveseat. "You seem rather enthused about it."
Elizabeth giggled and sat back in her chair. She didn't know how Rose was going to react to this idea. She hoped that her cousin in law saw some merit in it. "Well, I suppose you noticed Cal and Sam's sister Katie this morning..."
"Oh yes. They seemed to be having a civil conversation to say the least. I am sure that Sam wouldn't like it if he knew," Rose chuckled. "What do you make of it?"
"Well, I am certainly not jealous. In fact, seeing them together had gotten me thinking that maybe I have found a way out of my own situation."
Rose frowned. "Elizabeth?"
"Hear me out. What if Cal fell in love with Katie? He wouldn't possibly want to marry me anymore, right? Not when he could have a girl that would want to be with him out of her own free will!"
Rose blinked, a bit taken aback. She had never thought of it that way before. Her cousin in law may be on to something. But still, there were flaws to this plan. "Elizabeth...this plan would be ingenious if it was anyone else..."
"But?" Elizabeth frowned.
"But Sam would hate it. She is his younger sister, right? Not to mention the agreement between the Dawson and Hockley family. Even if Cal did fall in love with Katie, the thing is that she's third class and Cal is first class. Class is everything to Nathan Hockley and Cal is his heir. He can't just go and marry whoever he wants. Like we've both told Anne, marriage is just a business deal to men like Cal and Bradley."
Elizabeth sighed and bowed her head. Rose had made some good points. Points that she hadn't even thought of. "God, I hate this. All I want is to be with Sam. Why can't they just accept that?"
Rose's heart went out to Elizabeth. She knew all too well how she felt and wished that there was something that she could do to help the young lovers.
"I have to try though. I can't just roll over and give up Sam," Elizabeth stood from her seat and began to pace the floor. "Even if nothing comes of it..."
"Alright, but you should discuss it with Sam first…and you should be sure that Cal has a genuine interest in Katie. There's no need to sit the girl up for a broken heart," Rose cautioned. She really did understand Elizabeth's desperation and didn't want to discourage her from her plan, but she also wanted her to take precautions against hurting an innocent girl who did not deserve such heartbreak.
Elizabeth nodded, appreciating Rose's advice. She stopped pacing and hugged the redhead. "Thank you for listening and or giving me the advice. I really needed it."
"You can come to me any time. You know that," Rose smiled, giving Elizabeth's hand a squeeze.
"Rose!" Jack came in with Sam trailing behind him. It's been a long day at work and he couldn't wait to see his wife. He had invited Sam up to his quarters, hoping to arrange a meeting with Elizabeth. Both men were surprised to see her already there talking to Rose.
"Darling!" Rose nearly jumped into Jack's arms. She couldn't believe how much she had missed him. It had almost been like a dull ache to be away from him. Even Molly's presence hadn't soothed it. Relief filled her as the ache disappeared the moment he appeared.
Jack laughed, holding her tight. "I think I'll go away more often if this is the greeting I'll always get when I return."
"Don't you dare!" Rose pulled away, playfully slapping his arm. "I just really miss you is all."
Jack sighed and lovingly cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand, gazing into her eyes. "I'd spend all of my days with you if I could. I'd never leave your side."
Rose simply smiled, tilting her face up so his lips could meet hers in a gentle kiss.
Elizabeth and Sam watched in amusement, knowing that their presence had been completely forgotten.
Elizabeth cleared her throat, hating to interrupt. "Rose?"
Rose blinked, coming out of the spell she had been in. She blushed, embarrassed. "Oh Elizabeth, I am so sorry, I kind had forgotten that you were there," She quickly stepped away from Jack, not wanting to get that distracted again.
Elizabeth just laughed. "Oh don't apologize! I know what it's like to fall under the spell of a handsome guy. I just didn't want you two to get inappropriate while we were still here."
"Oh, I brought Sam with me to talk to you, Elizabeth," Jack also blushed with a short laugh, not really all that bothered. He adored his wife to all distraction and he didn't care who knew about it. He and Rose smiled at each other, knowing that their feelings were more than just their looks. It was just being with each other and that feeling of completion.
"Jack, why don't you show me your new drawings? Give Sam and Elizabeth some time alone together. Goodness knows that they deserve it with how hard it is for them to meet now a days," Rose suggested, taking Jack's hand and pulling him to the room that they had set up as a small studio for him.
"You know, that's a great idea. I can tell you all about my day," Jack chuckled, understanding what Rose was up to. He turned to Elizabeth and Sam and smiled. "You two will be alright for a few minutes, right?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll be in my best behavior," Sam chuckled and then laughed as Rose pulled Jack into a room to the right and slammed the door shut.
"What was that about?" Jack asked, amusement shining in his eyes as Rose wrapped her arms around his neck, cuddling closer to him.
"Giving both them and us some time to be alone together," Rose giggled, once again claiming Jack's lips in a passionate kiss.
Meanwhile, back in the setting room, Elizabeth and Sam just stood still facing each other. It's been so long since they've been in a room alone together, neither one of them knew what to say or do.
Finally Sam spoke, having enough of the awkward silence. "So, we finally have a moment to ourselves and not a thing to say to one another."
Elizabeth laughed. "Actually, I do have a lot to say...but I'm not sure how to say it."
"Ah, I see. You're in love with Hockley after all and want to run off and marry him?" Sam chuckled, making a joke, hoping that a joke was all it was. He wouldn't be able to stand it if it was true.
Elizabeth snorted. "I'm not the one in love with him. But...I think if given a few nudges...someone that you know and love might be..."
"Who?" Sam frowned, having a funny feeling that he didn't want to know. There was only one person that Elizabeth could be talking about and he didn't like the idea of that at all.
"Katie," Elizabeth stated, a nervous smile on her lips, knowing that Sam wouldn't like the suggestion and she was right.
"Katie? My sister Katie? Have you completely lost your mind?" Sam frowned. Why would Elizabeth even think that Katie would want to have anything to do with Hockley? What made her think that he'd allow it?
"Hear me out. Today, on the way back from the train station, we saw Cal and Katie talking to each other. They seemed to be rather friendly. I think that she got nervous though, because she left right away. She didn't even say hello..."
Sam frowned. What was this he was hearing? His sister being friendly with the man that he considered his rival? Was she crazy? What was she thinking? What did she think she was doing? He was going to have a long talk with her when he got home, that was for sure. "Elizabeth, I'm sorry. I'll have a long talk with her. It won't happen again."
"I think it should."
"What?!"
Elizabeth took his hand and led him over to the couch and had him sit down. Her eyes begged for him to just be quiet and listen. "Look, I know you don't like it, but hear me out, alright? I've thought long and hard about this situation and I don't see anyway out...that was until I saw Cal with Katie. He likes her. What if he more than likes her? What if he falls in love with her? He won't want to marry me anymore..."
"No, he'll want to marry my baby sister instead," Sam frowned.
"Well isn't that better than him marrying me? Sam, don't you see. This can be our way out of this mess. Our way to be together. How can they force Cal to marry me if he doesn't want to?"
"The same way they're forcing you and not only do I not like the thought of that man anywhere near my sister, but I don't want to sit her up for a broken heart as well. I mean...come on. She's as poor as me. Do you really think that old man Hockley will let his son marry a poor Irish lass?"
"It's different for men. You know that..."
"Would Hockley even want to risk that nice inheritance of his for a girl he had just met? Lizzie, there are a lot of factors here that you're just not considering, love."
"You're right. There are. But what if he likes her more than his money? What if he does choose her? Sam, don't you see? I'll be free to be with you without breaking my grandfather's heart. We can leave this place at last and live our own lives and Katie, she'll have someone to take care of her as well. Don't you think it's worth a try? Even if it doesn't work out?"
Sam sighed and shook his head. He really didn't know what to feel. His insides were screaming against it when he thought of his beloved sister in the arms of that man. But then, he thought of Elizabeth marrying him and being forever out of reach….it broke his heart. "I just don't know..."
Elizabeth sighed. She knew that convincing Sam wouldn't be easy. She didn't expect him to readily agree. But it was a good plan...the only plan she had. She couldn't turn away from it. She had to try. "Sam...look...I'm sorry. But I have to try. I think we're worth it. Even if you don't..."
Sam sighed, feeling himself give in. "I hate the guy."
"I know you do..."
"Katie deserves better and if he breaks her heart, I will most likely kill him."
"What are you saying?" Elizabeth asked, a hint of hope in her voice.
"What will you have me do to nudge them together?"
Elizabeth squealed and threw her arms around his neck, feeling happier than she's been in days. "I knew you'd come around! I just knew it!"
Sam wrapped his arms around her, a small smile playing on his lip. He loved making her happy like this. He just wished it was over something else. "So what's the plan?"
"This Saturday. I will throw a tea party. I want your sister to be there. Tell her that it's an invite from Rose. She wants to get to know the sister of her husband's new friend better. That way, Bradley won't question it."
"I don't like this idea, Lizzie...but if it helps us in the end...I'll do it."
"I know. You'd do anything for us...that's one of the many reasons I love you," She sighed, kissing him deeply, savoring the moment since she didn't know when she'd have another one.
"I do love ya, Lizzie lass, but I love my sister too. I don't want her to be hurt."
"But what if this leads to her finding happiness too, Sam? Do you really want to chance standing in the way of that?"
"No. Then I'd be no better than that bloody brother of yours. I may not like Hockley...but if he is the one that makes my sister happy and he treats her in the way she deserves, I won't stand in his way."
Elizabeth smiled, feeling tears in her eyes. How she wished that Bradley felt the same as Sam. There would be no need for this matchmaking mission. "You truly are a good big brother."
"I try," Sam chuckled, pulling her closer. "It'll work out one way or another, Lizzie. Either Hockley does the right thing...or I'll take matters in my own hands."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Let's hope that you'll never have to find out," Sam winked, kissing her one last time. As he held her close, hoping for the best, he had his own plan brewing in his mind. If Hockley didn't change his mind...if this wedding was forced to take place...well he would just have to kidnap his girl and flee town somehow.
But it may not even come to that. Maybe Hockley was who his sister was destined to end up with. Whatever the circumstances, he knew one thing. He was going to be with Elizabeth Dawson for the rest of his days, no matter how long or short they may be.