After being at the stables, Nathan, Elizabeth and Allie went back to the Thatcher house to get ready for dinner. William told them who was coming to dinner. Some old friends, including Charles Kensington and his wife Clarissa. Elizabeth told Nathan about Charles and Jack. Nathan realized that her trials of the heart didn't start with her deciding between him and Lucas. Apparently, Charles had proposed to Elizabeth but she said no because she loved Jack. Nathan knew she made the right choice. She wouldn't have been content living the Hamilton lifestyle.
Nathan decided to wear his Mountie uniform to dinner. Nathan was proud to be a Mountie. And maybe he wanted to see Mrs. Thatcher's reaction to his red serge. She didn't seem fond of Mountie's who dated her daughter.
As usual, Nathan was done getting ready before Elizabeth or Allie. Allie had went in Julie's room about an hour ago and he hasn't seen her since. Nathan looked over at the table and saw Elizabeth and Jack's wedding photograph. Nathan smirked and went into the edge of the staircase. Nathan took the photograph that was hanging last and went back to his room. He took Jack and Elizabeth's wedding photo and hung it up. It was the last picture so it would be the picture everyone would remember. As he was looking at the photograph, he saw someone out of the corner of his eye. Nathan looked down at the bottom of the staircase. Duke was standing there. Nathan walked down the stairs.
"Constable" Duke said when he saw Nathan.
"Hello Duke" Nathan said. The two shook hands. Nathan looked at Duke. He was dressed in nice pants and a nice shirt. But he wasn't wearing a jacket or a tie.
"Duke, you'll need to wear a jacket and a tie to dinner" Nathan said.
"My jacket doesn't fit me anymore and I couldn't find a tie" Duke said embarrassingly.
"Follow me" Nathan said and went up the stairs. Once he went up the stairs he brought Duke into his room. He opened the closet and gave Duke a jacket and tie to wear. Nathan saw Duke struggling with his tie.
"Here" Nathan said and helped Duke with his tie.
"Thank you, sir" Duke said with a smile.
Nathan gave him a smile. Little did Duke know that he would be going into the Lion's den. There was a knock on the door. It was Deborah, she babysits Jack at the Thatcher house when Elizabeth isn't able to take him with her.
"Excuse me sir, but young Mr. Thornton is asking for you" Deborah said.
"I'll be right there. Duke, I'll see you downstairs." Nathan said. Duke nodded his head. Nathan headed into Jack's room. He saw Jack in the corner with tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Hey Partner, what's wrong?" Nathan said to Jack. Nathan crouched to Jack's level.
"Natey. I hate ties" Jack said. Nathan smiled at Jack.
"Me too. But sometimes we have to wear them." Nathan said.
"You hate ties?" Jack asked.
"Yes. They're so tight around my neck. I would rather wear my suspenders" Nathan said.
"I want to wear suspenders too" Jack said.
"Not tonight. There are going to be a lot of people for dinner tonight and we need to look our best" Nathan said.
"Okay" Jack said.
"Let me help you with your tie" Nathan said. Nathan helped Jack with his tie.
"All done." Nathan said.
Jack played with his tie and smiled at Nathan. He gave Nathan a big hug and Nathan reciprocated the hug.
After Nathan, Duke and Jack were ready, they waited at the top of the staircase for the women.
Elizabeth looked in the mirror and finished up her makeup. She put on her earrings and bracelet. Elizabeth stopped when she saw the last piece of jewelry. It was a necklace of her engagement and wedding ring from Jack. She wore it occasionally. When she first started seeing Nathan, she tried to hide the necklace. It wasn't until their third date that Nathan told Elizabeth knew about the necklace. She thought that he would be angry about her wearing the necklace. But he wasn't. He told her that jewelry has a lot of meaning and if she wears the necklace to remind her of Jack, that's fine with him.
Elizabeth smiled at the piece of jewelry. Elizabeth decided that tonight was not an appropriate night to wear it. Tonight was her night with Nathan. Elizabeth closed the jewelry box and went to the door. She cracked it and saw Nathan in his uniform. He looked handsome. He was confident. Just looking at Nathan made Elizabeth weak in the knees.
Julie came out of her room and made an announcement.
"Let me introduce you to Miss Allison Grant" Julie said.
Allie came out of Julie's room. She was wearing a periwinkle blue dress. Allie's hair was up and styled beautifully. She was wearing just a hint of makeup. Nathan smiled.
"You look beautiful Allie" Nathan said.
"Thank you" Allie said. She looked at Duke.
Duke was speechless. He stood there for a minute not saying anything.
"What do you think?" Allie asked Duke.
"I would say beautiful, but that doesn't cover it. You look magnificent" Duke said.
Allie blushed. Nathan smiled.
Duke put his arm out. "Shall we?"
Allie smiled "We shall." They both walked down the stairs.
Nathan smiled as they went down the stairs. Suddenly, a figure caught Nathan out of the corner of his eye. It was Elizabeth. She was standing there in a lavender colored dress. She had her hair down but it was different from how she usually had it. She too was only wearing a hint of makeup. She didn't need as she was a natural beauty.
"You look… wow" Nathan said. Suddenly his tongue had become tied.
"So do you" Elizabeth said. Elizabeth saw the wedding picture at the top of the stairs. She kissed Nathan on the cheek. He blushed.
"Shall we?" Nathan asked putting his arm out.
"Yes" Elizabeth said smiling and put her arm in his. While Elizabeth was holding his arm, Nathan carried Jack in his other arm. They went downstairs and into the dining room.
They were the last ones to arrive and take their seats. William introduced Nathan to everyone at the table. The guests included Charles Kensington and his wife. There was some small talk among each other when the appetizers came out. It was caviar. The butlers put caviar on each person's plate. Allie looked at it when it was plopped down on her plate.
"What is this?" Allie whispered to Nathan.
"Caviar. You put is on this cracker and eat it." Nathan whispered back.
Allie examined the caviar.
"It looks like rabbit excrement" Allie whispered.
"Allie. Don't be rude" Nathan whispered.
Allie decided to be brave and try the caviar. A look of disgust came across her face. Elizabeth saw this face and had to stifle a laugh. Nathan looked at Elizabeth with a smirk. Duke leaned over to Allie whispered something. He showed her the sliding technique where you slide the food around your plate to make it look like you ate some when you haven't really ate anything.
"So Constable, did you know Jack Thornton?" Charles asked.
Nathan looked at Elizabeth. She had not told anyone about his connection to Jack.
"No. I did not have the pleasure to serve with Jack" Nathan said.
"Too bad. Jack was a good man" Charles said.
"Yes he was." Elizabeth said.
"We were all a little surprised that Elizabeth decided to get involved with another Mountie after what happened to Jack" Grace Thatcher said.
Nathan could see the anger in Elizabeth starting to build.
"I'm glad that Elizabeth could see past the red serge and see me as a person and not just another Mountie. That is one of the many reasons I love her." Nathan said.
Nathan smiled at Elizabeth. Elizabeth started to relax.
"I don't know why she would want to go through heart ache again" Grace said.
"I don't plan on giving her heart ache, ma'am." Nathan said.
Grace pursed her lips. She didn't like how Nathan pushed back at her. The entrée came out. It was fish that wasn't cooked but garnished. Allie had a disgusted look on her face. Elizabeth stifled a laugh.
"Dad, the fish is looking at me" Allie said.
"Allie. You eat fish all the time. This one just isn't cooked" Nathan said.
"I know. But when we cook at home, we don't have the eyeball still in there" Allie said.
"Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do. Like eating cold fish or having to talk to one" Nathan said looking over at Grace.
Allie needed and ate the fish.
Grace zeroed her eyes in on Duke.
"Duke. Are you always going to be a stable boy or are you going to do something with your life?" Grace asked.
"Mother…" Elizabeth said.
"What? I'm trying to make conversation with our guests." Grace said.
"Well Ma'am, when I finish school, I would like to train horses. There is ranch in America where they teach people how to train horses. Or maybe I'll become a Mountie" Duke said. He looked over at Nathan with a sly smile. Nathan smiled back. Grace didn't like that answer.
"How would you be able to afford it? I'm sure that being a stable boy doesn't pay much" Grace asked.
"Jack!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
Jack threw a fish eyeball at the wall. Jack giggled.
"That's not funny" Elizabeth scolded Jack. Allie, Duke, and Nathan hid their laughter.
"Don't worry Mrs. Thornton, I will clean it up" said one of the maids.
"I'm sorry" Elizabeth whispered to the made.
"Kid has quite an aim" William said. Everybody laughed.
"Shall we retire to the living room for conversation?" William asked.
Everybody nodded and they went into the living room.