The next day, shortly after lunch her brother, Lucas, arrived. He was so happy to see her and wrapped her in a loving hug. Then setting her back down allowed her to make introductions. “Mr. Waters, this is my brother Lucas Montgomery. Lucas this is Mr. Waters.” Hearing Eliza use the formal ‘Mr. Waters’ made him cringe internally, but he only reached out a hand to shake the one Lucas had offered.

Lucas’ smile was beaming, oblivious to the turmoil running through his two companions. “Well Mr. Waters, I can’t thank you enough for taking care of my dear Eliza! This turned into being more than you’d originally signed up for with the small pox hitting the city when it did.” And in a more serious tone “my family is indebted to you. Your quick actions, could have saved Eliza’s life” and then again in a lighter tone “or at the very least her beauty” as he chucked his sister under the chin. Eliza blushed and Lucas added with a laugh “I wouldn’t want to introduce you to John all pox marked now would I?” Seeing Eliza tense at the jest, he soothed “oh sis, I’m just teasing you. I know he’s going to love you.” Eliza almost burst into tears in that moment, but clearing his throat Trent stepped in to change the subject. “Let me show you to your room, you can get settled in and then your sister can show you around.”

The two Montgomerys didn’t see Trent again until dinner. At dinner Lucas was his usually spirited self. He noticed Eliza seemed quieter than normal, but he waved it off reminding himself the last month would have been very trying on her. Trent seemed a somber quiet fellow. He hardly said two words over dinner and his face seemed set in an almost permanent scowl. How unpleasant it must have been for his sister to spend almost two weeks here with him, Lucas thought.

Trent’s demeanor remind Eliza of their first few days of travel together, but now his coldness was an icy reminder of what she had lost with the arrival of her brother. After the meal Eliza suggested they retire to the music room, that had been such a happy place for them during their time alone and she felt desperate to see Trent’s smile again. Trent politely made his excuses, “I need to work on some correspondance, but you are of course welcome to the room and” nodding to Lucas “my brandy.”

Lucas beamed “well I never turn down a good brandy” and taking his sisters arm led them to the music room.

Trent sat in his study. He couldn’t stand to be in the same room as Eliza. He had felt her body tense last night when he asked her to marry him, but she just lay there without saying a word. She was really going to just trot off with her brother and marry another man. What a fool he’d been! He’d tried so hard to resist her and then standing there in her half opened shift and bloomers and had said ‘show me.’ He felt himself stiffen at the memory. “Damn it all to Hell” he growled as he poured himself another drink. As Trent made his way to bed that night he was just drunk enough to consider knocking on Eliza’s door, but passing her brother’s room, just next to hers, he thought better of it and went to his own bed.

Eliza lay in her, tears falling on the pillow. She heard Trent’s footsteps outside her door, but they didn’t even pause before continuing down the hall. What a mess she’d gotten herself in, Trent would hate her for leaving, her father and brother would hate her if she didn’t.

The next day Trent didn’t bother to join the siblings for breakfast, Lucas suggested he and Eliza go for a ride. Eliza’s spirits were lifted by the idea, she loved horses and her brother would love the views on the estate. As they rode Lucas began talking about John “he’s going to adore you Eliza, it helps that I know his preference in women” he said with a wink and a laugh. “But truly sister you two will suit so well, and..” Eliza cut in, “I’ve missed you brother, can we just enjoy our time together here without talk of all that, I’d much rather hear about what you’ve been up to as of late.” Lucas was a bit surprised, but of course, the topic probably made her nervous and she was right, he’d have plenty of time to talk his friend up and for her to get to know him once they were back in New York.