There she set herself the task of planning how she could further Harry’s suit with Elizabeth. He would never offer for her, she knew. He regarded her still as the often irritating small cousin who had plagued him when they were children, demanding to be included in his adventures. But he had often been kind, and she had adored him then, accepting his frequent refusals to let her join him on more dangerous exploits as justified. As always, Harry’s wishes came first. If he wanted to marry Elizabeth, she would do all she could to bring it about. Several of Elizabeth’s suitors had defected, she realized. Lord Pauling had left the country to escape from his creditors, Lord Fenton appeared to have turned to Miss Wolverley, and Mr Penharrow was never now seen with Elizabeth. That ought to make Elizabeth more willing to listen to Harry, unless better prospects appeared. This Sir David Clarkson might prove a danger, and she must discover all she could about him and any other man Elizabeth seemed to encourage.
