‘I’ve been intrigued about these gardens, the spectacle of them lit up at night, ever since Leo spoke about them.’
‘How are you finding your reunion with your brother?’
‘It is strange, I can’t deny it. In some ways it is as if we haven’t been separated for over twenty years. He’s always been my brother, even if we were half a world apart. Yet...’ He trailed off, trying to think of the right way to express the barrier he felt between himself and Leo, the sense that his brother was holding part of himself back. ‘Leo was always hard-working, serious, even as a boy, but I can remember his laugh, his love of playing games. I haven’t seen that side of him since my return.’
‘He’s always focussed on his duty?’
‘Exactly. And I understand he has great responsibility, he runs all of Lord Abbingdon’s estates, takes care of all the family business.’
‘It’s still early. Perhaps as he relaxes into having you back a little more you’ll see other parts of him.’
‘Perhaps.’ Josh hoped so. He got the sense that Leo was a successful man, driven and ambitious, but he wasn’t sure he was happy. ‘He will make a good husband though, you have nothing to fear there. He’s a good man, a kind man.’
Lady Elizabeth looked away and Josh tried to read the expression on her face but found it impossible.
‘We’re here,’ she said, seeming relieved to change the subject from her impending marriage.
Beth took Mr Ashburton’s hand and leaned on him a little as he helped her down from the carriage. Ever since she’d first stepped into the drawing room and realised it was Joshua Ashburton waiting for her rather than his brother she’d felt on edge and excitable. She’d seen he was about to explain his identity to her mother and something rebellious had stirred inside her. She wanted to go to the pleasure gardens with him, wanted to stroll arm in arm by the lamplight. In three months she would likely be married and would never be able to do anything so reckless again.
‘Do you see your mother’s friends?’ He had kept hold of her hand as he looked around and Beth did nothing to pull away.
‘No, perhaps they’re not here yet.’
‘Did your mother say we were meeting them inside the gardens or outside?’
‘She didn’t say.’
They walked slowly to the little kiosk where the tickets were sold, but just as they were about to approach a footman in a smart livery hopped out of a carriage and hurried over.
‘Lady Elizabeth,’ he said once in earshot, executing a deep bow, ‘Mr and Mrs Wilson beg your forgiveness.’
‘They are well, I hope?’ Beth peered around the footman to look at the carriage. No one else was emerging—they must have sent the footman in their stead.
‘They have received some bad news. Mrs Wilson did not want to let you down, but Mr Wilson insisted they stay in for her health.’
‘Of course. Please tell them not to worry at all and give them my best wishes. I will send a note tomorrow to ask when I might call on them.’
‘Thank you, my lady.’
The footman hurried back to the waiting carriage and hopped back inside and Beth and Mr Ashburton watched as it sped away.
‘All to myself,’ Beth heard Mr Ashburton murmur and she turned to see him smiling at her, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
‘I suppose we should return home.’
‘We could. We probably should.’ He looked over his shoulder to the entrance to the pleasure gardens. ‘Although I’m told it is no more scandalous to stroll around the gardens than to walk together in the park.’
‘In the day maybe.’
‘It is still light.’ They both looked up at the rapidly fading light.
‘You are a bad influence, Mr Ashburton.’
‘Half an hour—grant me that. Then I will return you back home, reputation intact.’
Beth glanced at the entrance and then to their carriage waiting a little way down the road.
‘Half an hour?’
‘I even promise to stick to the main paths.’
‘I do want to see inside...’
As soon as she acquiesced he was on his way to the kiosk, asking for two tickets and handing over the money.
There was a small group of people going through the entrance gates but once inside they seemed to disperse and Beth and Mr Ashburton could amble along looking at the gardens as if it were their own private space.
Although she had felt an initial uncertainty about stepping into the pleasure gardens without a chaperon Beth knew she was never going to say no. There was something about Mr Ashburton that made her want to ignore every sensible instinct in her body, to be reckless and rebellious.
‘Look, they’re lighting the lamps. When it gets dark the lamps will guide the way along the paths.’ Mr Ashburton was pointing to where half a dozen workers were making their way along the edge of the paths lighting the lamps that were positioned at regular intervals.
‘It must look magical in the dark, lit by just the flickering lamps.’
‘Perhaps we could stay until just after sunset. Another few minutes surely won’t make much difference.’
‘You will get me into trouble, Mr Ashburton.’
‘I have an important duty to carry out tonight, Lady Elizabeth, and I need as much time as possible to complete it.’
‘What duty is that?’
‘Leo has charged me with finding out a little about you, about your character.’
Beth blinked, wondering if she meant so little to the man she was one day to be engaged to that he didn’t think he should be having this conversation himself. She felt the sadness descend upon her as she often did when she thought of her impending marriage and the reason she was the one needed to support her whole family.
‘You look sad, Lady Elizabeth,’ Mr Ashburton said quietly. He looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘I know this isn’t how a young lady would hope to be wooed.’
‘It’s not that. Or perhaps it is a little.’ She sighed, knowing she shouldn’t be showing any of
