‘She’s more than upset.’
‘I understand that. And I understand her not wanting to venture out in public again, at least not for a while. What I don’t understand is why we can’t be together.’
Beth raised her eyes to his and he saw the pain there; he knew this was hurting her as much as it was him.
‘The house.’ She sniffed again, still just managing to keep the tears under control. ‘She has vowed never to leave this house.’
‘Surely it wouldn’t matter if it was this house or another house. The cottage we spoke about—’
‘No, Josh.’ Beth’s voice rose almost to a shout and she quickly clamped her hands over her mouth as she remembered they were surrounded by the other guests, hopefully sleeping peacefully in the neighbouring rooms. ‘No. She has nothing. No future prospects, no hopes of a husband or children. No friends even. All I can give her is this house, her home.’
‘I know you want to look after her, but you don’t owe her your own happiness.’
‘I owe her a little security.’
‘For an accident that happened over fifteen years ago?’
Beth closed her eyes, her face pale and drawn, the sadness evident in every movement. He knew she wasn’t making this decision lightly, but he also knew she was wrong.
‘Give it a few days at least. Annabelle might feel differently once the worst of the humiliation has passed.’
‘She may do, but I won’t. I’m sure Annabelle would urge me to marry you, to live my own life, but I can’t do that, Josh. Don’t you see?’
He stood, running a hand through his hair. ‘I love you, Beth. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone else. Give us a chance. I promise we will not abandon your sister. We will ensure she is contented.’
It seemed as though the silence stretched out for ever whilst Beth sat with her head buried in her hands. He hoped she was contemplating his words, realising that they could work this out together, as they had planned.
‘I’m sorry, Josh. I should never have dreamed.’
He reached out for her, wanting to comfort her even if she was pushing away their hope of a future together, but she stood and slipped past him, opening the door and running down the hall. As he listened he heard her let out the sob that she’d held in all the time she’d been in the room.
Chapter Twenty-One
It was the last day of the house party and when Josh emerged from his bedroom servants were bustling up and down the stairs with trunks and boxes. He doubted the other guests would stay long after breakfast; he couldn’t imagine it had been the most diverting few days for them when it had clearly been engineered solely to put Leo in the same place as Beth without much thought to the other guests.
He didn’t fancy breakfast, but was determined to see Beth one last time before he left, planting himself in a chair close to the door in the library in a position from which he could see the foot of the stairs. As soon as she descended he would be able to swoop out and show her he wouldn’t abandon her.
The minutes ticked past into hours and he had just started the sixth chapter on a particularly dull book about English marsh birds when the door to the library was pushed fully open and Lady Hummingford stepped inside. He stood, feeling the cool animosity emanating from her and realising he felt the same way about her. Lady Hummingford closed the door behind her with a firm click, but Josh quickly stepped past her and reopened it.
‘I’m watching for someone,’ he said, making it impossible for her to close it again.
‘For my daughter.’
He inclined his head, wondering what Lady Hummingford was doing here. He knew she didn’t like him particularly, but he wasn’t sure if she was aware of his entanglement with Beth.
‘She won’t be coming down today.’
‘I would like to see her before I leave.’
‘Unfortunately that will be impossible.’ She didn’t offer any excuses, any lies about a headache or a summer cold. Instead she held his gaze as if baiting him to argue.
‘I will send her a message. Then she can decide.’
‘Mr Ashburton, my daughter will not receive any message you send to her. None of my servants will deliver it.’
‘I will slip it under her door myself.’
‘I have advised the footmen that you are not to be allowed back upstairs.’
‘That is foolish, Lady Hummingford.’
‘On the contrary. I need to protect my daughters and I am doing just that.’
‘You still hope she will marry Leo.’
Lady Hummingford didn’t answer but Josh could see he was right.
‘Leo respects my opinion. One word and he will step away, withdraw his offer.’
‘Your brother is a man of honour. He might not want to marry Elizabeth, but he is bound by the promise he made my husband. I do not think a few words from you will change that.’
‘How could you do this to Beth?’
‘Lady Elizabeth to you.’
‘She will always be Beth to me.’ He knew he shouldn’t bait her but couldn’t help letting this slip out.
‘Leave. Return to India and let your brother and my daughter get on with their lives.’
‘She could be happy with me, really happy. Isn’t that what a mother should want for her daughter?’
‘How naïve you are. I want security, not happiness. That is what matters in this world. And not just for Elizabeth.’
‘I may not be as wealthy as Leo, but I can give Beth a good life.’
‘But what about Annabelle? What about me?’
‘You’d lose the house, but we could find you a nice cottage. It would be a comfortable life.’
Lady Hummingford sneered at him. ‘I’m a
