‘I was worried about that. When I went to your brother’s house and he said you’d already left for the docks I had visions of having to chase you all the way to India.’
‘Would you have done that?’
‘Yes.’
He kissed the tip of her nose, then her cheeks, then her lips, wondering at how quickly his life had changed again.
‘I’m going to marry you very soon,’ he murmured. ‘Then you won’t be able to change your mind again.’
‘I’m not going to change my mind...’ she smiled at him ‘...but I won’t protest about getting married very soon.’
He calculated the timescales in his head. ‘We may just be able to squeeze in a wedding before we have to leave for India.’ He looked at her seriously. ‘You don’t have any doubts about leaving the country so soon?’
Beth trailed her fingers across his cheek and kissed him again. ‘No doubts at all. I can’t wait to see my new home.’
Chapter Twenty-Four
The wedding was a quiet affair, held in the church of St Mary’s, close to Leonard Ashburton’s town house. Their only guests were Leonard Ashburton and Annabelle, who had made the trip to London for the first time in her life.
Beth felt wonderfully content, as if all the worries of the last few weeks had been swept away with the wedding vows.
‘Leo wanted to speak to you,’ Josh said, coming over and taking her hand, dropping a kiss on the inside of her wrist.
‘Oh?’
‘A wedding gift of sorts. I’ll let him explain.’
Josh motioned Leo over, grinning as he clapped his older brother on the back.
‘Congratulations, Mrs Ashburton.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I thought I might offer my services in arranging everything here that needs arranging,’ Leo said, his expression serious as usual, despite the happy occasion.
Beth must have looked puzzled for he pushed on quickly.
‘Josh has informed me your mother will have to sell Birling View, and that he is planning on setting up an annual income to support her and your sister.’
‘Yes.’
‘I owed your father a debt, a debt I cannot now settle.’ He gave a little smile. ‘Due to happy circumstances, of course. What I propose is that you and Josh allow me to help your mother and your sister. I will assist your mother in selling Birling View if she needs any guidance and I will set up the annual income payments.’
‘That’s too much,’ Beth protested.
‘It is only what I would have done if we had married. It will be hard to manage from the other side of the world. Let me do this for you.’
Beth opened her mouth to protest again but slowly closed it as she really considered the offer. It was beyond generous, but he seemed very keen to do this for them. ‘Perhaps you could set everything up, and in a few years, when we are settled in India, we can take over the payments.’
‘As you wish.’
‘Thank you, it is most kind of you.’
Leonard kissed her formally on the hand, then bowed and excused himself, leaving her alone with her husband.
‘Are you ready for your new life, Mrs Ashburton?’
‘I am. Let me say my goodbyes to Annabelle and then I will be ready to depart.’ The wedding had been rushed. By the time the banns had been read the required number of times it had been almost time for them to leave England and set sail for India. They had found passage on a ship that allowed them to marry first, but it meant their wedding night would be spent at sea. It was all happening so fast, but Beth didn’t mind, not now she and Josh were married.
‘Don’t cry,’ Annabelle said, tears streaming underneath the veil she wore to cover her face.
‘I’m going to miss you so much.’
‘And I you.’
‘Any time you change your mind, any time you want to visit, just send word and we will book you a passage.’
Beth had held onto the hope that her sister would agree to leave England with them and come start a new life in India. Although in recent weeks Annabelle had become bolder, venturing out of the estate a few times and even making the trip to London for the wedding, she still preferred to mostly stay indoors.
‘I know. Don’t worry about me. I have my eye on a pretty little house in Eastbourne. It has a lovely garden and sea views. I think Mother and I could be quite happy there.’
At the mention of their mother they both fell quiet. Her absence was expected but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. Beth had sent her an invitation to the wedding with a note saying she hoped to see her mother one last time before she set sail for India, but Annabelle had come alone.
‘Write to me every week. I want to hear all about your new home.’
‘Of course. And we will be back to visit before you know it.’ Beth felt the lump form in her throat. Even though she knew they would be back, it wasn’t likely to be for a few years yet. The voyage took so long and Josh was going to need to be present to take the reins of the business.
‘I love you, Beth.’
‘I love you, Annabelle.’
They embraced for a long while, only pulling apart as Beth heard the hooves of the horses pulling their carriage slow to a stop outside.
‘It’s time,’ Josh said, taking Beth by the hand and giving Annabelle a kiss on the cheek.
Hand in hand Beth and Josh descended the steps and climbed up into the carriage. They leaned out and waved as they moved away, looking back until they rounded the corner and the house behind them was obscured from view.
‘Any regrets?’ Josh asked, coming to sit on the padded seat beside her.
‘None at all.’ She felt sad to be leaving her sister behind, but she didn’t regret her decision. They were off to start their new life together and Beth couldn’t wait to set foot on the ship that
