‘I will need to get dressed for dinner.’
‘Fine. Two hours and forty-five minutes.’
‘And do my hair.’
‘The Usbournes will love you even if you greet them with your hair tangled like a bird’s nest.’
‘I’m not sure that is the first impression I want to make,’ she said, laughing.
Josh cut her laugh short with a deep kiss and suddenly perfectly pinned hair seemed less of a priority. With a soft moan she sank back onto the bed, feeling the wonderful weight of her husband’s body above hers.
Two hours and forty-five minutes later Beth was rushing to fix her hair whilst Josh muttered as he pulled at the laces on her dress. She had spent the entirety of the voyage without a ladies’ maid and as such Josh was now reasonably proficient at fastening her dresses, although not as good as he was at unfastening them. Even so, when he helped her to dress there were always mutterings about the unnecessary complexity of women’s garments.
‘Do you think they will like me?’
Josh paused, his hands falling still on her shoulders. ‘Of course, my darling. They will love you. How could they not?’
‘They’re such a big part of your life.’
He dropped a kiss on the bare skin of her neck.
‘All they’ve ever wanted is for me to be happy. You make me happy. So they will love you for that even before they get to know you and love you simply for being you.’
‘I’ve got something to tell you, Josh,’ she said, spinning to face him. ‘I think I’m pregnant.’
His eyes flicked down to her abdomen, a smile spreading across his face. Beth squealed as he picked her up and spun her round, setting her back down gently and placing a hand over her subtle bump.
‘Not just six months of fine dinners in there, then.’
She swatted him but the movement was cut short as he leaned in for a kiss.
‘I love you, Beth.’
‘I love you, Josh.’
His hand was still on her abdomen when there was a soft knock on the door. He moved away to answer it, taking a letter from the person outside.
‘It’s just arrived. From England.’
Beth smiled, recognising her sister’s handwriting. No doubt many letters would arrive over the coming weeks. Annabelle had promised to write weekly, although it would take six months for the letters to cross the oceans to get here.
Eagerly Beth tore open the envelope, tears forming in her eyes as she recognised Annabelle’s elegant looping handwriting.
My darling Beth,
How I miss you already. It has only been three weeks since you set sail, but it feels like a lifetime. So much has happened I barely know where to begin.
Mr Ashburton has been true to his word and is helping us sell Birling View. We have been to see a few cottages that would be suitable. Mother finds fault with all of them, of course, but I think once she has accepted that we have to move she will be forced into a decision.
One is just outside of Eastbourne, with beautiful views over the sea. I loved it and liked imagining that you might one day be looking out of your window over the ocean whilst I’m looking out of mine.
I do have some more news, but I hesitate to tell you. It isn’t anything definite yet, and I can’t quite believe it is happening. In fact I’m not sure it will happen. Perhaps I will write in a week and let you know when things are a bit clearer, once Mr Ashburton has clarified the situation.
Do write and tell me all about your new home. I miss you dearly, Beth, and I hope you are happy.
All my love,
Annabelle
‘Read this,’ Beth said, holding out the letter to Josh after a second read-through. She was frowning, wondering what the news could be that Annabelle was holding back.
‘How mysterious.’
‘What do you think it could be?’
Josh shrugged, handing her back the letter. ‘Perhaps Leo has found her a position as a companion or something.’
‘Perhaps.’
‘Or perhaps he means to marry her.’
Beth blinked, looking back down at the letter as if willing it to divulge some more clues, but the words on the page didn’t offer anything more up.
‘Marry her?’
‘You’re right. Probably a stupid suggestion.’
There was another knock on the door and the maid informed them Mr and Mrs Usbourne’s carriage had been sighted at the end of the driveway. Beth forced herself to put down the letter and focus on the evening ahead, even though her head was spinning from the possibilities.
‘Are you ready?’
She nodded and, arm in arm, they walked downstairs. For a moment she thought of her sister, thousands of miles away in England, and wondered if she was doing something similar and then Josh kissed her on the cheek, distracting her completely as they waited for their guests to arrive.
‘I love you,’ he murmured to her as his guardians stepped out of the carriage, all smiles and warmth. As they came and embraced her, with Josh by her side, Beth realised she already felt at home here. All she needed to be completely and utterly happy was her husband holding her hand and the little flutter of life inside her.
If you enjoyed this story, why not check out
these other great reads by Laura Martin
The Viscount’s Runaway Wife
The Brooding Earl’s Proposition
Her Best Friend, the Duke
One Snowy Night with Lord Hauxton
And look out for the next book in
The Ashburton Reunion miniseries,
coming soon!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Wagering on the Wallflower by Eva Shepherd.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK FROM
Your romantic escape to the past.
Be seduced by the grandeur, drama and sumptuous detail of romances set in long-ago eras!
6 NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE EVERY MONTH!
Wagering on the Wallflower
by Eva Shepherd
Chapter One
London—1885
For many people, hell was fire, brimstone and red-faced devils poking you with sharp, pointed pitchforks. But not for Lady Hazel Springfeld. For her, hell was being forced to wear an overly fussy pink ballgown and having to spend
