Page 28 of Beth: A Regency Romance Novell

“Good of you. My head groom will take the horse in hand. An end, it seems to a dreadful business!”

“Yes, indeed.” Andrew drew a piece of paper out of his waistcoat pocket. He held it out to Beth. “I found the letter you wrote to Mrs. Grayshott to explain why you left the ball. Ramsey, of course, prevented its delivery.”

Beth took it and crumpled the paper in her hand. She stared into Marcus’ sympathetic brown eyes. “That’s the end of it, then,” she murmured. She should have been relieved, but instead she felt jittery and unsettled at the prospect of continuing her Season. Would she see him at balls? Would they dance together? Where could it possibly lead them?

“And a new beginning,” Jenny said, her speculative gaze traveling from Beth to Marcus. “Shall we have champagne at dinner, Andrew?”

“The finest in the cellar, my love,” he said.

Close to midnight, Beth climbed the stairs with Jenny leaving Marcus and Andrew to play another game of billiards.

In the gallery, eyebrows raised, Jenny turned toward Beth. “I suspect you have developed a tender for Mr. Nyeland. And he for you.”

“What makes you think so?” Beth asked cautiously. She always took Jenny into her confidence, but Beth wasn’t able to voice it. Marcus had made no such declaration. Perhaps he never would.

“When you partnered him at whist, it was the way you two looked at each other. And then as we left the room I was quite shocked when he kissed your hand and said he’d hoped to see you at Mrs. Johnston’s card party.”

“I suppose what we have been through has changed us. We can hardly behave like we’ve just been introduced.”

Jenny tucked Beth’s arm into hers as they walked along the passage to their bedchambers. “No, of course not. It hurts me to think of what the outcome might have been.”

“Then don’t think of it, dearest,” Beth said. “The children and I are well.”

She had told Lilly she would do without her tonight. Jenny followed Beth into her bedchamber where she sat in the chintz upholstered armchair. “What will you do if he declares his intention to court you?”

Beth smiled fondly at her sister in the mirror as she began to remove the pins from her hair. Jenny had been like a mother to her and her siblings after their mother had died, and their father had disappeared into his study among his tomes. “Do you like him?”

“Of course, I do, very much.” Jenny frowned. “But I confess to being a little selfish.” She sighed. “He will take you away from England. From us.”

Beth’s chest tightened. “Yes, I realize that. As a diplomat he is sure to travel to other countries.”

Jenny nodded. “Andrew told me Mr. Nyeland is soon to be sent to Greece. There is some trouble there. He could be gone for quite some time.”

“Oh.” Beth’s heart sank. “He hadn’t mentioned Greece.” Of course that wouldn’t do at all, even if he should ask her to marry him, which he might not be so keen to do.

“There will be many gentlemen eager to meet you.” Jenny smiled encouragingly at her in the mirror. “I’ll accept some invitations.” She turned to walk to the door. “We have the Johnston’s card party tomorrow night, the Monfort’s ball Saturday next, and Lady Grahame’s soiree the following week.”

Beth pushed back her chair, the hairbrush in her hand. “I will not marry a man whose eyes don’t light up at the sight of me,” she declared, her voice catching.

Her hand on the door latch, Jenny cast her a worried glance. “Of course not, dearest.”

“And he must make my heart thump when he walks into the room.”

“Oh, Beth,” Jenny sighed and hurried over to hug her.

Beth suddenly felt like crying. “Jenny, would you mind if I returned to Castlebridge for a while? My nerves seem to have been more affected by this awful business than I thought.”

“Dearest! Of course not.” She urged Beth to sit again and took the brush from her, running it smoo

thly through Beth’s long tresses. “I’ll put it about that you are unwell. Nothing too serious, of course. Andrew must remain in London to attend the House of Lords until Friday, but I shall come down with you. We will have a lovely time together and you can put all this behind you.”

Beth closed her eyes finding the brushing soothing. “There is always much to do. George has been watching for the swallow’s egg he found to hatch. Barbara’s cat Ginger will soon give birth to kittens, and there’s my injured badger. The stable boy, Tom, is good at caring for him, but still…” Castlebridge didn’t hold its usual appeal. It was the prospect of wandering about alone, with William away at school, when he always took such an interest in her animals, that made her feel lonely.

“You will be much better at Castlebridge,” Jenny said, emphatically, putting down the brush.

Beth supposed she wouldn’t see Marcus again, if he was off to Greece. This sadness wouldn’t last, she assured herself. Once she’d settled into her routine with the animals, life would go on as before. But somehow it sounded hollow.

Chapter Nine

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