Flirting with His Forbidden Lady--A Regency Family is Reunited by Laura Martin (good novels to read txt) 📕

position to comment on how Annabelle’s life could have been different, but I do know you. You’re punishing yourself, martyring yourself, to try to make up for the consequences of an accident when you were a small child.’

‘I owe it to Annabelle to ensure the life she is comfortable with can continue.’

‘No,’ Josh said firmly. ‘There is nothing wrong with wanting to protect your sister, to do something like marry a wealthy man for the stability of your family, but this, this is self-sacrifice for a debt that shouldn’t be there.’

Beth looked into his eyes and for a moment he thought he had got through to her. He wanted her to see that she shouldn’t feel she had to marry Leo for the sake of her sister. If she chose to, if she decided she wanted to put her family’s happiness before her own, that was a different matter entirely, but he wanted her to see it was a conscious choice she had to make, not a foregone conclusion.

She pulled her hand from his and took a few steps away.

He watched her for a moment, not approaching straight away, giving her a minute to go over everything they had discussed. She looked beautiful, ethereal, in the moonlight. Her hair was loose down her back, reaching almost to her buttocks, straight and thick and golden. He had the urge to tangle his hands in it, to inhale the scent of roses he knew she used.

She could be a fairy or elf from the legends the way she looked in amongst the trees. Her light skin contrasted wonderfully with her dark dress and her pale blue eyes sparkled out of the darkness.

‘I have to protect her,’ Beth said quietly.

Josh nodded, knowing it wouldn’t help to argue any more. Perhaps his words would work their way into her mind and, given time, she might see there was some truth there.

‘Come.’ He walked over to her and wrapped her in his arms, enveloping her entirely. At first she was tense and stiff against him but slowly she relaxed, her own arms looping around his back and her head turning so her cheek was rested against his chest.

Without thinking he dropped a kiss on the top of her hair, closing his eyes and allowing himself to enjoy being so close to her.

They stayed wrapped in one another’s arms for a long time, Josh able to feel Beth’s heartbeat through the layers that separated them.

‘We should go back,’ Josh said eventually. He had felt Beth start to shiver and knew they shouldn’t stay out any longer despite his inclination to remain all night under the canopy of trees.

Beth nodded and silently they made their way back to the house. He kissed her hand lightly once they were back inside, seeing her hesitate and linger a second, before gaining control of herself and hurrying up the stairs to bed.

Chapter Thirteen

‘What did they say about me?’ Annabelle tried to sound nonchalant as Beth changed into her riding habit. Her sister had been hovering, as if eager to ask something but not quite sure how to say it.

Beth didn’t look up, knowing her sister’s world revolved around moments like these, moments where she wondered what other people thought of her, where she hoped not to be noticed but also craved the normality of someone looking at her and seeing just a normal young woman.

‘Not much. Leonard Ashburton went to bed at the same time as you. And Josh...’ she looked up quickly to see if Annabelle had spotted the familiar use of his name ‘...Joshua Ashburton was more puzzled as to why you weren’t joining us for the festivities than your appearance.’

‘He only has eyes for you.’

‘You’ve got the wrong brother. Not that Leonard Ashburton has eyes for me. Much to Mother’s disgust.’

‘But Joshua Ashburton does.’

Beth looked up from fastening the front of her riding habit and caught Annabelle’s knowing look in the mirror.

‘I’m not blind, Beth. I might have been preoccupied with my own appearance but even I could see Joshua Ashburton is smitten with you.’

‘He is not smitten.’

‘Fine. He desires you.’

‘He’s the wrong brother.’

‘Is he?’

‘Yes.’

Annabelle shrugged. ‘I saw the looks between you, the way your bodies were angled towards one another. There was a synergy there.’ She paused, softening her voice. ‘I doubt Leonard Ashburton has missed it, unless he is particularly unobservant.’

Beth felt the blood drain from her head and had to sit down abruptly on the edge of the bed.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Is there something between you and Joshua Ashburton?’

‘No. Yes. No.’ Beth sighed. ‘I like him,’ she said eventually. ‘As a friend.’

‘A friend?’

‘Exactly. A friend.’ She could feel her cheeks colouring under Annabelle’s steady gaze.

‘A friend you’ve kissed?’

‘How did you know?’

‘I know you, Beth. You’ve been different ever since coming back from London and I only had to spend ten seconds in that room with you and the Ashburton brothers to see why.’

‘It should be Leonard.’

‘You can’t force an attraction where there isn’t one.’

‘Leonard’s not interested in me. He’ll probably marry me, I get the impression he is a man of his word, but I don’t think he wants to know anything about me.’

Annabelle pulled a face. ‘Hardly the recipe for a happy marriage. Can’t you marry Joshua Ashburton instead?’

‘No.’ It felt like a knife to the heart to hear her sister suggest so casually what she wanted to be true. She wished it were Joshua Ashburton she was promised to in marriage, Joshua Ashburton she was contemplating spending the rest of her life with.

‘Don’t just dismiss the idea. You like him. He obviously likes you. It’s not as though he’s an unacceptable match. He’s the brother of the future Viscount Abbingdon.’

For a moment Beth felt the tiniest spark of hope and then, with a shake of her head, she let it fizzle out and die.

‘You’re being ridiculous.’

‘You’re being ridiculous. Why force yourself to marry someone you do not care for when a man you do is standing right next to him?’

‘You don’t