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

how the world works? No debutante has a choice in who she marries, not really. Perhaps one or two a season marry for love and a handful more get a modicum of choice between this or that suitor, but the rest do what they are told by their parents. Marriages are arranged. This isn’t a peculiar situation.’

Josh watched her stiff posture, noting the white of her knuckles as she gripped the reins hard and the minuscule muscle in her jaw, which she clenched.

‘Now, I don’t want to talk of my future or my marriage any more. Please can we speak of something else? Anything else.’

Josh knew to back down. The last thing he wanted to do was add to her stress.

‘Tell me about the smugglers.’

‘Smugglers?’

‘You must have them here. It’s a prime spot for it, only a couple of days’ ride from London and a sparsely populated area.’

They crested the top of a hill and below them the river Cuckmere wound its way towards the sea. It was another warm day, overcast but with some breaks in the cloud, and as they looked at the landscape below them the sun peeked out and made the river below glitter.

‘See down there.’ Beth pointed to the estuary, the wide mouth of the river seeming to welcome the sea. ‘That’s where they land, or so Father used to say. The river is tidal and at high tide small boats can actually row into the river and upstream to one of dozens of potential unloading points. It is what makes it so hard to catch them.’

‘Fascinating. Have you ever seen them?’

‘Father was always insistent we stay in the boundaries of the estate after dark, and we are a half an hour’s ride away from the river.’ She paused, her eyes alive with excitement. ‘But I do remember one time when I was nine or ten. It was late, everyone was in bed, but I awoke to hear a commotion downstairs. I crept down to see the front door open and a man slumped against the frame, bleeding.’

‘A smuggler?’

Beth nodded. ‘A trap had been set for them and most of the gang caught, but this man had escaped after being run through with a sword. We could never work out how he managed to make it so far with such horrific injuries.’

‘What happened?’

‘The King’s men were in pursuit and arrived a few minutes later and hauled the man away. I doubt he would have lasted the journey to the local gaol.’ Nudging her horse forward, she waited for Josh to join her again. ‘Father increased the number of strong young men he employed for a while and would set them to patrolling around the perimeter of the estate at night, but of course that wasn’t sustainable.’

‘You think it still goes on?’

‘Of course. It is a perfect unloading point for smugglers, and although the Custom’s Officers are aware of it there isn’t a settlement for miles. It makes it hard to patrol, hard to monitor, so for the smugglers it is still a good choice.’

The hill here was so steep they couldn’t ride straight to the bottom, instead having to snake backwards and forwards across the grass to weave their way down.

‘We will have to make sure we do not dally too long in Seaford—as much as I would find it fascinating to meet a smuggler, I think they would be far less interested in meeting me.’

They stopped down by the river, gathering in a little group as they discussed which was the best way to cross.

‘It’s low tide so we could ride across. There is the chance of getting a little damp, but it is quite safe. I’ve done it hundreds of times,’ Beth said, seeing Leonard Ashburton’s dubious face.

‘Or for those who would prefer to stay dry there is the bridge a mile or so upstream.’ Lady Annabelle spoke quietly, as if she was reluctant to draw attention to herself.

‘I vote for crossing the river here,’ Josh said. The area where he lived in India had many little streams that didn’t have bridges. It was often the choice between riding across or a two-or three-day diversion upstream.

‘It is quite wide,’ Leo said dubiously. ‘If you get stuck in the mud it could be the end of the horse.’

‘I would never risk Willow. It is quite safe,’ Beth said firmly.

‘Mr Ashburton, I am planning on riding up to the bridge if you would be so kind as to accompany me. Anyone else who would like to is welcome too,’ Lady Annabelle said diplomatically. She might not have the benefit of experience in society but the natural diplomacy of being born into an aristocratic family and raised as such was showing through.

The Potterton sisters decided immediately to join Annabelle and Leo and after a moment’s discussion Mr Ralph and Mr Williams turned their horses towards the bridge too.

‘Be careful,’ Leo said, directing his words to Josh rather than Beth.

‘We’ll see you on the beach in Seaford,’ Beth said with a forced smile.

‘Something wrong?’ Josh spoke quietly, waiting until the others were out of earshot to enquire.

‘He is meant to be getting to know me. That was his suggestion, not mine. It was his idea to spend six weeks getting to know me, seeing if we would suit.’

Sensibly Josh remained silent, allowing Beth to continue her outburst.

‘He’s spent a total of about ten minutes in my company since. I know I probably wouldn’t be who he chose for a wife if he hadn’t made my father that stupid promise, but either he should reject me or he should actually make a little effort to get to know me.’

‘Can I tell you something?’ Josh waited for Beth to nod before he continued. ‘This six weeks isn’t for Leo. He takes his promise to your father very seriously and will abide by it. He is taking a little longer for you, for you to decide if you want to marry a man you don’t know and don’t particularly care