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

‘I wish...’ she began and then trailed off. She was at risk of saying something she shouldn’t.

‘You wish...?’ Josh prompted her, his hand reaching out reflexively for hers. He didn’t take it, instead brushing the tips of his fingers against hers, which somehow felt more intimate than if he’d simply taken her hand. Beth swallowed, forcing herself to focus on the conversation lest she say or do something she might regret.

‘I wish I could see this beach of yours. And the home you speak so fondly of, the rolling hills and the lush landscape. It all sounds so exotic, so wonderful.’

‘Perhaps you will one day,’ he said.

‘As your sister-in-law.’

They both fell silent.

‘Annabelle is annoyed with me. She said I was being a martyr too.’

Josh smiled at this, and Beth found herself smiling too. She could be stubborn sometimes.

‘Why did she say you were being a martyr?’

‘She doesn’t want me to marry for her sake. She would rather I wait for someone I care more for.’

Josh nodded slowly, his eyes fixed out to sea and his expression suddenly serious.

‘She said Mother could sell the house, cover the debts that way, and that they would have enough for a modest yearly income and a small house.’

‘So you agree your mother is choosing maintaining appearances over you.’

‘No.’ Beth felt the need to defend her mother. Josh had not seen her in a good light, and Lady Hummingford could be single-minded, but she did love her and Annabelle, as well. Her mother was concerned with maintaining the pretence that they were still wealthy, still one of the lucky few families to be in the upper echelons of society.

Turning to study her, he shook his head slowly, reaching out and this time taking her hand before raising it to his lips.

‘It is possible to be too good, too selfless, in this world, Beth. Not everyone is as kind as you and they will often take advantage of that.’

His eyes were warm and dark and she could see herself reflected in them. She wanted to ask him if there were even the possibility of a chance for them. If she refused his brother, if she defied her mother, if she chose her own happiness over anyone else’s...but there were too many obstacles in the way.

‘Perhaps—’ he began, but cut himself off with a frown on his face.

Beth spun to see what he was looking at.

On the beach just a few feet away was a seagull, one of the hundreds that soared and glided through the sky in the area. This one was squawking and flapping about on the beach in distress, one wing caught in a scrap of a fisherman’s net. It kept trying to fly away but the net hampered its ability to get off the ground and with every attempt it just entangled itself even further.

Josh approached the bird slowly, taking his time to make it aware of his presence. As he reached out the bird went for his fingers, pecking and nipping, but Josh was too quick. Carefully he took the bird in both hands, holding the dangerous beak away from his body whilst he deftly unwrapped the fishing net. Once the bird was freed he quickly inspected the wing and then held the bird up to the sky to let it fly away.

They both watched until the bird was no more than a speck in amongst the gathering clouds.

Beth turned back to Josh but as she did so a movement at the periphery of her vision caught her eye. With disbelief she watched as Annabelle, Leonard Ashburton and their other guests came into sight along the beach. They had covered the distance quickly, either that or she had lost track of time here in the sea with Josh. She looked down at the wet hem of her dress and her sandy toes and felt her heart sinking, momentarily wondering if she was subconsciously trying to sabotage her chance of marrying Leonard Ashburton.

‘Lady Elizabeth,’ Leonard Ashburton said, looking her up and down as he dismounted. He was the first across the sand and all the time she could see his eyes flitting between her and his brother. ‘I see you are enjoying the sea.’

‘It is quite refreshing. Perhaps I can tempt you to join us?’

‘No,’ he said curtly. ‘I do not paddle.’

‘Oh?’ She couldn’t think of anything else to say.

‘No.’

‘Come on, Leo, the water is lovely.’

Leonard Ashburton frowned at his brother.

‘I think we need to talk, Josh,’ he said in a way that allowed no argument. Beth felt as though all the air had been knocked from her chest as she saw the two brothers communicate silently, both glancing at her. He knew; he must do. Leonard Ashburton had guessed that the woman who was meant to be trying to become his wife had fallen for his brother.

All of a sudden she felt light-headed, but knew she couldn’t reach out and clutch at Josh’s arm. That would only make things a hundred times worse.

‘Leo...’

‘It’s important, Josh.’

Josh nodded, his face serious. ‘Shall we meet you back at the house?’

The words stuck in Beth’s throat, her reply coming out as a croak. Josh peered at her but didn’t say anything, sparing any more attention being directed towards her. She watched as Josh pulled on his boots and took his horse by the reins and set off with his brother away from her along the beach.

‘Perhaps it is for the best,’ Annabelle murmured quietly in her ear. Her sister had dismounted and squeezed Beth’s hand, before turning to the rest of the guests and suggesting they spend an hour or so relaxing on the sand before they returned to Birling View.

Chapter Fifteen

‘I don’t profess to know much about love,’ Leo said quietly, his eyes fixed on a spot in the distance. Josh waited for him to continue but for now nothing more was forthcoming.

‘You’re thinking of your impending marriage.’

Leo grimaced. ‘I think it