Flirting with His Forbidden Lady--A Regency Family is Reunited Laura Martin (bill gates best books .TXT) 📖

‘How do I compare?’ she asked, throwing the question back at him.

‘Hmm.’ He took half a minute to consider.

‘Now you’re being ridiculous. There can’t be that many kisses to compare it to.’

‘I am thirty-one years old.’ He sat up and leaned forward so their knees were almost touching.

‘Is this what friends do?’ Beth had never had a friend like Josh before. Even female friends were in short supply when you hardly ever left the estate. She had Annabelle, and a few young women from the local area who she talked to at the dances and dinner parties, but no one she would class as a close friend.

‘I wouldn’t know. I’ve never kissed a friend before.’

‘I don’t mean that. I know that’s not what friends do.’

He grinned at her and looked as if he was about to say something more when a group of guests came out of the doors from the drawing room. Leonard Ashburton was at the front, his expression serious as usual. He nodded in greeting to Beth and bestowed a shoulder squeeze on his brother.

Beth watched in interest as he chose his chair, noting without much emotion that he left the one next to her empty and sat himself in the one beside his brother instead. It should hurt her, this indifference he seemed to have towards her, but she had to admit she felt much the same about him. If he weren’t incredibly wealthy and didn’t have the means to save her family from destitution she wouldn’t even consider him as a future husband.

She closed her eyes as she felt the self-disgust almost overwhelm her. It all felt so shallow, so dirty, choosing who she would marry purely based on how much they were worth.

Silently she reminded herself she was doing it for Annabelle. For her sister, whose future she’d ruined when they were no more than little girls, who would never get out into the world and marry or have a family.

The other guests made their way over to the chairs leisurely, enjoying the afternoon sunshine. When everyone was seated Lady Hummingford stood, waiting until all eyes were on her before she spoke.

‘Elizabeth and I are so pleased you could all join us for this intimate little party. We have glorious weather and a beautiful setting. Of course, we will organise a few excursions and games, but we want you to have time to relax, to enjoy being away from the hustle and bustle of London.’

There was a murmur of agreement around the table and Mr Ralph nodded vigorously.

The two new footmen appeared on cue carrying a tray of cups and pots of tea as well as tall glasses of cold lemonade. Beth reached for one at the same time as Josh, their hands brushing. She pulled back quickly, too quickly, and as she recovered her composure she felt Leonard Ashburton’s eyes on her. His head was tilted ever so slightly to the left and he regarded her with a coolness that made her want to squirm in her seat.

Josh didn’t even seem to notice their hands had touched and was drinking from the glass of lemonade, looking as though he didn’t have a care in the world.

‘I’d like to see some of the coastline whilst I’m here,’ Josh said, addressing his remark to the general group but Beth knew it was directed at her. She allowed herself a moment to imagine riding out with him for a long day of exploring the little coves and high white cliffs of her home.

‘Good idea,’ Leonard Ashburton said. ‘Perhaps we could go for a trip tomorrow.’

He looked at her expectantly and Beth had to force herself to speak.

‘Yes. Perhaps we could take a picnic, ride over to Seaford and back.’ It was hardly the intimate picnic her mother would want her to arrange with Leonard Ashburton, but it was a trip out together all the same.

‘Wonderful,’ Josh said. ‘Now, tell me you’ve got some lawn games to play. Bowls perhaps? Or shuttlecock? Do you remember how I always used to thrash you at shuttlecock, Leo?’

‘My recollection is a little different.’ It was the first time she’d seen Leonard Ashburton smile. He looked different when he smiled. Still nowhere near as handsome as his younger brother, but friendlier, kinder.

‘Ah, I see you’re afflicted with the poor memory of the old, dear brother. I always was the more talented, the more coordinated at shuttlecock.’

‘You used to drop it on the second hit every single time.’

‘Nonsense.’

‘I have a way to settle this argument,’ Beth said, standing up in between the two men. ‘I have two rackets and a shuttlecock. Would you care to prove who is the more accomplished at the game?’

The garden equipment was all kept in a dilapidated shed hidden in a little copse of trees to the side of the house. It had never been her favourite place to go as it was perpetually covered with cobwebs and dark and dirty. She would, however, be willing to brave it to see the Ashburton brothers compete at the childhood game.

‘I’ll give you a hand,’ Josh said, jumping to his feet and gesturing for her to lead the way.

‘It’s just in here.’ They walked side by side around the house, stopping when they were right in front of the shed.

‘It’s locked.’

Sure enough a hefty padlock hung from the door. Beth reached out and touched it, frowning. There never used to be a padlock on the door, although she hadn’t ventured into the shed for years. She and Annabelle had played shuttlecock and bowls as children, but as the years had passed the games in the shed had been almost forgotten.

‘I suppose someone must have the key.’

Josh took a step back and looked at the shed, grinning as he took a step to the right. ‘No need to go searching. The window has been left ajar. I’m sure we can get inside and find what we need.’

Beth looked up