His mother glanced at Phoebe, then gave Jonathan an innocent smile. “You did not hear? Lord Maycott was able to secure passage sooner. I believe it was due to the near-attack on his daughter, though I hear tell, they attacked the wrong daughter.”
His brow creased. If Bethany was to leave in the morn…. There was no more time for her to acquire a husband. She would enter a convent and… he would never set eyes upon her again. He remembered the words of the old woman he’d met earlier. A crossroads was near and a decision he would need to procure. She was not speaking of Gil, but of Bethany. In that moment, he realized he could not bear the thought of her disappearing from his life. He jumped from his chair. “If you will excuse me, there is something I must attend to.”
Without waiting for a response, he walked from the room.
“Jonathan. Jonathan!” His mother called out. “Where are you going? We have a guest.”
He stopped in his tracks and turned. “Mother, I have forgotten to mention that I have made a decision. I will be taking a wife. One who has captured my heart.”
She clasps her hands and glanced at Phoebe. “Oh, Jonathan. That is wonderful news.”
He stepped up to Phoebe and kissed her hand. “Lady Goodwynn, you would make a most compelling bride.” She blushed then batted her eyes. “It is only proper that I inform you that the woman whom I am to wed will be the Lady Maycott. It is my hope you find a man who will love you as I do her.”
He abruptly dropped her hand and walked out the door. He could hear his mother calling after him.
Outside, he found Avery in the stables. “Ready my horse.”
Avery gave a deep bow. “’Tis ready, m’lord.”
He glanced over at his steed, saddled and ready. Pride filled him. “How did you know?”
The boy pulled out a piece of parchment. “This arrived for you from the Lady Bethany.”
He’d forgotten she said she’d sent a letter. He took it from Avery’s hands and scanned the contents. She had tried to notify him of Gil’s misdeeds, to save him. Save his family from ruin.
Avery bowed his head and shuffled his feet on the dirt. “Cook says you is to marry Lady Goodwynn.”
“Is that what Cook says?” How many others had heard this news, he wondered. “Do you think she would make a good and proper wife?”
He shook his head, keeping his eyes on the ground.
“Whom is it then I should marry?”
He looked up and brushed his hair from his eyes. “Lady Bethany is kind. She let me sit inside the carriage, so I don’t fall.”
Any doubt of a rash decision faded.
He ruffed Avery’s hair. “You are a good boy, Avery. See if Cook has any sweets.” He mounted his horse, and with a swift kick, he departed for Bethany.
He only hoped she would agree.
* * *
Ruth opened the door and peeked in. “M’lady. Your father has returned. I am to ready you for supper.”
Bethany glanced at the cupboard, briefly wondering what she would wear. Then she remembered most of her belongings had been packed away in the trunk for their journey. “My thanks, Ruth. You are so kind to assist me.”
“Of course, m’lady. I shall fetch fresh water.”
Bethany stood up and began to pace. This would be the last eve she would spend in this room. Somehow, she was no longer repulsed by the idea of staying in James’s cottage. It had begun to feel comfortable and safe, reminding her of home. Ruth returned only moments later carrying a fresh basin of water. Bethany assumed she had retrieved it from Seanna’s room. If nothing else, the maid was quick, no matter how she tended to her chores.
In just over an hour, Ruth had helped her wash and dress. She returned to the parlor where her father and James quickly stood up to greet her.
Bethany smoothed out her skirt, sat down on the sofa, and placed her hands in her lap.
Her father rubbed his hands together. “The agreement Arden and I discussed earlier has been annulled. We leave for France in the morn.”
“But Father,” Seanna stood up. “Could we not stay as we previously agreed? Surely we can find Bethany a suitor.”
Bethany held up her hand. “Seanna, my future has been sealed. I have come to terms with my fate.” She really hadn’t, but it was too late.
Seanna gasped. “Surely a marriage would be more desirable than being secluded in a convent.” She paused. “I simply wanted you to find the same happiness that I have.”
It appeared their father hadn’t heard a word Seanna had said. He began pacing. “Several times now Bethany has been placed in danger. There has been no word of securing the bandits, and today I almost granted her hand to a scoundrel.”
A cold chill ran up her spine. She shook the feeling away and stood up. “Father. My fate lies in your hands. I shall complete my preparations for our journey.” She kept her eyes averted. She did not want anyone to witness the anguish she felt.
“Very well.”
James interjected. “All who invested with this pretend wool merchant, have they received word?”
“I assume Master Mattingly has spoken with them.”
James shook his head. He appeared to Bethany as sullen as she. Was it possible he was upset about her future? No, she concluded. It could be that Master Arden’s proposal was, indeed, too good to be true.
“Supper is ready, m’lord.” Ruth stood at the entryway with her hands folded in front of her.
Father offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
She nodded. This would be the last time her father would escort her to supper. In fact, it would be the last time she would be escorted at all. All of the freedoms she enjoyed each day would no longer be available to her. Not that she had as many as a man, but still. She would no longer have the opportunity to dress in her gowns, shop for fabrics at market, or even sneak a morsel in the kitchens mid-day. Her throat tightened. She tried not to think on it and, instead, focus on enjoying the evening. She didn’t want to miss a moment. Her father pulled out a chair and she sat down, smoothing out her skirt.
Commotion in the corridor caught her attention.
Seanna spoke up first. “Lord Butler. Will you be joining us for supper? I am certain we could find you a seat.”
He bowed, with an earnest look on his face. “My thanks. I do believe I would. But first, there is a matter which I must speak of. Lord Maycott?”
“I will return momentarily.” Their father left the room.
Seanna leaned over. “I wonder what that is about.”
Bethany adjusted herself in her chair. She was thankful Jonathan would be joining them for supper. She had feared she would never see him again, and then he appeared. “I am certain it has to do with the wool merchant.”
Seanna glanced at James, then smiled. “Indeed.”
A servant began to fill the goblets with wine while another set a place for Jonathan next to Bethany. It couldn’t have been more than a minute or two when the men returned and took their places. She watched Jonathan sit down and couldn’t fathom why he appeared to be calm, even smiling.
Seanna spoke up again. “It is good of you to call, Lord Butler, for in the morn, my father and sister will be journeying to France.”
Father settled a serviette across his shoulder. “I have no desire to journey to France.”
Bethany recognized the look on her father’s face. He did not know what he was saying; he was distracted. Yet, James had a smirk on his face, and so did Jonathon. They were privy to information they hadn’t shared. Had they found the bandits? But James hadn’t left the room; how could he possibly have received this information?
Her father took a long drink, then set the cup on the table, spinning it slowly in a circle. “Why would I send her to a convent when she is to be married?” He turned to a servant. “Summon Master Mattingly: I wish to speak with him immediately.”
Bethany caught her breath. What did her father mean, she was to be married? The agreement with Gil had been nullified. Had another s
uitor asked for her hand while he was away?
Seanna crossed her arms. “What do you mean Bethany is to be married? To whom?”
“James won the wager. Your sister is to marry Lord Butler. I am certain she will have no objection. Now, would you inform the servants to serve? I am simply famished.”
Bethany’s eyes opened wide, her mouth fell open. She turned toward Jonathan, afraid to speak.
He stood and took her hand. “That is—if you would have me as your husband?”
“But… I thought you wished to marry for love. You have recused me once. There is no reason to rescue me again. I would not want to tarnish our friendship. I would rather you follow your heart.”
He tipped her chin and smiled. “I had yet to find a woman who had tugged at my heart. Now that I have, I plan to marry her. Do you accept?”
Only last night she wondered what she would say had Jonathan asked for her hand. She realized the words would not escape her throat. All she could do was nod.
“Then it is settled. I shall have a call of the banns and we will wed posthaste.”
She blushed. “Just think of the scandal this will cause.”
“It is my hope everyone will speak of this for years to come.”
His lips met hers. She felt her knees go weak and realized, then, that it was Jonathan who had this effect on her. He was right. If she gave a suitor an opportunity, she would find a man she could love. Her fate now lay in Jonathan’s hands and she couldn’t have been happier.
EPILOGUE
Loys bowed his head and touched the medallion he’d sewn into his doublet. A couple of feet away, Lord Maycott stood speaking with the merchant who sold passage. He pretended to be occupied by watching the ships.
“I no longer have need for passage. Both of my daughters are to be married.”
“Then a congratulations is in order, my lord. I will have your account refunded immediately. Tell me, Lord Maycott, is it true you found criminals peddling unlicensed wool?”
“Aye. It is true.”
The merchant reached for his hand. “Then each of us owes you a debt of gratitude, for you have saved us all a hefty fine, or possibly a prison sentence had we booked the cargo for transport.”
Loys turned away and began walking down the wooden planks. Both of his daughters were to wed, which meant the girl would no longer travel to France. There was no need for him to return home. If his mistress no longer desired the girl, then his next mission was to deliver the medallion and then dispose of James Bryant. Considering that they were onto him and his cohorts, it was not a good time to finish what he had set out to do. There were too many involved.
Loys trusted no one to return the medallion to his mistress. He needed to do it himself. Once Lord Maycott left the docks, he would secure himself passage north. There, he would be apprised of his new assignment. He only hoped he would be generously rewarded in the end.
Look for The Next Piece of The Pearl Heirloom Collection
A Perilous Beginning
Spring 2019
author notes
The Society of Merchant Venturers can be traced back to a 13th century Guild of Merchants. In 1552 it was established as The Society of Merchant Venturers and received a Royal Charter from Edward VI granting them a monopoly on the Bristol sea trade.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Several individuals lent their expertise and support in writing An Enchanted Beginning. Thank you to Alex Cooper and Nathan Mizell for their continuous encouragement and support. Thank you to the Killion Group for the gorgeous cover. And John Klocek and Sue Gosman for their editing expertise. And a big thank you to my readers. Without you, this wouldn’t be possible.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alyssa Dean Copeland credits Jude Deveraux for hooking her on historical romance. Years later, she opened her laptop and tried her hand at writing in the world she fell in love with.
Alyssa makes her home in Colorado, where she works in higher education by day and novelist by night—when she’s not distracted by social media or Netflix. She loves to write stories with imperfect, compelling heroes and heroines. When she’s not writing, she enjoys theater, hole-in-the-wall museums, and anything Star Wars. Currently, she is working on the next piece of the Pearl Heirloom Collection.
Follow on Facebook: Facebook.com/AlyssaDeanCopeland
Visit her website: www.alyssadeancopeland.com
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An Enchanted Beginning Page 13