Page 45 of The Song of the Siren (The Venturesome Ladies of Little Valentine #2)

Bolder and bolder, Miss Honeywell.

Bea smiled, feeling a swell of pride in her fiancé as he took control of the situation, and indeed the entire inn.

By sheer force of will, he had everyone dancing to his tune and in no time, they were all comfortably ensconced in a private parlour with Bea devouring a delicious bowl of stew to quiet her clamouring belly.

“There’s apple pie,” Stonehaven told her. “And cream. Did you have some bread and butter? George, cut the lady some bread. The wine is very good, you should have some. Good for your nerves. I need some too. George?”

“Here,” George said, pressing a glass into Stonehaven’s hand with a grin. “And the lady has two slices of bread, and wine, which she would tell you if her mouth weren’t full and you gave her a moment to swallow and speak a word.”

“Sorry,” Stonehaven said with a laugh. “I’m feeling a trifle—”

Bea reached over and took his hand, for if he felt at all like she did there were too many emotions to unravel.

“Giddy?” George suggested.

Stonehaven snapped his fingers. “Exactly that. Bea, you must appreciate what a capital fellow George is. Knows everything, certainly knows what I need before I know myself. Don’t know what I’d do without him.”

“Must you do without him?” Bea asked, suddenly worried. She had seen for herself the growing bond between the two men, the trust Stonehaven placed in George and the respect George felt for him in return. That would be hard to replicate.

“I don’t know. I’m on a trial period,” Stonehaven replied with a sigh. “I must wait and see if I pass muster.”

Bea lifted her eyebrows at George, who grinned sheepishly. “Aye, well, as to that. If the offer still stands, I’d be pleased to accept.”

“Really?” Stonehaven sat up straighter, his expression alert. “You mean it?”

“I do. Did you mean it, my lord, about having a little garden of my own?”

“Damn it, man, what do you take me for? Of course I meant it! Hell, I’ll give you a cottage and land too. Acres of the stuff. We’ll sort it out when we get home, how’s that? You’ll not be sorry, I promise.”

George gave a startled laugh, running a hand through his hair. “Well, don’t go giving away no inheritance, for pity’s sake. Just a garden was all I asked for.”

Bea smiled, knowing Stonehaven would relish the negotiation over George’s employment terms, and that he would be unstinting, because that was who he was.

He was a man with a large heart and a generous spirit, and anyone he cared for would never lack for anything.

What a wonderful father he would make, she thought, happiness bubbling inside her.

“Did you find Marwick yet?” Stonehaven asked, suddenly serious again. “I don’t like some fellow creeping about, knowing Bea is here under such circumstances.”

“Lawrence, he is not creeping about. He has been kind and patient and more solicitous than I had any right to expect,” Bea said with a sigh.

“Exactly,” Stonehaven muttered suspiciously. “I don’t trust him.”

Bea threw up her hands. “Now don’t you go accusing the poor man of wrongdoing after he’s got me here safe and sound, or I shall not speak to you,” she told him, stern now.

Stonehaven turned towards her, an arrested expression lighting his harsh features. “Oh, ho. Like that, is it, madam? Not even married and you are laying down the law.”

“Indeed, I am not! But neither will I see you bellow at and abuse a young man who has done nothing wrong.”

“Yet,” he said succinctly.

Bea sighed.

“He’s having dinner, my lord. Said he’d come directly he’s finished,” George replied, giving Bea a smile. “Seemed a very polite and well-spoken sort of fellow.”

“There, what did I tell you?” Bea said triumphantly.

“Oh, I see how it will be,” Stonehaven said darkly. “Now the two of you are ganging up on me.”

Bea burst out laughing. “Lawrence, you horrid man. You are vexing us on purpose.”

He returned a crooked grin. “Perhaps a little, but I worry this Marwick fellow hopes to profit from the arrangement.”

A knock at the door silenced him, and a moment later Mr Marwick appeared. He grinned at Bea, who stood to greet him.

“Mr Marwick. I wish to make you known to my fiancé, Lord Stonehaven, and to thank you once again for your kindness.”

Marwick laughed. “You do not know how relieved I am to hear you say that, and may I wish you both very happy. You are a lucky man, my lord, if you don’t mind my observing it. Your marchioness is pluck to the backbone and no mistake.”

“That she is, Mr Marwick, but tell me of yourself. What do you propose doing now?”

“Now?” Marwick asked, a little surprised. “Oh, I’ll be off to Sevenoaks in the morning. I’ve a little business to take care of there, and then I’m back to Little Valentine for a day or two. I’m heading north after that, much to my sister’s dismay. I’m never at home for long.”

“No other plans?” Stonehaven pressed, a suspicious note to his voice.

“Other plans?” Marwick echoed, and then his expression cleared, his grey eyes twinkling with cynical amusement.

“My lord, I know nothing about anything and that’s the way I like it.

Secrets are things best left to the people who hold them.

I’ve no desire to cause mischief, on that you can rest assured. ”

Stonehaven visibly relaxed. “If that is true, then I owe you a great debt of gratitude. If there is ever anything you or your sister need, I hope you will apply to me. I should be happy to repay your generosity and kindness.”

Marwick looked taken aback by this, far more than by Stonehaven’s implied accusation. “I don’t know what to say,” he admitted.

“Say that you will do as I ask,” Stonehaven replied firmly. “I do not like feeling beholden to any man.”

Marwick smiled. “Well, that much I understand, so I agree, my lord, with many thanks for your kindness. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve had a long day. I’ll bid you a good night, and a very happy future together,” he added, winking at Bea before leaving the room.

They had barely a moment after the door closed before an impatient knock rang out.

“Ah,” Stonehaven said, sitting up straighter. “Here we go.”

George went to open it and Anne marched in, took one look at Bea, and burst into tears.

“Oh, you wretched girl!” She wept, fumbling in her reticule for a handkerchief. “Oh, I have been so w-worried for you! And as for you, Stonehaven! Damn you for going off without telling the girl goodbye. Oh, I could knock your heads together, truly I could.”

Izzy came in after Anne, running to Bea and hugging her tightly as George hurried over to guide Anne to a chair.

“Now, now, Mrs Adamson, there’s no call to be getting yourself all tizzied about. All’s well that ends well, eh? Worked out nicely, it did,” he said with satisfaction.

“You ought to listen to George,” Stonehaven said provokingly. “Wise fellow. No need to get all tizzied about.”

Anne blew her nose, glaring at Stonehaven, tears suddenly vanished. “I shall throw something at your head, Lawrence, so I warn you,” she growled.

“Bea, my dear?”

Bea smiled and gave a cry of delight as she saw her father standing in the doorway, an enquiring expression on his face. “Papa!” she said joyfully. “Oh, Papa, we’re getting married!”

“Aha! There, didn’t I say there was nothing to fret about?” he said placidly. “Anne would have it you’d be abducted by pirates or brigands before you reached Stonehaven, but I had faith you would do splendidly.”

Bea noticed her intended husband scowling over this and suspected that, in this instance, he agreed with Anne.

She hurried to speak before Stonehaven could say something to offend her father.

“Well, and so you see. Though I am very sorry to have worried you all so. I just could not let him go without telling him how I felt,” she added, glancing back at Stonehaven to see his expression soften.

“Well, you must tell us all about your adventure, love, for I must know everything, but first we’d better see to… to that!” Izzy said, pulling a face and gesturing to Bea’s ensemble. “What on earth were you thinking going out in that dreadful outfit?”

Bea shrugged. “I was too desperate to care overly what I was wearing.”

“Well, we’ve brought your clothes,” Anne said, giving her nose another vigorous blow.

“So, if the gentlemen would depart, we can make you Miss Honeywell again. Izzy and I took care that no one saw us come in, so for all anyone knows there are three females with Reverend Honeywell. No one will be any the wiser.”

“Thank God,” Stonehaven said with relief. “Anne, you are a marvel.”

“Oh, now you realise,” she said tartly. “Better late than never. Now, go away, Lawrence. And you too, George.”

“Come, gentlemen,” the reverend said, clapping his hands together. “It seems we are de trop , so let us see what delights the cellar of this establishment has to offer us.”

Stonehaven chuckled. “Well, if you twist my arm, I suppose I might be persuaded to share a glass with you,” he said soberly, but when Bea moved to kiss his cheek, he held her for a moment, whispering in her ear, “I’d rather stay and help you dress, though.”

Bea bit her lip and determinedly refused to meet anyone’s eye until he was out of the room.