Samuel dismounted beneath the familiar white-and-yellow-striped awning of Belles. It was the middle of the afternoon and he was exhausted. No doubt he was covered in dust and looking a mess, too. As a gentleman, he really ought to go and wash and change his clothes before doing anything else, but then Anna didn’t particularly want him to be a gentleman and, as for everyone else...he passed a startled-looking couple on their way out of the shop...well, everyone else could go hang for all he cared.
He reached for the door, then stopped and peered in through the window. In place of the usual arrangement of tins, the display inside was a model of a house complete with roof and windows and turrets, all made entirely of biscuit. He leaned forward to make sure he wasn’t imagining things and bumped his forehead against the glass. If he wasn’t mistaken, it was a perfect model of Staunton.
Feeling slightly dazed, he pushed on the door and went inside.
‘Good afternoon, my lord.’ The assistant bobbed a curtsy when she saw him, her whole face lighting up with a look of excitement. Excitement? ‘We’ve been expecting you.’
‘You have?’ He couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice.
‘Oh, yes.’ She scurried around the edge of the counter, turned over the sign on the door so that it read closed, and then drew a bolt across the top. ‘If you can just wait here, I’ll fetch Anna.’
‘She’s here?’ He could have kissed her for the words.
‘Yes, although she was starting to worry you weren’t coming. I knew that you would, but I was still afraid you might be too late.’
‘Too late for what? What did Anna—?’
He caught his breath as the woman in question appeared in the doorway that led to the kitchen. She was dressed in the periwinkle gown that she’d worn to his grandmother’s party, although somehow, impossibly, she looked even more beautiful than she had that evening.
‘Samuel.’ Her brown eyes were warm and welcoming, the very opposite of what he’d expected.
‘Anna.’ He took a few steps towards her as Henrietta made a discreet exit. ‘I’m sorry. The other day in the tavern...it wasn’t what you think.’
‘I know.’ She gave a quick shake of the head. ‘You were in shock and I made things worse. It’s understandable that you felt in need of a drink.’
‘But I wasn’t drunk. I’d barely touched my ale and as for the fight...well, that was a matter of honour. The couple involved are engaged to be married now.’
‘Oh.’ She blinked with a look of confusion.
‘I’ve promised them some land as a wedding present, too. I suppose I should have checked there was some available first, but I’ll find something. What’s the point of inheriting an earldom if you can’t give away a few acres?’
‘I suppose so.’
‘And I would have come after you sooner, but the doctor wouldn’t let me.’ He removed his hat, unveiling a large, purple bruise on his temple.
‘Oh!’ She rushed forward, lifting her fingers to his forehead. ‘Someone hit you?’
‘I’m told it was a chair. In the chair’s defence, it wasn’t meant for me, but I got in the way.’ He rubbed his face against her palm, revelling in the warm caress of her fingers. ‘I sent a note to Staunton, but when I got back, Clarissa said you’d already left.’
‘Yes. Your grandmother says that I panicked and ran away.’
‘Did you?’
‘I think perhaps I did, but it wasn’t what you think, either. There was a reason I couldn’t go with you to Scotland. It’s about your grandfather.’
‘You mean because of his illness?’
‘Yes.’ Her mouth fell open. ‘You know?’
‘I’ve suspected for a while. My grandmother never leaves Rutland unless she has to. I knew as soon as she said she was coming to Bath that it must be serious.’
‘She says he hasn’t even told her.’
‘He probably knows that he doesn’t have to.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘So am I. He’s been more of a father to me than my real father ever was.’ He lifted an eyebrow. ‘But why did that stop us eloping to Scotland?’
‘Because I promised your grandmother that I wouldn’t tell you and I couldn’t marry you while I was keeping secrets, especially when you said you valued my honesty.’
‘So it wasn’t because you’d changed your mind?’
‘No.’ She shook her head, threading her arms around his neck and teasing her fingers through his hair. ‘It was only when I saw you drinking that I panicked. I thought...’
Her voice trailed away and he gave a wry smile. ‘You thought that I was turning into my father?’
‘At the time, yes, but your grandmother made me see I was just looking for an excuse to run away. Then she asked if I was brave enough to leave my old life behind like my mother did.’
He felt as if his heart had just stopped. ‘And what did you say?’
‘That I’d never abandon you again.’
‘Anna...’ He folded her into his arms, crushing his lips against hers and kissing her with several days’ worth of relief.
‘But we have to hurry.’ She pulled away after a few moments, looking at his bruise anxiously. ‘How are you feeling now?’
‘Absolutely fine now that I’m here with you.’
‘Good. Then we need to get ready.’
‘For what?’
‘Our wedding.’ She paused. ‘If you still want to marry me, that is?’
‘If I still...?’ He caught her about the waist, pulling her back towards him again. ‘Anna, I love you. Of course I still want to marry you. I’ve spent the whole journey here worrying that you might be Mrs Etton already.’
‘I could never have gone through with that. Not when I was in love with you.’ She hung her head apologetically and then smiled. ‘Now your grandmother’s arranged everything at short notice. I don’t think anyone dared to refuse her. A common licence, a supper afterwards...’
‘Please tell me she hasn’t invited guests, too.’
‘None except me.’ Henrietta poked her head into the shop again. ‘Can I give you my wedding present now?’
‘Another one?’ Anna laughed. ‘I thought the house in the window was our wedding present?’
‘Oh, that was just for fun. This is your real present...’ Henrietta walked towards them holding a plate piled high with diamond-shaped biscuits. ‘They’re a different shape and flavour to Belles so I thought they should have a different name. Maybe Countess biscuits, if you don’t object?’
‘I think that’s the best wedding present anyone could wish for.’ Samuel reached for a sample. ‘Except...what about Contessa biscuits? That’s Italian for countess, isn’t it?’
‘Perfect.’ Anna clapped her hands together. ‘I think my father would have approved of that, too.’
‘They’re savoury.’ He took a bite and nodded appreciatively. ‘With salt?’
‘Just a hint. I thought it was fitting.’
‘They’re delicious.’ Samuel popped the entire rest of the biscuit into his mouth. ‘Can I have another? I’ve been riding for hours.’
‘You can have them all.’ Henrietta beamed and then tipped the whole plateful into one of his greatcoat pockets. ‘Here, you can eat them on the way to the ceremony.’
‘Wait.’ Samuel held a hand out amid a flurry of activity as both women started to pull on bonnets and shawls. ‘I just have to make a quick journey to the Circus first. I left some of my belongings there.’
‘First?’ Anna looked anxious. ‘We’re running out of time.’
‘There’s one last thing I need to do.’ He bent his head, kissing her softly on the cheek. ‘It won’t take long, I promise.’
As wedding days went, Samuel reflected afterwards, it had certainly been eventful. After his headlong rush from Staunton back to Bath, he’d expected to have to apologise, plead and possibly beg for Anna to forgive him, but instead here he was, less than two hours since he’d reached Belles, standing in his grandparents’ drawing room, a glass of champagne in one hand, his new Countess’s waist in the other.
‘I’m glad you wore your uniform.’ His grandmother looked him up and down approvingly.
‘So am I. You look very dashing.’ Anna’s eyes twinkled. ‘If you’d told me that that was what you were hurrying back to the Circus for, then I wouldn’t have protested.’
‘Now you tell me.’ He grinned down at her. ‘I thought I ought to say goodbye to the navy properly.’
‘To the new Earl and Countess of Staunton.’ His grandfather lifted his glass, his hand shaking slightly though his voice was firm. ‘Anna, I’m delighted to welcome you into the family. I wish you both as much happiness in marriage as I’ve found.’
‘Pshaw,’ his grandmother snorted. ‘There’s no need for sentiment.’
‘I wish for that, too...’ Anna answered, ‘and we’re grateful for everything you’ve done.’
‘You mean arranging a wedding in less than a day? Yes, I rather impressed myself.’ The Baroness drew herself up to her full height. ‘Now I need to retire to the countryside for some peace and quiet. We’ll be leaving Bath tomorrow.’
‘So soon?’ Samuel looked between his grandparents anxiously.
‘Yes.’ The Baron nodded. ‘I’m missing my books. You know I enjoy nothing more than sitting in my library while this one booms in my ear.’
‘I do not boom!’
‘You’d put Wellington’s cannons to shame, my dear, but I wouldn’t change you for the world.’ He winked at Samuel and then fixed him with a sombre look. ‘I’d like to go home, my boy, you understand?’
‘I do, Grandfather, but if you need me...’
‘Then I won’t hesitate to summon you, but you’ll be heading north again soon, too, I imagine. Your place is there now.’
‘In a few days, once a few things are settled at the shop. Anna’s gifting it to her apprentice.’ He gave a proud tug on her waist.
‘Gifting?’ The Baroness looked scandalised.
‘Not exactly,’ Anna corrected him. ‘The building will still belong to my mother, but Henrietta will be free to live there and run the business for as long as she chooses. Sebastian never had any interest in the shop and it would be a shame to close Belles just because I’m leaving. I’m positive my mother will approve and you know that Nancy has asked if she can move in and continue working there? Apparently she enjoys baking.’
‘Yes, I heard you wished to steal one of my maids.’ Lady Jarrow’s lips twitched. ‘Naturally I’ve agreed.’
‘We’ll come and wave you off in the morning, of course.’ Samuel leaned in to kiss his grandmother on the cheek.
‘No, my boy.’ His grandfather patted him on the shoulder when they went to shake hands. ‘Let’s say goodbye now. I couldn’t possibly be happier than I am at this moment. I was always proud of you as a boy and I’m even prouder of you as a man. Now take care of your wife, you understand? Or you’ll have your grandmother to deal with.’
‘Then you leave me no choice.’ Samuel smiled through the lump in his throat and turned towards Anna. ‘We’ll take care of each other.’