Page 83 of A Lovely White Christmastide
A blush spread over Miss Julianna’s cheeks. “Daniel!”
Carswell could not help thinking it would have been nice as well, only for him and Beth instead.
“I suppose we shall have to content ourselves with having three weeks of banns read and perhaps celebrate a double wedding,” Beth said.
“Yes, let’s!” Miss Julianna exclaimed.
Unease cantered through Carswell like an escaped horse. Did he really want to share a wedding day with his old lieutenant? He could imagine the mess Kaye would make of it, much like he’d done at the Richmonds’ ball.
Kaye and Miss Julianna began talking animatedly, planning how the whole day would play out. Beth grinned as she listened, but Carswell’s unease must have caught her attention.
Tipping her head up, she looked at him. He marveled at the blueness of her eyes and the way her soft cheek lifted with that hint of a smile. Kaye kept talking but Carswell found himself increasingly lost in Beth’s gaze. Waiting three weeks for the banns to be read seemed entirely too long at this moment, and suddenly he found he did not care whether they shared the day with her sister or not. As long as Beth was happy. That was all that mattered.
The curve of her pink lips increased into a knowing smile and he dipped his head toward her. She met him halfway, her lips finding his with ease.
“And then we could… they're not even listening.” Kaye huffed.
Carswell pulled back a moment. “I’m afraid I cannot. I am very busy at the moment.” Then he captured Beth’s lips again.
“Hold on, we’ll join you.” He pulled Miss Julianna close and they proceeded to follow suit.
Beth snickered against Carswell’s lips and he loosened his hold. They both laughed.
Kaye and Miss Julianna could not contain their mirth either.
When their laughter died down, Carswell said, “Shall we plan for the first part of February then?”
“Only after you speak with my father,” Beth reminded. “He may not need to give his permission, but I would like his blessing.”
Carswell pulled her hand toward his lips. “Anything for you, my love.”
“And after we make an announcement to Aunt Waverly,” Miss Julianna said. “She will never forgive us if we do not let her be the first to witness our happiness.”
“No need, dear,” a voice said from behind one of the tall hedges before Mrs. Waverly stepped out from behind it.
Miss Julianna squeaked in surprise, giving a little hop step away from Daniel at her aunt’s arrival.
And poor Beth. If her face had not been red before, it certainly was now. Mrs. Waverly, however, looked happy, even a bit smug.
“How did you know where we were?” Miss Julianna stuttered.
“Servants, my dear. They see everything.”
Carswell hid his smile. He should have known.
“So we are planning a double wedding? How does…”—Mrs. Waverly started ticking off something on her fingers— “January twenty-fourth sound?”
“We need not rush,” Beth said.
“We need not wait either. Best to get you all happily settled, especially with your father’s upcoming nuptials.”
Beth deflated, leaning against Carswell’s side. “I had forgotten about Papa’s marriage. He will likely be gone on his wedding tour by then.”
“How about a common license? I am sure your uncle would be happy to procure them for you.”
“But for that we’d have to go to London,” Miss Julianna interjected.
It was Carswell’s turn to speak. “I will be going there this next week anyway. Parliament is set to begin and I have duties to attend to.”
