ONE
Often, the bride’s sister or closest female friend accompanied the couple [on their wedding trip].
—Maria Grace,Courtship and Marriage in Jane Austen’s World
October1820
Miss Sarah Summers sat on her neatly made bed, a treasure in each hand. In her left she held a letter from the man she’d been betrothed to before his death at sea more than three years before.
In her right palm lay a dried thistle—stalk, spiny bulb, and purple flower crown—the symbol of Scotland. It had been given to her by a Scotsman who, despite her efforts to forget him, still occupied a large part of her thoughts ... and, if she were honest with herself, her heart.
Callum Henshall and his stepdaughter had been their very first guests at Sea View the previous year, and all the Summerses had liked them. Mr. Henshall had expressed interest in Sarah during his stay, but Sarah had discouraged him. Now she wondered if she had done the right thing.
She carefully tucked both the letter and the thistle into the chest at the foot of her bed. For the impending trip, she was taking only a small leather trunk, one bandbox, and her reticule.
Was she really about to leave Sidmouth for an extended absence?Her pulse beat hard at the thought. Since moving to Sea View two years before, Sarah had never left for more than a few hours at a time. What was she doing? How could she just leave the guest house and Mamma? Leave their guests, their staff, and her responsibilities? Might there still be time to change her mind about traveling with Claire and her husband?
Sadly, no. Their plans were set.
A knock sounded on the bedchamber door and her youngest sister, Georgiana, entered. At seventeen, Georgie was the picture of blossoming womanhood, although Sarah still saw glimpses of the rough-and-tumble tomboy she had been.
“All packed?” Georgie asked.
“Nearly.”
“I wish I were going with you.”
“I thought you loved it here?”
“I do. Yet I long to see more of the world. I’ve only ever been to Sidmouth and May Hill.”
“You’re young. You shall have other opportunities. For now, I need you to help with things here while I’m gone.”
“I know.” Georgie sighed.
Sarah regarded her usually cheerful sister with concern. “Are you unwell, my dear? You seem ... well, sad.”
“No, not sad. Restless, more like. But I am glad you are going to Scotland. It’s time you had an adventure. Besides, Mr. Henshall’s not a bad fellow—you could do worse.”
“Why, thank you,” Sarah dryly replied. “Remember, we are primarily going to Scotland to look over the house Claire inherited. Seeing Mr. Henshall is only a secondary consideration.”
“Right.” Her sister snorted. “You will pass along my greetings to Effie, I trust?”
Sarah’s heart warmed at the thought of Mr. Henshall’s stepdaughter. “Certainly. If we manage to see them, that is.”
“Why should you not? Mr. Henshall will probably convince you to remain in Scotland, and then there go our plans for a jolly Christmas here.”
“That is unlikely to happen.”
Georgiana studied her. “Still no reply?”
Sarah shook her head. This wasn’t a topic she cared to revisit—best to change the subject. “Now, don’t worry. I shan’t forget my promise. I know the last few years have not been ideal, but we shall have a far more festive Christmastide this year. You’ll see. William and Claire don’t want to leave Mira for too long. We plan to return in time for Stir-Up Sunday.”
“I’m counting on it.”
“By the way,” Sarah added, “Claire told me you have offered to spend time with Mira while she and William are away. That is kind of you.”
Georgie shrugged off the praise. “Armaan and Sonali will be busy with the boarding house, and a girl Mira’s age needs to play out-of-doors.”
