“You certainly did. Still do.”
Her sister nodded. “I’ll also visit the Sidmouth School as usual to play with the pupils there. When I am not needed here, of course.”
“Excellent.” Sarah rose and embraced her. “And keeping busy like that, you’ll find the time will pass quickly.”
She said it as much to reassure herself as Georgiana.
The family gathered to bid them farewell. Her sister Emily took Sarah’s arm and led her out of the house. She leaned close and confided, “It’s your turn, Sarah. I just know it. I hope Mr. Henshall kisses more than your hand this time!” She grinned and squeezed her arm. “Oh, and if you should happen to meet Sir Walter Scott, don’t forget to tell him your sister is a great admirer of his work.”
Their brother-in-law William stood at the open door of the yellow post chaise and handed Sarah inside to join their eldest sister, Claire. Several others encircled the waiting vehicle: sister Viola and her husband, Jack Hutton. Sonali and Armaan Sagar, little Mira in her uncle’s arms. Mamma waved her handkerchief, and Georgie held the town stray by the scruff to keep him from nipping at the horses. And finally Mr. Gwilt, their diligent man-of-all-work, stepped tothe open window. Being short in stature, he raised himself to his tiptoes and reassured her one last time, “Please don’t worry, Miss Sarah. We shall take good care of Sea View while you’re gone.”
Would they?
After one last kiss to his daughter’s cheek, William climbed in and closed the door. He took Claire’s hand and leaned forward to address them both. “Ready, you two?”
“Ready,” Claire agreed.
Sarah managed a wooden nod.
A few moments later, the hired post chaise rattled away from Sidmouth, beginning the long journey north. The snug interior held only one forward-facing bench, and she felt Claire’s shoulder press into hers at every turning.
Sarah shifted on the padded seat, agitation gnawing at her, urging her to demand the vehicle stop and let her down. The cord that bound her to Sea View, to Mamma and her other sisters, stretched tighter and tighter, pulling at her ribs, until it seemed about to snap in two and tear out her heart as well.
She became aware of Claire’s worried gaze on her profile and felt her sister squeeze her hand. Sarah had no wish to dampen Claire’s pleasure on this, her wedding trip. She turned to her and mustered a smile.
Claire and William had remained in Sidmouth for a few weeks after their nuptials before departing on this trip. They had delayed because they’d wanted to witness the quiet wedding of Mira’s uncle, Armaan, and Sonali Patel. And because they’d wanted to help the couple as they took over ownership of the boarding house until they had things well in hand. Armaan and Sonali had generously offered to care for Mira during their absence.
Did Mamma, Georgie, Emily, and Mr. Gwilt have things at Sea View well in hand? She hoped she’d remembered to show them everything that needed to be done: the menus, the orders and payments to butcher, greengrocer, coal merchant, et cetera. Had she left anything off her many lists? What if something went wrong? Would they be able to deal with any demanding guests?
Sarah reminded herself that she truly wanted to go to Scotland—orat least to see a certain handsome Scotsman—but perhaps she should have refused. Let her sister and new husband travel alone together.
Both Claire and William had assured Sarah she was welcome to accompany them. A bride’s sister or close friend often traveled with a new-wed couple. Husband and wife would, of course, have their own room at inns along the way, but the sisters could help each other dress and enjoy each other’s company and conversation during the long hours on the road.
On Claire’s other side, William lifted his wife’s hand and kissed her knuckles.
Sarah pretended not to notice.
Instead, she gazed at the passing countryside through the front window. She looked past the two postilions, who rode the left-hand horse of each pair pulling the chaise. The men’s boots and coats were already splattered with mud, and they had not yet crossed the Devonshire border. Sarah felt sorry for whoever had to do their laundry. At the thought, her stomach twisted. Had she remembered to detail the laundry lists?
Sarah forced herself to breathe slowly and deeply and admonished herself not to worry.
The days passed quickly as they traveled, even though they had to pause every few hours to change horses, and often postilions as well. It would be a long journey to Scotland, and they broke it up with several stops along the way.
They visited Bath, the picturesque ruins of Tintern Abbey, and the spa town of Cheltenham. Now and again, Sarah witnessed a sweet caress or stolen kiss between her traveling companions and looked away, feigning interest in the view and feeling like a gooseberry.
As the distance between them and Sea View lengthened, Sarah slowly began to relax and enjoy herself. They’d come too far to turn back now.
Continuing north, they spent a few days admiring the scenery ofthe Lake District. Sarah sometimes joined William and Claire for meals, sightseeing, and shopping, but she insisted the two spend time alone together as well. She happily remained at the inn while they hired a boat for a romantic excursion on Windermere Lake. She recalled her own excursion in a small boat a year and a half ago, sailing along the coast with Callum Henshall, the sea breeze ruffling his hair, his warm gaze lingering on her face.... Would he look at her that way again? She certainly hoped so.
Every night, the new-wed couple retired to one room, and Sarah to another. Observing the tenderness between the two and Claire’s glow of contentment, Sarah felt a pang. She was genuinely happy her eldest sister had found true love, yet she increasingly longed for a love of her own.
They did not stop in Carlisle—a place of bitter memories. A few years before, Claire had been abandoned there by a lord who’d convinced her to elope with him and then changed his mind before they’d even reached Gretna Green.
Instead, they continued on toward Edinburgh. Their aunt Mercer had stunned them all by leaving Claire her house as thanks for the time she had lived with and cared for her. Claire was eager to show it to both Sarah and William and gain their opinions on whether to keep the place or sell it. She had written to their aunt’s solicitor to inform him of their upcoming visit. The man wrote back to assure them of a gracious welcome, explaining that Agnes Mercer’s elderly butler had stayed on to oversee the property while it was unoccupied and would be there to open the house for them and provide a set of keys.
Once all was arranged, Claire had urged Sarah to write to Mr. Henshall, letting him know of the planned trip. Sarah had protested that it would be too forward to suggest they meet, but Claire had assured her there was nothing untoward about it. They were traveling a long way to look at the house. While they were there, it would be only polite to visit an acquaintance, especially one who’d performed such kind offices for their family. After all, Mr. Henshall had paid a call at Aunt Mercer’s on their behalf to learn how Claire fared, and later redeemed Claire’s necklace from a pawn dealer.
Sarah had relented and written to him yet had received no reply.
