“With us?” Owen asked. “Jessie, are you sure?”
“I could not be more certain!” She clasped her hands together with glee. “It’s a new beginning, and I want that too. Far away from here!”
“It will be hard, Jessie,” Owen said, wincing. He wanted to prepare the maid for what was ahead. “We may have a few weeks where food is scarce until we can support ourselves.”
“I grew up in service,” Jessie said with a shrug, “you think I am not used to struggling to find a crust to eat? Come on, let’s be going.” She laughed and took hold of one of the portmanteaus, striding out of the door.
Owen smiled at Diana who was giggling softly, staring after Jessie in surprise.
“Are you sure about this?” Owen whispered to her as he looped an arm around her waist, pulling her gently into his side. She turned in his arm, reached up and placed a gentle kiss to his cheek.
“I am.” She smiled up at him. “The three of us did this together. It feels right to do the next stage together too. Besides, I want Jessie to be happy. Staying here,” she paused and shook her head. “I do not see that happening, do you?”
“You have the kindest heart, love.”
“How strange, I was thinking that of you.” She reached up towards him again, finding his lips with her own. It was a soft kiss, full of sweetness, that made his fingers curl around her waist as his body thrummed with the thrill of loving her.
“Is this what I have to look forward to?” Jessie’s voice said with a laugh as she returned through the door, making them part from each other. “Wonderful, there will be little ones running round our tiny house in no time.”
Owen laughed as the three of them gathered what was left of the bags and hurried out of the door.
Little ones.
Owen couldn’t deny the excitement that swelled within him at the thought. Starting a family with Diana was everything he had never known he had wanted before, but now, it meant everything to him.
On the driveway in the rising sun the cart was bathed in a soft red light.
“Thank you, Alain,” Owen said, tapping the coach driver on the shoulder as they packed their bags. “I’ll take the driving from here.”
“No, Mr Arnold, I can do that for you.”
“I’m sorry?” Owen stopped by the horses as Alain climbed up into the driver’s seat. In the early hours of the morning, Owen had awoken Alain and pleaded for his help, revealing all to him. He confessed that he and Diana were to run away together, and if Alain would help set up the horses and the cart to aid their escape.
Alain at once had agreed, talking wistfully of the power of love and how one must follow it, wherever it was found. “I was to take the cart to the coaching inn. You do not have to come, Alain.”
“Nonsense. Helping two lovers flee? What could be more romantic than that! Oui, nothing,” Alain said with a warm laugh as he flicked the reins of the horses, preparing to leave. “I’ll take you as far as the coaching in, Mr Arnold.”
“Thank you, Alain.” Owen nodded his thanks as he climbed up into the car beside Diana and Jessie, looping his hand through Diana’s. Jessie laughed and rolled her eyes as she looked away, clearly making a silent jest at their expense, but Owen didn’t mind.
As the cart pulled forward, Owen was aware of Diana looking behind them, staring at the house.
“What is it?” he asked softly.
“I am saying goodbye to the place,” she said with confidence, looking back to him and smiling. “I quite like the idea of never having to see it again.” She took that one last look before the coach bended round the trees, taking them further across the estate and towards the open road. “There is something I want your opinion on.”
“What is that?” Owen asked.
“These.” Diana pulled her reticule into her lap and opened it up, retrieving two letters that hadn’t yet been sealed, and passed them into Owen’s hands. “I will post them in town when we reach the coaching inn.”
“Who are these to?”
“This one is to my father. Tell me what you think,” Diana asked, moving one of the letters to the front. “I do not wish to be cruel to him, but I wish him to know the truth.” Owen nodded slowly and unfurled the letter further.
‘Dear Father,
I am afraid I cannot send you money as you asked for in your last letter. There is much you need to know. The man you bound me to in marriage has been arrested and is to be investigated for arson as well as manslaughter.
I do not understand why you married me to such a man. In his house and at his side, I have not known happiness, not until I met another.
