Beatrice (The Tipton Hollow 2)

eased and smiled when he laughed.

“What about you? What kind of things do you like?” He asked when the mirth had faded.

“I love to garden, and enjoy being outside in the sunshine. I want to keep myself busy, but am not sure what I want to do with my life really.”

“I thought I heard somewhere that you were looking into purchasing Mr Montague’s old haberdashery in the village,” he replied with a frown.

Was the gossip wrong again?

Beatrice sighed. “I am still not entirely sure it is the right thing to do. The only reason I thought about buying it was to be able to get out of the house and meet people. I love to sew and make things, and thoroughly enjoy the Circle. We talk while we make things and discuss all sorts of topics, like books and the trips we would like to go on. Purchasing the haberdashery initially seemed like a good idea, especially now that I am here all by myself. You see, I have inherited my parent’s wealth and have invested it, but I cannot keep living off it without putting anything back. At some point the well will run dry, and then I am going to have a serious problem on my hands.”

Ben nodded. “A shop is going to take a lot of your time up though, Beatrice. In order to be really profitable it is going to have to be open for long hours, and will restrict your ability to, say, have tea with your friends on a Monday. While I fully agree that you need to find something to occupy your time, I just wonder if running this house, and a shop, is a little too much?” He held a hand up when he read her instinctive objection. “I just think that you are young yet. Life can change. You could marry and have children. What then?” He frowned at the table. “While investing in property is always a good idea, why don’t you look at renting the shop out? At least then you won’t have to run it yourself but will have the rental income to live off.”

“I hadn’t thought about buying the shop to rent it out,” Beatrice admitted with a frown. “Because of everything that has happened around here since Sunday, I really haven’t given it a moment’s thought. At some point I have to sort out the mess in the conservatory, and the study, but I just cannot bring myself to tackle such a mammoth task. I cannot help but think that purchasing the shop will bring yet more problems.” She glanced at him and smiled ruefully. “Right now, I have more than enough to contend with.”

“I admit that clearing out the study and conservatory will be time consuming jobs, but I will help you with them, if you would like me to?”

“You have helped me so much already that it doesn’t seem fair to expect you to wade through my uncle’s old things as well.”

Ben considered his words carefully for a moment while he thought over what he wanted to say. “Beatrice, I want you to think about something for me?” He waited for her to nod and ran a thumb over the backs of her fingers. “I want you to consider our association to be more of a proper relationship, not just a friendship. We are more than just friends; in spite of our shot acquaintance. I think that we owe it to ourselves to consider these wonderful feelings that lie between us and see where they take us. Because of that, I want you to consider letting me become a larger part of your life. Let me help you with this mystery. I can also help you with your uncle’s things, and will offer any advice you need relating to the shop.”

“It doesn’t seem fair though. I mean, you are doing all of this for me but I cannot return the favour.”

“The only thing I want in return is for you to consider allowing me to become a more permanent part of your life.”

Beatrice smiled ruefully at him. “I think you have been dragged into my life whether you want to be here or not.”

That made him chuckle. “I didn’t do too much screaming and kicking, I assure you.” It was the truth. While he hated the thought that the plant had brought her so much trouble, Fate did appear to be smiling down on them because he had, for once, been in the right place at the right time. It all made him feel as though his relationship with Beatrice was meant to happen.

“So, can we consider that we are in a relationship now?” Ben asked when Beatrice had started to clear the pots away.

Beatrice placed the cutlery on top of the plate and turned to face him. She nodded before she could think too carefully about it, and settled comfortably into his arms when he drew her toward him.

“I warn you now though,” he added with a mock frown. “There is going to be a lot more of this.” He placed a tender kiss on her lips. He leaned back to look into her eyes, and was relieved to find nothing but acceptance, and a little humour, shining back at him. He slid one hand into her hair, and ignored her gasp when his fingers dragged the silken strands of her hair loose and showered them both in pins. Her hair cascaded round her shoulders in a wild mass of silken delight that smelled slightly of lavender, and curled lovingly around his wrists to ensnare him in a gentle hold.

“This,” he whispered, and captured her lips in a considerably deeper kiss which branded them both and left them both wanting more.

CHAPTER NINE

The following morning, Maud was considerably better and was busy clearing away the breakfast pots when there was a knock on the door. Beatrice was in the sitting room doorway by the time the housekeeper reached the hallway.

They looked at each other in concern.

Beatrice knew that Mark and Isaac had already gone to London. Ben wasn’t due for another hour and they were not expecting anyone else.

“Wait here,” she whispered to Maud, and hurried upstairs, into her uncle’s bedroom at the front of the house. Although the black carriage wasn’t at the end of the driveway, she recognised the man on the doorstep: Sigmund Hargraves.

She quickly made her way back downstairs, and winced when several louder knocks hammered loudly against the front door. She glanced at Maud. “Is the bolt across the back door?”

Maud suddenly scuttled off to slide the bolt closed, and draw the curtains. Beatrice followed her, and felt her anger begin to build as she watched Maud peer through the gloom at the contents of the table. Without the shutters closed there was just enough light to see, but it was a struggle, and an utterly ridiculous situation to be in.

Determined not to be cowed by such an odious creature as Hargraves, Beatrice walked up to the kitchen window and slid the curtains back. Her startled gasp was loud as she saw Hargraves, mere inches from the glass on the outside, but she glowered out at him defiantly.

“I want to talk to you,” Hargraves called through the window.

“I am going to report you to the police. You have been told to go away, now do so,” Beatrice replied firmly and quite pointedly turned her back.

She ushered Maud out of the kitchen, and deliberately ignored the threats Hargraves was shouting at her. A desperate glance at the grandfather clock warned her that she had nearly an hour before Ben was due to arrive. Although it was unfair to drag him into another of her problems, she fervently wished that he was there now to help her deal with the persistent little man on her doorstep.