‘You can have them all.’ Henrietta beamed and then tipped the whole plateful into one of his greatcoat pockets. ‘Here, you can eat them on the way to the ceremony.’
‘Wait.’ Samuel held a hand out amid a flurry of activity as both women started to pull on bonnets and shawls. ‘I just have to make a quick journey to the Circus first. I left some of my belongings there.’
‘First?’ Anna looked anxious. ‘We’re running out of time.’
‘There’s one last thing I need to do.’ He bent his head, kissing her softly on the cheek. ‘It won’t take long, I promise.’
* * *
As wedding days went, Samuel reflected afterwards, it had certainly been eventful. After his headlong rush from Staunton back to Bath, he’d expected to have to apologise, plead and possibly beg for Anna to forgive him, but instead here he was, less than two hours since he’d reached Belles, standing in his grandparents’ drawing room, a glass of champagne in one hand, his new Countess’s waist in the other.
‘I’m glad you wore your uniform.’ His grandmother looked him up and down approvingly.
‘So am I. You look very dashing.’ Anna’s eyes twinkled. ‘If you’d told me that that was what you were hurrying back to the Circus for, then I wouldn’t have protested.’
‘Now you tell me.’ He grinned down at her. ‘I thought I ought to say goodbye to the navy properly.’
‘To the new Earl and Countess of Staunton.’ His grandfather lifted his glass, his hand shaking slightly though his voice was firm. ‘Anna, I’m delighted to welcome you into the family. I wish you both as much happiness in marriage as I’ve found.’
‘Pshaw,’ his grandmother snorted. ‘There’s no need for sentiment.’
‘I wish for that, too...’ Anna answered, ‘and we’re grateful for everything you’ve done.’
‘You mean arranging a wedding in less than a day? Yes, I rather impressed myself.’ The Baroness drew herself up to her full height. ‘Now I need to retire to the countryside for some peace and quiet. We’ll be leaving Bath tomorrow.’
‘So soon?’ Samuel looked between his grandparents anxiously.
‘Yes.’ The Baron nodded. ‘I’m missing my books. You know I enjoy nothing more than sitting in my library while this one booms in my ear.’
‘I do not boom!’
‘You’
d put Wellington’s cannons to shame, my dear, but I wouldn’t change you for the world.’ He winked at Samuel and then fixed him with a sombre look. ‘I’d like to go home, my boy, you understand?’
‘I do, Grandfather, but if you need me...’
‘Then I won’t hesitate to summon you, but you’ll be heading north again soon, too, I imagine. Your place is there now.’
‘In a few days, once a few things are settled at the shop. Anna’s gifting it to her apprentice.’ He gave a proud tug on her waist.
‘Gifting?’ The Baroness looked scandalised.
‘Not exactly,’ Anna corrected him. ‘The building will still belong to my mother, but Henrietta will be free to live there and run the business for as long as she chooses. Sebastian never had any interest in the shop and it would be a shame to close Belles just because I’m leaving. I’m positive my mother will approve and you know that Nancy has asked if she can move in and continue working there? Apparently she enjoys baking.’
‘Yes, I heard you wished to steal one of my maids.’ Lady Jarrow’s lips twitched. ‘Naturally I’ve agreed.’
‘We’ll come and wave you off in the morning, of course.’ Samuel leaned in to kiss his grandmother on the cheek.
‘No, my boy.’ His grandfather patted him on the shoulder when they went to shake hands. ‘Let’s say goodbye now. I couldn’t possibly be happier than I am at this moment. I was always proud of you as a boy and I’m even prouder of you as a man. Now take care of your wife, you understand? Or you’ll have your grandmother to deal with.’
‘Then you leave me no choice.’ Samuel smiled through the lump in his throat and turned towards Anna. ‘We’ll take care of each other.’
Chapter Twenty-Four
They declined the offer of a carriage, wending their way back to Swainswick Crescent hand in hand, Henrietta having not very convincingly remembered that she was staying with her brother and sister-in-law that evening.
‘What do you think people would say if they knew the Earl and Countess of Staunton were spending their wedding night above a biscuit shop?’ Anna asked, peering shyly over her shoulder as she unlocked the front door. ‘It’s not very grand.’