Page 74 of A Single Obsession

“You don’t mind?”

“No.”

“Then, what is it?”

“Strange. I wish I was as good as you.”

“What do you mean?”

“This”—he pointed at the empty basket—“and this,” he said, waving his hand in the air toward the village and everyone they’d met. “My mother gives to charity, but she would never demean herself by seeing to the needs of the poor in such a hands-on way. I suppose she might see it as the job of the rector or his wife—but not her. Not me. No one ever showed me how to care for people—to help them. I told your father I’d try, but I’ve got too much to learn. I’ll never be good enough.”

“Good enough for who?”

Beau shrugged. “For you. Your family. God.”

Eliza bubbled with laughter. “Of course you’re not good enough for God. None of us is. That’s the beauty of God’s grace—that we’re saved by faith in Jesus and not by the things we do. Didn’t you ever listen to what was preached in church?”

“Not much,” Beau said, colouring up.

Eliza batted him with her hand. “It’s not too late to change.”

“I want to try. I’d like to take an interest in those who live on my estate. To give them reason to think I’m a good landlord, and a God-fearing man. You’ll help me, won’t you?”

Eliza’s heart warmed at the seriousness in his tone. She had been right to believe in him. Already, he was proving himself to be a better person than Georgie had feared.

“I’d love to. We can work on it together.”

She squeezed his arm as she revelled in that word.

Together.

Chapter 32

Over the next few days, Beau became increasingly convinced that asking Eliza to marry him was the best decision of his life. Once Mr Merry had given his permission, there had been no holding back, and Eliza’s parents welcomed him into their home without reserve.

Although Beau had dined at the parsonage on many previous occasions, there was a distinct difference now. He hadn’t been treated as part of the family in this way before. It was a novel experience, as his mother had never made him feel like this at Holybourne House. Perhaps that explained why his stepfather’s house had never felt like home.

When there were no visitors, everyone ate together, though Eliza’s sister was not yet out—an arrangement his mother would not have countenanced for a moment. At dinner, the conversation was informal, and even Hetta was free to express her opinion, which she often did.

He had never observed a couple who operated in such harmony as Mr and Mrs Merry. It was clear that raising their children was a joint effort, and Beau wondered why the thought had been abhorrent to him for so long. If this was what family life could be like, maybe having a child of his own was not such a terrifying prospect. And the prospect of creating a family with Eliza was…perhaps he should not think about that until after they were married.

They travelled back to Holybourne House in high spirits, arriving in plenty of time for dinner. After changing his apparel, Beau headed for the billiard room. He had promised to give Eliza a lesson in how to play and picked up a cue and idly potted a few balls while he waited for her to appear.

A few moments later, the door opened, and he looked up, with a ready smile on his lips for Eliza, when Anthony waltzed in.

“Ant! Where have you sprung from?”

“I was pining,” he said with an audacious grin. “London seemed empty without you—and the incomparable Eliza. How is she? Better than you, I hope. You look weary.”

Beau stiffened at the casual reference to his intended. Ant had no right to make flirtatious remarks about her.

“If I appear tired, it’s because I’ve had a busy week. I have lost a racehorse and gained a wife. At least, she’s not my wife yet, but she soon will be. And I’ve spent the past hour cooped up in a carriage.”

Anthony closed his eyes and shook his head, as if trying to wake himself from a dream. “Can you run that by me again?”

“I have lost a racehorse,” Beau repeated slowly, as if his friend possessed less than normal intelligence, “gained—”

“Woah. Stop right there. Romeo’s missing? When? How?”