house. “One would think that since Hamilton and Eliza only just got married, our mothers would be satisfied for a while, but instead they seem to have come to the conclusion that everyone needs to enter into the state of wedded bliss. Quite frankly, they’ve turned scary.” Agatha stopped walking and grinned. “I have high hopes they’ll settle their attention on you now that you’ve returned home. Youare older than I, after all, and I’m sure they’ll take that into consideration.”
“I’m not that much older,” Arabella said, “but I must admit my mother has already informed me that she’s determined to see me married. Knowing she’s joined forces with your mother sends chills down my spine.”
“There’s the prodigal daughter at last.”
Arabella turned from a chuckling Agatha and laughed in delight. She let go of Agatha’s arm and raced up the steps, launching herself into her father’s embrace.
Douglas Beckett gave her a hard squeeze before he set her away from him, his eyes twinkling down at her. “I hope you’re not too upset with me for not meeting you at the station, dear.” His glance slid over to the phaeton that the groom was beginning to drive away, and just like Mrs. Watson, he shuddered.
Arabella laughed again. “I knew exactly why you didn’t accompany Mother, and besides, you and I saw each other not so long ago, so it’s not as if we’ve been parted forever.”
“Speaking of being parted, though, when you left California ahead of me, I was under the impression you were simply leaving early to catch a rally or two. From the telegrams Mr. Wilder sent back, it seems as if you attended a good dozen, and what were you thinking by leaving Miss Hunt behind?”
“I was hoping you wouldn’t find out about Miss Hunt.”
“I ran into the lady at the fish market, three days after you departed.”
“Rotten luck there,” Arabella muttered before she brightened. “But as you can see, I made it back perfectly unscathed and with a barrel of stories to share with you.”
“Stories which will have to wait, since your mother is determined to throw this dinner party to welcome you home,” Douglas said before he looked over her head. “Ah, Miss Watson, I didn’t know you were here.”
“Hello, Mr. Beckett,” Agatha said as she climbed the steps to join them. “I didn’t want to interrupt your reunion.”
“Very kind of you,” Douglas said. “Did you come with your mother, or did Zayne bring you?”
Agatha turned a lovely shade of pink.
Arabella blinked and then blinked again. Could it be that the delightful lady blushing right in front of her carried a bit of affection for Zayne? If that was the case, well, she’d certainly have to push things along. Agatha was a definite improvement over Helena, and—
“I came with my mother,” Agatha said, abruptly pulling Arabella out of her daydream. “But look, there’s Hamilton’s carriage. What’s he doing here?”
“Hamilton and Eliza took my luggage because Mother didn’t think it would fit in the phaeton,” Arabella answered.
“I’m surprised you didn’t make the claim you wouldn’t fit in the phaeton,” Douglas said.
“Believe me, it did cross my mind, but then Zayne told me Hamilton and Eliza have a tendency to, well, display affection for each other at times, and I decided braving Mother’s driving was the more pleasant option.”
“Their ‘affection’ will ensure I’ll have another grandbaby before too long,” Gloria said, stepping outside as she settled her attention on Arabella and Agatha. “Our next order of business will be finding suitable gentlemen for the two of you.” She sent them a nod, then disappeared once again through the door.
“Maybe I should consider another extended trip,” Arabella said.
Douglas laughed. “You’ll do no such thing. The holidays are right around the corner, and we expect you to remain in town to enjoy the festivities. Besides, haven’t you had enough
“I’m not that much older,” Arabella said, “but I must admit my mother has already informed me that she’s determined to see me married. Knowing she’s joined forces with your mother sends chills down my spine.”
“There’s the prodigal daughter at last.”
Arabella turned from a chuckling Agatha and laughed in delight. She let go of Agatha’s arm and raced up the steps, launching herself into her father’s embrace.
Douglas Beckett gave her a hard squeeze before he set her away from him, his eyes twinkling down at her. “I hope you’re not too upset with me for not meeting you at the station, dear.” His glance slid over to the phaeton that the groom was beginning to drive away, and just like Mrs. Watson, he shuddered.
Arabella laughed again. “I knew exactly why you didn’t accompany Mother, and besides, you and I saw each other not so long ago, so it’s not as if we’ve been parted forever.”
“Speaking of being parted, though, when you left California ahead of me, I was under the impression you were simply leaving early to catch a rally or two. From the telegrams Mr. Wilder sent back, it seems as if you attended a good dozen, and what were you thinking by leaving Miss Hunt behind?”
“I was hoping you wouldn’t find out about Miss Hunt.”
“I ran into the lady at the fish market, three days after you departed.”
“Rotten luck there,” Arabella muttered before she brightened. “But as you can see, I made it back perfectly unscathed and with a barrel of stories to share with you.”
“Stories which will have to wait, since your mother is determined to throw this dinner party to welcome you home,” Douglas said before he looked over her head. “Ah, Miss Watson, I didn’t know you were here.”
“Hello, Mr. Beckett,” Agatha said as she climbed the steps to join them. “I didn’t want to interrupt your reunion.”
“Very kind of you,” Douglas said. “Did you come with your mother, or did Zayne bring you?”
Agatha turned a lovely shade of pink.
Arabella blinked and then blinked again. Could it be that the delightful lady blushing right in front of her carried a bit of affection for Zayne? If that was the case, well, she’d certainly have to push things along. Agatha was a definite improvement over Helena, and—
“I came with my mother,” Agatha said, abruptly pulling Arabella out of her daydream. “But look, there’s Hamilton’s carriage. What’s he doing here?”
“Hamilton and Eliza took my luggage because Mother didn’t think it would fit in the phaeton,” Arabella answered.
“I’m surprised you didn’t make the claim you wouldn’t fit in the phaeton,” Douglas said.
“Believe me, it did cross my mind, but then Zayne told me Hamilton and Eliza have a tendency to, well, display affection for each other at times, and I decided braving Mother’s driving was the more pleasant option.”
“Their ‘affection’ will ensure I’ll have another grandbaby before too long,” Gloria said, stepping outside as she settled her attention on Arabella and Agatha. “Our next order of business will be finding suitable gentlemen for the two of you.” She sent them a nod, then disappeared once again through the door.
“Maybe I should consider another extended trip,” Arabella said.
Douglas laughed. “You’ll do no such thing. The holidays are right around the corner, and we expect you to remain in town to enjoy the festivities. Besides, haven’t you had enough
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