Page 71 of A Single Obsession

The following day, Beau and Eliza travelled to West Meon so he could formally ask Mr Merry for permission to wed his daughter.

He only hoped Eliza’s father would be as pleased with his proposal as his mother was.

There was no mistaking Lady Harting’s delight at the match.

Within the hour, news of their betrothal had spread through the entire household. His mother had made sure of that. She would not risk him backing down, though he had no wish to do so.

He found it unnerving that his critical parent had so many smiles for him, but he had to confess it was a pleasant change from her perpetual disapproval.

Eliza looked as if she was in danger of suffocating from his mother’s overwhelming kindness, but at least she no longer had to endure Miss Whitlow’s spiteful tongue. As soon as that dreadful woman learned of their engagement, she formed an excuse to return home and left.

As the hour-long journey came to a close, Beau’s stomach was still churning at the thought of facing Mr Merry. He couldn’t forget the dreadful interview he had endured after trying to elope with Eliza’s sister. Though humiliated, he’d been quick to agree he was not the right husband for Georgie.

But what if Mr Merry said no this time? Beau had already lost Romeo, but losing Eliza would be far worse. It still grieved him when he remembered his prized colt had gone, but his racehorse, though dear to him, could be replaced.

Eliza could not.

He kept telling himself that this time was different.

Their courtship had been conducted in public and he was now, very properly, coming to ask for her father’s permission, not making a half-hearted offer for her hand because he had tried to elope with her.

Beau was sure Eliza was the right woman for him. He hoped her father would agree.

When they arrived at the parsonage, Mr and Mrs Merry were on the doorstep to greet them.

“I’d better get over the hard ground as soon as possible,” he said to Eliza as the carriage drew up. “Pray your father will give his permission without a battle.”

She squeezed his hand. “I’ll pray, but I don’t think divine intervention will be necessary. You’re a good man. Why should he refuse?”

He shot her an uncertain look. Did she really believe he was a good man? He wasn’t so sure, but he wanted to be. For her.

He helped Eliza out of the carriage, and she clutched his hand as they approached the house. With one last squeeze, she stepped forward to embrace her mother and then her father.

Beau hung back, observing the show of affection between Eliza and her parents, wondering what it would be like to grow up as loved as she was. A wistful sigh bubbled up inside him, but he subdued it before it escaped.

After hugging her father, Eliza turned to Beau and drew him forward. He bowed his head toward Mrs Merry, but she raised her eyebrows at the impersonal greeting. She threw him a mischievous grin so like Eliza’s that his breath caught as she enfolded him in a hearty embrace.

Beau was taken aback, but responded to the warmth of her welcome, bestowing a kiss on her cheek before stepping away.

He turned to her father and hesitated, unsure of how to greet him. Before the pause grew awkward, Mr Merry held out his hand and Beau shook it, relieved he wasn’t supposed to envelop his prospective father-in-law in a hug as well.

They retired to the drawing room for refreshment where Eliza’s youngest sister Hetta joined them. She stared at him with such undisguised curiosity that he felt like an animal in a menagerie. It made him even more determined not to put off the dreaded interview any longer.

After gulping down a cup of tea, he cast a sideways glance at Eliza, who shot him an encouraging smile before he addressed her father.

“I would appreciate a little of your time, sir, if it’s convenient.”

“But of course. I’ve already written my sermon for Sunday, and as there are no pressing parish matters, I am quite at my leisure.”

He led the way to his study and Beau followed, tamping down the sense of doom that lingered over him as he went on trial for the second time.

“I assume this isn’t a social call,” the older man said, sitting down behind his desk and encouraging him to take the chair opposite.

Beau gulped hard to clear his throat and began, not daring to meet Mr Merry’s eyes. “Eliza has done me the honour of agreeing to become my wife. I’ve come to ask your blessing on our marriage.”

“What makes you think I’ll feel any differently about you marrying Eliza than I did about you marrying her elder sister?” he said with an expressionless face that gave Beau no clue what he was thinking.

“I was a mere stripling when I ran off with Georgie. It was foolish, and it was wrong, but I learned my lesson. There has been nothing improper about my courtship of Eliza.”