The Threads that Bind by Annie Seaton

Author:Annie Seaton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ASA

Chapter Fifteen

St Austell, Cornwall - 1851

‘Lucy?’

She jumped and woke as Tom’s hand gently touched hers.

‘We are almost to Plymouth.’ His breath warmed her cheek.

She opened her eyes and his face was close to hers. A tingle ran down her back as she looked into the dark eyes that were becoming very familiar to her.

‘Plymouth?’

‘Yes, we will be met at Plymouth, most probably by my brother, John. I sent a message yesterday on the mail train to my father, when we went back to the hotel while you were resting before dinner.’

‘Are they expecting me? Did you tell them anything?’

‘No. We will have time to go back to my cottage, and we shall see them tomorrow. John is almost a recluse, and he will be pleased to meet you, but he won’t see the rest of the family before we do.’

‘I’m getting a bit nervous.’ Lucy shook her head. ‘And if you knew the real me, you would know that is way out of character. Nothing usually fazes me. Not before I arrived here and turned into a “married woman” about to meet my new family, not to mention, a woman who will hate me.’ She tipped her head to the side. ‘I like the idea of being a recluse, like your brother. That would make the four weeks here very easy. Can I do that?’

Tom reached out and took her hand and his fingers closed over her wedding ring. ‘There is no need to be nervous. I have told you what my family think of me, and what Isabelle’s desire was, but rest assured. You are in a totally polite family, and you will be treated with respect and kindness.’

‘And curiosity,’ she ventured.

Tom squeezed her hand. ‘Yes, I am sure there will be curiosity.’

##

‘I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance, Lucy.’ Tom’s brother was nothing like him in looks; fair-skinned and ruddy cheeks were surrounded by a thatch of thick fair hair. He pumped Thomas’s hand. ‘A big surprise, Thomas, but a good one. A good one, indeed. It will make Mother very happy.’

‘Thank you.’ Lucy put her head down and tried to focus on not sounding so Australian.

Tom held her arm as she stepped up into the cart behind two of the biggest horses she’d ever seen.

‘It will be a bit more uncomfortable than the train, but the extension of the railway to St Austell has met with many holdups.’ Tom gestured to a low seat in the back of the cart. It seemed to be covered with some sort of hessian sacking. ‘You’ll be more comfortable in there. I’ll sit up the front with John.’

‘How far is it to your home?’

‘Just over thirty miles, so it will take the rest of the day to journey there.’

‘Oh.’ Lucy settled herself in the back of the cart and tried not to turn her nose up at the overpowering smell of horse manure on the ground where the horses had been standing. It was going to be a very long day.

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