AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Six
Bella sat withCarrie in her bedchamber. Now the way ahead seemed clear, she thought of all those she loved she would miss. Especially Carrie and Nicholas, but also watching their small nephew Zachary grow up and her brother, although she was confident he would visit her in Vienna on his travels. Her home, Elm Park, her horse, her dog, Daisy, and Nicholas’s beloved whippet, Chester. Abercrombie and her maid, Anna. It brought tears to her eyes, and she gulped.
“You have plenty of time to see if it’s really what you want,” Carrie said, blowing her nose.
“I shan’t change my mind,” Bella said firmly. “I shall miss you all dreadfully. But Carrie, even if I didn’t marry Friedrich, marrying an Englishman would take me away from you, too.”
“I suppose so,” Carrie said sadly. “But we still have a year, and Nicholas promised to take me to Vienna.” She smiled. “He knows how I love to travel. I am already looking forward to seeing Austria.”
Bella hugged her, grateful for her sister’s bravery and unselfishness.
*
The next morning,the coach waited to take Friedrich, Maria, and Karl to London. They were to leave England within a few days.
There were fond goodbyes among the friends who would become part of the same family next Christmas.
Maria kissed Bella. “Karl and I are pleased Friedrich has chosen you. You are a remarkable young woman, and I am eager to welcome you into our family.”
“Thank you,” Bella said, much comforted by her warm words. Karl repeated it in his formal manner but with a lively twinkle in his blue eyes.
As the footmen brought the luggage down, Friedrich took Bella’s hand and drew her into the small parlor off the great hall. “I shall miss you very much,liebling.”
Bella hugged him, her chest heaving, tears in her eyes. “I will write every day.”
He held her chin in his palm and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I look forward to your letters with great eagerness.” He kissed her gently on her nose, her chin and then, drawing in a deep breath, took her mouth. When they drew away again, they were both breathless.
Abercrombie cleared his throat at the door. “The coach awaits, Baron Holstein.”
Moments later, he watched from the window as his love waved goodbye. She blew him a kiss before the corner of the house blocked his view.
