To Save a Love - Alexa Aston Page 0,3
he glanced at Dez and Anna’s joined hands.
He tugged his hand from Anna’s and reached into his coat pocket, removing what coin he had and handing it to Billy.
“Will this be enough?” Dez asked, unsure of how much anything cost. He spent his small allowance freely, where Dalinda always put away whatever pin money she received as a squirrel gathered nuts in preparation for dinner.
The footman thumbed through the bills. “It should be.” Still, he looked as if he needed convincing.
Dalinda spoke up. “There will be a crown in it for you if you bring the tickets back promptly.”
Billy’s eyes went wide. “Yes, my lady. Right away.”
“If anyone stops you, Billy, say you are on an errand for me,” Dez emphasized.
“And no word to anyone,” Dalinda prompted.
“Of course not, my lady,” the footman reassured her. “I know how to keep my mouth closed.” He rushed from the room, closing the door behind him.
“You have a crown to give him?” he questioned his twin.
“That—and more. I will give you everything I have. You will need to purchase food on your way there. Pay for lodging. Give the blacksmith something for his trouble.”
“Blacksmith?” Anna asked, perplexed.
“Yes,” his sister said. “I overheard that a couple usually stops at the first place they reach stopping at Gretna Green. Supposedly, it is a blacksmith’s shop. They call elopements to Scotland marrying over the anvil and the blacksmith an anvil priest.”
“You are certain this is legal?” Anna asked nervously.
Both Dez and Dalinda nodded.
Anna’s eyes filled with tears as she gazed up at Dez. “Then I suppose we will be getting married in Gretna Green.”
Despite Dalinda’s presence, Dez bent and pressed his mouth to Anna’s for a long, tender kiss. He finally broke it.
“Pack a small valise,” he suggested. “Only your nightclothes and a change of clothing. Slip out of the house. I will be waiting out front at six tomorrow morning. We will make our way to the mail coach office from there.”
“Are you certain?” Anna asked. “This will change the course of our lives, Dez. No university or army for you.”
His hands framed her face. “Nothing matters except for us being together, Anna. You know it is what we both want.” He kissed her again. “Say you will marry me.”
She smiled through tears of happiness. “I will marry you, Desmond Bretton. A thousand times over. We will most likely be poor in worldly goods but we will always be rich in love.”
He pulled her to her feet and gave her a last hard, swift kiss.
“Go home. Act as natural as possible.”
Anna giggled nervously. “All right.”
Dez captured her hands in his. “It will be fine. I promise. Go.”
She nodded and stepped toward Dalinda. The two locked their arms around one another.
“The next time I see you, you will be Mrs. Desmond Bretton,” Dalinda said.
Anna smiled. “Mrs. Bretton. Anna Bretton. I like the sound of that.” She embraced Dalinda again. “Oh, however can I thank you? You have been as much a sister to me as Jessa.”
Dalinda blinked back tears. “And soon we will be sisters by marriage.” She kissed Anna’s cheek. “I will see you soon.”
“Your father may forbid it,” her friend warned.
Dalinda’s eyes lit with mischief. “When has that ever stopped me from doing anything?”
The two said their goodbyes and Anna left the drawing room. The moment the door closed, Dez opened his arms and enfolded Dalinda.
“Am I crazy to do this?” he asked his twin.
“Crazy—in love. I always thought the two of you were meant to be together,” she replied. “Let me go to my room and collect what I have. Stay here. I won’t be long.”
Dez paced the room as he waited, worried about what he was doing. He had always been impulsive, something his father said was Dez’s greatest character flaw. He knew it was the right thing, saving Anna from the fate of a horrible marriage to an old codger who would force himself on her night after night until he got her with child. If he could get her with child at his age. It didn’t lessen his worry, though, with the great unknown ahead of him and Anna. He wondered how he would support her. Where they might live. If Dalinda would be able to sneak away and see them.
His sister returned and handed over the monies she had.
“This is a great deal,” he said, startled by what she brought.
“I have something else,” she confided and withdrew something from her pocket, taking his hand and placing it in his