Little Women: If Beth Had Lived 6: London

The days and nights on the ship passed in luxurious seamlessness. Laurie and Beth went for long walks on the deck, enjoying the fresh air tinged with the briny aroma of the ocean, or watching the sun set on the horizon. Beth thought that it was just about the nearest to heaven she had ever been in her life. Laurie was just happy to enjoy quality time in peaceful relaxation with his new wife.

Beth's eyes danced with excitement when the coast finally came into view.

"Isn't it lovely!" she exclaimed.

"It's beautiful, as are you, my love."

Beth blushed deeply and hid her face in the front of Laurie's shirt.

"You'd better get used to compliments, because you'll be getting them from me on a regular basis from now on," Laurie chuckled.

"It seems ages ago that we last stood on dry land, doesn't it?" Beth asked once they were finally off the ship. "I feel so much closer to you, Laurie, than I did when we first set out."

"I'm so glad that you do, and I feel closer to you as well, Beth." He hugged and kissed her.

It was a long ride by carriage through the English countryside, and on the way Laurie and Beth saw many picturesque scenes with gently rolling hills covered with grass of a vibrant green, quaint little cottages with thatched roofs, and horses, cows, goats, pigs, and sheep. Beth's huge eyes drank it all in as Laurie watched with tender affection.

A light rain was falling as they arrived at Fred and Amy's house in London.

"Laurie! Beth! What a lovely surprise!" Amy cried. "Does this mean..."

"Yes, Amy, it's true. I am now your brother-in-law." Laurie laughed.

"Congratuations to both of you." Amy embraced Beth and kissed her cheek. "I'm so happy for you!" Amy felt a little sad that she hadn't been able to see much of Laurie on his previous trip to Europe, and she was truly thrilled that her sister was healthy again and had found love with their mutual long-time friend.

Fred and Amy helped Laurie and Beth with their luggage and then showed them to the guest bedroom, which was more luxurious than a room at an inn.

As it was quite late, they shared a quiet dinner with Fred and Amy and decided to delay sight-seeing until the next day.

"I'm going to sleep well tonight," Beth announced.

"I was hoping not to fall asleep for awhile," Laurie mumbled as he left a trail of kisses down her neck and onto her shoulder.

"That tickles." Beth giggled.

"I know."

"This is Buckingham Palace, where the Queen lives with her family," said Fred, who naturally played the role of their tour guide. "And it looks as if we've arrived just in time for the changing of the guards."

"It's so big for just one family," said Beth, who was wondering whether she just might actually get a glimpse of Queen Victoria herself peeking from a window.

Fred laughed. "Oh, it's much more than the Queen and her family who live here. There are servants, guards, palace officials, members of the court...dozens of people."

Next he showed them the tall clock, Big Ben. "It's fairly new," he told them. "It's been here for less than twenty years."

Picadilly Circus was next. Amy took Beth shopping on Regent Street, where Beth bought material to make dresses for her dolls and yarn for her cats to play with. Amy also talked her into buying a cute hat with a big pink bow and an umbella and pair of gloves to go with it.

"You look absolutely adorable," Laurie told his wife, hugging her again and kissing her cheek.

They bought vegetables and fruits in Covent Gardens, and ate lunch in a charming little cafe there as well. Then they visited Hyde Park, where they watched the horses and their wealthy owners stride up and down Rotten Row.

Fred's twin brother Frank and their younger sister Grace came for dinner that night. Beth remembered them well from Camp Laurence. Frank had walked with a crutch then; now he no longer needed the crutch and walked with only a slight limp.

"It's so good to see you again, Beth," he said with a wistful look in his eyes.

"Thank you. I'm so happy to see that you're doing better." Beth gave him a warm smile and embraced him.

Grace was several years younger than Amy, but the two of them were great friends and chatted merrily together during the meal.

"I feel a bit sad for Frank," Beth told Laurie later, in the privacy of their bedroom.

"Well, I happen to feel very happy for myself," Laurie chuckled as he began to kiss her.

"I know, but he seems to be such a nice man. Surely he deserves the love of a good woman.'

"And he will find it in time, I'm sure," Laurie replied. "Dear little Beth, always so concerned for the happiness of others."

"Well, I think it's not a bad way to be at all. Don't you agree?"

"I agree one hundred percent, my love. I love you exactly as you are, and I wouldn't want you to be any other way." He took her hand and led her to the bed.