Rebecca's Refusal (11 page)

'No.'

And why did the conversation seem to be so important, when it was about nothing but commonplaces? she asked herself.

'After all, we are partners now,' she said, making an effort to make the conversation seem more normal. But still she did not raise her eyes to his. She was afraid of what she would see there.

'Partners,' he said, his voice low. The word seemed full of hidden meaning. As if sensing it, he added, In the mill.'

She could feel his eyes on her, but still could not bring herself to look at him.

But is that all we are?' he asked.

Yes. Of course.'

Then why are you backing away from me?' His voice was soft and sultry.

Her eyes went to his own, drawn there by some irresistible force, as if she could read the answer to his question there. Why had she backed away from him? she wondered. She had not realized she had done so. But he was right. She had taken a step back - only to be stopped by the piano. It was pressing into her, hard and uncomfortable. But she did not move forward again. Because if she did it would bring her closer to Joshua.

Because . . . ' She gulped.

Yes?' he asked, his head bending towards hers.

She tried to make some sort of reply but her voice caught in her throat and no sound came out.

'Partners don't back away from each other,' he said, reaching out his hand and lifting her chin.

She had no choice but to meet his gaze. It was so direct that she felt she was looking, not into his eyes, but into his soul.

'Lovers, on the other hand . . . ' he said softly.

She felt her heart fluttering against her rib cage.

We are not lovers,' she said. She tried to sound bold and confident, but her voice came out in a breathless gasp.

But we could be . . . when we marry,' he said. 'Marriage has pleasures as well as pains, Rebecca,' he breathed, tilting his head towards hers.

'Marriage!' she exclaimed. And suddenly she was free of the spell that had gripped her. 'Marriage?' she demanded. Her head was held high and her shoulders were flung back. 'So that is what lies behind your behaviour! The desire to seduce me. So that I will agree to marry you!'

You make it sound like a penance!' he exclaimed angrily, his eyes blazing with copper lights.

'And so it is! To marry a man I don't love, simply because he has some misguided notion about protecting my reputation! It is the worst kind of penance!'

His eyes boiled.

1 have told you before. I will not marry you,' she declared. Her head was thrown back and her chin was high; at that moment she was every inch Jebadiah's grand-daughter.

What will it take to make you see sense?' he demanded, his eyes burning now instead of boiling. If anyone else finds out we were alone together in my bedroom at The Nag's Head -'

But they will not,' she returned. 'And even if they do, I will still not marry you. I could never marry for those reasons.' Her eyes blazed. The idea is unthinkable.'

Think carefully, Rebecca. This is the last time I will offer you the protection of my name. If you do not accept my hand this time, I will not offer it to you again.'

'Good. Then it will spare me the trouble of refusing it,' she returned. 'Nothing on earth would induce me to accept the hand of a man I do not love.'

'And that is your final word on the matter?' he demanded.

It is.'

Then there is no more to be said.'

They stood glaring at each other, like two combatants in a duel instead of two guests at a dinner party.

And then came the sound of footsteps approaching the door on the other side.

They glared at each other for one moment more before sanity reasserted itself and they turned away from each other, both of them trying to regain their composure before Hetty or Charles should enter the room.

Rebecca turned to the pianoforte, where once again she busied herself with the sheets of music. Joshua, striding across to the other side of the room, picked up a decanter and poured himself a
glass of whiskey. So that by the time Hetty entered the room they seemed to be engaging in commonplace activities.

'Such a fuss!' said Hetty, completely oblivious of the hostile encounter that had just taken place in that very room. The silly girl was convinced that the French had invaded until I took her to the window and showed her that the streets are empty of soldiers. Ah, well, she has calmed down now.' She looked round, as if noticing for the first time that Charles was missing. Where is Charles? Don't tell me he's still sitting over his port?'

'Charles has gone on a tour of the house, checking that all the doors and windows are bolted,' explained Joshua.

'Oh, what a good idea!' said Hetty. We don't want any more disturbances tonight. The sooner the war is over the better things will be for all concerned. It is no wonder there is so much unrest, when so many of the people in the country today cannot remember a time when we were not at war with France.'

Rebecca privately though that Hetty was being unduly optimistic in thinking that the end of the war would mean an end of all other disturbances, but she did not say so.

She was glad when, a few minutes later, Charles entered the room and a normal atmosphere was restored. Fortunately, Charles was in a talkative mood, and she did not have to contribute much to the discussion. After her heated conversation with Joshua she felt it would have been beyond her.

* * * *

Blast the woman! thought Joshua angrily as, back in his own home, he undressed for bed.

Why did she have to be so stubborn? Why couldn't she have accepted his hand? Why couldn't she have let him offer her the protection of his name? Why couldn't she have allowed him to guard her against the wagging tongues of the gossips? Why couldn't she have seen the sense in what he was suggesting?

It was all very well for her to say that Lacy wouldn't talk. That, he believed, was true. But if Lacy had seen them together, then other people could have seen them, too. And the only way to take the wind out of the gossip's sails was for them to wed.

If you think I am going to marry for the ridiculous reasons you propose . . . she had said to him.

Ridiculous? To marry for the sake of her reputation?

It was a down-to-earth reason to wed.

And yet even as a part of him railed at her for refusing him, a part of him admired her. She had not been prepared to compromise her principles, not even for the sake of her reputation.

What strength she had! What determination!

"If only she had been a man!" Jeb's words came back to him.

At the time he had not known what Jeb meant. He knew now. But he could not agree. Because he was grateful, with every fibre of his being, that she was a woman.

A smouldering light glowed in his eyes as he remembered the feelings that had coursed through him earlier in the evening. When she had declared that she would not marry him - when, eyes sparkling and cheeks flushed, she had thrown back her head, her every word, her every gesture speaking defiance - then he had felt a surge of admiration flood through him at the sight of her. He had been filled with the wild desire to sweep her off her feet and carry her to the sofa where he had longed to make passionate love to her ....

Oh, yes, he thought, as the image danced before his eyes, he was extremely glad she was a woman. Every inch a woman.

If only she was not such a stubborn one.

He went over to the washstand and threw water over his face and chest.

But one thing was now certain. He must see as little as possible of her. He was powerfully attracted to her, and now that she had refused his hand he must never let himself be carried away again. There could be no repeat of the incident at Lady Cranston's ball. His dealings with Rebecca must be circumspect. He would not compromise Jebadiah's granddaughter in any way.

But it was going to be almost impossible to restrain himself.

Chapter Six

Rebecca felt out of sorts. She should have been pleased that she had irrevocably refused Joshua's hand but instead, unaccountably, she felt low in spirits. A week had passed since she had refused him and she had not seen him since. Which was a good thing, she told herself. Because it meant that he had accepted her refusal and did not mean to offer her his hand again.

But for some reason she could not comprehend her spirits were still low.

She picked up her book and wandered over to the window, looking out at the snow. She, Hetty and Charles had spent the last few days enjoying the delights of the winter weather. They had taken a sled into the park and had tobogganed down the slopes - 1 am too old for this,' Hetty had declared, but she had enjoyed it as much as any of them. They had watched a collection of urchins building a snowman, and they had indulged in a game of snowballs. But today it was snowing too heavily to make them want to venture outside.

She was just about to settle down with her book when she saw a familiar figure arriving at the house.

It was Miss Biddulph!

Delighted that her companion had recovered sufficiently to complete the journey to London, Rebecca went out into the hall to welcome her.

She could see at once that Biddy was still weak, and rang for tea whilst settling Biddy by the fire.

You look tired,' she said sympathetically as she sat down beside Biddy. 1 hope you haven't overtaxed your strength by completing the journey.'

1 am rather tired,' Biddy admitted. 'But I felt well enough to travel, and besides, I did not want to remain another night in an inn.'

1 can understand that,' said Rebecca, thinking of the last night she herself had spent at an inn - although she doubted that Biddy had had a similar experience!

Tea was brought and Rebecca and Hetty, who bustled in as soon as she heard that Miss Biddulph had arrived, set about seeing to Miss Biddulph's comfort; for although Miss Biddulph was acting as Rebecca's companion on this trip, she had been Rebecca's governess in earlier days, and a strong friendship existed between the three of them.

Charles, too, was pleased to discover that Biddy had arrived. Once she had rested he questioned her closely on the condition of the roads, which were now open again after a lessening in the severity of the weather.

If the mail has got through, then a private coach should be able to get through as well,' said Charles. We won't have Joshua with us here in London for much longer, I fear.'

His words proved to be prophetic. That afternoon Joshua called to make his farewells.

You're leaving us tomorrow, then?' asked Charles, when Joshua had told them of his plans.

Yes.'

Although she had been expecting it, Rebecca, for some reason, felt her heart sink.

Joshua went on. 'Now the roads are passable there is nothing else to keep me here.'

He glanced at Rebecca as he said it and then looked away again.

The thought crossed Rebecca's mind that, had she accepted his hand, there would have been something to keep him in London: preparations for their wedding.

But of course, she had not.

It won't be an easy journey, even now,' said Charles, pursing his lips. The roads are still very bad in places. Miss Biddulph has been telling us all about it.'

'Even so, I mean to leave first thing in the morning. My work here is done, and I'm eager to take over the running of the mill.'

We shall miss you,' said Hetty, kissing him on the cheek.

It's been good of you to put up with me for so long,' Joshua smiled.

'Nonsense!' declared Hetty. It hasn't been long enough! We have hardly seen anything of you this last week. But you will be in London again before long, I hope?'

That depends,' said Joshua. 1 will have to see how things go.'

Well, you know you are always welcome here,' remarked Hetty warmly.

Joshua took his leave of Hetty and then turned to Rebecca. 'Rebecca,' he said, formally taking his leave of her.

'Joshua,' she replied equally formally as he bowed over her hand.

Your parting will not be of such a long duration,' Hetty remarked innocently, 'for you will be seeing each other again before long.' She smiled artlessly up at Joshua. 'Rebecca will be returning to Cheshire next week, and that of course is very near the mill.'

Rebecca felt Joshua's eyes rove over her face, but there was nothing burning in his glance. Instead, his manner was cool and distant. Until we next meet, then,' he said.

And with that he was gone.

* * * *

The rest of Rebecca's visit passed quickly. She was determined to enjoy herself, and to make the most of her time with Hetty and Charles in the capital.

Miss Biddulph had by now completely recovered from her illness, and Rebecca was glad that Biddy would be able to accompany them on their outings. It was for this reason that Rebecca had asked her old governess to act as her companion on the long journey, knowing that Biddy would enjoy herself in London, visiting to the elegant shops and interesting museums, once they arrived.