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“Never mind, Hawkins,” Ben said, surprised that Hawkins was in such a state. “She is expecting me, as I told her I’d be calling today, and I know where the dayroom is.”
“Very good, sir. Thank you, sir,” Hawkins said, surprising Ben again. Hawkins had always seemed a stickler for propriety, and Ben had fully expected the butler to refuse his offer. It mattered not to Ben, however, for he was even more curious to learn what could have caused such an uproar in the household. He hoped to get answers to the mystery from Rebecca.
He headed down the corridor that led to the dayroom and knocked gently at the door.
No response.
Considering the uproar in the house, no reply to his knock seemed odd. He knocked again, a bit louder this time.
Still no response.
Ben quietly opened the door enough that he could peer inside and saw that Rebecca was reclining, as usual, on the chaise longue, but she was on her side, facing the window, so he couldn’t see her face. Was she asleep?
He silently entered the dayroom, leaving the door ajar for propriety’s sake, and crossed the room. It appeared she truly was asleep, if her deep, regular breathing was any indication. He gently touched her shoulder to affirm his suspicions. He didn’t wish to wake her if she needed rest.
Despite his efforts, however, she awakened and turned toward him, and he watched, mesmerized, as she gradually came to her senses, her eyes blinking as she awakened and—puffy from tears?What was going on?he thought, his alarm increasing.
And then, still fresh from sleep, she smiled. At him. She smiled at him before becoming fully awake, before whatever had been troubling her had returned to trouble her again. And he felt a tremor run through his body, as though an earthquake had struck only him.
“The sleeping beauty awakens,” he said softly.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, straightening a bit on the chaise, her smile fading, her brows furrowing.
“You have been crying,” he said softly, “and your family appears to be in a state of commotion. What has happened?”
“Oh, Ben!” she cried, throwing both hands over her eyes, her shoulders beginning to heave. He instinctively reached for her, sitting next to her on the edge of the chaise longue, and wrapped his arms around her, pressing her to his chest and allowing her to weep until her tears began to subside.
After several minutes of silence, the dayroom door abruptly opened. “Rebecca! Oh, it’s you, Mr. Fortescue!” Lady Thurlby exclaimed, hurrying across the room. “Where is Annie?” Her concern for a lack of a chaperone was apparent.
“Excuse my informality with your daughter,” Ben said, keeping his voice low. “But she was in need of consolation, and I was at hand.”
Rebecca raised her head from Ben’s chest, creating an immediate impulse within him to draw her back. Instead, he stood and moved a few paces away.
“Oh, my dear,” Lady Thurlby said, gently laying a hand atop Rebecca’s head. “I’m so sorry for your disappointment. But I did come up with a solution that I think will at least take the sting out of it.”
“What is that, Mama?” Rebecca asked, looking forlorn but curious.
“I have sent a message to Lucas, asking him to bring his family to stay with you while Papa and I are in London.”
“The entire family?” she asked, her expression brightening just a bit.
Lady Thurlby smiled. “The entire family. I almost wish I could stay here with you for that reason alone.”
“Oh, Mama! Thank you!” Her eyes welled up again.
Between the tumult beyond the door and the conversation within, Ben was utterly confused. “I cannot claim to know what is going on here, other than to presume that Lord and Lady Thurlby are suddenly called to London, but I’m relieved that your brother and his family will provide a balance to whatever it was that upset you regarding all of this,” he said. “In the meantime, perhaps an invitation to go for a drive this afternoon will be favorable in your eyes. What do you say?”
“Oh, that would be just the thing!” Lady Thurlby answered before Rebecca could open her mouth. “Or perhaps not—not while her ankle is so newly healing and the surgeon is so pleased with its progress. Although a bit of fresh air and pleasant company might not be as great a concern. Oh dear. I can’t decide. Well, I must go, at any rate; there’s a great deal to do.” She leaned over and kissed Rebecca on the cheek before hurrying out the door.
“Wouldyou care to go for a drive?” Ben asked. “We can stay here, and I can read to you, if you’d prefer.”
“I believe I would like to go for a drive, yes,” she said, “despite Mama’s concerns. My foot may be too fragile to travel to London with Mama and Papa, but surely a brief, sedate drive through the country would do my spirits some good.”
“Excellent.” He offered her his hand and then her crutches, and then they proceeded to leave the dayroom. “Ho there,” he called out to Annie, who was heading in their direction. “Would you be so kind as to fetch Miss Rebecca’s shawl and bonnet? She is going for an outing.”
“Yes, sir!” Annie replied. She curtsied, then scurried off.
He stayed close to Rebecca as they walked to the front door of the manor and continued down the outside stairs. Ben fought not to take Rebecca’s arm as she hobbled in a determined manner over the cobblestones and made her way around the crested family carriage that still stood right in front of the entry. She finally made it to his waiting phaeton and took a deep breath.
