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“Itdidn’t create a problem, Isobel,” Rebecca said, angry and frustrated and disappointed in the lack of basic hospitality her brothers had shown Ben. “Thomas and Lucascreated the problem. Ben is our neighbor, and it would be good for the village were he to feel welcome when he spends time here.” She hoisted herself to a standing position, grabbed her crutches, and started hobbling to the door, wishing with her whole heart she could make a more dignified—more dramatic—exit. “You both owe him an apology.”
“Our little sister seems to think we’ve started off on the wrong foot,” Thomas said, nodding at Rebecca’s broken limb—obviously making a poor attempt at humor.
“Oh, Thomas,” Isobel murmured again on a low sigh.
Rebecca halted and looked at her eldest brother. “My broken ankle is not a laughing matter, Thomas, despite your play on words. And I am utterly baffled by your actions this evening; I have never seen you like this before, especially after behaving so congenially toward him during supper. I shudder to think how you would have behaved had you traveled to London with Susan and me rather than James had things gone according to plan. Would you have bullied any gentleman who paid me a kindness or expressed an interest in me? Did you bully Susan’s suitors in such a manner over the years? Is that why she remained unmarried for so long a time? I do hope that is not the case. You may be seventeen years my senior, but tonight, I do not believe you have shown yourself to be the one with the clearest judgment. I can only hope the Earl of Winton, my friendBenjamin, is willing to accept your apology.” She headed for the door.
“Rebecca, wait,” Thomas said. “We didn’t bully him. It wasn’t nearly so terrible as all that.”
“Not now, Thomas,” Isobel said quietly. “I fear you have done enough damage this evening; Lavinia and I will speak to her. And I daresay she’s absolutely correct. You and Lucasdoowe the earl an apology.”
“And don’t forget he outranks you both,” Delia added with the sort of dramatic emphasis only she could provide.
Rebecca left the music room and continued down the corridor. Her underarms hurt from the crutches. Her back hurt. Her heart hurt. She didn’t know if she wanted to speak to either Isobel or Lavinia at the moment. She was too . . . she wasn’t entirely sure. Angry at her brothers, angry at Ben. Angry at her broken ankle.
Angry at life.
Hurt and angry were the only words that came to her mind. Everything else felt dark. She continued on to the dayroom, entered and shut the door, and then hobbled over to the chaise longue that had been her prison for the past while and curled up on it. There was a banked fire in the fireplace, its dim glow the only light in the room. It suited her mood.
So did the room’s chill.
