by Wolf, Bree
Rebecca’s heart skipped a beat. “Perhaps he will abandon his suit.” Her eyes rose and met his. “Good riddance, would you not agree?”
Zach drew in a slow breath, and she could not help but think that the thought of Lord Tedious abandoning his suit suited her companion just fine. “Then what will keep your uncle from locking you up?”
The thought had occurred to Rebecca. “It is a possibility, but one I’m willing to risk. Perhaps…perhaps it’ll force me to decide what it is I want from life.” She forced a chuckle from her lips. “I’ve been having some trouble deciding.”
“What will your uncle do when he hears of this?” Concern rested in his blue eyes as he urged his steed closer.
Rebecca drew in a shuddering breath when his knee bumped against hers. “He will rant and yell. He will call me ungrateful and disobedient. He will turn red in the face and…threaten to send me from his house.” She swallowed, then forced a lighthearted smile back onto her face. “He’s a very predictable man, which is another reason why I’m doing this.”
Zach frowned.
“I need him to send me away,” she told him, praying that she was not mistaken in her predictions. “I need him to send me to Brighton.”
“Why?” His face grew tense. “And why would he do that?”
“He knows that I fear nothing more than boredom, being locked away from everyone, alone with my thoughts with no one to talk to,” she admitted, a nervous shiver crawling up and down her spine at admitting her weakness so openly to another. “He will send me to his small house in Brighton where I’ll be far away from the London Season and all the excitement it holds. He will try to break me, to show me what I fear the most, hoping that I’ll return chastened, that I’ll agree to do as he says.”
Watching her, Zach remained still as though frozen in time. Only his eyes moved over her face, lingering here and there, a hint of contemplation in them before his chest rose and fell with a deep breath. “You’re certain of this?”
Rebecca nodded. “As certain as I can be.”
“And why do you want him to send you to Brighton?”
A small smile played over her face at the thought of the next item on her list, at the thought of sharing that experience with the man beside her. “I’ll have a note sent to you once I know when I’ll leave. Meet me in Brighton as soon as you can.”
Zach closed his eyes as a grin stole onto his face. “You’re unbelievable.” His gaze found hers once more. “And that is a compliment.”
Rebecca smiled as her heart once more leapt into her throat in the most delicious way.
“You will not tell me why, am I right?” he asked, a hint of wickedness in his gaze as though her refusal pleased him greatly.
Laughing, Rebecca shook her head.
“I’m amazed at the intricacies of your mind, Becca. You never cease to surprise me.” His laughter sounded true and honest, and Rebecca wanted to believe that he meant it. Still…
“Do you disapprove? Do you mind that I—?”
“No.” His answer came fast and without a second’s hesitation. “Never. What would life be without adventure?”
Rebecca rolled her eyes. “Dreadfully boring.”
And this time, they laughed together.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Off to Brighton
As expected, her uncle was livid when he’d heard what she’d done. Of course, the whispers had reached him. They’d even beaten Rebecca home. The moment she’d set foot across the threshold, her uncle’s booming voice ordered her into his study.
Rebecca drew in a fortifying breath. “Let the games begin,” she mumbled to herself before heading down the corridor.
Seated behind his large desk, Uncle Conrad glared at his niece when she stepped inside, closing the door behind her. “How dare you?” he snarled, pushing to his feet, his hands fisted and resting on his desk as he leaned forward, fixing her with utter outrage in his beady little eyes. “How dare you do this to me? To this family? To Lord Coleridge?”
Rebecca bowed her head as she had practiced in front of the mirror that morning. “I’m so very sorry, Uncle. I never meant for this to happen. I never meant to disappoint you.” She added a little hitch to her voice for good measure.
Straightening, her uncle shook his head, his balled hands trembling with fury. “I’ve been working tirelessly to convince Lord Coleridge of your suitability, especially after you ran off and thwarted his intention of asking for your hand.”
That had been lucky indeed, and Rebecca would forever be grateful for how things had played out at the end of last Season. Now, if only they could do so again…
“It was the spur of the moment,” Rebecca pleaded, even managing a small tear to form in the corner of her left eye. It lingered there for a little while before spilling over and then slowly snaking its way down her cheek. “I went for a walk when I crossed paths with Lord Pembroke.” Oh, Zach would love these theatrics! If only he could see her now. “He offered me a ride on his horse, and…and…I wasn’t thinking. I—”
“You were supposed to remain with Caroline!” her uncle thundered. “Instead, you abandon her and run off yet again! This is not to be borne! You have no restraint, no good sense, no propriety! What if Lord Coleridge learns of this?” Groaning, her uncle sank back into his upholstered chair. His eyes closed as his head all but slumped against the backrest. “And he will hear of this. There’s no preventing that. What do I do? How to fix this?”
Rebecca grinned inwardly. “I’m so sorry, Uncle,” she all but sobbed despite the joy she felt. “I know I was foolish, but please do not send me away.” Clasping her hands together, she approached the desk, pleading in a rather desperate manner that almost turned her stomach even though it was only for show. “I could not bear to be away from dear Caroline. She is like a sister to me, and I cannot imagine not seeing her every day.”
“Well, you should have thought of that before you ruined your prospects!” Uncle Conrad roared before his fists collided loudly with the tabletop. While the wood didn’t yield, Rebecca’s uncle flinched at the sudden pain shooting up his arms. “You’ll go to Brighton,” he gritted out through clenched teeth, “and you’ll stay there until I manage to placate Lord Coleridge.” He lifted an accusing finger, pointing at her. “And pray that I find a way to placate him or you’ll never see London again.”
Almost wailing, Rebecca pleaded with her uncle but, fortunately, he would not be moved. “Go and have your things packed. You’ll leave in the morning.” When she opened her mouth for a last attempt to change his mind, he cut her off. “Not another word!” he growled. “Not another word!”
Staring at her uncle with sufficient evidence of shock on her face, Rebecca then fled his study, tears streaming down her face as loud sobs echoed through the hall. Only when she’d reached her own chamber did Rebecca dare let go of the tight rein she’d had on her emotions.
Oddly girlish giggles erupted, and she all but collapsed on her bed. More tears flowed from her eyes as laughter shook her and she tried to muffle the sound by burying her face in her pillows. When she finally calmed down, a large smile remained on her face. “Check and mate, dear uncle. You lost.”
In the next instant, the door to her chamber burst open and Caroline rushed in, her face pale as she stared at her cousin. “Are you mad? Surely, you must be for I cannot think of any reasonable explanation for you to act in such a manner.” Wringing her hands, Caroline stood by the bed and looked down at Rebecca, her head moving from side to side, incredulity in her blue eyes. “What possessed you?”
“Do not fret, dear cousin,” Rebecca exclaimed with a laugh. “Uncle did precisely what I wanted him to do. No more and no less.”
Caroline’s gaze narrowed. “You wished to be sent to Brighton? But you cannot stand to be on your own far away from…” Her voice trailed off, and the expression on her face stilled. “Is this another one of your plans, Becca?”
Rebecca shrugged. “Be a dear and ring for the
maid. It seems I have a lot of packing to do.”
Still shaking her head, Caroline stared at her. “Whatever you’re planning, after what happened today, Father will never let you go on your own. He’ll send a chaperone with you.”
“I expected as much,” Rebecca told her cousin, unable not to grin from ear to ear. “And I have a plan for that as well.”
Sighing, Caroline chuckled. “You’re unbelievable, but I’m glad to see you in such high spirits.” Then her gaze narrowed. “Does this have something to do with a certain gentleman who shall remain nameless?”
Rebecca’s heart did a little somersault at the mere mention of Zach as well as the next two items on her list. “Perhaps.”
“Will you promise me to be careful?” Caroline urged, her wide blue eyes full of concern as she peeked over the rim of her spectacles.
Meeting her cousin’s gaze, Rebecca grinned. “I’ll be as careful as you yourself no doubt are as well.” The small jab at Caroline’s own secrets was not lost on her cousin, and Rebecca congratulated herself on a job well done.
This couldn’t have gone better. Now, off to the next step!
*
From across the street, hidden under a tall elm tree, Zach watched as trunks were loaded onto Mr. Hawkins’ carriage. A little while later, the front door opened and Rebecca stepped out onto the stoop, righting her bonnet as she looked up at the clear sky, a pleased smile lingering on her lips.
Zach couldn’t help but grin, his heart thudding wildly in his chest at the mere sight of her. She was indeed a fearsome creature to behold! Clever and quick-witted, daring and shockingly dauntless. She was full of life and willing to risk everything to be herself, and he felt oddly honored that she had chosen him to accompany her on her path. Had she chosen him for lack of options?
Zach sighed, hoping with every fiber of his being that it had been more than mere convenience. After all, since that day on Rotten Row, their names had become somewhat entwined as people whispered about their scandalous behavior – behind their backs, of course. Zach couldn’t care less; however, he did worry for Rebecca. From the looks of it, though, he needn’t have.
Perhaps he ought to have worried for her aunt and uncle.
Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins followed their niece outside, their faces strained, marred by anger and disappointment. Rebecca willed away the joyous look that had played over her face when she faced her aunt and uncle, offering them a formal goodbye. Then she turned and, accompanied by a rather sullen, older woman – no doubt a chaperone of some kind – descended the few steps leading down to the pavement before entering the waiting carriage. All the while, her uncle glared at her, his eyes shooting daggers as his wife tried to calm him, a soothing hand on his arm.
And then the carriage was off toward Brighton!
Mounting his horse, Zach followed at a safe distance, amazed at Rebecca’s ability to predict her uncle’s reaction. Indeed, what if he had merely locked her in her chamber for a fortnight in order to unsettle her? To show her that it was not wise to challenge him? To disobey him?
The thought turned Zach’s stomach. That a vivacious creature like Miss Hawkins could be caged like a bird was an atrocity! Still, she always seemed to find a way out of her cage.
Remembering the day they’d ridden down Rotten Row together, Zach mused at the fear he’d seen in her eyes when she’d told him that her uncle would threaten to throw her out, to send her from his home and leave her to fend for herself. Yes, she’d laughed, waving away that concern. However, the fear in her eyes had been real, and he knew that it was that fear that held her back, that she hated because it stood in her way and made her seem weak.
Was that why she thought of herself as weak? Never would he believe that she cared what others thought of her; at least not enough to affect her decisions. He, too, knew how crippling it could be to be disappointed in oneself. To want to be someone and fall far short.
By the time the sun began its descent, they arrived in Brighton and Zach followed the carriage to a small house on the outskirts of the small seaside town. After watching Rebecca step inside, he rode off to secure himself lodgings at a nearby inn and then sat down to a warm supper in the inn’s taproom.
Darkness had already fallen over the town when Zach stepped outside, breathing in the fresh sea air. It reminded him of home, of Boston, of his brother, of his old life. A deep sigh lodged in his throat as he walked down the peaceful streets, wondering what Nate was doing in this very moment. Of course, it was earlier in the day in Boston. Would Nate be sitting down to lunch? Alone? Or with a friend?
Zach wished he knew, and yet, he did not dare ask. Every few weeks, he received a letter from his brother, keeping him informed of the proceedings in the iron furnace as well as societal developments in Boston. However, Nate rarely wrote anything personal about his own life, and that omission made Zach fear that his brother was suffering greatly and simply did not wish for him to know.
Would it ever end?
Thinking of Rebecca’s offer to help him retrieve the ring, Zach could not deny that he was torn. Yes, he wanted the ring back. He needed it back in order to alleviate his brother’s guilt. However, he did not want for Rebecca to place herself in any danger. Who knew what the man who had won the ring would do if he saw it around her neck? Whoever he was, Zach doubted that such a blackguard would not be tempted to learn how it had ended up in her possession. Had he, Zach, not done the same? For different reasons, of course.
Still, for his brother’s sake, he needed to continue on. Not that Nate would want the ring back. That much he had made clear in his first letter. Oddly enough, one particular line of that letter had been circling in Zach’s head lately, Retrieve it and offer it to the woman of your choice. I pray it will be a wiser one than my own.
Whenever Zach thought back to those words, Rebecca’s – Becca’s! – bright green eyes and daring smile appeared in his mind and he could not help but smile himself.
Smile with a warmth that reminded him of the way his father and mother had always looked at one another. Often had his father spoken to him about trusting his heart when it came to the woman he decided to marry. And now, here, in this moment, Zach could not help but wonder if perhaps Becca could be that woman.
He barely knew her. They were all but strangers who’d shared a few precious moments with one another. And yet, he felt as though he knew her. The person she was deep down. Perhaps not all her facets and every nook and cranny of her heart and soul. However, it would take a lifetime to discover all of those, would it not? Had his father not told him so?
If there was one man Zach trusted without a doubt, without hesitation, it was his father. Could she be the one?
Without thought, his feet guided him toward Mr. Hawkins’ small Brighton home and soon Zach found himself once more standing below her window looking up. Darkness hung over the world, and few sounds drifted to his ears besides the soft sea breeze. Downstairs, one light remained on in what Zach presumed to be the kitchen. The rest of the house seemed asleep.
A smile tickled Zach’s lips as he reminded himself that it was no doubt Becca’s doing. He loved the name his own cousin, Eugenie, had bestowed upon her, and using it – even if only in thought – made him feel closer to her.
After ensuring that no one was watching, Zach began to climb upward. This time, there was no tree conveniently settled under her window. However, his fingers as well as the tips of his boots found sufficient traction in the brick wall and the ledge separating the ground from the first floor.
Only moments later, he reached her window and found it ajar.
Zach’s lips twitched upward, and he reminded himself not to be surprised by anything this woman said or did.
“You’re late!”
Zach laughed as he slid inside, his eyes falling on the young woman standing in the middle of the medium-sized room, her hands on her hips and a look of sheer impatience on her face. Her hair was braided in the back and hung over her right shoulder. She wore
another simple day dress that was far from fashionable, but would allow her to move and climb as needed. “I apologize,” he spoke into the dim room, his gaze darting to the door before returning to the woman with the insistent scowl. “I wasn’t aware we’d agreed on a particular time.”
Instantly, her scowl turned into a smile and she rushed toward him, her hands seeking his. “Oh, never mind! I simply cannot wait a moment longer. Let’s go!” And with that, she strode toward the window.
“Go where?” Zach asked, still feeling the warmth of her skin on his hands.
Turning to look at him, she smiled. “To the beach.”
“The beach?”
“Did I stutter?” she demanded, her feet almost dancing with impatience. “Yes, the beach!”
“Why?”
For a moment, she stared at him as though he were a dimwit. “Do I truly need to answer that?” Rebecca teased then, her teeth sinking into her lower lip as a large smile began to stretch across her face.
His own brows drew into a frown as he approached her, his gaze lingering on her face, seeing the anticipation, the eagerness that urged her to move. “What goes on in that mind of yours?” he whispered as he drew close enough to feel her breath against his skin.
“Now, don’t be tiresome,” she warned him. “Why does one go to the beach? I should think the answer quite simple.”
“To enjoy the sun?” Zach teased her, enjoying the way her gaze narrowed and her hands tensed as though she wished to throttle him for delaying them.
“At night?” Rebecca asked in return, one brow raised in challenge.
Zach paused, worried how far Rebecca intended to bend the rules this night. “To dip a toe in the water?”
Her grin widened. “Perhaps more than a toe.”
“A foot?”
Holding his gaze, she closed the distance between them, her hands reaching for the lapels of his jacket, pulling herself up against him. “Now, how much would one need to dip in for it to be considered swimming? What would you say?”