by Fiona Miers
“Nevertheless, we must have it looked at,” she said.
“Yes, Miss,” Thomas said with a grin. “I would scoop you into my arms and bravely carry you to the carriage...”
“Please do not,” she said with a chuckle. Apart from the fact that it may aggravate his injury even more, she had to think about how it would look to anyone passing by. “That is why we have Marcus.”
Rebecca called to the manservant, and he returned to the beach. He effortlessly scooped Rebecca into his arms and Thomas followed him to the carriage. The sting in his leg began to intensify, but he certainly did not show his pain and discomfort to Rebecca. He simply stumbled along to the carriage hoping he would not in fact bleed to death, as Rebecca had stated earlier.
Chapter Five.
Despite being wrapped in a blanket and Thomas sitting close to her in the carriage lending his body warmth to her, Rebecca couldn’t stop shivering.
She hadn’t expected the cold water to have such a detrimental effect on her, but clearly, she’d been wrong. Though, if she were honest, she wasn’t shivering only from being chilled to the bone, but also with a touch of fear.
Her father would be nothing short of furious with them both. He had entrusted her to the care of Thomas and Marcus. He had also placed his trust in Rebecca that she would not put herself in harm’s way. And that was precisely what had happened.
She’d made a promise that he had nothing to worry about. If he were to find out what had happened between Thomas and her with the kiss, he would be even more furious. He might even insist that they be married if gossip began to spread.
She wasn’t sure if anyone had witnessed what had occurred. Either the incident with the water where she had nearly drowned, or when she and Thomas had shared more than one intimate kiss.
There had been no one at the private beach when they had found themselves hunting for fossils, but people were inquisitive by nature, and the two of them wandering on the rocks would gain attention. Especially if the man was Thomas Melton.
It was disastrous to think of.
She could not imagine a worse start to a marriage. Her father would wish to preserve her reputation and by arranging them to marry would save her.
Nevertheless, it would be unfair towards Thomas to allow that to happen. Neither of them asked for today’s misadventure, although the kiss had been entirely their decision. The second kiss as well. She also doubted the duke would allow his youngest brother to marry due to unfortunate circumstances.
Her shoulders shook once more as a shiver coursed down her spine, and Thomas reached out his hand to her. It came to a rest on her shoulder and she gazed at him.
“Are you all right, Rebecca?”
She nodded slightly, though her trembling lips belied her nod.
“We will be at the townhouse soon,” he said in a reassuring tone, his eyes gentle but filled with concern.
Perhaps that was what frightened her. She didn’t wish for her morning with Thomas to end, and she most certainly did not wish for her father to be angered by what he would see as soon as they arrived home.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop, and her heart pounded in her chest. She felt rather dizzy as Thomas and Marcus helped her out of the vehicle, but she drew in a deep breath and allowed Marcus to lead the way to the front door.
As they stepped inside, Rebecca hoped that her father was tending a patient and would not come to meet them. It was quiet in the townhouse, and she breathed a sigh of relief as they stepped into the long hallway.
“What in the blazes?”
Her shoulders slumped as she heard her father’s voice echoing through their home, and she slowly turned on her heel.
“Father, she said.
“What on earth happened to you? You’re drenched!”
His voice was loud enough that the entire street would probably have heard her father’s exclamation.
“Father, I am all right,” she said, attempting to reassure the enraged man.
Dr. Morton’s eyes darkened as he stared at Thomas, his finger pointing angrily at him. “You.”
“Dr. Morton,” Thomas said and held his hands up in defence.
“I trusted you with my daughter’s well-being, and now I see you returned her home drenched, shivering and practically frozen. How dare you even step foot in my home after allowing harm to come to my daughter.”
“Father, it was not his fault,” Rebecca said, but the angry man ignored her and focused his attention on Thomas.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Dr. Morton asked and glowered at Thomas.
Rebecca bit her bottom lip, terrified that Thomas would not only inform him of what had happened to her, but also what had happened between them on the cliff face while they waited for the tide to lower.
She had never been good at hiding things from her father, especially after her mother passed away.
She was on the verge of stepping forward and confessing everything herself when Thomas placed his hand against his chest and stepped forward.
“Dr. Morton, I am fully aware that you placed your trust and confidence in me to ensure that no harm came to your daughter. I had mistaken the timing of the tides, miscalculating how rapidly the water would rise. Rebecca and I attempted to make our way across the water, however it was too rough. Rebecca went under but I helped her to safety. We waited on the cliff face until the water was calmer. As soon as it was, Marcus came for us, and we departed the beach immediately.”
Her father glanced towards her for a moment, then turned his attention back to Thomas.
“I accept full responsibility for what happened, and I apologise sincerely. Something such as this will never happen again,” Thomas said earnestly.
“Indeed, it will not. You will never come near my daughter again. You have risked her life for foolish little shells. You were probably not even aware she cannot swim.”
“Father, do not—”
“To your chambers, Rebecca.”
Her father’s harsh tone surprised her, and she gazed at Thomas one last time before ascending the stairs at the end of the hallway and moving towards her chambers. She was racked with guilt that he had claimed full responsibility.
She pressed her fingers to her lips where Thomas had kissed her, and her chest tightened. Possibly there was some way she was able to repay him the kindness of saving her life, even if it meant risking her reputation.
Perhaps she was still in shock and was not thinking clearly, although she did not deny that he was the man she wanted.
AS THOMAS STEPPED ALONG the crushed rock driveway to Finlay Hall, an uncomfortable pain erupted in his leg. After he had been thoroughly scolded by Dr. Morton about the safety of his daughter while vociferously expressing his disappointment towards Thomas, the physician had inspected his injury.
The wound had opened on one end, and Dr. Morton closed it again with sutures. He wasn’t as gentle as his daughter had been, but Thomas was well aware that the man was angered by what had happened to Rebecca.
In all honestly, if it were his child who had undergone a traumatic event, he would have been in the same state as well. It was only natural for the physician to feel that way, and he simply clenched his jaw, not complaining at the pain.
Dr. Morton had sent Thomas on his way without him seeing Rebecca again, and according to the doctor, he would not be able to see her again.
Thomas sighed as he stepped inside the manor house only to be met by Charles, who seemed interested in how his morning had gone.
“Have you returned already?” Charles asked with a grin, but as soon as he noticed the grim expression on Thomas’s face, his smile vanished.
Charles’s gaze dropped, noticing the way Thomas dragged his leg in an awkward limp and he rushed over. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“As well as can be expected,” Thomas said with a nod.
“You ought to be in a much happier mood.”
“And why is that?” Thomas asked, brushing p
ast Charles, now limping as he walked.
“I was told you acted rather bravely at the cliffs. Your own near-drowning and the heroic rescue of a local girl were quite the story,” Charles said.
“Where in heavens did you hear that?” Thomas asked with a frown.
“The entire town of Weymouth speaks of it. Emma and I were taking a ride in the carriage with the children and we were stopped by Miss Lucy asking us if we heard of your heroics.”
“That tale is greatly exaggerated, brother,” Thomas muttered.
“So, we do not have a hero in our midst?” James asked suddenly from behind Charles.
Thomas looked over his shoulder and noticed his brothers and their wives approaching from down the hall.
He shook his head. “It was not the case at all.”
“Then why are tales being spread to quickly? There must be some truth to it,” Emma asked.
“Some, indeed. But not a lot.”
“Tell us,” Robert urged, and the others agreed.
Thomas sighed and ran his fingers through his dishevelled brown hair. “Rebecca and I were at the flatter rocks by the bay. It was lovely, and she was enjoying it very much. Then the tide came in, unexpectedly so. I must have miscalculated—”
“Or you simply lost track of time,” James said with a grin.
“Perhaps,” Thomas said. “Nevertheless, the water began to rise, and we made our way across a steep slope to get to the beach where her father’s manservant waited for us. There, Rebecca lost her footing. She was submerged in the water, and I simply assisted her out. We waited on the highest part of the rocks until the water lowered and the manservant carried her across to the beach. I swam back behind them. It was nothing heroic. It was more a case of foolishness.”
“You should not be so hard on yourself, Thomas. You still rescued her.”
“That is not what her father believes,” Thomas said.
“What do you mean?”
“Naturally, I escorted her home. She shivered profusely, which I am convinced was shock rather than cold, and her father...”
His brothers and their wives stared at him expectantly and he drew in a deep breath. “He prohibited me from seeing his daughter again.”
“That is absurd. You rescued her,” Abigail said.
“I need to sit down,” Thomas said, dragging his leg as he walked into the sitting room and landed on the chaise with a sigh.
His siblings walked in after him, arranging themselves around the room and staring at him expectantly.
“Go on, brother,” James urged.
Thomas ran a hand through his hair and groaned. “If it had not been for my carelessness, she would not have been in danger in the first place. I accept full responsibility for what happened, and I even told him the same.”
Robert crossed his arms, something clearly on his mind.
“What is it, Robert?” Thomas asked.
Robert shifted his weight and a grin formed on his lips. “Obviously, Rebecca’s father is a decent and fine physician.”
“He is,” Charles answered. “He is well-respected in Weymouth, as well as the county.”
“Have you been checking on his background, my dear?” Emma asked and crossed her arms.
“I am not the one on trial here,” Charles said softly and stepped back. “I was merely ensuring the safety of my own family.”
Emma rolled her eyes at her husband.
“That is not what I was referring to, Charles,” Robert said. “I merely meant that not many physicians would have scolded Thomas in the manner Dr. Morton did. Those physicians and doctors who fawn all over nobility are not to be trusted. Dr. Morton did quite the opposite, and it shows that he is not biased.”
“Not biased in a biased society. The foolish man. Honest and loyal, but foolish nonetheless,” Charles said.
“But love makes us do foolish things. Is that not so, Thomas?” James asked with a chuckle.
Thomas pressed his lips together to prevent himself from saying something he would regret. He could not dismiss the feelings he had developed for Rebecca, but they were most certainly not love. Infatuation and desire, perhaps. Protectiveness and concern for her well-being, certainly. Wishing that he was able to spend more time with her, absolutely.
But that ship had sailed. Dr. Morton had made his wishes clear and Thomas would not dare to rebel against those wishes, no matter how much he longed for Rebecca.
“Oh, and speaking of foolish,” James said.
His amused smile vanished when Abigail lightly slapped his arm, her brow furrowed in disapproval. “James,” she warned.
“My apologies,” James said and turned to Charles. “Perhaps you can inform Thomas.”
“Inform me of what?” Thomas asked.
“We have a visitor at the estate, brother,” Charles said.
Thomas sighed and glanced at his eldest brother. “Who is it, and why is it of any concern to me?”
“Mother is here,” Charles answered. “And she wishes to see you.”
Never had a phrase struck such fear into Thomas’ heart than the words his brother had just spoken to him. Although Thomas was not precisely afraid of his mother, the mere fact that there was something to discuss privately caused him much discomfort.
His brow furrowed and his jaw clenched and although his heart raced in his chest, he remained composed.
With his mother, there was no other way.
REBECCA DREW IN A DEEP breath as Connie peeled the layers of wet fabric from her skin while a warm bath awaited her in her chambers. She still shivered but was feeling much better. Perhaps it was merely the initial trepidation of how her father would react if he knew what had happened.
She still felt very guilty that Thomas had taken full responsibility for what had happened and had been punished for it. Perhaps there was a way to convince her father to allow him to the townhouse again?
The bath was delightful and warm, and Rebecca’s shivers vanished completely as she slid beneath the water. She wasn’t sure how long she spent submerged, but when Connie approached with a robe, she knew it was time to climb out.
Getting dressed into dry clothing only took a short while as Connie assisted her, keeping a close eye on her. Rebecca did not appreciate the fuss, and she stepped away from her maid.
“When will lunch be ready, Connie?” she asked stiffly, her stomach clenching with hunger.
“It is being prepared, Miss. Your father insisted that I serve it here in your chambers. He wishes for you to rest as much as possible,” Connie answered.
“I do not need to rest. I must speak with him.”
“It is not to be negotiated, Miss,” Connie said. “Dr. Morton made that clear.”
Rebecca’s jaw dropped as Connie walked to the bed, folding the blanket to the side for her to climb under. She could not believe that her father was being so overprotective and unreasonable with her.
But as always, she did as she was told.
Hours later, Regbecca lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling, intense boredom washing over her. She hadn’t enjoyed her lunch in the solitude of her bedchambers, regardless of how delicious it was. The quiet and isolating air around her made the food taste bland, and she could not help but be filled with sorrow. She normally adored the peaceful feeling her bedchamber provided her when she required it, but it was no longer a haven of peace and harmony. It was now a prison to which she had been confined.
She wasn’t aware how much time had passed since Connie left with the empty tray, but her body ached from spending too much time in bed.
A knock on the door caused the boredom to be replaced with relief, but as soon as the door opened and her father came into view, anger replaced the relief. She turned to stare out the window, avoiding her father’s gaze. But much to her dismay, he sat on the edge of her bed.
“I was not certain whether you were sleeping,” he said.
“The silence is deafening, and I am unable to sleep because of it,” she said, quoting
one of her more adored poets. She wasn’t certain whether her father recalled the poem, but it didn’t matter. Only its appropriation mattered.
“Nevertheless, you must rest, my dearest daughter,” her father said. “May I listen to your lungs?”
As much as she wished to argue that there was no need and that she was perfectly healthy, she nodded. She did not dare to rebel, as she knew her father would still be very much angered by what had happened.
Rebecca sat upright at his request and her father placed both his hands on her back, below her shoulders.
“Draw in three deep breaths, and slowly exhale,” her father said.
She did as she was told, slowly inhaling through her nose, and exhaling through her mouth as she had been taught by her father many years ago. Her father performed this test on all his patients, to see whether the two sides of the chest moved in a similar manner. He also listened closely for any abnormal sounds coming from the throat or the lungs.
“There is no wheezing, but it does not mean you may leave your chambers,” he said, quickly adding the last part of the phrase.
“Father, please. Boredom besieges me, and the quiet around me may cause me to lose my sanity.”
“Rather your sanity than your life,” he said under his breath as he shifted to the edge of the bed. “Now, tell me precisely what happened.”
“Did you not hear it from Thomas Melton? I heard you questioned him.”
“The irresponsible young man who put my daughter at risk? I have every right to question him,” Dr. Morton said. “Now, tell me.”
Rebecca sighed, but as always, did as her father requested. She went through the entire tale, from where the tides rose, to where she fell into the water and how Thomas had saved her.
Of course, she purposely neglected to tell her father about the kiss they shared. Her father had the tendency to exaggerate things, which was precisely why she did not wish to tell him of the kiss.
“The irresponsibility of Thomas Melton is lost upon me. I cannot fathom that a man can behave in such a way,” her father said softly, his tone filled with disapproval.