Rebecca's Refusal

Chapter Two

Feeling much refreshed after partaking of an excellent luncheon Rebecca prepared to visit the lawyer's office. She changed out of her carriage dress and into a rose-coloured kerseymere gown. The cheerful colour, worn so soon after her grandfather's death, would have been shocking to the ton, but Rebecca was not of their number and had no need to fear their censure. Besides, it was her grandfather himself who had decreed there was to be no period of mourning. “Tomfoolery for jackanapes!” he'd called it, betraying his lack of Society roots, and shaking his head over the custom of “people rigging themselves out like crows every time someone turns up their toes!”.

She missed him. But she consoled herself with the fact that he had had a long and happy life.

She recalled her thoughts to the present. Regarding herself in the cheval glass to check that she was tidy she adjusted the fine woollen folds of her gown, which draped themselves elegantly around her shoulders before falling from soft gathers beneath her breast into a long, slender skirt. She smoothed the long sleeves and tweaked the lace at the bodice and cuffs, and then sat down in front of the dressing-table so that Susan could arrange her hair. The maid brushed her ebony locks before pulling them into a neat and glossy chignon and then teasing out a row of ringlets round her face.

Well, she was ready.

“My dear, you look lovely,” said Hetty as she reached the bottom of the stairs. “Now, we had better go. We will be meeting Charles at the lawyer's office as he has had some business matters to attend to, but after that, he will be coming home with us. He is longing to see you again.”

“As I am longing to see him.”

The two ladies fastened their cloaks, settled their bonnets on their heads and pulled on their gloves.

“This snow!” exclaimed Hetty as they went out of the house. “It looks lovely, but it does make things difficult.” She turned to the coachman, resplendent in his livery, who was sitting on the box. “You will go carefully, won't you?” she asked anxiously. “Mr Marsden is very concerned about his horses.”

The coachman assured her that he would take care and the two ladies stepped into the carriage.

“It's just such a pity Joshua could not be here,” said Hetty as the carriage pulled away. “Charles wrote to him as soon as Jebadiah died, but he has had no reply.”

Joshua Kelling was Jebadiah's godson. Rebecca had never met him, for they lived in different parts of the country and Joshua had spent a lot of time abroad, but her grandfather had spoken highly of him. She had always imagined him as bookish and bespectacled man because, according to her grandfather he had a good business head; and she had also imagined him as something of a dandy, because her grandfather had chortled over Joshua's many conquests. “Fascinated by him, the women are!” Jebadiah had crowed. “And he by them!”

Rebecca smiled at the picture she had created, of a bright, clever man, who was polished in his address, adept at making himself agreeable, and dressed in the latest style. She would very much like to meet him! But she would have to wait, because at the moment he was abroad on business.

She was brought out of her thoughts by the carriage rolling to a halt.

“Are we there already?” asked Rebecca.

She was surprised at the shortness of the journey.

“Yes,” said Hetty, climbing out of the carriage. “We're here.”

Rebecca looked up at the lawyer's office building. It was decent and respectable; prosperous, even. Mr Wesley was evidently good at his job.

The two ladies were admitted to the building by an unctuous clerk.

“If you would care to follow me?” he said, with a low bow.

What an oily youth, thought Rebecca with a frown, caught by the unsettling mixture of servility and arrogance in the clerk's manner. But then she had time to think nothing further, for she and Hetty were being shown into the lawyer's office. And there was her uncle Charles!

Charles Marsden was a distinguished-looking gentleman. A light smattering of grey marked his hair at the temples, giving him a distinguished look. His figure was, perhaps, running a little to fat, but he still cut a fine figure in his tailcoat and breeches.

“I'm so pleased you've arrived,” he said. “Hetty was worried when you didn't get here last night, but I knew you would find the journey difficult in all this snow.”

“It was,” Rebecca acknowledged. “I will tell you all about it later.”

He nodded. Now was not the time for conversation. Now was the time for attending to business.

Rebecca turned her attention to the lawyer. He was a small man with sparse hair and thin hands. He was dressed conservatively in a dark coat and knee breeches. On the end of his nose he wore a pair of pince-nez.

“Now we are all gathered together, please, take a seat,” he said.

He spoke in a dry, desiccated voice that matched his appearance perfectly.

Rebecca divested herself of her bonnet and cloak, then settled herself on a Hepplewhite chair. Hetty and Charles, similarly shedding their outdoor clothes, seated themselves on an ugly but comfortable sofa.

“Mr Kelling will be joining us?” asked Mr Wesley.

“Unfortunately not,” said Charles. “He is at present abroad. I wrote to him, telling him of Jebadiah's death, but the letter must not have reached him. I have received no reply.”

“My own efforts to contact him have met with a similar lack of success. Well, as he cannot be with us, I suggest we get down to business.”

“Indeed,” said Charles.

“Good. Then if you are all quite ready, I will begin.”

Rebecca settled herself more comfortably then turned with interest to the lawyer.

Mr Wesley cleared his throat then picked up an important-looking document that was placed in front of him. He shuffled it between his hands. In precise, dry tones he began to read.

“"This is the last will and testament of Jebadiah Marsden",” he said. His voice took on a declaiming quality. “"To my only living son, Charles Marsden, I leave — "”

At that moment there was a commotion from out in the hall, and the sound of the unctuous clerk saying, “You can't go in,” before the door was flung open, and there, on the threshold, was... the leonine gentleman!

He was looking even more impressive than Rebecca remembered him. His mane of dark blonde hair was gleaming in a shaft of sunlight. His jaw line, devoid of the stubble that had adorned it the previous evening, was revealed in all its strength. The planes of his cheekbones, now that his hair had been brushed back from his face, were even sharper than she had remembered them, and his lips were full and firm. His clothes were immaculate. Beneath his many-caped greatcoat Rebecca glimpsed a blue tailcoat and cream breeches, pulled tight across his powerful thighs, and beneath them a pair of highly polished black boots.

But what is he doing here? thought Rebecca.

Her question was quickly answered. Charles, starting up, said warmly, “Joshua!”

Joshua? thought Rebecca in astonishment. This was Joshua?

No. It couldn't be.

He was the complete opposite of the picture she had built up in her mind. Where was the dandy she had imagined? True, his clothes were in the height of fashion, but he wore them with an air of wildness that spoke of plains and prairies rather than drawing-rooms. And as for being able to make himself agreeable..!

“Joshua!” cried Hetty with pleasure. “We had given up all hope! How wonderful to see you again.”

And now a new problem pushed its way into Rebecca's mind. What would he say when he turned his head and saw her? She found herself dreading the moment. If he mentioned the incident, she dreaded to think of Hetty's horrified response!

“And now you must meet Jebadiah's grand-daughter,” said Charles jovially. “Miss Fossington, this is Mr Kelling.”

Joshua turned towards her, and a humorous light brightened his copper-coloured eyes.

“Oh, Charles, for heaven's sake!” Hetty threw up her hands in despair. “There will be no standing on ceremony between Jebadiah's loved ones.” She took the introductions into her own hands. “Joshua, this is Rebecca, and Rebecca, this is Joshua.”

Joshua took her hand, and to her annoyance Rebecca felt herself flush. But she need not have worried. Although the gleam did not leave his eye, he behaved in exemplary fashion, bowing politely over her hand. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss it... and gave a sigh of relief when he did not, for she had the uneasy feeling that the feel of his lips on the back of her hand would have been strangely too much to bear.

As he relinquished her hand she felt her pulse begin to steady and was able to reply with a semblance of calm. “Joshua.” She inclined her head.

Fortunately, neither Hetty nor Charles had noticed the strained nature of their greeting, but she still could not be comfortable as she again took her seat because she had no idea whether Joshua would reveal they had met, or whether he would reveal the details of their meeting.

Still, the situation must be borne. They were gathered together for the reading of Jebadiah's will, and she must give Mr Wesley her attention.

“I will begin again,” said Mr Wesley, once Joshua had shrugged himself out of his greatcoat, and they had all settled again. He turned to Joshua. “I had just begin to read Jebadiah Marsden's will,” he explained.

Joshua nodded. “Charles wrote and told me of Jebadiah's death.” His face became more serious, and Rebecca realized that for all his untamed appearance he was capable of strong attachments, for it was obvious he had loved her grandfather deeply. “I would have been here sooner but the letter was delayed and my own journey home was hampered by a bad crossing and then all this snow.”

“Quite.” Mr Wesley picked up the will once more. “"This is the last will and testament of Jebadiah Marsden",” he began again. “"To my only living son, Charles Marsden, I leave the bulk of my estate."”

Charles, who had been perched on the edge of the sofa, let out a sigh of relief, and Hetty smiled happily.

Rebecca, too, was pleased. She was beginning to feel a little more comfortable. Joshua had settled himself at the other side of the room, and she was able to think clearly again.

Mr Wesley went on to give details of Charles' inheritance: a number of London properties, a variety of stocks and bonds, as well as assorted bank balances and a collection of lesser items. Then he continued. “There are also a number of smaller legacies, as I expect you anticipated.” He cleared his throat again and went on.

“"To Miss Louisa Stanhope, I leave the sum of five thousand pounds."” Louisa was Rebecca's middle-aged cousin, and the two of them lived together in Cheshire, so that Rebecca was delighted to know that Louisa had been remembered. Five thousand pounds was a generous sum. It would enable Cousin Louisa to indulge in a number of the luxuries she presently deprived herself of. Perhaps she could even visit Bath or Harrogate to take the waters, in an attempt to cure the rheumatism which had prevented her from travelling to London with Rebecca.

Rebecca turned her attention back to Mr Wesley. “"To my godson, Joshua Kelling",” he went on, “"I leave my signet ring —"”

Rebecca nodded thoughtfully. It seemed fitting, as well as practical, that Joshua should inherit her grandfather's ring, which was embossed with the letter "J".

“" — together with a half share in Marsden mill".”

Rebecca glanced at Joshua. As she took in the ruthless line of his jaw she shivered. This was an unforeseen complication: not that Joshua was to inherit half of the mill, as her grandfather had always told her that that would happen, but that Joshua was a strong and powerful man, instead of the malleable dandy she had hoped he would be.

The question now was, although she had known that Joshua was to inherit half of the mill, had he known that she was to inherit the other half?

She felt a shiver of apprehension. She would soon find out.

“"To my beloved granddaughter, Rebecca,"” went on Mr Wesley, “I leave my fob watch, in memory of the pleasure she gave me when she was learning to tell the time... and a half share in Marsden mill."”

She saw Hetty and Charles turn towards her in surprise, but it was Joshua's face that most interested her. As her eyes were drawn to his she saw his brows shoot up in surprise, before a ruthless smile curved his lip. He turned towards her and she quivered as felt the full force of his personality being brought to bear on her. His eyes looked deep into her own, and she saw them gleam, predatory, in the winter sunlight. But if he was challenging her, then so be it, she thought, for he this time he would not find her wanting.

At the sight of her straightening her spine an appreciative quirk touched the corner of his mouth, then he turned his attention back to Mr Wesley.

There were a few further legacies and bequests, then Mr Wesley folded the document and put it down on the table. That concludes the reading of the will. “Are there any questions?”

He looked from one to the other of them.

None were forthcoming.

Charles stood up. “Thank you, Wesley,” he said, taking charge, as the heir. “It was good of you to take the time to see us. But now I believe we must keep you no longer. If I could trouble you to have your clerk hail us a hansom? It was too cold for our carriage to wait.”

“At once.” Mr Wesley summoned his clerk, and sent the unctuous youth to perform the task.

“You'll return with us, I hope, and join us for dinner, Joshua?” asked Hetty, turning with a smile towards Joshua. “It has been such a long time since we have seen you. We are longing for you to tell us all about your trip.”

Joshua smiled down at Hetty. To her surprise, Rebecca saw that it was a warm smile, untinged with mockery or wickedness as it was when he smiled at her. It warmed his eyes, making them glow tawny.

“I'd like to, but unfortunately I have one or two urgent matters to attend to.”

Rebecca breathed a sigh of relief.

“Then you will at least join us for tea?” Hetty pressed him.

Rebecca held her breath.

By accident, he caught sight of her and a wicked smile curved his mouth. “Thank you. I'd be delighted.”

Rebecca fumed. He had done it on purpose, she was sure of it. It seemed he meant to make her uncomfortable for the rest of the afternoon!

“Good,” said Hetty delightedly.

Whilst they waited for a hansom, Charles and Hetty fell into an animated conversation about their good fortune. Not wishing to intrude upon them, Rebecca withdrew to the far side of the room.

To her discomfiture, Joshua followed her. “I take it you have no objection to me joining you for tea?” he said, with a quirk at the corner of his mouth.

Rebecca fought down the urge to rise to his bait, and replied coolly, “Of course not. What possible objection could I have?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “We didn't part on the best of terms, and I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable. If you are worried that I will mention the incident, you may rest easy. It reflects well on neither of us.”

“Nothing you could do would be important enough to make me uncomfortable,” returned Rebecca, because for some reason she did not want him to know the effect he had on her.

“No?” His eyes were mocking.

Rebecca swallowed. “No.”

“I am glad to hear it.”

The atmosphere had suddenly grown thick, and she was uncomfortably aware of a tingling sensation running down her spine. He was a formidable man, and she was beginning to see why her grandfather had said he was such a strong player in business matters. It was not because he had a head for figures, as she had supposed — although he was undoubtedly intelligent — but because he had a ruthless streak that would serve him well in the cut and thrust of commerce. It was in his eyes, a ruthlessness that was akin to a jungle cat regarding its prey; because despite his civilised veneer there was definitely something ruthless about Joshua Kelling.

And he was to be her partner in the mill.

She felt a brief moment of panic, before her spirit rose to the challenge. Here was a man against whom she could test her mettle, and that was something she did not meet with every day.

“Wondering how strong I am, Rebecca?” he asked, as if reading her mind.

“I —” she said, startled. “How did you know what I was thinking?” she asked accusingly.

He laughed. “Jebadiah used to wonder the same thing. We had many battles. Most of which I won. But not all.” He looked at her critically. “You are very like him. When we met in The Nag's Head I wondered who you reminded me of, and now I know. When you lift your chin — yes, like that!” he said, as she unconsciously lifted it, sensing a challenge, “then you are just like Jebadiah. Not physically, of course,” he said with a wicked smile, “but there is something about your manner, as if you are saying, Do your worst, it won't be enough, no man will ever get the better of me.” His smile broadened into sardonic laughter. “With his blood in your veins it's no wonder you were capable of standing up to me. What is a wonder is that you didn't turn me out of the room!”

Again, that humour in his eyes. In other circumstances she would have found it appealing, but Joshua was a strong adversary and she knew she must give him no quarter. So instead of laughing, she said with deceptive mildness, “You find it amusing that I was forced to spend the night in the attic with my maid?”

He shrugged.

“No. I don't. If I'd known who you were I'd have let you have the room. But as matters stood —”

“As matters stood?” she asked with a lift of her eyebrows.

Wishing a moment later that she hadn't. Because his face lit up with another wicked smile. He was clearly recalling that, as matters stood, he had asked her to share his bed!

Fortunately, at that moment the unctuous clerk returned.

“I have secured you a hansom,” he said ingratiatingly, bowing to Charles and Joshua in turn before smirking at the ladies.

“Thank you,” said Charles briefly.

To Rebecca's relief, Charles gave her his arm and the two of them went out to the hansom, leaving Hetty and Joshua to follow on behind.

“What a surprise, Jebadiah leaving you half the mill,” said Charles to Rebecca as, back in Sloane Street, the four of them enjoyed a refreshing cup of tea.

“Actually, no.” Rebecca set her cup down in its porcelain saucer. “I knew he intended to leave it to me.”

She saw Joshua's eyebrows raise at this, and was now certain that he had been unaware of Jebadiah's plans. Still, he had taken the news very well, she thought.

“I will, of course, buy you out,” he remarked, joining in the conversation for the first time.

Ah! So that was why he had taken it so well! He thought it was no more than a minor disturbance of his plans. Well, he was about to find out his mistake.

“Thank you, but I have no intention of selling.”

“You won't get a better price from anyone else. I would expect you to take advice on what your half is worth, and I would give it to you without haggling. You have only to —”

At that moment the door opened and Canning, the butler, entered the room. “Mr Munce is here,” he told Charles. “You asked to be informed the moment he arrived.”

“Yes, thank you, Canning,” said Charles. “Will you excuse me?” he asked. “I have some urgent business to take care of. I won't be long.”

He left the room.

“I hope he remembers to—” began Hetty worriedly. She put down her cup with a clatter. “I had better remind him. Will you excuse me?”

She stood up.

“Charles?” she called, following him out of the room. “Remember to tell Mr Munce that —”

What Charles was to tell Mr Munce was lost as Hetty's voice faded away down the corridor.

Joshua, who had risen on Hetty's departure, sat down again. Returning to his conversation with Rebecca he said, “You have only to name your price, and I will buy you out at once.”

“That is very generous of you,” remarked Rebecca, feeling strangely unsettled now that she was alone with Joshua. Although his large body was relaxed, there was definitely something uncivilized about him, but she must not let him know that she was uneasy, for he would be sure to exploit any signs of weakness. So steeling her nerve she said firmly, “They are not for sale.”

“You can't have a half share in a mill,” he said with a look of tolerant amusement. “You're a woman —”

“I believe Grandfather was aware of the fact,” she remarked.

“I'm not unaware of it myself.” His eyes became sharply focused and trailed over her body, making her feel restless and hot. She unfolded her fan and wafted it in front of her in an effort to cool herself down.

As if the action had reminded him that he was in Hetty and Charles's drawing-room, and with Jebadiah's grand-daughter, Joshua's eyes returned to her face. “A half share in a mill is worthless to you,” he said reasonably. “I'll pay you a handsome price, and you can put the money to better use.”

“No.” She shook her head. “If Grandfather had wanted me to have money he would have left me money, but he didn't. He wanted me to have half of the mill and I intend to keep it.” She looked at him defiantly.

He returned her look levelly. “Are you always so stubborn?” he asked. He crossed one booted foot negligently over the other and settled more comfortably in his Hepplewhite chair, resting his arm along its back.

“Stubborn?” Her eyes opened wide. “I am not stubborn.”

“Oh, but you are. You refused to give up your room at the inn without a struggle, and now that I am offering to buy your shares in the mill you have dug in your heels and refuse to sell. Tell me, Rebecca, do you ever agree to anything?”

“Of course,” she returned.

“Name it,” he said with a sardonic smile.

“Really, this is ridiculous,” she said, opening her fan again. “I fought for my room for very good reasons, and I am refusing to sell you my shares for reasons which are equally sound.” Her words were common sense personified, but she was growing more and more unsettled under his gaze.

“I cannot force you to sell —” he remarked with a lift of his eyebrows.

“Then at least we are agreed on something,” she interjected.

He gave a wry smile, but then his mouth became ruthless again. “But if you change your mind, just let me know.” His voice took on a new, more practical, quality. “In the meantime, I will of course keep you updated on everything of importance that happens with regard to the mill —”

“That won't be necessary,” Rebecca interrupted him. She was annoyed at his assumption that she did not mean to involve herself in her inheritance. “I mean to take an interest in the mill myself.”

“Of course you do,” he acknowledged. “Which is why I'll send you regular reports.”

“No.” She looked him in the eye. “I mean that I intend to visit the mill and learn how it operates personally.”

Joshua shook his head. “That will not be suitable.”

“Not suitable?” she enquired, trying to tear her eyes from his mane of hair, which was rippling in the most distracting way. “I beg to differ.”

He regarded her sardonically. “Do you, indeed?”

Rebecca felt her heart skip a beat. There was a challenging look in his eyes which made her intensely aware of the fact that they were alone.

As if realizing that the atmosphere was becoming dangerous he said, “Young ladies are not meant to take an interest in trade.”

Rebecca had the distinct impression that he had deliberately kept his voice light in an effort to restore their conversation to more normal levels, and in an effort to break the tension that had suddenly entered the atmosphere. She was grateful for it. She did not know why it was, but her conversations with Joshua seemed to be charged with a powerful force that lay just beneath the surface. And though she did not understand it, it made her skin tingle in the most alarming, and yet strangely enjoyable, way.

“Besides,” he remarked reasonably, “mills are not very pleasant places.”

The door opened and Charles entered the room.

“Tell her, Charles,” he said, appealing to Rebecca's uncle. “Mills are no places for women. They are always noisy and frequently very hot.”

“That's true,” said Charles judiciously. “They are not very nice places to be, Rebecca.”

“That is not what Grandfather thought.” Her face broke into a sudden smile as she remembered his exact words. They had been sitting in his study when he had told her about the mill. She had been kneeling beside him, and he had been stroking her hair. She went on, “ "You're a clever, puss, Rebecca," — that's what he used to say to me. "You'll never be content with knitting by the fire, so I'm going to leave you something to get your teeth into." ”

Joshua laughed. “Jebadiah was a rogue.” Then he frowned. “Even so, I'm surprised he left you part of the mill. He knew the dangers that were involved.”

“I am not afraid of risking an accident,” she said. “Accidents can happen anywhere.”

“Those aren't the dangers I'm talking about.”

Rebecca was about to enquire further, but at that moment the door opened again and Hetty entered the room.

“Well, that is all sorted out.”

Joshua was about to speak, and then seemed to change his mind as to what he was going to say. “Good.” He stood up. “Thank you for the tea, it was delicious, Hetty, as always! But now I must be going.”

“Oh! And you only just seem to have arrived,” said Hetty. “But never mind,” she said, brightening. “We will see you at Lady Cranston's ball?”

“Only if Rebecca will promise me the first dance.” He turned to Rebecca with a provoking gleam in his eye.

Rebecca was torn between a desire to give him a set down and a desire to be in his arms — although she had no reason to suppose the first dance would be a waltz.

“You are too courteous,” she said.

“Am I?” he asked. Adding enigmatically, “We shall see.”

He kissed her hand and then took his leave.

His kiss had left a burning imprint, and involuntarily Rebecca looked down, half expecting to see that her glove had been scorched. But seeing that it was undamaged she shook such foolish fancies away. Joshua Kelling was the godson of her grandfather, but nothing more. It was true that she found him interesting, she told herself. But that was all.

Even so, as she joined Hetty and Charles in talking over their good fortune, she found she could not drive Joshua's image from her mind. It was there when she looked around the elegant drawing-room, hovering before her mind's eye: his mane of hair, his broad shoulders, and his copper-coloured eyes.

It was there when she looked into the fire, dancing in the burning flames.

And it was there when she laid her head on her pillow and settled down to sleep.