Amanda Grange - Rebecca’s Refusal

“Bring him here, whilst I keep an eye on Willingham,” said Joshua. “He can help me take him out to the carriage.”

“It will cause a stir,” said Rebecca with a frown. “Can you not think of another way of getting him out of the house, without embarrassing Mrs Renwick in her own home?”

“There won't be any embarrassment,” Joshua reassured her. “Once Odgers joins me I’ll unbind Willingham and together we can help him out to the carriage — he's still groggy and is not likely to offer any resistance. If anyone sees us they will simply assume we are helping our friend, who has taken too much to drink.”

Rebecca nodded. He was right. Young men being carried out to their carriages befuddled with wine was such a normal sight that no one would worry about it. “I fetch Odgers at once.”

She slipped out of the room and into the ballroom. There was no sign of Odgers. But a glance into the supper room showed him helping himself to a large plate of oyster patties and a couple of veal and ham pies.

Going unobtrusively over to his side, Rebecca said, “You are wanted in the library.”

Without turning a hair Odgers put down his plate and made a discreet exit.

Rebecca was just about to follow him when she was joined by Louisa.

“There you are, my dear. I thought I had lost you! It is such a crush I thought I would never find you again. And I did so want to see you. I have some wonderful news!”

Rebecca's sprits sank. Fond as she was of her cousin she did not want to be distracted, particularly not now. But she had no choice. She could not ignore Louisa, and so instead she made an effort to concentrate on what her cousin was saying.

“Would you believe it?” said Louisa, hands clasped and eyes shining. “Edward has just asked me to marry him.”

“Oh, Louisa, that's wonderful!” said Rebecca. She was genuinely happy for her cousin, and her enthusiasm was real.

“I can hardly believe it,” said Louisa. “It has all been so sudden. But it is wonderful nonetheless.”

“Have you told Emily yet?”

“No. I am leaving it to Edward to break the news — although he says she already suspects. Oh! It has all been so exciting! But do you know, my dear, I feel ever so tired, and I believe I have a headache coming on. Would you mind if I called for the carriage? I think I am in need of a long lie down.”

Rebecca's spirits sank. She wanted to find out whether Willingham had been put safely in a carriage, and even more than that she wanted to know what Joshua had been about to say to her when Willingham had groaned.

I asked you once... he had begun, but what had he been about to say?

She hardly dared hope he had been about to renew his proposal. Surely a man as ruthless as Joshua would not, after declaring he would never offer her his hand again, change his mind? But even so, she could not help hoping...

There was nothing for it, however. If Louisa was feeling ill, they must leave.

Besides, she comforted herself, Joshua would be attending their card party on the following evening. It would not be long before she saw him again.

But despite her reasonable comfortings, she found that the following evening seemed a lifetime away.

Nevertheless, it could not be helped.

“Of course I don't mind,” she said, with more tact than truthfulness. “We will call for the carriage to be brought round right away.”

Together she and Louisa went out into the hall.

She had thought they might see Joshua half-carrying, half-supporting Mr Willingham out to the carriage, but there was no sign of him in the hall. Either he and Odgers had already gone, or they had not yet had a chance to leave the library. Well, whichever it was, they would soon be on their way, putting Willingham where he could do no more harm.

The Marsden carriage was brought round, and before long she and Louisa were in the carriage as it rattled through the streets, back to their rented Manchester home.

I asked you once... she thought, looking out of the window at the darkened streets as she recalled Joshua's words.

Yes. He had asked her once.

The question was, would he ask her again?

Serena Quentin's handsome face was marred by a scowl. Despite her best endeavours she had been unable to force Mr Kelling into a compromising position. He had managed to avoid every trap she had laid for him during the course of the evening, and what was worse, he had done it with a mocking smile on his lips — as though he saw through all her subterfuges and meant to thwart her, she thought angrily.

What right did he have to resist her charms? And, more importantly, what right did he have to turn her into a laughing stock? For if she did not manage to bring him to heel she would be just that: a laughing stock. Lavinia Madely would see to that.

Catching sight of Lavinia at that moment, her anger was fuelled by the scorn in Lavinia's eye. Throwing back her shoulders she decided bold action was necessary and, walking defiantly out of the room, she went in search of Joshua.

She did not have far to go. No sooner had she reached the hall than she heard a door opening and, to her surprise, she saw Joshua emerging from the library. But it was not that which surprised her, it was the fact that, instead of walking out of the room in a natural fashion, he was half-supporting, half-carrying someone else.

Mr Willingham! she thought with a sudden shock.

Mr Willingham, who scarcely ever drank, and certainly never drank enough to render him incapable.

Her curiosity rose.

What was the meaning of it? And who was the second gentleman — if such a rough looking creature could be given that description — supporting Mr Willingham at the other side?

She shrank back as Joshua half-supported, half-carried Mr Willingham through the hall and out of the house.

And then fate played into her hands, for Mr Willingham suddenly rallied and made an effort to break away from his captors. As he did so he slipped on the highly-polished floor. He clutched at Joshua, trying to regain his footing, but it was no use. He was seized again and carried bodily out of the front door. At the same moment there was a slight clinking sound, and a flash of gold caught Serena's eye. Something had fallen from Joshua's hand.

His gold signet ring! Mr Willingham must have dislodged the precious item during his struggle. A plan already forming in her mind, she picked it up and examined it. It was the ring his godfather had given him: she remembered him telling her all about it when, on seeing the initial engraved on it, she had teasingly enquired who the lady might be. He had told her there was no lady in the case, and when she had playfully tried to take it from his finger he had resisted, saying the only lady he would ever permit to try on that ring was his future wife.

His future wife. He had said those very words. And what's more, Lavinia Madely had heard him.

A triumphant smile crossed her face. What did it matter if she had not been able to force Joshua into a compromising situation? She had been able to do something far better: avail herself of his signet ring.

She slipped it onto her long white finger. It was rather large, but never mind. It could be made to serve her purpose, and that was all she cared about.

Exultantly she swept back into the ballroom — only to discover, after much fruitless searching, that Miss Lavinia Madely had already left.

But no matter. Lavinia was due to attend Rebecca Fossington's card party the following evening.

Serena, in triumphant mood, was prepared to wait.

The following afternoon, Rebecca was sitting in the drawing-room laying to read. But it was no use. Her novel, entertaining though it was, could not hold her attention, and with a sigh she put it down before pacing restlessly across the room. Arriving at the fireplace she straightened the porcelain figurines on the mantelpiece before crossing the room again to straighten the cushions on the sofa. She moved restlessly from the sofa to the piano, where she straightened the music on the stand. And all the time her thoughts were filled with the events of the night before.

She remembered it all so clearly. Mr Willingham's treachery, her own prompt actions, Joshua's mastery of the situation, and then the aftermath: Joshua's tender looks, the way he had taken her hands, his impassioned words. Could it be possible? Could his feelings towards her have changed? Could he now see her as something more then Jebadiah's grand-daughter? Could he love her as much as she loved him? She hardly dared to hope it. And yet why else would he have stroked her hands so tenderly? Why else spoken those impassioned words?

Oh, why had Louisa had to have a headache the night before? she asked herself. Chiding herself a moment later for the unkind thought. If it was as she suspected, then Joshua would speak to her that evening at the card party. And if not... No, she would not even think such a thing.

She went over to the mantelpiece and straightened the ormolu clock.

Fortunately — for there was nothing left to straighten! — Louisa bustled into the room at that moment, saying, “Oh, my dear, can you give me a hand? The servants are carrying the card tables into the sitting-room, but I cannot decide on the best arrangement.”

Rebecca was only too glad to offer her help, and before long the tables had been successfully organized. Then there was the greenery to be arranged — the two ladies would have liked to provide flowers, but the season unfortunately provided very little in this way — and the catering arrangements to be checked. There were the footmen to instruct, the wine to be seen to and the packs of cards to be placed on each table, so that all in all Rebecca was kept very busy.