Page 46 of A Treacherous Treasure

Better to tell him honestly than to draw out his pain. If she didn’t speak the truth to him, Thomas would have to do it. He was not looking forward to that.

~ ~ ~

Rebecca felt that sinking in her stomach. Benjamin, who was the sweetest young man, funny and good-hearted, was trying to flirt with her.

O God, what should I do?

She would rather disappear through the floor than hurt him or make him feel rejected. But she also couldn’t let him think she felt affection for him when she didn’t. Besides, he was five years younger than she, and she only thought of Benjamin as Thomas’s younger brother.

“Darling? Mrs. Westbrook asked you a question.” Mother was staring at her. Indeed, everyone was staring at her.

“Forgive me. I’m afraid my mind was drifting away.” She shook her head, as if to laugh at herself. “What did you ask?”

“I was wondering if you’d had any more trouble with the accounting ledgers.”

“Thank you for asking, but I have been managing very well after you and Mr. Westbrook came and showed me the mistakes and gave me advice.”

“You are a very quick learner,” Mrs. Westbrook said. “Isn’t she, Thomas?”

“She is indeed.” Thomas did not even glance her way.

Was he angry with her? He had been strangely quiet all evening, but she had caught him staring when Benjamin was saying something flirtatious. He must realize she had no feelings for his little brother. He’d probably hate her for breaking his heart.

But she would speak to Benjamin right away, if she could get a quick word with him when no one was listening, and tell him that she was a widow who had no wish to remarry, that he would find a young woman his own age.

The conversation went to other things, and Margaret was giving her opinion to Caroline on what to look for in a suitor. Expressions ranged from impressed to amused as Margaret said, “And don’t marry a man just for his wealth, because if he’s wealthy but old and ugly, you will still have to look at him, and if he’s handsome but poor, you will grow tired of his face when there’s no money to buy a new dress.”

Mrs. Westbrook said, “That is very wise, child. But what do you advise Caroline? What should she look for?”

Caroline was smiling and wide-eyed as she turned her attention on Margaret.

“She should look for the man who has everything, because she is worth a good man who is handsome, wealthy, and most importantly, possesses good character and ideals.”

Caroline nodded at Margaret and said, “I shall only marry a good man who has all the qualities I wish for. And you must do the same.”

Margaret looked much older than her twelve years as she said, “Of course.”

Everyone was obviously entertained by her, and Rebecca was proud that her sister had listened to her, for she had counseled Margaret and her other sisters with very similar advice, although Margaret added the “wealthy” stipulation.

Rebecca prayed her sisters would be wiser than she had been.

But how could she have known that Arthur would stop loving her and be unfaithful?

She should have known. She should have paid attention to the warning bells when she heard him bragging about his conquests to one of his friends. She should have listened to her doubts on their wedding day when she saw him staring at a pretty young woman walking by the church. But she had married him anyway, and it had been a mistake.

If she could make such a terrible mistake once, might she not do it again?

Her stomach sank. She thought Thomas Westbrook was such a good man, and probably he was. But what if he changed after he married? Or what if he wasn’t as good as he seemed? She didn’t trust her own judgment.

But it felt wrong, at the same time, to think these thoughts when he had been so kind and protective of her. And on that topic . . . she was desperate to know what had happened when he confronted the coroner and the Justice of the Peace.

When dinner was over, they all moved to the drawing room.

“Thomas, did you invite your friend Andrew Lisle to dinner? I’m surprised he didn’t stay.”

“I invited him, but he needed to get back home for a previous engagement. And since you mentioned Andrew, I shall tell you all where he and I went this morning.”

Finally.Now she would get to hear about his meeting.