Page 76 of A Treacherous Treasure

He wasn’t going to kiss her. She stepped away from him.I never should have kissed him, never should have embraced him or had thoughts of attraction and marriage.Hadn’t attraction to Arthur Heywood, and marriage, ruined her happiness? She’d always been a rather peaceful and joyful person until she’d married him. And how much did she really know about Thomas Westbrook?

Fear gripped her throat like a fist.

“How is your ankle feeling after the walk?”

“Not bad.”

“Do you think you will be able to go to the ball tomorrow night?”

“I do.”

“Did Caroline ask you? She and Mother want you to ride with us to the ball. They greatly enjoy your company and did not like the thought of you having to ride with . . .” He cut his eyes in the direction Mrs. Heywood had just gone.

In spite of her sudden feelings of fear, she felt a burst of gratitude for Caroline and Mrs. Westbrook.

“I thank you. I would be happy to accept the invitation to ride with your family.”

“Very good. We shall call for you tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

As she stood at the door and watched him walk across the garden, her eyes filled with tears and her chest ached.He seems to be such a good man and has treated me with nothing but kindness and selflessness. He’s nothing like Arthur.

But what if she was wrong?

Chapter Twenty-Two

The next morning, Rebecca said farewell to her mother and sister as they left for London. They’d already extended their stay a week, but Mother insisted she had to get back to help Father.

“Any issue with the servants or the management of the household and he is all out of sorts. And he does have a great deal of work to do. Business demands nearly all of his attention. But you will write and tell us all about the ball and what happens with the pirate treasure.”

“Of course. And you will write to me when you are able.”

“Yes, my dear.” Mother kissed and patted her cheek, as was her wont, and Rebecca embraced her and Margaret one last time.

“I’m so glad you are able to go to the ball,” Margaret said.

“Yes, my ankle feels well again.” Rebecca lifted her ankle. The swelling was completely gone.

“You should be careful and not dance too much or the swelling may come back,” Mother said as she allowed herself to be handed into the carriage.

They waved at each other as the carriage pulled away, and Rebecca went inside the house, a heaviness filling her heart as she remembered she was alone again with Mrs. Heywood.

Thankfully, though the woman was attending the ball, she was traveling in her own carriage and staying overnight with someone else who was attending the ball, though Rebecca had yet to learn with whom.

At least she had the ball to look forward to, and the ride to Beaumont with her dear friends, the Westbrooks.

Even though she happily anticipated spending time with them, and dancing with Thomas, the very same thoughts also caused trepidation. Would Thomas ultimately reject her, since he could have any woman he wanted? Or would she discover that he wasn’t the good sort of man she’d thought him to be?

The thought of marrying again was terrifying, and yet, she couldn’t stop thinking about their kiss, his gentle touch and warm voice.

When she was married and Arthur was avoiding her—or off on one of his trysts—the longing to feel loved, to give and receive love and affection, would sometimes overwhelm her, especially at night when she was alone. She thought those feelings would dissipate now that she had no husband, now that the possibility of love seemed out of reach, but . . . Thomas Westbrook seemed to have perpetuated those feelings and made them even stronger, but in a slightly different way.

But what if kissing him had been a terrible mistake? Certainly the kiss had been imprudent and impulsive, and those two things were bad and led to terrible outcomes. What had she been thinking? She still could hardly believe she’d kissed him.

It had been a wild night, full of terror and horror, and she’d been overwhelmed with the effects of it, when they’d suddenly found themselves alone together. She simply hadn’t been able to resist putting her arms around him and asking for his comfort.

She sighed as she went up to her room. She still had to prepare for the ball, to decide what to wear and speak with her maidservant about how to arrange her hair for the ball.