Page 81 of A Treacherous Treasure

How foolish she had been, and how she despised his duplicity and cold-hearted ways.

“Is everything all right?” Thomas asked.

“Of course.” She smiled up at Thomas. “Forgive me. I’m afraid my thoughts took me elsewhere for a moment.”

The dance continued, and she was careful to keep her thoughts on her partner. Truly, he was a polite gentleman, and she’d never heard him speak of other women or look at them in that predatory way she sometimes saw in Arthur. He was nothing like Arthur.

“You look very lovely tonight, your hair and your gown.” Thomas said.

“Thank you.”

“You seem to be glowing.”

“Thank you. You are very kind.” Her heart was beating fast at the genuine-sounding praise. These were no backhanded compliments intended to fool her into thinking he meant something other than what he said.

“I admire the way you are so kind to my mother and sister,” he said.

“They are my friends, and they are as kind to me, and more so, for I needed their friendship more than they needed mine.”

He was smiling. “I also admire how courageous you were when the constable entered your room in the middle of the night, then shot him.”

“I was only defending myself. I am surprised you admire me for that.”

“You were brave and did not shrink in fear from an evil man trying to harm you. Of course I admire you for that.”

“Truly, you make me blush. I am grateful for your kind words. And you cannot imagine how grateful I am for your friendship. It was you who taught me how to shoot, your words and faith that gave me the courage to defend myself.”

The dance ended with Rebecca’s breath coming fast, but not due to the exercise. It had more to do with her words, as she’d just spoken more plainly than ever before, and with his intense blue eyes gazing back at her.

They gave each other the customary bow, then he led her back to her seat beside his mother.

“You both look so graceful and confident when you dance,” Mrs. Westbrook said. “I declare, I enjoyed watching you dance together immensely. And Benjamin and Caroline both looked quite handsome with their partners as well.” She seemed to add the latter sentiment as an afterthought, perhaps to keep from embarrassing them.

“I was so pleased to see Benjamin dancing.” Rebecca could still see him talking with his dance partner and her mother. The girl was pretty and looked quite young.

“That is Mattie Springfield,” Mrs. Westbrook said. “She is such a sweet girl, and her mother and I are old school friends.”

Caroline rushed to join them and whispered, “Just look at Benjamin’s smile!” then giggled.

“Don’t let him hear you say such things,” Thomas said. “If he thinks you want him to like the girl, he will decide against her.”

“Yes, we know not to say a word to him about her,” Mrs. Westbrook said.

Caroline pressed a finger to her lips to indicate her silence.

So, Benjamin’s family were as eager as she was to see Benjamin show interest in someone other than Rebecca. What a blessing it was that she had not angered them with her disinterest in their son and brother.

Thomas asked if he could get them any refreshment, but as they had all already drank and nibbled a bit before the dancing started, they declined his offer. He went to get himself something, and was joined by two other gentlemen. He was in conversation with them when the next dance started.

Rebecca was quite content to sit with Mrs. Westbrook the rest of the night and hold Thomas’s compliments close to her heart and memorize them. And while she sat there, it was less likely she’d be asked to dance. But when the next dance started, Caroline went to dance with another young man, Thomas remained talking with his friends, and a gentleman, someone she knew as a friend of Arthur’s, came to speak to her.

“Please allow me to express my condolences on the death of your husband, Mrs. Heywood,” he said.

What was his name? Rebecca couldn’t remember, though she’d heard Arthur speak of him several times.

“I thank you. You are very kind.”

She hoped he would move away, but he seemed determined to hold a conversation with her and Mrs. Westbrook. Then she saw Mrs. Heywood sitting on the other side of the room glaring at her. She’d almost forgotten Arthur’s mother was attending the ball.