Page 92 of A Treacherous Treasure

“Do you think she will finally move out to the dowager cottage?”

“Let us hope so.”

~ ~ ~

Two weeks later, they received word that the inquest had begun and jurors were being selected. A week after that, the jury had decided that the treasure belonged to Rebecca Heywood as the finder of a treasure that had been abandoned and forgotten on property that belonged solely to her.

“I cannot believe it,” Mrs. Heywood said, when they were informed together. “You must have bribed someone, for this is an injustice that even a babe in arms could see.”

“If you object so much as to accuse me of bribing the judge in the King’s Court, then I would think you would not wish to stay in the same house with me.” Rebecca gave her former mother-in-law stare for stare, trying not to show how shocked she was at her own courage to say what she’d been wanting to say for months.

Mrs. Heywood’s face became a mask of cold anger. “If you think a tradesman’s daughter can make me cower down, you are mistaken,” she said, hissing the last word.

She stormed away and did indeed move her things into the dowager cottage, taking most of the servants into her service for the better part of two days to help her with the move.

~ ~ ~

One week later . . .

While it was lovely to have the house all to themselves, it did give them a degree of freedom that, to Rebecca’s way of thinking, was causing another problem.

After receiving him into the sitting room, she told Thomas “I don’t think we should wait six months to get married.”

He grinned. “Does this have to do with what happened yesterday?”

He was of course referring to the heated kissing that they had been engaged in, only to look up and see three servants watching them from the doorway.

The servants immediately scattered, but Rebecca could feel her cheeks burning.

“Yes, and I just don’t want to wait.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Very well. We can have the banns read this Sunday and be married three weeks after that.”

Rebecca took a deep breath and let it out. “I think it is best.”

“Well, don’t look as if it is something unpleasant.”

“Forgive me. I have too much fear, I know, and it has nothing to do with you.” She embraced him, burying her face in his shoulder. “I know we will be very, very happy.”

“I know you are afraid, but think of it this way. If I don’t treat you well—which I will, but just hypothetically—then my mother, sister, and brother will champion your cause and I’d have little choice but to mend my ways.”

“Actually, that is true . . . and comforting.”

Thomas looked askance at her. She smiled and kissed him.

~ ~ ~

Two weeks later . . .

Rebecca arrived early at Wyghtworth and joined the family in the breakfast room.

“I received a letter,” she said, and handed it to Thomas to read, which he did.

“This is an offer to purchase Heywood House.”

“It is.”

“Will you accept it?”