Because of Rebecca

chapter Thirteen

Rebecca’s heartbeat raced as if she’d run down a road instead of sitting in a private compartment on a northbound train. Rory assured her she’d only imagined seeing Jared follow her down the alley to Madame Monique’s. But if it had been him…what he must think of her going into a brothel. And with Rory. A man she shouldn’t even know. How would she ever explain it all to Jared?

“Are you feeling all right, miss?” Ruth spoke slowly and softly in unbroken words, laying a gloved hand on Rebecca’s arm.

“I will be soon.”

“Maybe you should get some rest?”

Rebecca shook her head. “I couldn’t sleep if I tried right now.”

The young woman carefully rearranged her skirts and smoothed her cloak of any wrinkles. “M’neither.”

Rebecca watched her companion take pride in her clothing. “You look beautiful, Ruth. The soft butter color compliments your complexion.”

Ruth smiled. “Madame Monique made up my face and fixed my hair.”

“She did well.”

A knock sounded on the sliding wooden, glass paned door and the ticket master stuck his head inside the private side chamber. “Tickets please.”

Rebecca handed him their passage stubs and he glanced at them before he smiled and punched the tickets. “Changing trains in Grenada to Memphis. Enjoy your travels.” He nodded and closed the door before proceeding down the corridor.

Ruth let out a breath and smiled faintly at her once they were alone again. “Ain’t you scared?”

Rebecca nodded. “More than I can express in words. But let’s not think about it. We’ll be in Memphis in the morning and no one will be the wiser if all goes as planned.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Here, I brought something to help occupy our time.” She reached into her small valise and produced two hooks and two skeins of yarn. “I find crocheting relaxing.”

“M’ too, miss,” Ruth said, taking a hook and skein.

An awkward silence engulfed the chamber, but neither began a project. Rebecca couldn’t stop thinking about Jared, and she assumed Ruth was consumed with thoughts of her new home.

“Perhaps we should turn down the lamps and try to get some sleep after all if we can.”

She nodded.

Rebecca stood, turned the wicks down on both lamps, and settled herself in the corner. She pressed her cheek against the cool windowpane and watched as the dark night passed. Somewhere between the mingled tree limbs, the moon and stars, her thoughts returned to Jared and his proposal. She’d thought many times about what life they’d be able to build together once this mission was complete. Silently she prayed he’d understand her involvement with Rory, and the need for secrecy. Surely there would still be a possibility for them when she returned. If she returned.

****

The sound of a match striking flint and the smell of sulfur stung Jared’s nostrils. Sharp pain shot through the center of his head as he slowly opened his eyes to the blinding light shining in his face. Blinking, he held up a hand and shielded his eyes from the white light until he was more awake. His surroundings were foreign, but the fragrance that filled the air seemed familiar, strong and faintly exotic.

He sat up quickly. A little too quick. The room began to spin and he slumped back against the silken sheets, their coolness against his skin startling. “Where the hell am I?” he muttered to himself, not expecting an answer.

“Don’t you remember, honey?” a sultry voice spoke to him from across the room, and then the pungent scent of cigarette smoke assaulted his nose. Monique.

He recalled coming here looking for Rebecca because she’d been with his cousin.

“Rory!” Jared bellowed, pushing himself up off the bed. He landed on his feet and staggered toward the direction of the voice.

“How about a drink? Bite that dog that bit you last night to cure what’s ailing you, honey.” Monique caught him before he fell to the floor.

“What am I doing here? In your room?”

She laughed, helping him sink to a sitting position on a step leading to her doorway. “You and Rory tied one on last night, sugar. Don’t you remember? After the two of you beat the hell out of each other, you both drank until you passed out.”

“But I was on a bed?”

“I couldn’t very well let you boys sleep on the floor, now could I? Though I was tempted. Very tempted after the way you carried on. And over that little goody-good when you could have fought over me.”

Jared’s vision slowly cleared as she spoke and he saw the disheveled state of the room. Chairs lay on their sides, pillows were scattered everywhere, a few with stuffing coming from the sides. Pictures in pewter frames hung askance on the walls. He found her attitude toward what they’d done to the place peculiar. Of course, all the events of last night had been strange. He still didn’t know why Rebecca had come here in the first place.

He rubbed the back of his aching head, then his sore jaw and winced when he touched his cut lip. Looking down, he saw his hands were bruised, knuckles skinned. “Where’s Rory?”

“Having breakfast downstairs with the girls. Would you like to join him?”

Jared shook his head, but stopped as the room began to spin again from the sudden movement. “I don’t think I’d keep anything down.”

Monique laughed; patting him on the back then returned to the chaise, her filmy wrapper dancing in her wake. “How about that drink?”

“No.”

“Black coffee?” She asked, discarding the cigarette butt in a nearby ashtray.

“Yes.”

She pulled twice on a white velvet cord hanging from the ceiling. Within minutes the door opened and a maid rolled in a cart with a coffee service.

“Can I get you anything else, Madame?”

“Please tell Mr. Rory to join us when he’s finished.”

“Yes, Madame.”

Once the maid left, Monique lit another cigarette. She took long draws on it and blew smoke rings into the air.

“When you feel up to it there is fresh water behind my dressing screen and a razor if you wish to clean yourself up. As for your state of dress I cannot provide new, but I can have them cleaned and pressed if you like.”

“And then what?”

Monique smiled saucily and wet her lips. “Then you and Rory are going to make compensation for the damages to my establishment. I feel I’ve been more than tolerant to you boys.”

“How much will it cost to compensate you?”

“Tsk—tsk, I thought you to be a smart man, Mr. Hollingsworth. I don’t want your money. I want you. And Rory, of course, but I can have him whenever I like.”

The door to the room swung open and Rory waltzed in, clean-shaven, sporting bruises and a black eye. “Monique! You look ravishing as always.”

“Ravishing,” she repeated and smiled. “See Mr. Hollingsworth, Rory knows what I like to hear.”

He grinned and winked at Jared. “Monique, what are you up to? He looks mortified.”

She chuckled, went to Rory and wrapped her arms around his neck. She planted a kiss on his mouth. “I think he needs to go back to his plantation and wait for his goody-good to return. I’m too much for him to handle.”

“Exactly where has she gone?” Jared asked, getting to his feet, this time without the need of support. He slowly walked to the beverage cart and poured black coffee into a china cup.

“Sorry, Jared. Her destination is something I cannot tell you.” Rory pulled Monique snug against him, running his hand slowly down her back and cupping her bottom before squeezing. “As for you, you saucy wench, leave him alone.”

Pouting, Monique pushed Rory away. “Then both of you get out before I think better of it. And if I see either of you here again I’ll have you thrown out.”

“You heard the woman, Jared. Let’s go.” Rory grabbed his waistcoat from an overturned chair. He put it on then winked at their hostess. “Until later.”

The men walked outside into the brightness of the new day. Jared frowned, hurrying to keep up with Rory. “Exactly where do you think you’re going?” he asked as they walked down Amherst toward the more respectable side of town.

“Home, of course.”

“And where is that?”

“Oak Hill.” Rory stopped and grinned, holding up both hands. “Surely all is forgiven after I saved your hide in there.”

Jared snorted. “Saved me? From what?”

“Monique. She’s a barracuda in bed.”

“Do you honestly think I couldn’t hold my own with a woman like her?” He began walking again.

Rory laughed. “You’ve never met a woman like Monique. She has mystical powders and oils she uses on men to make them a slave to her whims. Monique may be a Madame, but when she sees something she likes, she gets it, and from the way she looked at you, dear cousin, she wanted you and wanted you bad. I should be upset, but Monique is Monique.”

Jared ignored him. “That still doesn’t mean you’re welcome at Oak Hill. There is the matter of Stuart Delaney and his hold on your markers. How do you propose to pay them off?”

Rory patted his coat pocket. “I’ve got it covered.”

Jared scoffed. “I find it hard to imagine you being able to raise the money.”

“You wound me to the core, cousin.” He staggered, clutching his hands over his heart.

“Don’t be melodramatic. You’re a spendthrift and a gambler, not a thespian. As soon as you get your hands on any amount of money, you go through it as fast as you can. Exactly how long did it take you to spend the inheritance your mother left you?”

“I had a run of bad luck at the tables.”

“Exactly my point!” Jared exclaimed.

Silence accompanied them as they rounded a corner coming upon Higgins and the carriage.

“Mr. Hollingsworth!” The man exclaimed, jumping down from his perch. “Didn’t you find her, sir?”

“I’m afraid not. She was gone by the time I got there, but I did find Rory. As you can see.”

“Mr. Rory,” Higgins nodded. “What a surprise. Bad pennies always show back up.”

He grinned. “Hello, Higgins, always the dutiful servant. Waiting on your employer, even if it means staying out all night.”

Ignoring the comment, Higgins turned toward Jared. “Did you want to look anywhere else, sir?”

“No.” Jared paused, getting into the carriage. “Put the cover down, Higgins, and take us home at once.”

The man did as requested and climbed on his perch before turning the carriage toward Oak Hill.

Rory slouched in the corner on one side, eyes closed. Jared watched him, his mind racing over the events of the last twenty-four hours. He still couldn’t figure out how Rebecca came to know Rory. When he couldn’t take the suspense any longer he nudged his cousin with the toe of his boot.

“So where did you get the money?”

Rory kept his eyes closed. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Damn it. If I’m going to allow you to come back to Oak Hill, you owe me an answer.”

Rory slowly opened one eye and grinned, clasping his hands in front of him as if in prayer. “I sold my soul and promised to be an angel from now on.”

Jared crossed his arms over his chest and stared at him.

Rory chuckled, sat up and leaned toward him. “Aren’t you even a little bit curious as to whom I made such a vow?”

Irritation grew in Jared as he warned. “If you say Rebecca, I’ll throttle you.”

“Then I won’t mention it.”

“And why would she give you a penny?” Jared reached the short distance between them and grabbed Rory by the collar, pulling tight. His cousin began gasping. “Can’t think of a witty reply now, can you?”

He shook his head and tried to pull Jared’s hands away from his throat. “Let me go and I’ll try to answer.

“Let’s hear it.” Jared shoved him back in the seat.

Rory straightened his collar and wheezed, “When did you become so violent?”

“The day I found out you gambled away my home, my life,” he retorted.

“Touché,” Rory said. “But she didn’t give me the money. Believe it or not, I suspect Rebecca would give me money, because she loves you and doesn’t want to see you lose Oak Hill. And from what I’ve seen and felt these last several hours, I’d say you love her as well. She said you had even asked her to marry you. This explains your outraged sense of chivalry whenever I mention her name. It’s also the reason I haven’t retaliated. It’s good to see you caring about life again.”

Jared slumped back on his side of the carriage and stared outside. Even if Rebecca did love him, it didn’t explain her involvement with Rory.

“How did you meet her?” he demanded.

“It’s a long story which I’d prefer not to discuss with you at the moment. Let’s just say it was pure dumb luck.” Rory closed his eyes again and turned his face toward the sun.

Jared glared at nothing in particular as the carriage rambled back toward Oak Hill. Rory could call meeting Rebecca dumb luck if he wanted, but Jared knew there was more to it. If he wasn’t going to talk, then he’d have to wait until Rebecca returned. However, he was certain a session on the rack would be preferable to waiting for the answers he wanted. Not having choices was hell enough. But to be forced to wait days was inconceivable.

“Where’d she go?”

“That’s something I can’t tell you. As much as I’d enjoy seeing you settled again and happy, if Rebecca wants you to know where she’s gone, she’ll have to tell you.”

“Damn it, Rory. In all that’s holy, at least tell me how you know her? And why didn’t she tell me she knew you?”

“Perhaps because we’d never met before yesterday?”

“Then why’d she go to a brothel with you?”

He grinned and shook his head. “That I can’t tell you.”

Jared’s head pounded again. The open carriage and fresh air did little to defuse the scent of Monique’s bedchamber that clung to his clothing. He couldn’t wait to reach the plantation, bathe, and put space between himself and Rory. The further, the better.

“Enough with these word games.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “How long are you planning to stay?”

Rory scratched his chin and shrugged. “I’m not sure. I guess that depends on how well you treat me.”

“Then don’t unpack your bags. After you take care of your business with Delaney, you can head right back out of town. I don’t need the strife your presence brings to my life. Everything was fine until I got the letter from Delaney demanding that I make good on your markers.”

Rory shook his head as the carriage slowed to a stop in front of the main house. “You’ve turned into a bitter person since losing Charisse. I thought time would heal. Apparently it hasn’t.”

“What would you know about loving someone and losing them? The only person you’ve ever cared about is yourself.”

When Higgins opened the door for them, Rory stepped out of the carriage. He looked back at Jared with piercing eyes. “You really don’t know me very well cousin.”

“On the contrary. I know you too well,” Jared spat as Rory sauntered toward the front verandah and the open arms of Mary.

“Heaven’s above. I can’t believe my eyes,” the woman exclaimed.

“Don’t let your eyes get too accustomed to seeing him, Mary. He won’t be staying.”

“And what side of the bed did you get up on? Obviously not the right one,” Mary harrumphed, turning away from him to fuss over Rory like a mother hen.

Jared shook his head. Mary had always taken a fancy to his cousin in a special way. He turned to his driver. “Don’t put the carriage away. I’m going back to town.”

“Yes, sir,” Higgins replied.

Jared walked to the house where Mary still fussed over Rory. “Send up my bath water…even if it’s cold, Mary.”

“Certainly,” she said. “I’ll have breakfast on the table for you both soon enough.”

“None for me. I’ve already eaten,” Rory said.

Jared went upstairs to his study and pulled out the daily ledgers to begin going over the weekly figures while he waited for his bath water. But he couldn’t concentrate. His mind kept returning to Rebecca and where she had gone. Why had she been in such a hurry to leave last night? She’d said she had to go take care of some business. Did that mean she’d returned to Memphis? If so, then why did she go to Madame Monique’s? And why did she have to see Rory first? None of this made sense, but he would get to the bottom of what was going on even if he had to catch the next train to Memphis.

Slamming the ledger closed, he placed it in the desk drawer and locked it before he stalked into his bedroom and performed his ablutions. Going back downstairs, he searched for Mary and found her in the kitchen.

“Well now, that’s more like it,” she remarked handing him a plate of food when he came into the kitchen. “It’s not like you to be out all night and come dragging in here looking like you’ve been in a fight.”

“I didn’t just look like it. Rory and I did brawl. Though I don’t recall much of it.”

“You boys shouldn’t be fighting with one another. Rory’s your blood kin. The only living relative you have left.”

“No lectures. As far as I’m concerned what Rory gets, he deserves.” Jared leaned back against the worktable and ate, washing the food down with hot coffee, while Mary cleaned the kitchen.

“I’ll be gone for a few days. Rory has some business to take care of and can stay here until it’s completed. Then he will leave. Can you see that he does this?”

Mary eyed him warily. “Your leaving doesn’t have anything to do with him being here, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t.” He set his empty plate on the counter. “Will you make sure Rory doesn’t stay beyond his welcome?”

She nodded slowly. “If that is what you want.”

“It is, Mary. Rory can’t treat his family’s heritage like it’s nothing and expect to come home freely. He needs to earn that right.”

She nodded again, but her eyes were sad with understanding. “I know you are hurt. Rory has a way of getting all over a body that makes you want to throttle him, but he is your family, your only blood family.”

“Sometimes blood family can be the worst parasites of all. I consider you and Higgins my family as much as I want to forget that Rory is mine,” he said. “I’ll be back in a few days.”

“You be safe.”

“I will.” Jared left the house with the one bag he’d hastily thrown together. His mind flashed an image of Rebecca wearing the cloak waving good-bye to him and a chill ran over him. Was she in danger? He feared she was.

“Where did you really go, Rebecca?” he mumbled going down the walk.

“Pardon me, sir. Did you say something?” Higgins asked, opening the carriage door for him.

“No.” He climbed into the carriage. He had to stop Rebecca from doing something foolish.