Page 48 of A Treacherous Treasure

“Rebecca? You know you ought to return to London with us, don’t you? You see the wisdom in that, surely.”

“I don’t wish to go to London.”

“But you are not safe here. Villains are about, doing terrible things, committing crimes. You will be safer in London, until this all is resolved.”

“I understand why you feel that way, Mother, but I don’t want them to see me running away like a scared rabbit. I want to help find the treasure and take away their reason for shooting at me and digging up my property. It’s my home and I wish to defend it.”

Now that she was keeping the books, taking charge of the duties of a landholder and homeowner, she didn’t want anyone chasing her away. Besides, if she left, who would take care of the household and her tenants?

“But Rebecca.” Mother looked quite anxious.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I shall be well. I know how to shoot a gun, I have staff who will defend me—”

“And we shall be nearby,” Benjamin said stoutly. “Thomas and I will make certain no one harms Mrs. Heywood.”

“She can stay the night here,” Mrs. Westbrook said, “if there seems to be danger about.”

“This is England, after all,” Margaret said, crossing her arms as if the thought of someone harming them made her angry.

“That is right.” Mrs. Westbrook patted Margaret’s shoulder. “There is nothing to worry about.”

Thomas was very quiet as they discussed the situation, the level of danger, and how they would respond. But his expression was serious.

She wanted to ask him if he thought Gilbert Heywood was behind the digging and Arthur’s murder, but Thomas had already warned Benjamin not to condemn the man, as they had no evidence against him. He was a gentleman, after all, and it was difficult for Rebecca to think of him doing something so desperate as to dig for treasure and murder his own cousin for something that might not exist.

Besides that, Gilbert Heywood had his own estate. Captain Heywood had built this house and bought this land and it was not as grand as the original family estate. And he had not offered to buy Heywood House, in spite of what Fogg and Strader had told Thomas.

Another thing she didn’t understand was why she did not want to go back to London with her mother, where she’d be away from all of this conflict and danger. She would need to examine her feelings and motives when she was alone and had more time, but she wondered if it had more to do with the thrill of the hunt for the treasure, the powerful feeling that she could use a gun to defend herself, or her growing feelings for Thomas Westbrook.

Well, she was not so ridiculous as to fall in love, especially so quickly. No, she had surely learned that to be alone was far better than to be married to someone who did not even care for her.

Not that Thomas Westbrook had ever given any indication that he wished to marry her.

“I think we could all benefit from a bit of music,” Mrs. Westbrook said after the discussion had waned and everyone seemed a bit tense and worried.

Rebecca was glad to change the atmosphere of the evening, so she volunteered to play. Indeed, it was a relief to let her fingers go flying over the keys and to lift her voice in song. And she had the gratification of seeing everyone’s faces transformed by smiles, or at least more relaxed expressions.

She played two more songs before suggesting Margaret play something she’d been learning. And though she was only twelve, she was a better player and singer than many an adult woman Rebecca had heard.

“I am very impressed with your talent,” Mrs. Westbrook said as soon as Margaret had played her song. “You are quite the prodigy, I imagine, and make your family very proud.”

“My brothers aren’t proud of me for anything,” Margaret declared, “but my mother and sisters, at least, appreciate my playing and singing.”

“I should imagine so.”

Everyone was smiling, and the more serious topics seemed forgotten.

When they began to declare that it was getting late and they must be getting back, Mrs. Westbrook began urging them not to go home in the dark.

“You might as well stay and go home in the light,” she said.

“I believe we must go back,” Rebecca said. “We don’t wish to inconvenience you, and we are not afraid of the dark.”

After a few more protestations, Thomas and Benjamin walked them out to the carriage.

As soon Thomas had handed in Mother and Margaret, he turned to Rebecca and said, “Have you thought any more about the loyalty of your servants? Have you questioned or tested them in any way?”

“No.” She hadn’t thought about how she might test them.