Page 91 of A Treacherous Treasure

“If you keep giving me that sly look, I may just take you back to the little glade by the spring.”

Her breath hitched in her throat.

Unfortunately, a groom was already coming toward them to take their horses.

They dismounted and he seemed to be struggling to behave, as he did not even take her hand as they walked to the house.

She looked over at him and her heart seemed to lift out of her chest. This was the man she would begin a family with, have children with, and grow old with. It seemed she would not have to be alone after all.

~ ~ ~

The next day Rebecca and Thomas wasted no time in telling Mrs. Westbrook, Benjamin, and Caroline about their engagement. Mrs. Westbrook and Caroline reacted as they’d expected.

Caroline squealed. “This is the best news in the world! Oh, Thomas! Thank you for ensuring I have Rebecca as my sister forever!”

Thomas shook his head. “All for you, of course,” he said sarcastically but with a smile as Rebecca embraced her new soon-to-be sister-in-law.

Mrs. Westbrook cried, “Oh, my darlings. You’ve made me so happy.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she took out her handkerchief and dabbed her eyes.

Benjamin, whose reaction they most worried about, was a bit less enthusiastic, but even he smiled and wished them joy. “I hope you will try to deserve her,” he told Thomas.

“I shall try.” He looked at Rebecca and winked.

Rebecca’s heart was so full. “I don’t know how I will keep this a secret from anyone. I can’t stop smiling.”

“Must you keep it a secret?” Caroline asked.

“Rebecca believes we must wait until after the inquest into the treasure is over, after the trials of Strader and Gilbert Heywood are over, and after she’s sure no one will gossip about her.”

“There’s no need to wait for all that,” Caroline said.

“People will always talk. You cannot concern yourselves with that,” Mrs. Westbrook said.

“I just want to make sure I do the right thing.” Caroline was already starting to doubt her desire to wait.

The next day when Thomas came early to call on her, they went for a walk in the garden and beyond but were forced inside by the rain. They were in the sitting room, talking and laughing, when Mrs. Heywood appeared in the door.

“I thought the house was being invaded by a mob, from the noise coming from this room.” She glanced around, then said, “Did the rest of your family not accompany you here?” she asked Thomas with a tone of exaggerated surprise.

“No, I am alone today,” Thomas said.

Mrs. Heywood stared back at them for so long that Rebecca wondered if she had finally been rendered speechless.

“I suppose this time spent alone means that you’re engaged.”

Thomas looked at Rebecca, allowing her to decide whether they would tell her.

“We are engaged,” Rebecca said.

“To be married?” Mrs. Heywood said.

“Yes, to be married,” Thomas said.

“I knew it,” Mrs. Heywood said in a low voice. “I knew you would be married soon enough after my poor son was barely in his grave. You could not even wait a decent amount of time, could you? Greedy, grasping . . . Well, I won’t . . . You . . .” She stammered a moment longer before silently walking away.

“Greedy and grasping,” Thomas said mildly. “Does she mean me? Or you, do you think?”

“I think she means me.” Rebecca almost laughed at how lightly Thomas seemed to take her insulting words.