Page 35 of The Marchioness of his Desire
“Until he was sent away to Eton, thenthe Saucy Janewas mine.”
It felt wonderful for Rebecca to remember such happy memories of the past. Carefree days when the sun had always seemed to shine, and life had seemed to stretch out in front of her as an endless series of possibilities. But time can be the bearer of ill-fortune, as well as good, and Rebecca had grown from those happy days, her life now far more complicated than she had ever imagined it might become.
She had been surprised at Edward’s persistence in calling upon her, confused as to his motives, but with every call, he had seemed more charming and more determined to continue in their friendship. She had done nothing to encourage him in his visits to the house, nor had she made mention of them to Nicholas, who fortunately had been out on every occasion of Edward’s call.
It was Nicholas’ reaction which worried her the most, for surely it would dent a man’s pride to know that the former betrothed of his wife was entertained under his very roof. But Rebecca’s conscience was clear, and she knew that there had been no sense of impropriety upon her part as much as the lingering suggestion was there. For that was the main point of concern for her, what was Edward’s intention? He had been charming, friendly, courteous, and just a little too overly familiar.
She was unsure if he truly loved her, and it seemed that they were drifting apart, a fact which Edward had obviously noticed too.
“Nicholas will return home soon,” she said, hoping that Edward might take this as his cue to leave, but he merely sat back further on his chair and placed his fingers together in an arch, his elbows resting upon the arms.
“He is often out, or so it seems,” he replied, causing Rebecca to blush.
“He is a very busy man; the affairs of his father’s estates require much in the way of management, and he is a well-known figure about the ton.I can hardly expect him to remain at home, captaining sailing boats for my entertainment as though we were children again.”
“I should not be such a neglectful husband,” Edward said, his words trailing off as though he had not meant to voice such feelings out loud.
“I make my own entertainment readily enough,” she replied, and Edward smiled.
“Reading, writing letters, social calls and receiving visitors, the life of a lady is never dull, I am sure,” his tone half mocking.
“I have Laura,” she replied, as though that were explanation enough.
“And when she is grown into a lady?” he asked, words to which Rebecca had no ready reply.
Instead, she began to replace the tea things upon the tray on which Mrs. Thrip had brought them, hoping that this would be enough to suggest to Edward that their audience was at an end. It was early evening now, and in a short while the servants would begin lighting the lamps and stoking up the fires, darkness falling over the gardens, the golden hue of the sunset resting upon the horizon of the capital beyond.
“Nicholas will return soon,” Rebecca said, for she could think of little other way to persuade her guest to leave, short of telling him in no uncertain terms to do so.
“We are old friends,” Edward replied, and Rebecca could do nothing but smile and nod, when to her horror she heard her husband’s gait upon the steps outside.
“But he is here now,” she gasped, terrified at the prospect of being discovered unchaperoned with a man such as Edward.
Married women could be trusted without a chaperone at their side, but this was a most unusual circumstance and her visitor no ordinary caller. Rebecca rose from her place, neatening her dress and taking several steps back, so that when the door should open, she might be found a respectable distance from her visitor. She knew that Nicholas had little love for Edward, and he would not be pleased to find her entertaining him in the drawing room at such an hour, at any hour, especially given she had failed to make Nicholas aware of Edward’s previous visits.
“Ah, I shall enjoy seeing him,” Edward said, turning to the door as the handle was pushed down hard, the door flying open, and Nicholas striding into the room.
“Nicholas,” Rebecca gasped as her husband surveyed the scene before him.
“Your Lordship, we were only just speaking of you,” Edward said, affecting an exaggerated bow, at which Nicholas looked in disdain.
“Rebecca? What is all this?” Nicholas demanded, and Rebecca began to stutter.
“Well, you see … Edward … I mean, Mr. Johnson was … was just passing and decided to call upon me,” and she glanced at Edward, who was smiling, as though thoroughly enjoying the awkward position he had placed her in.
“We were reminiscing over old times. Do you rememberthe Saucy Jane?” Edward asked, and Nicholas scowled.
“I think you had better leave, Johnson. I do not understand why you feel the need to call upon my wife in such a manner,” he replied, and Edward remained with an unwavering smile upon his face.
“She is a friend, Nicholas, a dear friend. Am I not to have friends, even if I am deprived of a wife?” He glanced at Rebecca, who blushed and turned away.
“Enough of this. It is not the first time you have been ‘passing’ by on your way somewhere, is it?” Nicholas growled, and Edward nodded.
“Nicholas … your Lordship, if I am forbidden from pursuing a friendship with your wife, the friendship we have enjoyed since our youth, then I would be grateful if you would make it clear to me. However, if your intention is to deprive Rebecca of friends and thus enact a control over her, then does she not have the right to know?” Edward asked, and Rebecca could feel the tension rising between them.
For a moment, she wondered if Nicholas would strike out at Edward, dealing him a blow for this insult, but instead, the words appeared to strike with the full force which Edward had hoped. Nicholas faltered, scowling at Edward, who now bowed once more and turned to take his leave from Rebecca.
“I am grateful to you for calling,” Rebecca said as Edward reached out to take her hand, which he brought to his lips.
