Page 61 of Marry in Secret
“‘Unavoidably detained,’ he told us,” Ned murmured. “It fits.”
They stared at Thomas in silence, taking it in.
“How?” George asked. “How did you become a slave?”
Thomas then told Rose’s family the story he had told Rose earlier, about the shipwreck on the Barbary Coast, how he and five men made it to shore, their capture by nomadic tribesmen, the journey across the desert and their eventual sale as slaves. He’d only given her the bare bones, and he gave her family even less detail.
He also left out the bit about his uncle refusing his ransom. Rose wondered why, but she didn’t question him. It could wait.
When he’d finished everyone sat back, their expressions varying from horror to pity. All except Cal, who continued to eye Thomas with suspicion. “Then explain, if you can, why you’ve arranged for a large proportion of my sister’s fortune to be converted into gold—”
Honestly, her brother was like a dog with a bone sometimes. He never let go.
“—and made ready for collection the day after the ball.”
The day after the ball? Rose blinked. There had been no mention of that when she and Thomas had talked his plans over. Nevertheless she wasn’t going to raise it with him while Cal was in this hostile mood.
“Because he needs it to bring back the other five sailors, of course,” she said. “What did you think?”
Cal said sharply, “You knew about this?”
“Of course. Thomas told me all about it.” Almost all.
Cal snorted. “And you, of course, believe every word he says.”
“I do, as it happens,” Rose retorted, “and don’t you dare tell me I’m being naïve. I know him, you don’t.”
“So you’re willing to be impoverished on his say-so?”
“As a matter of fact Thomas signed it back over to me this morning—my entire fortune—all except the funds he needs for the rescue of those sailors.” She smiled at her sister. “Much as Ned did with Lily’s fortune.”
“You did what?” Cal stared at Ned, who smiled and shrugged as if he’d done nothing special. Cal turned back to Thomas. “Why would you do such a thing?’
“I have a legacy coming to me when I’m thirty from my late mother’s estate,” Thomas told him. “It should cover what we need. And I just found out today, there’s a house.” He glanced at Rose. “It’s only small, and I have no idea what condition it’s in, but it’s not far from here. We can go and look at it if you like.”
“A house!” Rose was thrilled. She was fed up with living in her brother’s house, especially since he kept on being so horrid to Thomas. “Where is it? Can we go and see it today? Do you have a key?”
And suddenly, just like that, the whole discussion of Thomas’s apparent perfidy was over. Everyone was much more interested in this house of Thomas’s. Or had decided to be in order to put a stop to the unpleasantness. Because it was the ladies who now took over the conversation.
“You only just found out about it, Mr. Beresford?” Emm asked.
He nodded. “My mother died when I was young. I barely remember her, and my father was away at sea for much of my childhood. I knew my mother had left me a legacy; I just never knew the details.”
He turned to Rose. “She left this house for the use of her beloved governess for her lifetime. Once the old lady died, it was to come to me, free and clear. The governess died some time ago and the house has been sitting empty for a month.” He stood. “It’s on Bird Street and I have a key. Would you like to see it?”
He didn’t need to ask twice. Rose jumped up. “I’ll fetch my hat and pelisse.”
“Can I come too?” Lily asked. “I love looking at houses and seeing how they can be made nicer.”
“Of course, the more the merrier,” Rose said. “I’d love your opinion, Lily darling—you did such a lovely job with your own house.”
“Then I’ll come too,” Emm decided. “As long as it’s not too far.”
***
In the end, they all walked around to Bird Street: Rose, her sister Lily, Lady Ashendon and Lady George, who said she wasn’t much interested in houses but could do with a walk. She brought, of course, her faithful hound. Galbraith came too, for escort purposes, he explained; he and Lily would walk home later. Even Ollie, having nothing better to do, trailed along.
It wasn’t quite what Thomas had envisaged, this family excursion to inspect the house, but that was the Rutherford family, he was learning. They did everything together. It wasn’t at all what he was used to.
