Her father would be nothing short of furious with them both. He had entrusted her to the care of Thomas and Marcus. He had also placed his trust in Rebecca that she would not put herself in harm’s way. And that was precisely what had happened.
She’d made a promise that he had nothing to worry about. If he were to find out what had happened between Thomas and her with the kiss, he would be even more furious. He might even insist that they be married if gossip began to spread.
She wasn’t sure if anyone had witnessed what had occurred. Either the incident with the water where she had nearly drowned, or when she and Thomas had shared more than one intimate kiss.
There had been no one at the private beach when they had found themselves hunting for fossils, but people were inquisitive by nature, and the two of them wandering on the rocks would gain attention. Especially if the man was Thomas Melton.
It was disastrous to think of.
She could not imagine a worse start to a marriage. Her father would wish to preserve her reputation and by arranging them to marry would save her.
Nevertheless, it would be unfair towards Thomas to allow that to happen. Neither of them asked for today’s misadventure, although the kiss had been entirely their decision. The second kiss as well. She also doubted the duke would allow his youngest brother to marry due to unfortunate circumstances.
Her shoulders shook once more as a shiver coursed down her spine, and Thomas reached out his hand to her. It came to a rest on her shoulder and she gazed at him.
“Are you all right, Rebecca?”
She nodded slightly, though her trembling lips belied her nod.
“We will be at the townhouse soon,” he said in a reassuring tone, his eyes gentle but filled with concern.
Perhaps that was what frightened her. She didn’t wish for her morning with Thomas to end, and she most certainly did not wish for her father to be angered by what he would see as soon as they arrived home.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop, and her heart pounded in her chest. She felt rather dizzy as Thomas and Marcus helped her out of the vehicle, but she drew in a deep breath and allowed Marcus to lead the way to the front door.
As they stepped inside, Rebecca hoped that her father was tending a patient and would not come to meet them. It was quiet in the townhouse, and she breathed a sigh of relief as they stepped into the long hallway.
“What in the blazes?”
Her shoulders slumped as she heard her father’s voice echoing through their home, and she slowly turned on her heel.
“Father, she said.
“What on earth happened to you? You’re drenched!”
His voice was loud enough that the entire street would probably have heard her father’s exclamation.
“Father, I am all right,” she said, attempting to reassure the enraged man.
Dr. Morton’s eyes darkened as he stared at Thomas, his finger pointing angrily at him. “You.”
“Dr. Morton,” Thomas said and held his hands up in defence.
“I trusted you with my daughter’s well-being, and now I see you returned her home drenched, shivering and practically frozen. How dare you even step foot in my home after allowing harm to come to my daughter.”
“Father, it was not his fault,” Rebecca said, but the angry man ignored her and focused his attention on Thomas.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Dr. Morton asked and glowered at Thomas.
Rebecca bit her bottom lip, terrified that Thomas would not only inform him of what had happened to her, but also what had happened between them on the cliff face while they waited for the tide to lower.
She had never been good at hiding things from her father, especially after her mother passed away.
She was on the verge of stepping forward and confessing everything herself when Thomas placed his hand against his chest and stepped forward.
“Dr. Morton, I am fully aware that you placed your trust and confidence in me to ensure that no harm came to your daughter. I had mistaken the timing of the tides, miscalculating how rapidly the water would rise. Rebecca and I attempted to make our way across the water, however it was too rough. Rebecca went under but I helped her to safety. We waited on the cliff face until the water was calmer. As soon as it was, Marcus came for us, and we departed the beach immediately.”
Her father glanced towards her for a moment, then turned his attention back to Thomas.
“I accept full responsibility for what happened, and I apologise sincerely. Something such as this will never happen again,” Thomas said earnestly.
“Indeed, it will not. You will never come near my daughter again. You have risked her life for foolish little shells. You were probably not even aware she cannot swim.”
“Father, do not—”
“To your chambers, Rebecca.”
Her father’s harsh tone surprised her, and she gazed at Thomas one last time before ascending the stairs at the end of the hallway and moving towards her chambers. She was racked with guilt that he had claimed full responsibility.
She pressed her fingers to her lips where Thomas had kissed her, and her chest tightened. Possibly there was some way she was able to repay him the kindness of saving her life, even if it meant risking her reputation.
Perhaps she was still in shock and was not thinking clearly, although she did not deny that he was the man she wanted.
AS THOMAS STEPPED ALONG the crushed rock driveway to Finlay Hall, an uncomfortable pain erupted in his leg. After he had been thoroughly scolded by Dr. Morton about the safety of his daughter while vociferously expressing his disappointment towards Thomas, the physician had inspected his injury.
The wound had opened on one end, and Dr. Morton closed it again with sutures. He wasn’t as gentle as his daughter had been, but Thomas was well
