“No, I refuse to believe that. Rebecca is not—”
“Whether you think she is or not, she is trouble. And because of her attempt to trap you by spreading rumours of you and her in quite an intimate moment at the foot of the cliffs, I forbid you to have any contact with her, effective immediately,” the Dowager Duchess said.
“You cannot forbid me. I am a grown man—”
“Until you begin to act like a grown man, I will be making your decisions for you,” she interjected firmly.
“I will not be controlled, especially not by you! This is none of your concern,” Thomas said.
“When it affects the reputation of my family then it is my concern. You are not to see that woman again. Is that clear?”
Thomas clenched his jaw and without another word, stormed out of the guest suite and stomped to his bedchamber. As he slammed the door behind him, a stabbing pain erupted in his head and he slid to the floor with his back against the door.
Too many thoughts muddled in his mind, but not one of them was of Rebecca’s ignoble intention. He did not believe it for a moment. Her eyes had been sincere when she’d gazed upon him. They bore an innocence that made him believe that she did not see him as a Melton or a lord, or the brother of a duke. She saw him as a human being, and she was interested in his mind and his heart, not his wealth.
His mother was wrong. And he wouldn’t allow her to ruin his life with her own ignorance.
WITH A POUNDING HEART, Rebecca smoothed the skirt of her dress and opened the door that led to her father’s physician rooms.
She felt much better and wished to interact with people. She hadn’t realised how lonely she would be, seeing Connie only briefly when she brought her meals and warm drinks. Connie did not stay very long, which made Rebecca pine for human interaction even more.
What her father would say would remain to be seen.
Rebecca stepped into the rooms and much to her dismay, her father’s nurse, Nurse Beckett, stood behind the wooden counter.
“Good morning, Rebecca,” she greeted cheerfully.
“Good morning, Nurse Beckett. I was not certain whether you would be here today.”
“Indeed, I am.”
“Is everything all right with your family? My father informed me that you had a family emergency,” Rebecca said.
“The situation is better and under control. My sisters arrived from London and will be handling things while I am at work.”
“I am certain my father would have allowed you to tend to your situation for a few more days.”
“I am aware, but my sisters can be a bit of an annoyance,” Nurse Beckett said with a stiff grin. “Nevertheless, I am happy to be here.”
Rebecca smiled awkwardly and shifted her weight. “Nurse Beckett, would you...”
At the sound of her father’s voice, Rebecca turned towards him and she tried her hardest to not be frozen with fear. Her father’s voice trailed off as he noticed her standing at the counter and he lowered the file in his hands.
“Rebecca,” he said simply.
“Good morning, Father.”
“What are you doing here? You ought to be resting.”
“I think I have rested enough. I feel perfectly fine,” she insisted.
Dr. Morton’s jaw clenched, and he glanced at Nurse Beckett, who returned to organising a stack of documents that was in front of her.
He walked to the door that connected his rooms to the townhouse and motioned to Rebecca to follow him. Of course, she obediently did as she was told.
As they entered the hallway, her father closed the door and turned to her.
“Father, I am aware of what you said and I know you think I should be resting, but I am perfectly fine. I cannot bare another minute alone in my bedchambers. I wish to assist you with patients today.”
“Nurse Beckett is here, so there is no need for you to assist me. We can manage,” he said coldly.
“Father, please. You cannot expect me to stay within the confines of my chambers any longer. I wish to go outside, to breathe the fresh air. Please.”
“I do not expect you to understand, Rebecca, but the mere thought of losing you is excruciating.”
“Perhaps, but tightening the reins on my life will only cause me to pull harder in the opposite direction.”
Her father narrowed his eyes and shifted his weight. “What is it that you wish, Rebecca?”
“I wish to go to the cliffs, Father. I need sunlight and fresh air. I need to not be in this home any longer. I cannot stand these walls.”
“Need I remind you what happened the last time you went near the cliffs?” he asked.
“Connie can come as well. I can take my easel and sketch. You know how it makes me feel better. Please, Father, since I am not of any importance here.”
“That is not what I said,” he said.
“It was not what you said, Father, it was the manner in which you said it. It was hurtful. Now you want me to merely return to my chambers, expect me not to be upset? That is not fair.”
He shifted his weight and glowered at her for a short while. She held her breath, her heart racing in her chest. She’d never said such things to her father before. Never once had she stood up to him like this. But she would simply go crazy if he locked her up again.
Finally, he said, “You may go.”
“Thank you—”
“But,” he interrupted and raised his hand. “You may only go if Connie accompanies you, if you keep yourself warm, stay away from the cliff’s edge, and avoid the water.”
“Yes, yes, and yes, Father,” she said with a relieved smile.
“And I should not need to remind you that I still do not grant you permission to go anywhere near Thomas Melton.
