She was also well aware that Thomas only wished to protect her from the judgment of the world, but he couldn’t shield her from everything that would cross her path.
The fact that he wished to do that and attempted to meant the world to her, but she had to know what the article stated. Perhaps not for her own sanity, but for her peace of mind as well.
Thomas rose to his feet and began to pace around the study, his jaw clenched and his eyes troubled.
“Thomas,” she repeated his name.
“I cannot allow you to read that article, Rebecca. I simply cannot. What was written of you...of us...It is no wonder my mother thinks those awful things of you.”
“I still wish to read it.”
“Why? Why would you wish to read the salacious lies a cold-hearted person wrote about us simply for the sake of selling newspapers and providing entertainment to the very people who will ridicule you for those false actions?” Thomas asked, his voice echoing through the study. “Why would you wish to do that to yourself? Have you not gone through enough heartache?”
Rebecca slowly rose to her feet and clasped her hands together. “While I feel flattered that you want to protect me, I still wish to see it. I understand what you are attempting to convey to me, and your concern for my well-being does not go unnoticed, but it is simply something I must read, Thomas. Please.”
His gaze met hers and his jaw unclenched for a moment. “Is there any way that I can persuade you not to do this?”
“Unfortunately not, Thomas, but your persistence is truly admirable.”
A smile formed on his lips, then he nodded. “Very well,” he said. “I will only be a moment. Please do not go anywhere.”
Rebecca watched as he left the study only to return a few moments later. The newspaper was in his hands and he slowly approached her carefully, as though he was still unwilling to hand it over.
But as promised, he gave Rebecca the newspaper and she sat on the sofa once more. She rested the paper on her lap and began to read the words written.
Within the first paragraph, the reporter had already spoken many untruths about what had occurred on the beach that morning, and she couldn’t believe someone would write such blatant lies about them.
As she glanced down at the name of the person who wrote it, she gritted her teeth and shook her head in disapproval. Hot tears stung her eyes and she shifted the newspaper away from her.
At least now she knew what everyone would be thinking of her.
“Rebecca,” Thomas said and sat beside her. “I am truly sorry for placing you in this predicament. I was the one who kissed you first and I should be the one ridiculed.”
“Why did you kiss me that morning, Thomas?”
As he opened his mouth to provide her with the same answer he had given her at the beach, she shook her head.
“I recall you already answered my question that day, but was your answer truthful?
“Rebecca, you must understand. It was an eventful morning, where you and I both underwent a traumatising experience and—”
“I only understand that you are avoiding the question,” Rebecca said, and she rose to her feet once more. “Why is it so difficult to truthfully answer my question? Is it because I truly am not good enough for you?”
“That is preposterous. You should know that it doesn’t matter to me if you come from a titled family or not.”
“And how would I be aware of that? I am not as well acquainted with you as I thought. I may know your heart, but I certainly do not know your mind. And that terrifies me even more than the dislike your mother has for me.”
Rebecca turned away and stepped to the door, shaking her head in disappointment. She had been under the impression that Thomas was a strong, confident and self-assured man – as that was how he had appeared to her – but she was wrong about that as well.
“Rebecca, wait.”
“Why? Why should I wait? Give me one single reason why I should not walk out that door,” she said and motioned to the door of the study, “and never return again.”
“Because I will not allow it,” Thomas said.
The door suddenly opened behind them and Charles entered the study.
“Good, you are both still here,” Charles said and closed the door again behind him. “Let us talk.”
Chapter Ten.
Thomas exchanged a glance with Rebecca as Charles entered the study and clasped his hands together. He wasn’t certain what their mother had told Charles, but judging from the expression on his face, it wasn’t positive.
Both he and Rebecca took their seats on the sofa and stared quietly at Charles, awaiting the words that would ultimately spill from his mouth. Charles pursed his lips for a while as he slowly swayed back and forth, perhaps gathering his thoughts before speaking.
“Charles, before you say anything—”
“Thomas, wait,” Rebecca interjected. “I understand why your mother thinks of me in such a negative manner as to ask me to leave your life. The article in the newspaper certainly does put me in a bad light, but for what it’s worth, most of it is not true. My intentions toward Thomas are not what your mother believes them to be.”
“That article upset my mother very much. As you can imagine, she is very protective of her sons,” Charles said.
“And her family’s reputation,” Thomas muttered.
Charles glared at him for a moment, yet Thomas did not regret his words. He was well aware of the lengths his mother would go to protect her family’s reputation.
“What else did she say?” he asked.
“It doesn’t really matter,” Charles sighed. “What I wish to know is what you will do now, Thomas?”
“Me? What I am to do?”
