He had no other choice.
WITH THE WIND IN HER hair and tears streaming down her face, Rebecca guided her father’s horse along the grassy field. She didn’t know how long she had been riding, steering the animal into the unknown, or where precisely she found herself. All she knew was that she needed to get away.
After listening to her father and Thomas deliberate her future as Thomas’ wife, she had never felt so powerless. They did not ask her opinion, or even allow her to be a part of the discussion.
Despite her feelings for Thomas, she had not expected him to simply make the decision – and such an important decision as marriage – without discussing it with her first. She had never been so insulted.
Rebecca glanced up at the sky. The sun was very close to the horizon and it would soon be dark. Her surroundings did not look even remotely familiar, and she drew in a deep breath. Steering the horse in the opposite direction, she hoped she would find her way back to familiar terrain, but soon realised she was lost.
In the distance, she noticed a large lake, then she realized how parched she was. She wasn’t certain whether the water was clean enough to drink, but she could splash water on her face before trying to find her way back to the townhouse.
She’d been living in Weymouth for some time, but she’d never ventured out this far, and unaccompanied.
Her horse came to a stop and she slowly dismounted near the lake, her feet touching the soft, green grass. The grass beside the lake was lush and green, and as soon as she knelt down at the water’s edge, her surroundings somehow felt familiar to her, as though she had been there before.
The cool water felt lovely on her hands and she splashed some on her face. She drew in a deep breath and as she rose to her feet, she noticed the large stable to her right, and in the distance a very large mansion towering out from behind the trees. She instantly recognised the large windows, as well as the stone inlays on the corner bricks and she stumbled back to her horse.
She was on the grounds of Finlay Hall, the duke’s estate, one of the two places she wished not to be. She pulled on the reins of the horse in an attempt to make a hasty escape, before anyone saw her – especially the Dowager Duchess.
As she walked around her horse, she bit her lip. As much as she did not wish to admit it, she wasn’t sure how to find her way back to her father’s townhouse, and she did not want to knock on the door of Finlay Hall and request assistance.
“Excuse me?” a girl called out and Rebecca jumped. “Can we help you?”
She turned around and noticed two young girls in riding gear and a young stable hand.
“Who are you?” the stable hand asked, frowning with suspicion.
“I...” Rebecca stuttered from fear.
Before she was able to gather her thoughts, a lady rounded the stables and approached her. She would have been probably ten years older than herself. She was dressed in very expensive riding clothing.
Now she felt foolish. There was not a chance that Rebecca would be able to simply ride off without seeming rude and disrespectful.
She stepped away from her horse. “Pardon the intrusion. I am Rebecca Morton.”
“Rebecca Morton? As in Dr. Morton’s daughter?” the lady asked.
“Indeed.”
The woman stuck her hand out to Rebecca with a bright smile. “Emma Melton. Charles is my husband. I am delighted to meet you. I have heard so many things about you.”
Rebecca swept into a low bow, “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Grace.”
“Acquaintance? It feels as though I have known you for a while now,” Emma said with a smile.
“And why is that?” Rebecca asked carefully as she rose from her curtsey.
“Thomas has spoken of you on more than one occasion,” Emma said. “Have you come to visit him? I am not certain where he is, but I can find out for you.”
“No, I am not here to see him. Frankly I did not even realise I was on the estate,” Rebecca said and cleared her throat. “It is rather embarrassing to admit, but I went for a ride on my horse and I did not know where I was until I stopped here at the lake and saw the manor house. I did not intend on trespassing, Your Grace. I am truly sorry.”
“Emma, please,” the duchess said, and placed her hand against her heart. “There is no need to apologise, and you are most certainly not intruding. The children and I had just returned from riding ourselves, and we were about to enjoy an early dinner. Would you care to join us?”
“I should be heading back. I wouldn’t want my father to worry,” Rebecca said.
Emma was about to respond when a loud commotion came from behind the stables. A cloud of dust blew up as a carriage appeared. Rebecca’s jaw dropped as she recognised the young man climbing from the vehicle.
She wondered what had made Thomas return to the estate, but as soon as he called out to the stable hand, she realised what his plans were.
“You there, prepare my horse as speedily as possible,” he said, loud enough for even Rebecca to hear.
“Thomas?” Emma asked and turned to the stables.
“Emma, my apologies but I have not the time to chat.”
“What is the matter?” Emma asked. “And why are you in such a panicked state?”
Rebecca recalled Thomas telling her of the duchess’ grace and poise, and how she was able to set people at ease with her calm and gentle demeanour. She now saw it first-hand and it was quite impressive.
Seeing Thomas, however, made her recall the conversation with her father and the manner in which they’d
