Because of Rebecca - By Leanne Tyler Page 0,27
Jackson soon.”
His brows furrowed and he stepped away from her. “I’ll do anything for you, Rebecca, but I really don’t see how I can help you with this.”
“You don’t?”
He shook his head, opened the French doors and walked out onto the upper verandah. He glanced at her over his shoulder before he spoke again. “No.”
“B—but—” His words made no sense. How couldn’t he help her with the mission? He was her liaison after all, wasn’t he?
With the force of a bolt of lightning realization dawned and she felt a sickly churning form in her stomach. She thought back to the first missive from her liaison. He’d said he’d be in touch and he’d be wearing a yellow rose.
Jared had worn a yellow rose, so why had he never discussed the mission with her? She’d been the one to initiate talk of Ruth and it had led to nothing.
The churning in her stomach tightened and she couldn’t breathe. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come. The horror written on her face reflected in his eyes and she knew her knees would buckle underneath her.
Oh my God! He’s not Hollingsworth. He’s not my liaison. What have I done?
She’d wasted all this time, possibly putting Ruth and her real liaison in danger. Bile filled Rebecca’s mouth as the thought of what could happen if they were caught during the transition. Her temples throbbed and she took a few deep, steadying breaths, which made her feel that much more light-headed. She swayed.
“Rebecca! Are you all right?” Jared caught her before she collapsed.
She laid her head against his chest and breathed in the spicy scent of him until she regained as much of her composure as possible. Tears of frustration formed in her eyes and she couldn’t stop them from streaming down her face. The committee had put their trust in her to complete this mission and she’d failed.
“No, no!” she cried.
“Rebecca, what is wrong?” The urgency in his voice made matters worse because she knew she couldn’t tell him the truth.
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Jared, I must return to town at once.” She stepped out of his arms to the railing and looked down into the garden until she spotted her aunt near the rose bushes. “Aunt Josephine! Aunt Josephine! We must leave now.”
“Rebecca, what the devil is going on?” he demanded, coming up behind her.
She tried to smile, but failed. “I’m sorry to frighten you. But, I must return to town and take care of a matter immediately.”
“Does this have anything to do with Ruth?”
She nodded, stepping away from him. “Please don’t ask. I can’t explain.”
Jared watched as she turned and rushed from the library, disappearing down the hall.
What the hell had just happened?
Chapter Eight
Jared stalked to the railing and watched Josephine join Rebecca in front of the house. She was still deeply upset. Josephine looked up at him with an icy glare.
Jared jammed his hands in his pockets and went down the back stairs out to the stables. He avoided Mary and the Paxton girls. He wasn’t in the mood to speak to anyone.
Inside the stables, he spotted Higgins brushing a young colt. “Miss Davis and her aunt need to return to town. Please prepare the carriage at once.”
“Yes, sir,” Higgins replied, dropping the brush into a nearby bucket.
Jared did an about face and joined the women at the edge of the garden where Josephine tried to calm Rebecca.
“The carriage will be ready for your departure shortly, ladies.”
“What have you done to my niece, Mr. Hollingsworth?”
“He hasn’t done anything,” Rebecca said, pacing.
“Well something happened to upset you,” Josephine declared.
“Rebecca—” He tried once more to speak with her, but the carriage rolled up and Higgins jumped down to assist them inside.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Jared.” Rebecca spoke the formal, expected words, but there was no warmth.
How could she dismiss him so easily? Damn it, she owed him an explanation of some kind. He wanted to demand she explain herself, but his pride wouldn’t allow her to see she’d affected him. Nor did he want to discuss it in front of her aunt
“Good day, ladies.”
“Good day, Mr. Hollingsworth.” Josephine’s curt nod and clipped tone irritated him further as the carriage drove away.
His jaw clenched. How dare the woman assume the worst when he’d done nothing wrong. He’d welcomed them into his home. His only fault was he’d allowed himself to be manipulated by Rebecca’s beguiling smile. Her beauty. She made a complete package