Because of Rebecca - By Leanne Tyler Page 0,28
of temptation wrapped up with innocence.
Too much innocence for a widow.
****
As soon as they returned to the hotel, Rebecca rushed upstairs to check on Lucas.
“How’s my boy?”
“He’s napping, miss.” Charlotte looked up from the settee where she folded diapers.
Rebecca crossed to the bedroom. She stood at the crib in silence and watched Lucas sleep. Soon her breathing slowed, matching his. Her heart ached so badly at the feared ruined mission that she turned away. She went to the bed, fell across it, and cried until the tears fell no longer.
She’d failed miserably at her first assignment for the Vigilante Committee. It had all seemed so easy when she accepted this task.
“Now, now,” Josephine soothed, sitting down on the corner of the bed and rubbing Rebecca’s back. “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
Rebecca looked up, wiped tears from her face, and sniffed. “There isn’t anything you can do to help me. I’ve made a terrible mistake. A terrible mistake.”
“Did he try to take advantage of you?”
She pushed herself to a sitting position and stared. “How can you even think he’d lay a hand on me?”
Josephine patted her hand. “I did leave the two of you alone in the house without a chaperone. I know the housekeeper was preoccupied with those darling girls so it was possible he took liberties.”
Rebecca’s cheeks flamed. How could Josephine assume Jared’s guilt so easily? “The mistake I speak of is my own doing. Jared had nothing to do with it, unfortunately. And that is the problem.”
Josephine gaped at her, covering her heart with her hand. “Are you saying you acted the wanton and he refused you?”
“No!”
“Then I don’t understand.”
In spite of the tears flowing down her cheeks, Rebecca threw back her head and laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“You. Not everyone finds intimacy outside of marriage as scandalous as you do.”
Josephine crossed herself. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. Surely you wouldn’t consider going to a man’s bed that wasn’t your husband’s.”
“If the moment arose and I loved the man deeply and he loved me the same…”
Her aunt clutched her hands together and looked up to the ceiling. “Heavenly Father please forgive her for saying these things which she surely doesn’t mean.”
She shouldn’t tease her aunt, but she couldn’t help it when the woman frustrated her so much. She wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and got up from the bed, knowing what she had to do. “I have some letters to write. Thank you for the talk.”
“But you haven’t told me what’s wrong,” Josephine called after her.
Rebecca ignored her, going into the sitting room. There was no need to explain. She’d said more than enough already.
Sitting down at the secretary, she took out a sheet of stationery and began writing the hardest letter she’d ever written, and yet the simplest. It was the Vigilante Committee’s code for defeat.
By sending it, she’d be admitting failure on her first mission to her superiors. But what more could she do? She’d been unsuccessful in meeting her liaison. She’d never reached Ruth.
Dearest Ophelia,
I hope this letter finds you well. I, however, am at my wits end. Please send assistance before I drown.
Your dutiful servant,
R. J. Bingham
*****
Josephine watched Rebecca struggle with her letter. She didn’t understand what had gone on between her niece and Mr. Hollingsworth. But if Rebecca said it was her mistake, she would have to accept that explanation.
She knew all too well about making mistakes where love was concerned. She’d lived the last eighteen years repenting for her youthful transgression. Finding solace in her conviction to serve the church, she had never questioned the Almighty for taking her Charles away at a young age.
Josephine took out a handkerchief and her lace prayer veil from the top dresser drawer. She checked her hair, fixing a few pins to secure the chignon before putting on the veil.
“I’m going to Mass. Would you like to join me?” she asked.
Rebecca looked up and shook her head. “I don’t want to leave Lucas for too long.”
“Very well. I’ll see you later.”
It bothered Josephine that Rebecca didn’t practice their faith more diligently. She’d tried to set a good example for her niece after her brother and his wife had died. However, she feared she’d failed, especially now that she had proclaimed she’d have no regret taking a lover before marriage if she desired.
“Youthful folly.” Josephine murmured. She stepped out of the hotel onto Main and spotted Doctor Gordon coming toward her. He waved and she waited for him at the corner.
“Good afternoon,