Chapter 15

T omorrow she would marry Aaron Greystoke.

Rebekah strolled in the flower garden, wondering how she'd come to this moment. A daring brainstorm flipped upside down along with her entire world. Hindsight was a grueling taskmaster. The plan had seemed logical enough at the time. And now, she saw it as insanity. Proof that one should not allow one's temper to rule.

What a catastrophe she had made for herself.

She did not know him, and he did not know her. How could either one of them profess love for the other?

A rush of warmth filled her as the memory flashed through her mind. Dare she hope for Aaron to possess her again? When she looked at him, all the sensations came rushing back. If her dream was beyond her reach, then why had she been given this chance? Aaron was the one to suggest they marry. He was agreeable.

Aaron presented strength and confidence. Not the sort of man who could be pushed into something. No, she couldn't imagine anyone forcing him to do anything.

All she had to do was reach out. Take what fate had thrown at her. It would be so easy to fall in love with Aaron. Truth be told, she feared she already had.

The heart wanted what the heart wanted. All she had to do was say yes. She wished he truly cared for her. If she married him, perhaps, one day … was it too much to hope that one day he might love her?

She heard the ruffling of satin and turned to see Serena. "I hope I'm not intruding on your solitude."

"Of course not. I welcome the company. "We are sorry about this situation. But we welcome you to the family. We are good people, Rebekah. I hope you will give us a chance.

"I'm the interloper, and you are being beyond accepting. I wouldn't blame you if you threw me out."

"Nonsense. No matter how you came to us, you are now family."

"Of course, you are," Joyanna said, joining them.

"You two didn't wander out here by accident."

"You are correct. We thought you might have the pre-wedding jitters. We're here to help you, Rebekah. You're not alone."

Serena reached out a hand and touched Rebekah. "We want to be your friends."

Friends? She'd never had any friends.

"All the brothers are fierce looking," Joyanna said. "Don't let Aaron's brow intimidate you."

"Aaron is not one to lie, or shirk his duties," Serena told her.

"I don't want to be his duty. A marriage between us is not necessary."

"Are you going to change your mind?"

"Let's walk," Joyanna said, taking Rebekah's arm. "Think of this as an adventure. A wild one, true. But one where you will be going on a journey, and every day will get better."

"Yes," Serena joined in. "The more time you spend with Aaron, you will find he's a good man."

"You might even have fun doing it?" Joyanna giggled.

"Fun?"

"They're not a bunch of trolls. Don't get me wrong, the brothers can be fierce when protecting their family."

"Nathaniel has a brooding expression most of the time," Serena added. "He scares everyone. There are times when I need to remind him that he doesn't need to speak to people in that booming voice."

"Around you he is thoughtful and loving," Joyanna said to Serena.

"Don't let him hear you say that. Men like for everyone to believe they are strong and… manly." She giggled.

"A few months back, you would not have recognized Edmund," Joyanna told Rebekah. "He was an absolute grizzly. Hated the world."

"Edmund?"

Joyanna nodded.

"He was having megrims. Headaches that drove him mad. Well, not mad as in …"

"Do you know what megrims are, Rebekah?" Serena interrupted.

"I've read about them."

"Then you know they can be excruciating. Edmund was hiding his headaches and dealing with his pain on his own. He'd become a recluse. His brothers forced him into the open, and he found a doctor who helped. Edmund had a bone pressing on a nerve behind his ear. The doctor performed surgery and now he is well."

Rebekah pictured Edmund's face, as he smiled at his wife when no one was looking. "I would never have known. He is so mellow. You two seem so happy."

"We are, now. That is a story for another day. But the short version is I had to win him. I loved him too much to let him push me away." Joyanna's wistful expression showed how much she loved him.

"Aaron does not have a bone pressing on a nerve. And his onery expression is from his tenacious disposition. There is no excuse for his haughty behavior."

"You have much to learn," Serena laughed. "This is a discussion we must have very soon."

"If Aaron doesn't care what the ton or anyone thinks about him, why the deception?"

The two women looked to each other, then back to her. Serena was the one who spoke. "Nathaniel, Edmund, and Aaron, all three, dearly love Penelope. But Aaron is devoted to her. They are quite close."

"Quite," Joyanna added. "For her, he would do anything."

Rebekah frowned. "Including marrying a woman he doesn't want."

Joyanna laughed. "I've seen the way he looks at you , ma cheri ."

Rebekah blurted, "So have I. I've been the recipient of those harsh looks."

"Rebekah. When you're not looking, his eyes study you. As if he is trying to work a puzzle. He's fitting the pieces together in his mind."

"With such a small mind to work with, that must be why the strain shows on his face."

"Rebekah," Serena said softly. "If Aaron says he doesn't remember, I believe he is telling the truth. Aaron is an honest man."

"Intensely so." Joyanna added. "All three of them."

These women described a man she hadn't seen. "It would appear there is a great deal I don't know."

"Don't worry. We will tell you everything." They came to a stone bench, with delicate carvings in the design of flowers and vines. "Let us sit for a spell."

"Perhaps, if we all talk about …," Serena began, then hesitated. "I don't want to pry, but if you could shed some light on Aaron's visit with your father, well, uh …" She and Joyanna shared a look.

"We were hoping you could shed some light on how all this came about," Joyanna finished.

Dear heavens. The whole thing was one big muddle. How was she to explain when most of it was ambiguous?

Rebekah was embarrassed. But Serena and Joyanna were so nice. Rebekah felt like she could speak freely with them.

She quickly went over the events in her mind. Father had been to the tavern and brought home a man. Aaron passed out, but Papa hadn't been foxed. When could Aaron have put his signature to paper? Surely not the next morning. He was gone by the time she'd gotten up. Papa said Aaron must have left at dawn. Fresh from a night's sleep, he would have been aware—more so than the night before when she'd assumed he'd been drunk—and he would remember. Wouldn't he?

Did he?

No. She'd seen his eyes. He was being truthful. There were times he'd been inconsiderate, and times when he'd been understanding, even respectful. Because he was guilty?

Why would he be compassionate if Papa had tricked him?

Papa had been full of himself that morning. A skip in his step, the happiest she seen him since Mama died. Had he tricked Aaron?

"Rebekah? Are you all right?"

She shook the memories away. "Yes."

"What is it? Is something wrong?"

Everything.

"Perhaps it is just bride jitters," Joyanna said.

"I must speak with Aaron."

Rebekah jumped up and practically ran back to the house.

Papa. What have you done?

She found Aaron on the terrace.

"Rebekah? Are you all right?"

"I didn't expect to see you here."

"It is a lovely day. Thought I'd stand here and take it in for a moment. Would you care to join me?" He held out a hand.

Flustered from the thoughts rambling through her head, she took a moment to compose herself.

"Yes." She placed her hand in his, and climbed the two steps onto the terrace.

His fingers brushed her bare skin. Tingles ran from her hands, up her arms, and straight to her belly. Dear Lord. From an innocent touch.

He brought her even closer. "A bout of the wedding jitters?" He lifted one hand and trailed his fingers down her arm. She sucked in a breath. When he slid those fingers back up again, she thought she'd swoon.

"You have nothing to fear, Rebekah." He was trying to calm her fears. Perhaps he truly was a gentleman.

"I'm not afraid." She looked up to his face, and lost her breath again. Her eyes locked with his green, heated ones, taking her back to that night. She could almost believe time stood still, and she was in his arms again.

"If there is something bothering you, you can tell me."

She shook herself from the cloud of desire she was falling into. "Are you not bothered by this entire predicament?"

"I thought we'd ironed everything out."

She couldn't think with him this close. She stepped to the side, then put a good bit of distance between them. She gathered her composure and draped it about her like a cloak. Then she faced him. "You do not have to officially marry me."

Aaron emitted a short laugh. "Want me to unofficially marry you?"

"That's not what I mean. Is there some other way? To avoid a scandal."

"Aunt has her heart set on this wedding." He studied her. "I will not force you."

"But don't you see." The desperation showed in her voice. "I will not force you, either. I came here as a lark. To teach you a lesson." Which quickly recoiled back to her. She whirled around. "I wish I'd never come."

"But you did, sweetheart. Our engagement has been made public. Do you not like it here?"

Sweetheart?

She gave her head a little shake, then forced her feet to face him. "Aaron, your home is beautiful. I promise, I was not looking for wealth, or a title, or marriage when I came here. I just want to go home."

"Think of Blackborn Manor as your home," he said taking a step closer to her. "You will want for nothing. Your father is happy. He can come visit you anytime you want."

She bit her lip to keep from screaming.

Reach out and take what your heart wants.

"You truly do not mind?"

"I am gaining a beautiful wife."

He thought her beautiful?

He took another step and stood right in front of her. So close.

"You like Aunt Penelope. You've met my brothers' wives. I think you get along. You don't need to change anything. Don't change for me. You may continue to be yourself, carry on as you normally would. Tomorrow you will become Mrs. Aaron Greystoke."

But … what happens after that?

"Nathaniel. Get out there and make sure Aaron doesn't scare Rebekah off. There is going to be a wedding tomorrow, or I'll give that boy my boot."

He loved Aunt, but she could try his patience. "Aaron can handle this on his own."

"Aaron is not himself," Aunt huffed.

"How do you expect him to behave? A woman shows up out of the blue, announces he is to marry her, and he should lie down and say yes, ma'am?"

"Shut up, Edmund. Aaron cut his own throat when he put his signature on that contract."

Nathaniel smirked, at his brother. Aunt always spoke her mind.

"He does not remember." Edmund shot back.

"He recognized his own signature."

"That's to—"

"Please," Joyanna said, placing her hand on Edmund's arm.

Leave it to Joyanna to smooth the waters. Serena shot Nathaniel a glance from her seat next to Aunt. He rather enjoyed watching Edmund squirm under Aunt's scrutiny. For his wife, he would come to Edmund's aid.

"Aunt Penelope." Nathaniel straightened from his position, leaning on the hearth. "You know Aaron would not lie."

"I did not accuse my nephew of lying. But it happened. This is what we've got. And we're going to deal with it in the right way. That boy needs Rebekah. And she needs all of us."

Well, there was a twist of view. Aunt turned her pleading gaze to him. "Go, Nathaniel. Help him."

***

"Forgive me, brother, I've been sent to fetch you."

Aaron froze.

What the bloody hell was Nathaniel doing out here?

The moment was gone.

For a moment, he'd forgotten his family. It had been Rebekah and him, alone on the terrace. Alone in the quiet evening where day turned to dusk. Gazing at her beauty, he could almost forget the reason the two of them were in Surrey. Beautiful. Witty. The woman had a mind of her own. Still, she interested him. They were to be married.

Leg-shackled.

Him.

Not of his own free will. And not of hers. The ton commanded entirely too much allegiance. For decorum, for propriety, for the bloody hypocritical aristocrats, he would throw away his future and take this woman down with him.

For Aunt Penelope.

Fucking hell.

There was no escape.

"We were just on our way in." He held out his arm to Rebekah. When she placed her hand cautiously at the crook of his elbow, he realized how very much he wanted to kiss her.