Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

I t was taking everything in William to remain calm. From the second Solomon and Dorothy walked through the door, he wanted nothing more than to throw them back out.

It wasn't helped that Solomon seemed intent on trying to play the part of the perfect father and Dorothy taking a shot at Rebecca every chance she got.

Of course his perfect father act didn't extend to stoping his other daughter from mocking Rebecca.

He walked beside Rebecca as they led their guests into the dinning room.

Everyone moved around, taking their seats. Dorothy scoffed, turning to Rebecca.

"Why did you seat me beside Lady Sutton?" she pouted. "What am I supposed to talk about with her?"

"I'm sure we will manage just fine," the older woman smiled, taking her seat.

William saw Rebecca shoot her a grateful smile.

William took his own seat beside Patrick. He hoped it would get easier after that, but it almost seemed like the longer the meal went on the worse her behavior became. He could hardly bring himself to stop glaring at either of them.

After yet another sinde remark towards Rebecca, he was gripping his fork hard enough that the metal was digging into his skin.

Patrick caught his eyes and shot him a look.

William just shook his head.

"But why?" he leaned in and whispered to William.

"I don't want to ruin Rebecca's evening by causing a scene. She worked so hard on it."

"Well, pardon me for saying it, but they seem rather intent on causing a scene."

"I know," he sighed. "If they start to go too far, I will step in, but I promised Rebecca I would let her handle this."

Patrick smirked. "I didn't promise her anything."

William shook his head. "This is mine to handle."

"But I can help."

"If you want to worry about something, then worry about your wife. She looks rather stressed."

He nodded and turned back to his wife, agreeing to stay out of it.

So, William was bound to stay out of it unless things went horribly wrong. He had asked Patrick to stay out of it, and his poor wife seemed so uncomfortable she hadn't said a single word since they sat down.

That left Penelope and her mother to try and smooth things over as best as they could.

"This dinner is wonderful," Lady Sutton said. "You did a wonderful job putting it together, Rebecca."

She smiled. "Thank you, I-"

"You should make sure not to serve so many carrots next time," Dorothy cut in. "it makes you look low class."

"They are just carrots," Penelope grumbled. "And they are delicious."

"Its such a shame you have such unrefined palates to think so."

William shot her another glare.

They hadn't technically done anything too over the top yet, but hasn't this gone on long enough? He couldn't just sit here in silence and let Rebecca take this. Maybe it was time he said something.

After all, the rule wasn't that he could never step in, only that he not do so without warning Rebecca.

And so, deciding he couldn't just sit here and watch this happen any longer he caught Rebecca's eyes across the table.

Once again, William found himself regretting signing off on a seating chart that put them on opposite ends of the table.

He remembered when she had brought him the setting chart. William had been sitting in the parlor, wiring to meet with Rebecca when she race in, papers in hand and a bright smile on her face.

"I finished the seating chart!" she declared. "Do you want to look it over?"

He set his book aside. "If you want me to, I would be more than happy to look it over for you and tell you what I think."

William looked it over and hesitated.

"What do you think?" she asked.

"Well, I can tell a lot of thought went into this, but why did you seat us so far apart?"

"Because we're hosting."

"But what does that have to do with anything?"

"Mrs. Anderson said hosts don't sit next to each other."

"Did she mention why?"

"Because it's important to give the most attention to our guests and not one another."

"I don't see why we can't do that while sitting near even if not next to one another."

Rebecca shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I really want to make sure I do this right."

He sighed. "I suppose I can understand that, but I don't know how I feel about you sitting next to your father if I'm so far away."

"I can understand that, but since we invited them, it important that I sit next to either my sister or my father. They'll never stop talking about it I do anything else."

"Can you at least sit next to your sister then?"

"I'm not sure if that would be any better. She can be cruel in her own right when she wants to."

"I still think she would be easier to handle on your own then your father."

"I suppose I can agree to that, but you don't need to worry so much. I might not be physically close to you, but I know I have your support and I put Penelope on my other side just in case I need someone to back me up in a pinch."

William sighed before nodding in agreement, "I can be content with that I suppose."

Oh, how foolish William had been then.

He never should have agreed to let her sit so far from him. He should have pushed back more. He should have insisted that she either sit away from them or that she sit near him. If only he had given her an ultimatum perhaps he could have avoided this.

Finally, Rebecca caught his eye.

He gave a pointed look to her sister.

To his disappointment, she shook her head.

William frowned. He wished he was close enough to ask her why. Why she wasn't stopping her yet, why she was just sitting there and taking it.

It wasn't right. Rebecca didn't deserve this. She had put so much work into the evening, she deserved to get to enjoy it.

She had put so much work into it, he reminded himself.

He took a deep breath. This was Rebecca's first time entertaining. She wouldn't want him to make a scene here. He had asked her and she said no. nothing Dorothy had done had crossed a line and Solomon was being too careful to risk saying anything.

Soon they wouldn't be able to do any of this. He would do what he needed to to protect her.

William just needed to be patient.

He had come up with a plan and he needed to stick to it.

After all, there would be plenty of time for him to make his move once dinner was over, he reminded himself again.

As soon as they adjourn to the sitting room, he could approach Solomon. It was only a shame he wouldn't be able to take Dorothy with them. After seeing her behavior at the table, part of him was considering it anyway, priority be damned.

But he doubted Rebecca would appreciate that. Besides, it wouldn't matter soon enough.

As soon as dinner was over he would make his move. It would be so easy. He would walk up to Solomon and tell him he had some business he wanted to ask him about.

There was no doubt in his mind that the greedy man would eagerly agree, no doubt expecting him to give him money. He would probably assume this conversation was happening as a result of his demand of Rebecca.

And if he didn't trust it right away, if he had noticed that William had been stand off ish and aggressive with him, then he could always do a little more persuading.

Once he convinced him to meet with him, Solomon would follow him from the party to the library or his study. When it was just the two of them he would sit down across from him and lay into him.

William would tell him off. He would let out every thought he had to hold back through the dinner. Once he had said his piece, he would give Solomon his marching orders then they would never need to see either of them again.

He had no doubt the man would try and push back. He would get angry, maybe even grovel. There was no doubt he would try to blame Rebecca, but William wouldn't fall for any of it.

It would only be a matter of time before he would have little choice but to leave, taking Dorothy with him.

Rebecca would be free just as she deserved.

Dorothy's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"I think you two make such a sweet couple. It's nice to see you with someone of your own kind," she said in a sickly sweet voice.

Rebecca didn't reply, but that didn't seem to do anything to deter Dorothy.

"And it's interesting to see too. After all, it isn't every day you see a married couple made up of two murderers."