Because of Rebecca(25)
“Tsk—tsk, I thought you to be a smart man, Mr. Hollingsworth. I don’t want your money. I want you. And Rory, of course, but I can have him whenever I like.”
The door to the room swung open and Rory waltzed in, clean-shaven, sporting bruises and a black eye. “Monique! You look ravishing as always.”
“Ravishing,” she repeated and smiled. “See Mr. Hollingsworth, Rory knows what I like to hear.”
He grinned and winked at Jared. “Monique, what are you up to? He looks mortified.”
She chuckled, went to Rory and wrapped her arms around his neck. She planted a kiss on his mouth. “I think he needs to go back to his plantation and wait for his goody-good to return. I’m too much for him to handle.”
“Exactly where has she gone?” Jared asked, getting to his feet, this time without the need of support. He slowly walked to the beverage cart and poured black coffee into a china cup.
“Sorry, Jared. Her destination is something I cannot tell you.” Rory pulled Monique snug against him, running his hand slowly down her back and cupping her bottom before squeezing. “As for you, you saucy wench, leave him alone.”
Pouting, Monique pushed Rory away. “Then both of you get out before I think better of it. And if I see either of you here again I’ll have you thrown out.”
“You heard the woman, Jared. Let’s go.” Rory grabbed his waistcoat from an overturned chair. He put it on then winked at their hostess. “Until later.”
The men walked outside into the brightness of the new day. Jared frowned, hurrying to keep up with Rory. “Exactly where do you think you’re going?” he asked as they walked down Amherst toward the more respectable side of town.
“Home, of course.”
“And where is that?”
“Oak Hill.” Rory stopped and grinned, holding up both hands. “Surely all is forgiven after I saved your hide in there.”
Jared snorted. “Saved me? From what?”
“Monique. She’s a barracuda in bed.”
“Do you honestly think I couldn’t hold my own with a woman like her?” He began walking again.
Rory laughed. “You’ve never met a woman like Monique. She has mystical powders and oils she uses on men to make them a slave to her whims. Monique may be a Madame, but when she sees something she likes, she gets it, and from the way she looked at you, dear cousin, she wanted you and wanted you bad. I should be upset, but Monique is Monique.”
Jared ignored him. “That still doesn’t mean you’re welcome at Oak Hill. There is the matter of Stuart Delaney and his hold on your markers. How do you propose to pay them off?”
Rory patted his coat pocket. “I’ve got it covered.”
Jared scoffed. “I find it hard to imagine you being able to raise the money.”
“You wound me to the core, cousin.” He staggered, clutching his hands over his heart.
“Don’t be melodramatic. You’re a spendthrift and a gambler, not a thespian. As soon as you get your hands on any amount of money, you go through it as fast as you can. Exactly how long did it take you to spend the inheritance your mother left you?”
“I had a run of bad luck at the tables.”
“Exactly my point!” Jared exclaimed.
Silence accompanied them as they rounded a corner coming upon Higgins and the carriage.
“Mr. Hollingsworth!” The man exclaimed, jumping down from his perch. “Didn’t you find her, sir?”
“I’m afraid not. She was gone by the time I got there, but I did find Rory. As you can see.”
“Mr. Rory,” Higgins nodded. “What a surprise. Bad pennies always show back up.”
He grinned. “Hello, Higgins, always the dutiful servant. Waiting on your employer, even if it means staying out all night.”
Ignoring the comment, Higgins turned toward Jared. “Did you want to look anywhere else, sir?”
“No.” Jared paused, getting into the carriage. “Put the cover down, Higgins, and take us home at once.”
The man did as requested and climbed on his perch before turning the carriage toward Oak Hill.
Rory slouched in the corner on one side, eyes closed. Jared watched him, his mind racing over the events of the last twenty-four hours. He still couldn’t figure out how Rebecca came to know Rory. When he couldn’t take the suspense any longer he nudged his cousin with the toe of his boot.
“So where did you get the money?”
Rory kept his eyes closed. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Damn it. If I’m going to allow you to come back to Oak Hill, you owe me an answer.”
Rory slowly opened one eye and grinned, clasping his hands in front of him as if in prayer. “I sold my soul and promised to be an angel from now on.”
Jared crossed his arms over his chest and stared at him.
Rory chuckled, sat up and leaned toward him. “Aren’t you even a little bit curious as to whom I made such a vow?”
Irritation grew in Jared as he warned. “If you say Rebecca, I’ll throttle you.”
“Then I won’t mention it.”
“And why would she give you a penny?” Jared reached the short distance between them and grabbed Rory by the collar, pulling tight. His cousin began gasping. “Can’t think of a witty reply now, can you?”
He shook his head and tried to pull Jared’s hands away from his throat. “Let me go and I’ll try to answer.
“Let’s hear it.” Jared shoved him back in the seat.
Rory straightened his collar and wheezed, “When did you become so violent?”
“The day I found out you gambled away my home, my life,” he retorted.
“Touché,” Rory said. “But she didn’t give me the money. Believe it or not, I suspect Rebecca would give me money, because she loves you and doesn’t want to see you lose Oak Hill. And from what I’ve seen and felt these last several hours, I’d say you love her as well. She said you had even asked her to marry you. This explains your outraged sense of chivalry whenever I mention her name. It’s also the reason I haven’t retaliated. It’s good to see you caring about life again.”
Jared slumped back on his side of the carriage and stared outside. Even if Rebecca did love him, it didn’t explain her involvement with Rory.
“How did you meet her?” he demanded.
“It’s a long story which I’d prefer not to discuss with you at the moment. Let’s just say it was pure dumb luck.” Rory closed his eyes again and turned his face toward the sun.
Jared glared at nothing in particular as the carriage rambled back toward Oak Hill. Rory could call meeting Rebecca dumb luck if he wanted, but Jared knew there was more to it. If he wasn’t going to talk, then he’d have to wait until Rebecca returned. However, he was certain a session on the rack would be preferable to waiting for the answers he wanted. Not having choices was hell enough. But to be forced to wait days was inconceivable.
“Where’d she go?”
“That’s something I can’t tell you. As much as I’d enjoy seeing you settled again and happy, if Rebecca wants you to know where she’s gone, she’ll have to tell you.”
“Damn it, Rory. In all that’s holy, at least tell me how you know her? And why didn’t she tell me she knew you?”
“Perhaps because we’d never met before yesterday?”
“Then why’d she go to a brothel with you?”
He grinned and shook his head. “That I can’t tell you.”
Jared’s head pounded again. The open carriage and fresh air did little to defuse the scent of Monique’s bedchamber that clung to his clothing. He couldn’t wait to reach the plantation, bathe, and put space between himself and Rory. The further, the better.
“Enough with these word games.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “How long are you planning to stay?”
Rory scratched his chin and shrugged. “I’m not sure. I guess that depends on how well you treat me.”
“Then don’t unpack your bags. After you take care of your business with Delaney, you can head right back out of town. I don’t need the strife your presence brings to my life. Everything was fine until I got the letter from Delaney demanding that I make good on your markers.”
Rory shook his head as the carriage slowed to a stop in front of the main house. “You’ve turned into a bitter person since losing Charisse. I thought time would heal. Apparently it hasn’t.”
“What would you know about loving someone and losing them? The only person you’ve ever cared about is yourself.”
When Higgins opened the door for them, Rory stepped out of the carriage. He looked back at Jared with piercing eyes. “You really don’t know me very well cousin.”