Because of Rebecca(39)

Mitchell shook Jared’s hand. “Congratulations. I heard in town that you found Rory.”

Jared nodded. “Yes and he’s taken care of that matter I spoke to you about.”

“Excellent news. So there was no need to…” Mitchell glanced at Rebecca and smiled. “Yet you did anyway?”

“Did what anyway, darling?” she asked, slipping her arm around his waist.

Jared lovingly glanced down at her and caressed her cheek. “Marry again.”

A chill ran down her spine. Had Mitchell wanted him to marry for the dowry a new wife could bring? She swallowed hard and tilted her head, recalling the carriage ride when he’d first asked her to marry him. He’d told her about how Oak Hill was in ruin and how he had no right to ask her to marry him until he could save the plantation. Thankfully that hadn’t been needed. He’d wanted her regardless of the security her dowry could bring him, even if she had offered to cover Rory’s markers if necessary.

“Yes, Rory is paying his debt to Delaney and Oak Hill will be safe once again,” she said.

Josephine’s happy expression vanished. “Did you say Delaney?”

“Yes, but don’t worry. Jared and I married to give our son protection.”

“Your son?” Josephine’s eyes widened and pulled Rebecca further away from the others. “So you told him? He knows about Mariah?”

Rebecca nodded. “I had no other choice after Delaney mistook me for her. I never thought we looked much alike as sisters. Nothing like Jared and Rory do as cousins, but Delaney saw it.”

Doctor Gordon left the table and joined them. “Congratulations, Rebecca. I know you and Jared will be most happy together.”

“Thank you, Doctor.” Rebecca looked past him to where Charlotte stood bouncing Lucas. “How’s my boy been while I’ve been gone?”

“Perfect. He’s been absolutely perfect.” Josephine looked over at him too. “There’s something I need to tell you Rebecca. Can Ancil and I steal you away from the party for a few moments?”

Her aunt had called the doctor by his Christian name twice that evening without blinking an eye. The doctor had also looked at her aunt fondly. Both looked utterly happy together and Rebecca began to wonder what had transpired in her absence. “Certainly. Let me tell Jared…”

“Perhaps he should come too,” Doctor Gordon suggested, slipping his arm around Josephine’s waist.

Rebecca noticed his action and she bit back a smile, wondering what they wanted to speak to her about.

Josephine nodded. “Yes, please ask him to join us upstairs in our suite.”

“If you like. We’ll be right up.” Rebecca waited until the pair left and went to speak to Jared. They made their apologies to Elizabeth and Mitchell before leaving the dining room.

Upstairs Rebecca found her aunt pacing while Doctor Gordon begged her to sit down beside him. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Doctor Gordon stood and went to stand beside Josephine. “First off, your aunt and I have news of our own to share, Rebecca. I’ve asked her to marry me and she has agreed.”

“Married?” Rebecca gasped. “You’re getting married? Oh Aunt Josephine I couldn’t have hoped for better news. But what is wrong? Why are you so nervous?”

“Congratulations to you both,” Jared said.

“Thank you,” Doctor Gordon replied, leading Josephine to the sofa. “Sit, dearest,” he said gently. “You’re going to wear yourself out.”

She sat, but fidgeted, bunching the material of her skirt with her hand. She shook her head before she finally spoke. “I beg you to forgive me, Rebecca. I beg you to forgive me for what I’m about to tell you.”

Rebecca went to the fainting couch and sat on the edge. Jared moved to stand behind her. “What could you have possibly done that you should beg my forgiveness?”

Tears running down her face, Josephine took a deep breath. “There is something you need to know about Mariah. There is no easy way to say it other than to be blunt. She wasn’t really your sister. Your parents weren’t her parents. She…she was my…daughter. Your parents agreed to take her as their own since I was unwed and alone. They raised her and only gave her back to my care when they died. Yet I failed her again. I wasn’t able to protect her from the likes of Stuart Delaney. I blamed myself. I blamed her, but mostly I blamed me for my weakness.”

“No.” Rebecca shook her head. “This can’t be true. I remember when—”

“It is true, dear.” Josephine cut her off and took another jagged breath. “We were in Europe and you were very young.”

“I remember.” Rebecca stood. “But you blamed Mariah for Delaney. You were so cruel to her. If she were your daughter how could you—”

“Yes. Yes I did. I blamed her for being so foolish that she found herself pregnant and alone just like I did. My Charles took ill and died, but I was still alone and unwed. I sinned and I was punished for my transgression. And in the end I lost my Mariah just like I lost my Charles.”

A heavy silence fell over the room and no one moved or spoke for several long minutes. Finally, Josephine smoothed the wrinkles from her dress. “I can’t change the past. I tried so many years to atone for my transgression. I threw myself into work for the church. But it didn’t cover the sin I had committed. I still carried the guilt inside me until I allowed myself to love again.”

Rebecca slowly sat down again.

“And the hardest part of confessing my past to you is now I find myself wanting Lucas. I want to raise him as my own, but I know I can’t. I have no right to him. He’s yours. You’ve cared and loved him from the day he was born.”

Rebecca swallowed, unable to take her eyes off Josephine. It was several long moments before she was able to respond. “This explains so much. I can understand why you said the things you did about Mariah dying for the sin committed. You weren’t talking about hers, but yours. Don’t you think you’ve punished yourself enough? You were young and in love.”

Josephine broke down crying. “You don’t hate me?”

“How could I hate you?” Rebecca went to Josephine and knelt before her. She hugged her.

“Not even for my wanting Lucas?”

“Not even Lucas.” Rebecca took the handkerchief Doctor Gordon offered and dried Josephine’s face. “He’s your grandson and I understand you wanting him with you now. Just because he will be living with me and Jared at Oak Hill doesn’t mean you can’t visit him or he visit you when he’s older. He needs grandparents as much as parents.”

Josephine gave her a wan smile. “I didn’t think you’d give him up and I didn’t want to ask you to either. I never expected to feel anything for him like I do.”

The suite door opened and Charlotte came in with Lucas. Seeing Josephine, he held out his arms to her. “Ma-ma. Ma-ma,” he called.

“I’m sorry, miss, but he wouldn’t stop asking for you.” Charlotte carried him over to Josephine and she took him. He patted her face. “Ma-ma. Ma-ma.”

Tears ran down Josephine’s cheeks again and she sniffed. “No, darling one, I’m not Mama.”

“When did he start calling you that?” Rebecca asked.

“After you left.” She sniffed again. “I told him I wasn’t, but he wouldn’t stop saying it.”

Rebecca reached for him and he went to her, laying his head on her shoulder. “Ma-ma,” he cooed. “Ma-ma.”

She kissed his head. “I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered.

“I suppose you will be taking him with you tonight?” Josephine asked.

“Actually no,” Rebecca said. “I can’t take him tonight because we don’t know if Delaney is at Oak Hill. I thought you could bring him and his things out tomorrow?”

“Of course I will,” she said with her old spirit. “After all, he’s my grandson.”

“And not just him, Miss Davis,” Jared said. “I want you and Charlotte to come to Oak Hill until you and Doctor Gordon are married.”

She beamed at him. “Thank you, but I think I’ll stay here. Charlotte can go with you to help with Lucas. You don’t need me hovering around your new family.”

“Nonsense. You are our family.” Rebecca got to her feet and walked Lucas to get him to sleep.

“Oak Hill is large enough that we won’t be falling over one another,” Jared added. “You can have my mother’s suite with your own private balcony that overlooks the flower garden.”

“At least think about it before you turn the offer down,” Rebecca suggested, heading for the bedrooms to put the baby down. “Charlotte, I’ll need you to pack our things and be ready when the carriage comes for you tomorrow.”