Because of Rebecca(43)

Jared looked at Rory, who shrugged. Leave it to his cousin to retell the story with a colorful twist.

“I pray you have concluded your business?” Jared said.

“Yes. I have agreed to take the money he owed me in exchange for the plantation. After touring the grounds upon my arrival, I realized managing property this size would require more effort and energy than I have the patience for. I’m a gambler. I enjoy my freedom.”

Jared nodded and led Rebecca to the far end of the table. He pulled out her chair and she sat. “I’m glad to hear that.”

Delaney took his seat again.

Jared pulled out a chair and sat next to Rebecca. “This land has been in our family for generations and I long to see it stay for many more.” He waited until Mary filled his coffee cup before adding, “To getting what we all want.”

Delaney held up a hand. “However, there is one matter that is unsettled.”

A knot formed in Jared’s stomach at Delaney’s words and he prepared himself for what the man would say next. “What’s that?”

“I finally figured out where I know your wife.” Delaney smiled and winked at Rebecca. “By the way, congratulations on your nuptials.”

“Thank you, Mr. Delaney,” Rebecca said and reached for the coffee cup Mary sat before her

“Cut the pleasantries,” Rory ordered. “I already told Jared that you believe you bedded Rebecca in New Orleans.”

“Good Heavens,” Mary gasped. “Rory, watch your language.”

Rebecca sipped her coffee and looked up at the housekeeper. “He did not.”

“I think I did.” Delaney smirked. “Why else did you faint when I first saw you at the Exeter Hotel?”

“This is absurd.” Jared laid his hand over Rebecca’s.

“Furthermore, I married her myself in New Orleans. We spent one hell of a night together. It’s hard to forget a woman like that.”

Rory laughed. “Isn’t that the funniest thing you’ve ever heard? Rebecca and Mr. Delaney?”

“No. It’s not,” Jared barked, moving to stand behind Rebecca’s chair. He held her hand tight and squeezed her shoulder with his other hand to reassure her. “And it couldn’t be farther from the truth. I insist you stop with this idiotic nonsense at once and apologize to my wife.”

“Of course the wedding wasn’t real.” Delaney confessed studying his fingernails. He glanced up at Jared and Rebecca. “I tricked her by having a friend pose as a priest and I believe that is why she pretends not to know me. I upset her by my ruse.”

“I’m not pretending anything, sir. I never met you before our meeting at the Exeter hotel. And I fainted because…because I knew you…you held the markers to Oak Hill.”

Delaney shook his head. “I find it hard to believe you, my dear Mrs. Hollingsworth. I wonder why that is?”

“Are you calling my wife a liar?” Jared demanded, stepping toward the man.

Rebecca held his hand firmly, preventing him from harming Delaney. “Don’t let him upset you, darling. He isn’t worth your energy. He’s nothing more than a riverboat gambler who takes advantage of innocent young girls.”

Rory looked at Jared. “Am I missing something here? Is any of this true?”

Jared shook his head. “I think you’ve outstayed your welcome, Mr. Delaney. If you’ll gather your belongings I’ll have my driver take you into town.”

“Not just yet. I’m never wrong about the women I bed.”

“You’re wrong about this one,” Rebecca said. “I can assure you, Mr. Delaney, I never visited New Orleans, nor did you trick me with a false wedding at a Mardi Gras party just so you could bed me.”

Delaney jumped to his feet, knocking over his chair. “What did you say?”

“Good Lord.” Rory pushed back from the table.

“I said I never married you.”

“You said Mardi Gras. How did you know about Mardi Gras?”

Rebecca stared at their unwelcome guest. “How else would you have tricked a girl into believing a priest performed the marriage ceremony except at a Mardi Gras party?”

Jared stepped to stand behind her again. “I think you should leave, Mr. Delaney.”

“No. I’m not going anywhere until she tells me what she knows about Mardi Gras.”

Rebecca ran a hand over her face and shook her head. She’d done it now. That slip of her tongue told Delaney she knew more than she was willing to say. She pushed her chair back and stood.

“All right, Mr. Delaney. I know about Mardi Gras because the woman you mistook me for at the Exeter hotel was my younger sister. When you first asked me about New Orleans I didn’t think it was possible that you had met her, but then you said your name. And that is the reason I fainted because I knew then that you were the man who broke Mariah’s heart.”

Delaney clapped his hands together. “I knew it. I knew there was a reason I felt I had met you before. So Mariah is your sister?”

“This isn’t something to celebrate. In fact, I can’t see how you can stand before me and be so happy. You tricked Mariah into believing you married her just so you could take her innocence and then you left her to face the wrath of my aunt.”

“I went to get us breakfast, but when I returned she was gone. If anyone did the leaving, she did.” Delaney snapped his fingers. “Your aunt…I remember her. Scary woman, always carried that damn rosary. She didn’t want Mariah having anything to do with me. But I found a way around that. Do you know where I can find Mariah?”

A silence fell over the room for a moment.

“You can’t.” Rebecca closed her eyes and took a jagged breath. She opened them and glared at him. “She’s dead. She died last Christmas.”

Mary gasped and covered her mouth with her handkerchief. “Poor child.”

“Well that changes things,” Delaney said. He picked up his overturned chair and sat back down at the table.

“How?” Jared asked.

The man shrugged. “I thought I might try to find her. She was a sweet girl. Thought we might make a go of it, maybe even get married for real, but if she’s dead…can’t rightly do it now, can we.”

“Thank God for that,” Rebecca cried and ran from the room.

“Now I think you had better leave, Mr. Delaney. You’ve upset my wife and I do not wish to lay eyes on you again. Rory, see him out.”

Delaney laughed. “He acts like he owns the place instead of you.”

“He does.” Rory stood and held out his arm toward the front door. “After you.”

Delaney nodded and walked past Rory. “You’re a dishonest man, Rory Hollingsworth.”

“It takes one to know one.” Rory followed him to the front door. But before they reached the foyer, Higgins opened the door and helped a pretty blond woman with a baby inside.

“Higgins?” Rory looked from the driver to the woman. “Who’s this?”

“Excuse me, Mr. Rory, but this is Charlotte, Miss Davis’…I mean…Mrs. Hollingsworth’s maid. And this young fella is Master Lucas.”

“Well. Well. Rebecca has a son?” Rory turned around. “Jared! Jared!”

Jared was half-way up the stairs to check on Rebecca when he heard Higgins in the foyer and then Rory calling for him. He returned to find Rebecca’s fear coming to light. Delaney had laid eyes on Lucas, but the man was more interested in collecting his belongings to more than glance at the boy. At least that was in their favor.

“Charlotte? What are you and Lucas doing here so early? I was going to send Higgins into town to fetch you both this afternoon.”

“Mrs. Hollingsworth said to be ready this morning and we were. And your driver did come to fetch us.”

Jared looked at Higgins. “You did?”

“Yes, sir. I thought after the incident this morning with Mr. Rory and Mr. Delaney, the last thing you needed to worry about was getting Master Lucas here. So I went on into town.”

Jared nodded. “Thank you, Higgins.”

“D-d-d-da,” Lucas said and reached for Jared.

Charlotte laughed. “He knows you, Mr. Hollingsworth. He knows his papa.”

“So he does,” Jared said.

“I hate to spoil this little family reunion, but I believe I was being thrown out?” Delaney sneered.

“Right.” Rory said and ushered the man out of the house.

“Charlotte, Mrs. Hollingsworth is upstairs,” Jared said, getting the girl’s attention.

“Yes sir, Mr. Hollingsworth. Should I take Lucas up with me?”

“No. He can stay with me for now. We should get better acquainted.”

“Very well, sir.” Charlotte turned to the driver. “Mr. Higgins, can you bring our luggage upstairs?”