“No. No. We will be rising with the sun tomorrow to reach London in good time.”
The girl came around and hugged her father tightly about the neck. Rebecca took the opportunity to gesture to Nancy to go with the girl. Nancy smirked at her then quickly wiped away the expression when Rebecca scowled.
Ava approached her with a look of uncertainty on her face. “Goodnight, Mama,” she said softly.
Rebecca would not play along willingly. “Good night, Lady Ava. Pleasant dreams.”
Ava suddenly embraced her before scurrying toward Nancy and slipping from the room.
She turned her attention on Rafferty as soon as the door shut. “What is the meaning of this trip of yours?”
“Can I not decide to travel to London at short notice?”
“No, you cannot. You intended to remain at Stapleton for the next few days.”
“Plans change. I discovered I have pressing business to attend to in London.”
“What business could you possibly have there that is so urgent? There were no messengers come to the estate yesterday for you, and you received no letters in the week before that.”
His lips lifted into a smile. “Already managing me, Becca.”
She scowled again. She had been keeping an eye on Rafferty’s comings and goings but wouldn’t admit to it now. She had engaged in intimate relations with the man. She would not have her happiness destroyed ever again because she had misjudged his character. “My name is Rebecca Warner. Mrs. Rebecca Warner.”
He shrugged. “The name doesn’t suit you.”
“That is not your decision to make. Please address me properly once we leave this establishment. I will not be a party to continuing such a wild and ludicrous tale as you’ve concocted for our stay.”
He sat forward suddenly, tapping his fingers on the table between them. “What if I told you the business that takes me to London is you?”
She felt her insides take a little swooping dive at his confession. “Me?”
“It came to my attention very late last night that you were leaving the estate—without saying goodbye, I might add.”
“I tried to tell you…” She trailed off.
“You should have tried harder.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “At first I thought it was because of me that you were going, too.”
“No.” She blushed. “My decision had nothing to do with our affair.”
“Damn it, woman, you could drive a man back to the bottle. Do you think all I care about is sex?”
She felt her face heating. “You do talk about it a lot.”
“I care about you.” He scowled now. “What the devil is going on? Is it true you are in dun territory?”
Rebecca stilled. “Did Father tell you that?”
“Something along those lines. Don’t blame him now. I got him blind drunk to discover what he knew.”
She scowled. “That wasn’t very nice.”
“Stapleton never remembers what he says when he’s been in his cups, so I doubt he will realize. And in his drunken state, he stopped worrying about his wife’s delicate health, at least for a while. He was torn about letting you go alone to sort this out, so I led him to the idea of conscripting me to take you in my carriage. He’s happily at home now looking after his wife. Now give me the real story. It’s impossible to believe you of all women could have run out of money.”
Oh he was devious! “How do you know that?”
“You spend money like a miser and count every penny twice before you go to bed at night.”
“I do not!” She was offended by that description. She drew herself up straight. “There is nothing wrong with being cautious.”