One Snowy Night Read Online Free

her grandfather had always told her that that would happen, but that
Joshua was a strong and powerful man, instead of the malleable dandy she had
hoped he would be.
    The question
now was, although she had known that Joshua was to inherit half of the mill,
had he known that she was to inherit the other half?
    She felt her spirit
rise up inside her. She would soon find out.
    ‘"To my
beloved granddaughter, Rebecca,"‘ went on Mr Wesley, ‘I leave my fob
watch, in memory of the pleasure she gave me when she was learning to tell the
time . . . and a half share in Marsden mill." ‘
    She saw Hetty
and Charles turn towards her in surprise, but it was Joshua’s face that most
interested her. As her eyes were drawn to his she saw his brows shoot up in
surprise, before a ruthless smile curved his lip. He turned towards her and she
shivered as she felt the full force of his personality being brought to bear on
her. His eyes looked deep into her own, and she saw them gleam, predatory, in
the winter sunlight. But if he was challenging her, then so be it, she thought.
He would not find her wanting.
    At the sight
of her straightening her spine, an appreciative quirk touched the corner of his
mouth, then he turned his attention back to Mr Wesley.
    There were a
few further legacies and bequests, then Mr Wesley folded the document and put
it down on the table.
    ‘That
concludes the reading of the will. Are there any questions?’
    He looked from
one to the other of them.
    None were
forthcoming.
    Charles stood
up. ‘Thank you, Wesley,’ he said. ‘It was good of you to take the time to see
us. But now I believe we must keep you no longer. If I could trouble you to
have your clerk hail us a hansom? It was too cold for our carriage to wait.’
    ‘At once.’ Mr
Wesley summoned his clerk, and sent the oily youth to perform the task.
    ‘You’ll return
with us, I hope, and join us for dinner, Joshua?’ asked Hetty, turning with a
smile towards him. ‘It has been such a long time since we have seen you. We are
longing for you to tell us all about your trip.’
    Joshua smiled
down at Hetty. To her surprise, Rebecca saw that it was a warm smile, untinged
with mockery or wickedness as it was when he smiled at her. It warmed his eyes,
making them glow tawny.
    ‘I’d like to,
but unfortunately I have one or two urgent matters to attend to.’
    Rebecca
breathed a sigh of relief.
    ‘Then you will
at least join us for tea?’ Hetty pressed him.
    Rebecca held
her breath.
    By accident,
he caught sight of her and a provoking smile curved his mouth. ‘Thank you. I’d
be delighted.’
    Rebecca fumed.
He had done it on purpose, she was sure of it. It seemed he meant to make her
uncomfortable for the rest of the afternoon!
    ‘Good,’ said
Hetty delightedly.
    Whilst they
waited for a hansom, Charles and Hetty fell into an animated conversation about
their good fortune. Not wishing to intrude upon them, Rebecca withdrew to the
far side of the room.
    To her
discomfiture, Joshua followed her. ‘I take it you have no objection to me
joining you for tea?’ he said, with a quirk at the corner of his mouth.
    Rebecca fought
down the urge to rise to his bait, and replied coolly, ‘Of course not. What
possible objection could I have?’
    He shrugged
his broad shoulders. ‘We didn’t part on the best of terms, and I wouldn’t want
to make you uncomfortable. If you are worried that I will mention the incident,
you may rest easy. It reflects well on neither of us.’
    ‘Nothing you
could do would be important enough to make me uncomfortable,’ returned Rebecca
aloofly.
    ‘No?’ His eyes
were mocking.
    ‘No,’ she said
with spirit.
    ‘I am glad to
hear it.’
    The atmosphere
grew suddenly thick, and she was uncomfortably aware of a tingling sensation
running down her spine. He was a formidable man, and she was beginning to see
why her grandfather had said he was such a strong player in business matters.
It was not because he had a head for figures