One Snowy Night Read Online Free Page A

- although he was undoubtedly
intelligent - but because he had a ruthless streak that would serve him well in
the cut and thrust of commerce. It was in his eyes, a ruthlessness that was
akin to a jungle cat regarding its prey; because despite his civilised veneer
there was definitely something predatory about Joshua Kelling.
    And he was to
be her partner in the mill.
    She felt a
brief moment of panic, before her spirit rose to the challenge. Here was a man
against whom she could test her mettle, and that was something she did not meet
with every day.
    ‘Wondering how
strong I am, Rebecca?’ he asked, as if reading her mind.
    ‘I — ‘ she
said, startled. ‘How did you know what I was thinking?’ she asked accusingly.
    He laughed. ‘Jebadiah
used to wonder the same thing. We had many battles. Most of which I won. But
not all.’ He looked at her critically. ‘You are very like him. When we met in The
Queen’s Head I wondered who you reminded me of, and now I know. When you
lift your chin - yes, like that!’ he said, as she unconsciously lifted it,
sensing a challenge, ‘then you are just like Jebadiah. Not physically, of
course,’ he said with a wicked smile. ‘But there is something about your
manner, as if you are saying, Do your worst, it won’t be enough, no man will
ever get the better of me .’ His smile broadened into sardonic laughter. ‘With
his blood in your veins it’s no wonder you were capable of standing up to me.
What is a wonder is that you didn’t turn me out of the room!’
    Again, that
humour in his eyes. In other circumstances she would have found it appealing,
but Joshua was a strong adversary and she knew she must give him no quarter. So
instead of laughing, she said with deceptive mildness, ‘You find it amusing
that I was forced to spend the night in the attic with my maid?’
    He shrugged.
    ‘No. I don’t.
If I’d known who you were I’d have let you have the room. But as matters stood —’
    ‘As matters
stood?’ she asked with a lift of her eyebrows.
    Wishing a
moment later that she hadn’t. Because his face lit up with another smile. He
was clearly recalling that, as matters stood, he had asked her to share his
bed!
    Fortunately,
at that moment the unctuous clerk returned.
    ‘I have
secured you a hansom,’ he said ingratiatingly, bowing to Charles and Joshua in
turn before smirking at the ladies.
    ‘Thank you,’
said Charles briefly.
    To Rebecca’s
relief, Charles gave her his arm and the two of them went out to the hansom,
leaving Hetty and Joshua to follow on behind.
     
    ‘What a surprise, Jebadiah
leaving you half the mill,’ said Charles to Rebecca. Once back in Sloane Street , the four of them enjoyed
a refreshing cup of tea.
    ‘Actually, no.’
Rebecca set her cup down in its porcelain saucer. ‘I knew he intended to leave
it to me.’
    She saw Joshua’s
eyebrows raise at this, and was now certain that he had been unaware of
Jebadiah’s plans. Still, he had taken the news very well, she thought.
    ‘I will, of
course, buy you out,’ he remarked, joining in the conversation for the first
time.
    Ah! So that
was why he had taken it so well! He thought it was no more than a minor
disturbance of his plans. Well, he was about to find out his mistake.
    ‘Thank you,
but I have no intention of selling.’
    ‘You won’t get
a better price from anyone else. I would expect you to take advice on what your
half is worth, and I would give it to you without haggling. You have only to —’
    At that moment
the door opened and Canning, the butler, entered the room. ‘Mr Munce is here,’
he told Charles. ‘You asked to be informed the moment he arrived.’
    ‘Yes, thank
you, Canning,’ said Charles. ‘Will you excuse me?’ he asked. ‘I have some
urgent business to take care of. I won’t be long.’
    He left the
room.
    ‘I hope he
remembers to —’ began Hetty. She put down her cup with a clatter. ‘I had
better remind him. Will you excuse me?’
    She