One Snowy Night Read Online Free Page B

stood up.
    ‘Charles?’ she
called, following him out of the room. ‘Remember to tell Mr Munce that —’
    What Charles
was to tell Mr Munce was lost as Hetty’s voice faded away down the corridor.
    Joshua, who
had risen on Hetty’s departure, sat down again. Returning to his conversation
with Rebecca he said, ‘You have only to name your price, and I will buy you out
at once.’
    ‘That is very
generous of you,’ remarked Rebecca, feeling strangely unsettled now that she
was alone with Joshua. Although his large body was relaxed, there was
definitely something uncivilized about him, but she must not let him know that
she was uneasy, for he would be sure to exploit any signs of weakness. So
steeling her nerve she said firmly, ‘It is not for sale.’
    ‘You can’t
have a half share in a mill,’ he said with a look of tolerant amusement. ‘You’re
a woman —’
    ‘I believe
Grandfather was aware of the fact,’ she remarked.
    ‘I’m not
unaware of it myself.’ His eyes became sharply focused and trailed over her
body, making her feel restless and hot. She unfolded her fan and wafted it in
front of her in an effort to cool herself down.
    As if the
action had reminded him that he was in Hetty and Charles’s drawing-room, and
with Jebadiah’s granddaughter, Joshua’s eyes returned to her face. ‘A half
share in a mill is worthless to you,’ he said reasonably. ‘I’ll pay you a
handsome price, and you can put the money to better use.’
    ‘No.’ She
shook her head. ‘If Grandfather had wanted me to have money he would have left
me money, but he didn’t. He wanted me to have half of the mill and I intend to
keep it.’ She looked at him defiantly.
    He returned
her look levelly. ‘Are you always so stubborn?’ he asked. He crossed one booted
foot negligently over the other and settled more comfortably in his Hepplewhite
chair, resting his arm along its back.
    ‘Stubborn?’
Her eyes opened wide. ‘I am not stubborn.’
    ‘Oh, but you
are. You refused to give up your room at the inn without a struggle, and now
that I am offering to buy your share in the mill you have dug in your heels and
refuse to sell. Tell me, Rebecca, do you ever agree to anything?’
    ‘Of course,’
she returned.
    ‘Name it,’ he
said with a sardonic smile.
    ‘Really, this
is ridiculous,’ she said, opening her fan again. ‘I fought for my room for very
good reasons, and I am refusing to sell you my share for reasons which are
equally sound.’ Her words were common sense personified, but she was growing
more and more unsettled under his gaze.
    ‘I cannot
force you to sell —’ he remarked with a lift of his eyebrows.
    ‘Then at least
we are agreed on something,’ she interjected.
    He gave a wry
smile, but then his mouth became ruthless again. ‘But if you change your mind,
just let me know.’ His voice took on a new, more practical, quality. ‘In the
meantime, I will of course keep you updated on everything of importance that
happens with regard to the mill —’
    ‘That won’t be
necessary,’ Rebecca interrupted him. She was annoyed at his assumption that she
did not mean to involve herself in her inheritance. ‘I mean to take an interest
in the mill myself.’
    ‘Of course you
do,’ he acknowledged. ‘Which is why I’ll send you regular reports.’
    ‘No.’ She
looked him in the eye. ‘I mean that I intend to visit the mill and learn how it
operates personally.’
    Joshua shook
his head. ‘That will not be suitable.’
    ‘Not suitable?’
she enquired, trying to tear her eyes from his mane of hair, which was rippling
in the most distracting way. ‘I beg to differ.’
    He regarded
her sardonically. ‘Do you, indeed?’
    Rebecca felt
her heart skip a beat. There was a challenging look in his eyes which made her
intensely aware of the fact that they were alone.
    As if
realizing that the atmosphere was becoming dangerous he said, ‘Young ladies are
not meant to take an interest in