Rebecca sighed. “What should I do, Caro?”
“There is nothing else to do, dear, but look inside your heart. The answer lies there.”
“What if I cannot find whatever it is I am looking for?”
Caro rose from the bed. “Then, my dear, you must dig a little deeper. You are going to Willoughby Castle. Engage with the world. Treasure hunt with Wicke. Explore the emotions he tempts within you. If there are none, you will have your answer.”
“Wise, as always.”
Caroline nodded. “And, by the by, if you do decide to pursue the course of becoming a businesswoman, I’d rather not be within bellowing distance of your brother when you tell him of your choice.”
Rebecca grimaced. “Noted.”
Caroline chuckled. “Good luck.”
Rebecca sagged against her writing desk as Caroline waddled from the chamber. Caroline needn’t worry. She did not plan on telling her brother anything. She also knew exactly what emotions Wicke enticed. Passion. Strip that away . . .
How had her life taken such a sudden turn? But then, Rebecca should not have been all that surprised. Life had a way of knocking the air from one’s lungs when one least expected it. Look at how she met Mr. Lance. And Caroline’s reasoning had done just that. Treasure hunt with Wicke? Explore all he tempted within her? She could scarcely breathe at the thought.
Chapter 10
“You are aware onlyseedy characters choose the darkened corner of a pub to loiter?”
Wolfstan took a swig of ale before lifting his eyes to Langley, who dropped into the chair beside him. He signaled the barmaid for another round. His eyes burned. He hadn’t slept for two bloody nights. At least at Westbridge Park, he had tossed and turned. Back at Willoughby Castle, he had no peace. He should never have left. But Christ, what else had he been supposed to do? Lounge about while Rebecca refused to leave her chamber? While she avoided him and the desire he ignited in her? He sighed.
“You missed quite the night, cousin.”
“Oh?”
“The masquerade ball,” Langley said. “Lysander Rothchild stumbled into the ballroom foxed. Caused quite the scene.”
“I am not one for gossip.” Except if the gossip revolved around Rebecca. Then he was all ears.
“Not even Mother badgering me to court Stapleton’s ward?”
Wolfstan’s ears did perk at that, but only because nothing would make him happier than if Langley married Stapleton’s ward.
