Rebecca's Refusal by Amanda Grange Read Free Book Online

him?'
    'Determined to talk of commonplaces?' he asked with a quizzical look.
    She could think of no suitable reply, and covered her silence by taking a spoonful of ice.
    Then his quizzical look vanished, and Rebecca realized he had seen the wisdom of this himself.
    Very well,' he said. 1 think that Napoleon was a fool to invade Russia last year. I think his defeat at the Battle of the Nations in October spelt his doom, and I think the Coalition will eventually beat him. He's a great general, but not even he can stand out against Russia, Prussia, Sweden, Austria and Bavaria when they are all united against him.' He gave a wry smile, then said unexpectedly, 'I also think his defeat will be very bad for business.'
    Rebecca was startled. ‘B ad for business?'
    Joshua nodded. 'Supplying the army with the material for their uniforms has been very lucrative for the mills.'
    Rebecca laughed. 'Do you ever stop thinking of business?' she asked.
    'Not often.'
    She smiled. 1 suppose I should be pleased. It is a good trait to have in a partner.'
    She finished her ice.
    You are still determined not to sell me your share of the mill?' he asked.
    lam.'
    Think it over carefully, Rebecca. Remember, the problems with the Luddites could flare up again at any time. I don't want you putting yourself in danger.'
    There was a spark of something unfathomable in his eyes as he said it, and for a moment she had the wild idea that he was concerned about her.
    But of course he was concerned, she reminded herself a moment later. He was concerned because she was Jebadiah's grand-daughter. And Joshua had been very fond of Jebadiah.
    1 don't intend to put myself in danger,' she reassured him, putting her empty dish on a silver tray as a footman walked by. But I intend to take an interest in my inheritance. You must reconcile yourself to my visiting the mill in order to acquaint myself with it.'
    Joshua gave a wry smile. Your grandfather often spoke about you, but he neglected to tell me about your stubborn streak. It is almost as strong as my own.'
    At that moment Lady Cranston approached them and introduced a nervous young lady fresh from the schoolroom. Joshua, doing his duty, fell in with Lady Cranston's unspoken wishes and politely asked the young lady to dance.
    Hetty was still busy chattering to one of her friends, and seeing that she was occupied Rebecca felt free to slip out of the room. Despite her ice she was still feeling overheated and wanted to retreat to somewhere cooler and quieter for a few minutes.
    It was certainly cooler in the corridor than the ballroom, but with all the candles in the magnificent chandeliers, it was still hot.
    She opened one of the doors that led off from the corridor, and found herself in a small anteroom, which on closer inspection turned out to be a pretty little morning-room. A fire was lit but it was banked down. The coals showed blackly against the white marble fireplace, and the atmosphere was pleasantly cool.
    Rebecca closed the door behind her. She was pleased to have found somewhere to rest, and she was relieved to be alone.
    She had found being with Joshua unsettling. He was like no other man she had ever met. He was ruthless and hard in many ways, and yet there was an unmistakeable warmth underneath.
    Was it the contrast between his hard surface and his inner warmth that attracted her? she wondered. For she could no longer hide from herself the fact that she was attracted to him. Whenever he was near her she found her thoughts wandering down new and unsettling paths, and try as she might she could not stop them.
    She sighed, and wandered over to the window. She would give herself a few minutes in the morning-room to cool down and then return to the ballroom. Looking round she tried to find something to distract her thoughts. Ah! A collection of miniatures. They hung next to the window, on the gold-painted wall. She moved closer to study them. They were exquisitely executed, and she was just marvelling over