Manor of Pleasure: An Erotic Historical Romance by Debra Sheridan Page B
Authors: Debra Sheridan
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he gave his mother a watered-down version of the events, omitting references to Sir Isaac to the possible rupture between himself and Rebecca. There was much that was left unanswered.
"So for reasons known only to her, Rebecca rode out and fell asleep in a cottage."
Mrs. Baines gave her son a regard of pure disbelief. "That's nonsense, Desmond. What are you not telling me?"
"Mother, it's not my story to tell," Desmond set down his cup. "Besides it may no longer be our concern." He stared out the window.
"Not our concern? She is your fiancee and my future daughter-in-law." His mother went and sat next to him. "Desmond, you come downstairs plodding like a gravedigger. You tell me the oddest story of Rebecca running away." She rose from the table. "Are things settled between you and Rebecca or not?"
Desmond let out a sigh of resignation. One way or another, she would soon find out. Better that it should be from him than from that wretched tongue of that rake, Sir Isaac. "You'd better sit," Desmond advised her.
After he finished his rendition, his mother did not appear the least bit shaken or surprised. "Things are never as they seem on the surface," she stated as a matter of fact. "When did you learn of this?"
"Rebecca told me several days ago when I proposed." He added, "If it had made a difference to me then, I would never have asked for her hand. She doesn't seem to think so."
"So you love her still?"
"Mother, I have always loved her. Almost from the very first day that I set eyes on her." He gave her a sideways glance.
"Very well, then," Mrs. Baines said as she rose from her chair. "Wait here."
Within a minute, Mrs. Baines returned to the dining room. She dropped a small gray velvet case in front of Desmond.
"What is this?" he asked her. Upon her urging, he opened it. The tiny box contained a gold ring bearing a oval garnet of scarlet red at its center. The gem itself was encircled by tiny diamonds. It was elegant and flawless.
Desmond looked up at his mother. "It's lovely. Wherever did this come from?"
"Your father gave it to me before we were married. It's a promise ring," she answered. "It's been awhile since it fit me. I want you to have it to give to Rebecca."
"That's a risky proposition, isn't it, in the circumstances?" questioned Desmond, his eyebrow arching slightly.
"I think not, Desmond," his mother reassured him. "Anyone who has seen you and Rebecca together would have no doubts." She smiled. "You know I had brought it out once or twice when you were courting that clergyman’s daughter. She was a dear girl. Then something would happen to shake my confidence and I would squirrel it away again." She shrugged slightly and smiled.
"You're not shocked by Rebecca's conduct with Sir Isaac?" Desmond asked her warily.
"Desmond, I was not born yesterday and neither were you. There are a good many skeletons in the bedroom closets of the upper class. None of us are perfect." Mrs. Baines looked at him plainly. "Rebecca has proven her worth and character in other ways that have satisfied me."
Desmond looked at the ring one more time before closing its case. He was impressed by his mother's discretion and by her confidence in his future with Rebecca. He wished that he had the same degree of faith in Rebecca's love for him. But their record with one another had not been stellar. He was nervous.
"Now go fetch your coat," his mother urged him. "You have business to tend to."
Abbott greeted Desmond at the door and after relieving him of his coat and hat, quickly ushered him to the staircase. "I understand she's waiting for you, Mr. Baines."
Desmond acknowledged Abbott with a nod of thanks and directed himself up the stairs. He could feel his heartbeat quicken as he approached her bedroom. He rapped lightly on the door.
"Come in," he heard her say.
He entered.
"Good morning, Rebecca," Desmond smiled faintly. "I hope you're feeling better."
Rebecca was sitting up in her bed, supported by an assortment of
"So for reasons known only to her, Rebecca rode out and fell asleep in a cottage."
Mrs. Baines gave her son a regard of pure disbelief. "That's nonsense, Desmond. What are you not telling me?"
"Mother, it's not my story to tell," Desmond set down his cup. "Besides it may no longer be our concern." He stared out the window.
"Not our concern? She is your fiancee and my future daughter-in-law." His mother went and sat next to him. "Desmond, you come downstairs plodding like a gravedigger. You tell me the oddest story of Rebecca running away." She rose from the table. "Are things settled between you and Rebecca or not?"
Desmond let out a sigh of resignation. One way or another, she would soon find out. Better that it should be from him than from that wretched tongue of that rake, Sir Isaac. "You'd better sit," Desmond advised her.
After he finished his rendition, his mother did not appear the least bit shaken or surprised. "Things are never as they seem on the surface," she stated as a matter of fact. "When did you learn of this?"
"Rebecca told me several days ago when I proposed." He added, "If it had made a difference to me then, I would never have asked for her hand. She doesn't seem to think so."
"So you love her still?"
"Mother, I have always loved her. Almost from the very first day that I set eyes on her." He gave her a sideways glance.
"Very well, then," Mrs. Baines said as she rose from her chair. "Wait here."
Within a minute, Mrs. Baines returned to the dining room. She dropped a small gray velvet case in front of Desmond.
"What is this?" he asked her. Upon her urging, he opened it. The tiny box contained a gold ring bearing a oval garnet of scarlet red at its center. The gem itself was encircled by tiny diamonds. It was elegant and flawless.
Desmond looked up at his mother. "It's lovely. Wherever did this come from?"
"Your father gave it to me before we were married. It's a promise ring," she answered. "It's been awhile since it fit me. I want you to have it to give to Rebecca."
"That's a risky proposition, isn't it, in the circumstances?" questioned Desmond, his eyebrow arching slightly.
"I think not, Desmond," his mother reassured him. "Anyone who has seen you and Rebecca together would have no doubts." She smiled. "You know I had brought it out once or twice when you were courting that clergyman’s daughter. She was a dear girl. Then something would happen to shake my confidence and I would squirrel it away again." She shrugged slightly and smiled.
"You're not shocked by Rebecca's conduct with Sir Isaac?" Desmond asked her warily.
"Desmond, I was not born yesterday and neither were you. There are a good many skeletons in the bedroom closets of the upper class. None of us are perfect." Mrs. Baines looked at him plainly. "Rebecca has proven her worth and character in other ways that have satisfied me."
Desmond looked at the ring one more time before closing its case. He was impressed by his mother's discretion and by her confidence in his future with Rebecca. He wished that he had the same degree of faith in Rebecca's love for him. But their record with one another had not been stellar. He was nervous.
"Now go fetch your coat," his mother urged him. "You have business to tend to."
Abbott greeted Desmond at the door and after relieving him of his coat and hat, quickly ushered him to the staircase. "I understand she's waiting for you, Mr. Baines."
Desmond acknowledged Abbott with a nod of thanks and directed himself up the stairs. He could feel his heartbeat quicken as he approached her bedroom. He rapped lightly on the door.
"Come in," he heard her say.
He entered.
"Good morning, Rebecca," Desmond smiled faintly. "I hope you're feeling better."
Rebecca was sitting up in her bed, supported by an assortment of
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