For the next few days, I would take my stack of novels and law books to Rebecca's room, and the two of us would sit in silence to read them. I made no attempt to press her about her past and we spoke very little, but her behaviour towards me had changed somewhat and I had to hope that she would reveal a little more information.

By the fourth day, I hoped to make a little more progress. Father's deadline had started to tick away, and I was still no closer to discovering where Rebecca had come from nor how she ended up in the woods. Two weeks was not enough time to figure it all out and I couldn't understand how Father could justify such a timescale. Still, I had to make do with what I had.

I grabbed the stack of books from my writing desk and tucked them under my arm, my copy of Alice In Wonderland resting on the top. It had taken me a while to find it since it had been shoved at the back of my shelf, but I hoped Rebecca would enjoy it.

"Could I grab a word with you before you go off on your adventures, Master Nate?" George asked, poking his head through the gap in my door.

"Very well, but I would hardly call them adventures. The contents of the law books do not make for riveting reading."

"Then I won't pick one up for my evening reads. I had planned on doing so." George smiled and stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.

I sat back on the edge of my bed, allowing the books to spill out onto the blankets. "What do you wish to talk about?"

"I've been making some inquiries in the village to find out if anyone knows or remembers anyone called Rebecca Edwards. No one seems to know anyone by that name and her description didn't warrant any sort of response from anyone. It seems she didn't come from the village at all."

"Then where did she come from? The village is the closest place, on foot anyway, and I cannot think of any other way she would make it without someone commenting on her condition."

The village was the obvious answer to Rebecca's sudden appearance, and I had hoped that it would be the right answer. George's findings provided far more questions than answers. Rebecca would have had to have travelled some distance, but it would have been near impossible for her to do so on foot. Not only that, but she knew her way from the village to our property and no outsider would have been able to do that. Even the man who delivered the milk became confused.

She had to have come from somewhere nearby, but if not the village, where?

"I'm going to see what I can find out from the neighbouring houses, though I don't expect I'll find much. I very much doubt a family nearby would treat anyone in such a way. Trouble is, I don't know very many people in the houses, so it might be a little tricky." George scratched his chin and tugged on his bottom lip.

"When we were having supper with Mrs Marlow, I bumped into a servant there. Eli Burch. He was one of the staff members hired after Mr Marlow died. He might be able to offer some help."

"I'll start there when I can." George nodded. He looked at me and furrowed his eyebrows a little. "What were you doing talking to one of Mrs Marlow's servants?"

"I was curious as to whether he remembered anything about Lily, that's all. He told me to get in touch with the old housekeeper."

"Focus on one thing at a time, Master Nate. Your inquiries into Miss Marlow can wait a little longer. As for Mr Burch, it shall be a few days before I can talk to him, but I'll get it done." He pulled out his pocket watch. "I have some work to be getting on with, but I will let you know when, and if, I find something."

"Thank you."

With a slight nod of his head, George stepped out of the room. I sighed, resting in my hands in my lap and staring at the pile of books now abandoned on my bed. Although I knew it would not be a straightforward task, I had hoped George's inquiries might have placed us in a better position. The added time it would take to talk to the surrounding households was time we did not have. Four days had passed since Father's deadline and we were still nowhere near an answer.

I pushed myself off the bed and gathered up the pile of books, stacking them under my arm with Alice In Wonderland resting on top. We had so little time to uncover the truth; I wondered if using the books would be worth it, especially as it would be so time-consuming. If we were going to beat Father's deadline, I had to find a quicker way to earn her trust. I just didn't know if there was a quicker way.

Before I stepped out of my room, I glanced over to my dresser, where Rebecca's locket had been hidden at the very back of my sock drawer. Even though I had been determined to open it upon its initial discovery, I had left it unopened ever since. It didn't seem right to earn Rebecca's trust whilst looking at something so private behind her back. I had intended to give it back, but the opportunity had never presented itself, but with time running out, I couldn't help but wonder whether it held the key to everything.

Even if it did, it would have to be used as a last resort.

With a sigh, I stepped out of my room and into the hallway. Light streamed in through the window at the far end of the hall, whilst a soft breeze worked to cool down the rising heat.

"Master Nate?"

I turned, coming face-to-face with Lucy. "Yes?"

"Your father would like to speak with you. He is in the parlour."

"Thank you, Lucy." I glanced down at the books in my arm. "Could you give these to Miss Edwards? Tell her I shall be along as soon as I can."

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you."

Lucy curtseyed and took the books from under my arm, the weight of them offering her little trouble. I watched her walk down the hall until she disappeared into Rebecca's room before I headed towards the stairs. Father knew how important his deadline was and yet he kept interrupting it and stopping me from doing what I needed to do. Whatever he wanted to discuss, I hoped it was important.

I ran down the stairs, all etiquette disregarding in favour of speed. Father would have reprimanded me had he seen me, but I didn't care. All I wanted to do was get through the conversation as quickly as I could so I could continue on with my attempt to gain Rebecca's trust. Etiquette and decorum could wait.

After a brief pause at the bottom of the stairs to catch my breath, I stepped into the parlour. Father stood in front of the empty fireplace, his hand resting on the mantel as Mother sat on one of the settees. Alice was nowhere to be seen.

"Am I in trouble?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows and trying to recall any incident that might have resulted in a reprimand.

Father laughed. "You're not in trouble. We just want to talk to you."

"That doesn't make it any better."

"Just have a seat, Nate."

I sat on the armchair closest to the door for a quick enough getaway if the opportunity were to present itself. With Mother and Father both gathered, I knew this was going to be anything but a simple conversation that would last just a few minutes. Whatever Father wanted to discuss, it was important.

"How well do you and Miss Clara Marlow get on?" Father asked, not taking his hand off the mantle.

I frowned, shrugging a little. "We rarely talked the other night, and when we did, it was hardly a riveting conversation. Why?"

"Your mother and I have been discussing the events that took place during our supper with Mrs Marlow." He cleared his throat. "We both agree that we should at least consider the idea of a courtship between you and Miss Marlow. The idea had always been to join our two families together. Even though Mr Marlow passed, the name still carries some weight in society."

"I thought you were going to let me make my own mind up about who I courted? When I turned sixteen, you said the choice was mine, and mine alone to make."

"You're right, of course. I did say that. However, with the idea of joining our two families once again presenting itself, your mother and I agree that this is not an opportunity we should pass up. You and Miss Marlow are both of age now, it is time we started to have these conversations and for you to make a decision."

I leaned forward in the chair, resting my forearms on my knees as my left leg bounced up and down. "But what if I don't want to court Miss Marlow? The idea had always been for me and Lily to be matched when we were ready to do so. You always said the decision would be mine. Surely your focus should be on Alice since she is almost ready to step out into society and it is more important for her to find a decent match than it is for me."

My heart hammered away in my chest, my leg bounced violently, and a slight twitch appeared in my fingers. The anger built in my chest. Father had pulled me away from spending time with Rebecca and trying to find out what happened to her in order to discuss something that I had no concern for. Although I knew we would have to discuss my future at some point, I thought it wouldn't be for a few years at least.

When I turned seventeen, I decided that my education would come first and Father agreed with that. Yet one supper meeting with Mrs Marlow had been enough to change his mind and consider something that had never been on the cards before. Alice's future match mattered more than mine, as I was due to inherit the estate from Father, but he seemed determined that Clara Marlow and I were a decent match.

I did not agree.

"Your sister's time will come, but we cannot let this opportunity pass us by. Mrs Marlow appeared rather keen on the idea and all we are asking is that you consider the idea," Mother said, speaking for the first time.

"It sounds as though you have made my mind up for me. Do I get any say in this, or has it already been determined?"

"Nathaniel, watch your tone, please." Father took his hand from the mantle and stepped into the centre of the room. "I will be sending George to the Marlow house tomorrow to invite the three of them for supper in a few days' time. It only seems right that we repay the favour. I expect you to be on your best behaviour and for you to at least engage in conversation with Miss Marlow during her visit."

"Of course, I will." I looked at Father. "Can I go now? I have other things to do."

"Yes, off you go." Father waved his hand towards the door and turned away from me.

I stood up and left the room. Rather than heading upstairs — which had been my original plan once I had been allowed to leave — I walked down the hall and out the front door. Outside, the sun burned overhead and the slight breeze that had been around not too long ago had all but disappeared. After several days of continuous heat, the grass had started to dry and turn a yellow colour.

Outside, I jogged down the front steps and crossed the dying grass, my heart thumping in my chest as I approached the stable. I pushed open the door to the stable and stepped inside, ignoring the stable hands going about their day. Lightning whinnied a little upon seeing me and nudged me with his nose as I grabbed the latch on the stall, pulled open the door, and stepped inside.

I stepped into the far corner of the stable, and Lightning followed. He nudged my neck with his nose, breathing warm air on my neck. I pressed my back against the stable wall and gently stroked his nose, trying to control my breathing and temper. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Repeat.

Lightning stood still, his chin resting on my shoulder as I stroked his neck and listened to the sound of the stables unfolding around me. Slowly, my heart rate returned to normal, my breathing calmed, and the anger faded into the background. I didn't like to lose my temper, and I tried to keep it in check whenever possible, but with Father, it was hard to do.

After Lily died, he had been adamant that my future was mine to decide as and when I chose to decide it. He had taken that opportunity away from me by surprising me with the idea of pushing me towards Clara Marlow. I felt no ill will towards her since I didn't know her, but I wanted to decide my future for myself. That had always been his promise.

Even though Father seemed set on me spending time and getting to know Clara, I had more important things to deal with and I couldn't get caught up in something he was so set upon. Without knowing it, Father had offered a gateway for George to speak to Eli Burch about Rebecca at an earlier time than we first thought. It was finding out the truth about Rebecca that I had to cling to in order to stop my anger from spiralling out of control.

Rebecca had to be my focus and nothing Father did could change it.

~~~

A/N - We are back with Chapter Sixteen! This wasn't the original chapter I wrote and I had to go back and make some changes because I didn't like it, but I think I worked the kinks out.

Questions!

Where do you think Rebecca came from? Is Mr Thorpe right to interfere with Nate's future relationships? Should Nate keep containing his anger?

Comment below!

First Published - January 24th, 2023