Nothing like a littleGabrielladrama, but Rebecca was more than curious now. And a little hurt. She’d never in a million years betrayed Gabby’s trust. Ever. “You know me better than that.”
She let out a sigh. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I do.”
“So what is the problem, darling?”
“It’s painful.”
Rebecca rubbed her temples with a thumb and index finger, her weariness hitting her with driving force. “The truth is always painful. We learned that well enough when we were younger.” The cute stable boy in Matford came to mind. The scar on her arm tingled.
“I’m talking about the conjugal relations.” Gabby’s voice had dropped to a whisper. “Theactis painful.”
“I’m sorry, Gabs,” Rebecca said gently. “You’re going to have to explain. I’ve never…” Her voice trailed off, her face flaming. But she’d never backed from a challenge, and she wouldn’t now. Not if her closest friend needed her help, even if that help was just listening. Admittedly, Rebecca was in way over her head.
Gabby dropped her head in her hands and sobbed. “Oh, Rebecca. It was horrid. It was clumsy and it hurt! And then he… left.”
“Left! Where on earth did he go?”
“I don’t know. He was gone when I woke the next morning. Without a word,” she wailed. “He hates me.”
“How long haveyoubeen gone?”
“I-I left as soon as I realized he wasn’t coming back.” She sniffed at her tears and looked about for a handkerchief. Then grabbed the closest muslin and blew her nose.
“Oh, Gabs.” Rebecca was at a loss. She had no idea what to say to reassure her friend. She’d never had marital relations. She rose and moved next to Gabby, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and did the only thing she could. Gave her friend her shoulder to cry her heart out on.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I-I never want to see him again. And Sebastian is going to demand answers.” She cried harder. “I can’t possibly talk to my brother about this. You’ve got to help me, Rebecca. I have no one else to turn to.”
“Darling, you have three married sisters. They surely know more than me.”
In an abrupt move, Gabby jerked away from Rebecca. “They don’t know me. Not like you do. They’ll say things like:Is that all, Gabriella? This is a woman’s lot in life.Or,you make the tiniest thing an issue, Gabriella. It’s time you grew up.But, Rebecca, he left and didn’t say a word. How am I supposed to react to that?”
Rebecca would have been furious had the same happened to her. She would have chased the man down with a dueling pistol in her hand. But Gabriella was much more sensitive and cognizant of the dictates of society. Her brother was a duke. Rebecca had no such strictures.
A sense of helplessness settled over Rebecca that was overwhelming. It appeared there were two problems at hand: the marital relations aspect, and Huntley’s mysterious departure.
She was used to situations with a clear purpose. Something substantial she could use the proverbial sword to knock obstacles from her path. A clear villain to slay—yet was Huntley a villain? There must be some reason he’d deserted his wife the morning after their wedding.
Gabby’s concerns with intercourse were out of Rebecca’s realm, let alone her level of comfort. Huntley’s actions, however, were not. That was a dragon she could slay. “You know I’ll do what I can to help. I’m just not sure what it is.” She reached over and squeeze Gabby’s hand. “We’ll come up with something.”
“Just your being here means everything.” Gabby hugged her. “Thank you for coming.” She rose, went over to her vanity and found a scrap of lace, and dabbed at her tears. “I’ll be fine, of course. Let’s talk about you. Truly, you should consider a suit from my cousin. The squire is quite well off. He would be an excellent match for you. Sebastian is clearly a fool.”
Rebecca groaned. “Gabs, you’ve been pushing me at your brother for years.”Literally, in fact.“Your handprint is an indelible print on my back.” She drew in a breath. “Darling, I have no intention of going after your brother or your cousin.” No matter what she’d told Ryleigh.
“But, Rebecca, you must marry, and Sebastian, I mean Thomas,” she quickly corrected, “is ideal for you.”
“At the risk of bringing up recent unpleasantness, I’m compelled to remind you of your own unhappy situation—” She was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Gabby was there instantly but had apparently forgotten she’d twisted the lock. After a short fumble, she got the door open and was handed a note. She read through it. “And so it begins,” she said, striding over and handing the missive to Rebecca.
She scanned it.Gabriella, I request your presence in my study. Will four of the clock suit your schedule? Humbly, Ryleigh.
“Humbly, my arse,” Gabby said.
“Touchingly personal, isn’t it?”
~~~
“A note, Your Grace.”
