Rebecca's Refusal by Amanda Grange

walked into the drawing-room, his eyes warming as he saw her, and Rebecca felt her heart skip a beat. Really, it was most unfortunate, the effect he had on her, she thought. Why could he not leave her unmoved, as every other gentleman of her acquaintance did?
    'Good to see you, Joshua,' said Charles. We were worried you might not get through.'
    It's getting worse,' acknowledged Joshua, glancing out of the window as he took a seat.
    1 hope it won't delay you going north?' asked Charles, offering Joshua a whiskey.
    1 hope it will,' countered Hetty, turning to Joshua warmly. Then we will be able to keep you in London for a few more weeks.'
    Joshua laughed. You may have your wish. I certainly can't go at the moment. I've just heard that the roads out of London are impassable. Even the mail has had to be suspended, and if the mail can't get through then nothing else can. But I mean to set out as soon as there is any chance of success. The manager has been left in charge of the mill for some time now, ever since I went abroad, and although I have every faith in him for the short term, I would rather not leave him in charge for too long.'
    Charles nodded. You must be eager to see the mill again, and take the reins into your own hands. There are some sharp practices going on in some of the mills these days, and it's as well to make sure your manager hasn't fallen prey to temptation.'
    I'm concerned about that myself,' said Rebecca. If there are any unreasonable fines being levied, I hope you will make sure they are removed.'
    Joshua's eyebrows raised, as though he had not expected her to be so well informed about what went on in a number of mills, and she had the satisfaction of having surprised him.
    1 have had the good fortune to meet and talk to Mr Cobbett,' she explained.
    Joshua put down his glass. 'Have you indeed. William Cobbett's opinions need treating carefully. He has been imprisoned for libel before now, as I am sure you know -'
    His crime was nothing more than speaking the truth,' said Rebecca.
    'As he sees it. But he lives in the past. He wants England to return to the days when labourers worked merrily in the fields. Unfortunately, he forgets that labourers did not always work merrily, and that they were often plagued by poor harvests ... as well as bad backs. Scratching a living from the land can be hazardous: farmers, as well as mill hands, have been known to starve.'
    Rebecca sighed. 1 know he tends to idealize the countryside and I know that he has a dislike, if not to say a hatred, of the mills, but some of his reasons for that hatred are sound. The way spinners are fined a shilling for leaving their window open, for example, or sixpence for leaving their oil can out of place.'
    'I agree.'
    'And that is not all,' said Rebecca, who had been so convinced that she would have to argue her case that she did not immediately take in what he had said. In some mills, men are fined a shilling for whistling. I warn you, I will not countenance . . . ' Her voice tailed away as his words sank in. You . . . agree?' she asked hesitantly.
    Yes. I do. Is that so surprising?'
    Yes. No. I don't know.'
    'Just like a woman!' laughed Charles. Three answers in one!'
    Joshua smiled, but nevertheless he turned to Rebecca curiously. Which one is it?'
    She frowned. 'Grandfather told me you were ruthless . . .' she began.
    'And so I am, in commerce. But not in my dealings with people who depend upon me for their livelihoods. I know what it is to be poor. Your grandfather began life in very difficult circumstances and he told me many stories of those days.'
    Rebecca nodded thoughtfully. Her grandfather had told her about the hardships of poverty. 1 knew Grandfather would never have allowed such fines, but as I knew he had not taken an active role in the mill for some time I wondered . . . '
    Whether I would have been a slave-driver?' asked Joshua with a lift of his eyebrows.
    'Not a slave-driver,' said Rebecca. 1 know that Grandfather would not