by Monica Burns
“How odd,” his sister said with a frown as she contemplated the boy’s behavior. Percy quickly directed his attention to Rhea, and the look of sheer terror that slipped through her serene expression made him bite back the dark curse that almost passed his lips.
“You did say he was having trouble adjusting to life in the orphanage,” Percy said quietly.
“Yes, but I didn’t think it was quite that bad.” Patience nodded as her frown deepened and she sighed. “Hopefully he’ll return. I hate to think of him on the streets, but there’s little we can do unless he comes back. Thank you, Mrs. Hughes.”
The cook nodded and retreated to the kitchen. Still frowning, Patience released a soft sigh of resignation before turning her head toward Rhea. It didn’t escape his notice that Patience turned her head only just enough to avoid exposing her scarred features to Rhea. Even though the two women appeared to be comfortable in each other’s company, Patience still exhibited her reticence to trust people she didn’t know. He clenched his jaw. The fire at Westbrook farms had taken more than two well-loved members of their family.
In some ways they’d lost Patience as well. His sister had possessed a cheerful, outgoing nature before the fire, but her physical and emotional scars still plagued her more than a year later. And all of it due to a log that rolled out of the fireplace, crashed through the fire screen, and set the main parlor’s carpet on fire. It had been a terrible, unfortunate accident that had left all of them struggling with grief.
“I’m sorry we didn’t meet the other night at Melton Park, Miss Bennett,” Patience said with a small smile. “I understand you became ill and left early.”
“Yes… I… I’m not fond of large social affairs.”
“I quite understand.” Patience nodded as she shot a glance in his direction. “I avoid them as well, particularly when I’m in London.
Percy frowned at his sister’s comment. It was a subtle reminder of Patience’s refusal to attend Sebastian fortieth birthday celebration in little more than a week. The birthday party the other night at Melton Park had been for friends and neighbors in the country. It had been an enormous feat to convince Patience to attend that social event. Her acquiescence had only been because the guests were people she knew from childhood.
The upcoming party was for friends and acquaintances who resided in town. If bringing Rhea to the orphanage resulted in Patience digging in her heels even more than she already had when it came to attending the upcoming celebration, he was doomed. It wouldn’t just be Julian who would have his head. He would be severely censured by the rest of the family. Even Helen would be upset with him, and his sister-in-law’s gentle spirit rarely saw her angry. The thought wasn’t a pleasant one. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Patience look at Rhea before she turned her head to meet his gaze.
“So tell me, how did the two of you meet?” There was a gleam of curiosity in his sister’s eyes Percy recognized all too well. Patience sensed a mystery to solve, which meant he needed to quickly put an end to her prying.
“Rhea’s sister is Viscountess Sherrington.”
“Blake’s new bride?” Patience looked at him with surprise then focused her attention on Rhea. With a sudden smile, his sister shook her head. “Why that almost makes you part of the family. Blake always came home with Percy for holiday while the two of them were at Radley. It was as if I had one more big brother to hound me.”
“My sister is exceedingly fortunate to have found a husband…who loves her as much as Blake does.”
As she stumbled over her words, Percy knew she’d been on the verge of saying Blake had overlooked Lady Sherrington’s history. Once more he reminded himself that Ruckley had a great deal to pay for. Unable to help himself, Percy wondered how much Blake knew about his wife’s past. He watched Rhea take another bite of food before she looked at his sister.
“This mutton stew is quite delicious. Do you think Mrs. Hughes could be persuaded to part with her recipe?”
“Of course, I’m certain I can convince her to reveal her secret,” Patience replied with a warmth that surprised Percy.
The remainder of the meal was spent in polite conversation, and while Rhea maintained her serene appearance, he could tell she found it an effort to do so. When they’d finished their meal, Percy managed to quickly arrange for his and Rhea’s departure. To his surprise, Patience walked them to the front door of the orphanage.
“Despite Percy’s failure to tell me you would be accompanying him for lunch, Miss Bennett, I’m delighted to have met you.”
“Thank you. It was a pleasure to meet you as well,” Rhea said with a reticent smile that the Sebastian of his youth would have approved of wholeheartedly.
Patience, her brow furrowed in puzzlement, sent him a curious look. Percy grimaced and bit back a groan. Despite his efforts, the gleam of determination in his sister’s brown eyes, said there was an inquisition in his future.
“It’s obvious my brother thinks highly of you,” Patience said as she reached out to touch Percy’s arm in a gesture of affection. Rhea’s cheeks fired with pink color under his sister’s approving smile. “I would like very much to further our acquaintance. You must come to dinner Saturday night at Melton House.”
“I doubt you’ll be able to convince her to do so,” Percy murmured with irritation as he recalled his lack of success in convincing Rhea to dine at the family’s London seat Friday night.
Surprise widened Patience’s gaze as she looked up at him. He suppressed another groan. He’d spoken too hastily. Now his sister would be certain to think his interest in Rhea was something other than his effort to bring Ruckley to justice. In the deep recesses of his mind derisive laughter mocked him. He ignored the sound.
“Is this true, Miss Bennett? Has Percy finally met a woman he can’t bend to his will?”
“I do seem to frustrate him on a consistent basis.” A touch of amusement curved Rhea’s lips. It eased the tension of her mouth and softened it.
“Then I insist you come to dinner.”
Patience smiled with a glee he’d not seen in more than a year. That he was the cause of her amusement rankled slightly, but it was a price he was happy to pay to see his sister cast off her frozen shell with someone she barely knew. Beside him Rhea appeared ready to decline Patience’s invitation. A streak of devilment passed through him.
“You’re wasting your time, Patience. She’s already turned down Helen’s invitation for dinner this Friday,” he murmured. Satisfaction made him bite back a grin as anger sparked in Rhea’s beautiful eyes. She shook her head.
“As I’ve already explained, I am leaving for the country early Saturday morning,” Rhea said emphatically.
“Then if you won’t come this weekend, you must come to Melton House this evening.” Patience’s dogged expression was a familiar one, and Percy bit back a smile as he watched Rhea try to refuse in the face of his sister’s persistence.
“I couldn’t simply appear without the Countess’s invitation."
“Nonsense. Whenever any of the family is in town, we always make it a point to have dinner together at Melton House.” Patience’s smile faltered slightly, and he knew she was remembering why the family spent so much time together. It was a momentary hesitation on her part as her smile brightened. “Helen and Sebastian are accustomed to someone unexpected joining us for dinner.”
“But I—”
“Surely you must eat supper, Miss Bennett. Meals at Melton House are very informal and early enough that even our elderly guests find it difficult to decline making appearance.”
“It’s quite kind of you—“
“Then you’ll come,” Patience exclaimed with satisfaction.
“But I—”
“No more protests, Miss Bennett,” Patience said with a laugh. “You’ve agreed to come. Percy shall pick you up in plenty of time.”
“But I—”
“You won’t win, Rhea,” Percy said quietly as he met her frustrated gaze. “Patience is
far more stubborn than I am. I rarely bet against her.”
“My brother is correct, Miss Bennett. I expect to see you this evening around five-thirty as dinner is at six,” Patience said confidently. An odd look crossed Rhea’s face as she nodded.
“Very well.” At her reluctant acceptance, triumph surged through Percy. Rhea scowled at him, and he immediately questioned whether she would actually come to Melton House for dinner this evening. With a frown he kissed his sister goodbye. When the two women had exchanged their farewells, Percy escorted Rhea out of the orphanage to their waiting carriage.
With Rhea situated inside the vehicle, he instructed the driver to take them to Hyde Park. Short of riding around the city in the carriage, the only way he could talk with her without too many interruptions was if they walked along the Serpentine. It was also his best option to prevent Rhea from escaping his company. And if he was to gain her trust, he needed time to convince her that he was trustworthy. She frowned as he climbed into the carriage and closed the door behind him.
“Why are we—”
“The boy—he recognized you.” His interruption made the color drain from her face. The minute she appeared on the verge of refuting his statement he shook his head. “Don’t try to deny it Rhea. You’ve been on tenterhooks since you first saw the boy.”
Stark fear made Rhea’s violet eyes become a deep, dark purple. Percy frowned as he waited for her reply. Resignation twisted her lovely mouth as she shook her head.
“I don’t deny knowing Edgar.”
“I take that to mean the boy is a member of Ruckley’s band of thieves,” Percy said with confidence, but still seeking confirmation of his assumption.
“Yes, and he’ll not hesitate to tell Ruckley he’s seen me and where.”
“Then you won’t return to White Willow House until the man has been dealt with.”
“Whether I return or not is irrelevant. Ruckley now has a way to find me,” Rhea said with a world-weary resignation that startled him.
“And so you’re simply going to give up?”
“I am not giving up,” she snapped bitterly. “But thanks to you, my options have become severely limited. I told you not to interfere, but you refused to listen.”
“Even if I’d heeded your warning, neither of us could have foreseen Edgar being at White Willow House today.” The irony of his words caused Percy to grow tense. The suggestion that it was impossible to foresee things wasn’t quite accurate. If Rhea were to learn of his ability. She might easily view his gift of sight as a way for him to peer into the dark recesses of her past—even her thoughts. The idea nipped at him like a dog worrying an old shoe. Rhea slowly turned her head to look at him.
“You’ll need to hire several men to guard the children, Mrs. Hughes, and anyone else in the orphanage,” she said softly.
“Bloody hell,” Percy exclaimed under his breath.
He’d been so focused on Rhea and her situation that he’d failed to consider the ramifications to anyone else. With a hard knock on the carriage ceiling he ordered the driver to take them to Sherrington House. The startled expression on Rhea’s face tugged a grim smile to Percy’s lips.
“The Rockwoods might be known for their reckless behavior, but we’re also known to act quickly when circumstances call for it,” he said firmly. “I’ve no intention of giving Ruckley unfettered access to the children at White Willow House, and I refuse to let the man come anywhere near my family or you.”
Rhea didn’t respond. She simply turned her head to look out at the passing scenery. Percy studied her in silence as he debated how to gain her trust. The anguish and fear shadowing her features made him lean forward to take her hand in his.
“Let me help you, Rhea.”
“You can’t,” she said without looking at him.
“I think it’s more to the point that you won’t let me,” he said with frustration at her obstinate refusal. The sharp tenor of his words made her jerk her head toward him. In a vicious twist of her hand, she yanked free of his grasp.
“What makes you think you could possibly help me,” she said bitterly. “Ruckley will find me, and he has the means to make me do what I’ve always refused to do where he was concerned.”
“What will he make you do?” Percy shook his head in bewilderment.
“He wants to see me grovel,” Rhea whispered as she closed her eyes. The anger in her voice had become one of defeat and disillusionment. “And I’ve never begged him for anything. I fought him. I defied him. I could make him see the advantage of doing one thing when he was about to do something else. But not once did I ever plead with him. All of that’s changed now.”
“How has it changed?” Percy asked quietly. She opened her eyes to look out of the window.
“Because I’ll do just that. I’ll beg,” she choked out and he was certain she was holding back tears. “If I don’t he’ll…he’ll do terrible things to the people I love.”
“Then let me help you.”
“I don’t need any more of your help,” Rhea said fiercely. She jerked her gaze back to his, the full force of her anger darkening her eyes until they were a dark, purplish hue of fury and fear. “After all, with me as bait, your goal of finding that bastard just became much easier.”
The vicious accusation made Percy straighten up in his seat to stare at her in cold silence. Even though he knew her words were rooted in fear, they still stung. He would never use her as bait. The idea that she’d even considered the possibility made him realize why it was difficult for her to trust him. She’d been right in stating he’d not believed her where Ruckley was concerned. He’d believed she’d been giving the man too much credit. A sudden flush of color filled Rhea’s pale cheeks and she bent her head in obvious remorse.
“I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that. You could have handed me over to the magistrate the other night, and you didn’t,” she said softly. “As you said, neither of us had any idea Edgar would be at the orphanage.”
“And perhaps I’ve been too hasty in dismissing your warning about Ruckley,” he said quietly. “Tell me why Edgar would be at the orphanage to begin with. He’s clearly old enough to be on his own.
“Edgar is working to fill Ruckley’s rank-and-file.”
“Explain,” he bit out with concern.
“Edgar finds vulnerable children, gains their trust, and makes them believe life with Ruckley will be better than the life they currently lead.” Rhea’s gaze was cast downward to where her fingers picked at the silk of her dress. “But the minute Edgar tells Ruckley he saw me at White Willow House the man will do what he can to find out where I am. He’s capable of anything when it comes to getting what he wants.”
The air of hopelessness about her caused a knot of anger to form in his abdomen. Rhea was a fighter. She’d proven that to him in a relatively short time. But the defeat reflected in her demeanor troubled him. How could he make her understand she was no longer alone when it came to the threat Ruckley posed?
“Rhea, I promise I’ll protect you.”
“Don’t.” Rhea jerked her head up. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“My word is of great value to me. I do not give it lightly.”
“Perhaps, but I think you’re apt to find you’ve miscalculated the situation badly.”
“A challenge,” he said with a small smile. “As my sister and I have said, my family has more than a passing acquaintance with accepting challenges. We excel at beating the odds.”
Rhea stared at him in the silence for a moment then shook her head and turned away from him once more. The desire to reassure her surged through him. Percy leaned forward and caught her hand in his again.
“Rhea, trust me.” At his words, she shuddered. The vibration of her trembling passed its way into his hands, and he fought the urge to gather her into his arms. An unreadable expression on her face, she looked at him.
“Why?” she asked in a voice devoid of emotion. “Why should I trust you?”
/> It was a valid question, and he wasn’t sure how to answer her. What reason could he possibly offer her as to why she could trust him? None.
“You have absolutely no reason to do so,” he said with quiet patience. “Simply call it a leap of faith.”
As her gaze met his, he silently urged her to believe he only had her best interests at heart. Something flickered in her violet gaze, and he suddenly realized how important it was to him that she believe he was sincere in his desire to help her—to have her trust him. In the back of his head bells clanged a wild warning cry. He quickly silenced the alarm. His interest in Rhea was to help her and to right an injustice, nothing more. Instinctively he knew it was a lie, but he wasn’t willing to examine his true motives. At this moment the only thing that mattered was seeing Ruckley destroyed and Rhea safe.
Chapter 6
The warmth of Percy’s hands sent heat pulsing its way through Rhea’s skin. She didn’t understand why his touch invoked such a sensation. Nothing about him or their odd association made any sense at all. He was asking her to take a leap of faith where he was concerned. She’d already done that to some extent. What he asked of her now was to go one step further. The brown eyes studying her reflected a warm sincerity Rhea found compelling. With each passing second, her ability to refuse his request became more difficult. She’d told Arianna she trusted Percy. So why was it so hard to take the last step and admit it to him as well?
“Is taking that leap so hard?” he asked quietly. The gentleness in his voice struck at the very core of her. It created a tiny fracture in the wall of ice she’d built around every part her heart and soul.
“Yes,” she swallowed the unexpected knot forming in her throat. “When you are accustomed to the worst life offers, the idea of something good happening is an almost unbearable thought.”
“Ruckley has a great deal to answer for,” Percy said grimly.
“And you continue to overestimate your ability to make him pay for all the things he’s done.”
“You seem determined to challenge me to prove you wrong,” he said with a slight twist of his sensual mouth.
