Redemption (The Reckless Rockwoods Book 4)

by Monica Burns

  “I am not encouraging you to do any such thing,” she snapped. “I am simply pointing out the reality of the situation.”

  “Yet you insist on ignoring that fact yourself.” The stern note in his voice made her stiffen. She was about to reply when he shook his head.

  “Don’t bother trying to deny it,” he said with exasperation.

  Percy released her hand and sank back into the black leather cushions of his seat. Rhea immediately experienced disappointment that he’d let go of her hand. Startled by her reaction, it took her several seconds to gather her wits and respond to Percy’s allegation.

  “It’s rather difficult to deny something when I have no idea what you’re referring to,” Rhea said coolly as she fought to maintain her composure.

  “Vincent explained what you’ve been doing.”

  Percy’s words made her suck in a quick gasp of air. Their gazes locked, Rhea’s heart pounded wildly in her chest. Was Percy bluffing? Vincent knew from his years with Ruckley not to give up information to people he didn’t know. A sudden thought careened through her. Dear God, had Percy seen Lucy? In a split second, she understood her sister’s reluctance to tell Blake the truth. She wasn’t even in love with Percy, and the idea of him discovering her past and thinking the worst of her was not a pleasant thought. A chill danced across her skin despite the heat of the day.

  “Whatever Vincent told you, I’m sure it’s some flight of fancy on his part. He’s just a child.”

  “The boy is far older than his years, and deeply afraid for your safety.” Percy’s face had hardened into a harsh, forbidding expression. “He told me how you’ve been spiriting children in Ruckley’s band of thieves out from under his nose and taking them to Green Hill House. Vincent also said you were planning to rescue another child this coming Friday night, which would explain your refusal to my dinner invitation.”

  Unable to think clearly, Rhea sat frozen in her seat. Vincent had shared far too much with Percy. Had he done so under duress? Had Percy threatened the boy? Without even thinking twice she ruled out that possibility. Even on such short acquaintance she knew Percy was incapable of threatening a child. Then why would Vincent tell Percy what her plans were? Almost as if he could read her churning thoughts, Percy released a low noise of aggravation.

  “The boy overheard me asking your aunt how I could find you in London. He stopped me before I left and threatened me with bodily harm if I hurt you.” His expression of resentment made her smile.”

  “Vincent has always been protective of me,” she said softly. “I looked after him from the first day Ruckley bought him from his parents. He was only five years old.”

  “Five,” Percy exclaimed with a quiet outrage that emphasized his disgust.

  “It’s not unusual for young children to be sold into thievery. Some are born into the life.”

  The thought of Lucy made Rhea’s stomach lurch. At least her niece would never know the pain, fear, and heartache her mother and aunt had endured.

  “And what about you and your sister? How did you come to be in Ruckley’s employ?”

  “We were not in his employ,” she said bitterly as the all-too-familiar numbness engulfed her. “Ruckley owned us.”

  “Owned you,” Percy bit out in furious disbelief.

  “Our father sold us to Ruckley to pay off his gambling debts.”

  “Sweet Jesus.” Percy’s soft exclamation was little more than a hiss of air between clenched teeth. “How old were you?”

  “I was eighteen, almost nineteen.” Rhea heard the mechanical sound of her reply. It allowed her to distance herself from the horror of the past. “Arianna was fourteen.”

  “Bloody hell.” The anger and disgust in his voice didn’t surprise her. But to her dismay his outrage at her plight pierced the thick layer of ice she’d encased her heart in long ago simply to survive.

  “And your mother didn’t object?” His words made her stiffen with anger.

  “My mother had been dead more than a year when my father sold us to Ruckley. She would never have allowed my father to do what he did if she’d been alive.” Rhea glared at him as a cold, brittle anger slashed its way through her. At her chilly reply, he offered her an abrupt nod of apology.

  “It was wrong of me to suggest such a thing.”

  The quiet words echoed with sincere remorse. Rhea realized how difficult it must be for him to comprehend what her life had been like for the seven years she’d been under Ruckley’s control. Rhea looked away from Percy to stare out at the neat row of houses that lined the street they were on. They were such a stark contrast to the horrible nature of the life she endured for seven years.

  “I understand why you asked the question. If my father could do something so vile, perhaps my mother could have done so as well.” Rhea drew in a breath of air and released it as an image of her mother’s gentle features filled her head.

  “And your aunt? Was she unable to do something?” This time there was no judgement in his voice.

  “Father never liked Aunt Beatrice. He refused to let her in the house. I once overheard mama arguing with him about it. But he refused to listen. It’s why Aunt Beatrice had no idea what had happened to us until the lawyer for father’s estate finally located her. By then we’d been doing Ruckley’s bidding for more than six years. It took almost another year for Aunt Beatrice to find us.”

  Her voice cracked slightly at the memory of when Ashford had first taken them to Fremont house. Aunt Beatrice had looked so much like her mother that Arianna had immediately burst into tears. She’d allowed her sister to cry for the both of them.

  “Only someone with great strength and courage could survive what you and your sister have, Rhea.” The gentleness in his voice caused an unfamiliar emotion to rise up and form a knot in her throat. She jerked her gaze from the passing scenery to look at him. There was no condemnation in his brown eyes, only a gleam of admiration. Rhea shook her head in a dismissal of his words.

  “I did what I had to do to survive. We both did.” The memory of everything the statement included made her flinch and her stomach roil.

  “Is that why you’ve decided to take it upon yourself to free these children? Vincent said you’ve managed to rescue three children already, including him. Exactly how have you managed that?”

  “A private detective is assisting me.” At her reply, Percy drew in a sharp hiss of air.

  “His name.” The harsh demand made her stiffen.

  “Luke Ashford,” she snapped. “He’s been quite competent in helping me.”

  “Did you secure any character references for the man?”

  “I didn’t need—”

  “Good God, Rhea, how do you know this man can be trusted?” The repressed anger in his voice made her glare at him.

  “Mr. Ashford is trustworthy.”

  “And you know this how? What’s to stop him from taking advantage of your purse?”

  “He won’t,” she said fiercely. “He’s the one who found Arianna and me for my aunt. It’s because of him that we escaped Ruckley.”

  “All right,” he said with a bob of his head. “You’ve secured the assistance of someone reputable. But how many children do you have to save before you stop this risky undertaking of yours? How many will it take for you to realize you can’t save all of them?”

  “Do you think I don’t know that?” she cried out passionately. As she admitted the thought out loud, her heart ached as if someone had ripped it out of her chest. “But leaving the children I cared for while I was under Ruckley’s thumb is something I refuse to do. I’ll not leave them at the mercy of that monster.”

  Anger flooded Rhea’s veins at the possibility Percy might think she shouldn’t save the few children she could. He had no idea what it was like for the children she’d left behind. Heaven knew what perverse tortures Ruckley had already done without her being present to intervene. The thought of what had happed to Timothy sickened Rhea. The terrible memory of that night made her tre
mble as she focused her gaze on the man seated across from her. The look of empathy and compassion on his face aroused unexpected emotions that confused and frightened her. Was it possible for someone who’d never known the harsh life she’d endured to understand her reasons for saving children she’d come to think of as her own? Percy cleared his throat.

  “Let me help you.” Percy’s voice urged her to agree to his request. With a slight shake of her head she wrestled with the idea of accepting his help.

  “Trust me, Rhea. Trust me to keep you and the children safe from harm.”

  “And what about your desire to bring Ruckley to justice?” she asked with renewed distrust. The question made Percy grimace.

  “I’ll wait until all the children you intend to rescue are safe before I do anything. But I’d wager that Ruckley has already realized you’re the one behind the children disappearing from his band of thieves.”

  It was a thought she’d already considered, but she’d pushed it aside in the hope she could rescue all the children without Ruckley discovering her involvement. That Percy had spoken her thoughts out loud sent a bolt of fear crashing through her. The carriage rolled to a stop, and Percy leaned forward to block her exit with his arm. Startled, she met his determined gaze as the driver opened the vehicle’s door.

  “Give me your answer, Rhea.” The quiet demand reverberated with understanding and an emphatic determination that she found impossible to ignore. She stared at him for a long moment and nodded.

  “Very well,” she whispered. To her surprise she saw relief sweep across Percy’s face. He captured her hand once more, but this time he raised it to his lips. The touch sent heat pulsing its way through her as if she were being consumed by a wildfire.

  “Thank you,” he said softly. “I’ll make sure you don’t regret doing so.” Percy slowly released her hand. “I’ll return for you at five.”

  “I don’t—”

  “Five o’clock, Rhea. I expect you to be ready.”

  His expression told her to think twice about arguing with him, and she agreed to his command as he exited the vehicle. Rhea accepted his hand and descended from the vehicle. He saw her to the foot of the steps leading to the door of Sherrington House. As she made her way up the brick stairway, fire skimmed across the back of her neck. The sensation told her that Percy was watching her, but she refused to turn her head. She was feeling far too vulnerable at the moment. As she opened the door of Sherrington House, she heard the carriage rolled away.

  The sound left her feeling relieved and bereft at the same time. She’d agreed to trust Percy and accept his help. She wasn’t exactly sure what that entailed, but for the first time in years she didn’t feel quite so alone in her efforts to protect those she loved. The front door closed behind her, Rhea removed her hat and laid it on the highly polished surface of the hall table. Marston emerged from the main salon and bowed slightly.

  “Lady Sherrington and Mrs. Fremont are in the salon, miss. Her ladyship asked that you join them as soon as you returned.”

  Startled to hear her aunt had arrived in London, Rhea’s chest tightened with fear. Had her aunt brought the children with her? If Ruckley were to find her—no, when he found her—the children would be in jeopardy.

  “Thank you, Marston,” she said with a nod then walked into the salon. Beatrice Fremont saw her first and extended her hand in a warm gesture of affection.

  “There you are, dearest, we were wondering when you would return.”

  “I didn’t think you’d planned on coming to London for another few weeks.” Rhea bent and kissed Beatrice Fremont’s cheek as she struggled to keep her fears at bay. “Did you bring the children with you?”

  “No, I left the boys in the capable hands of Albert and Mrs. Turner.” Beatrice’s explanation made Rhea breathe a small sigh of relief. It was one thing for Ruckley to find her, but if he found the children—she crushed the thought as her aunt turned her head to smile at Arianna. “However, I did bring Lucy as I know how fond Arianna is of the child.”

  “I always love seeing Lucy,” her sister said as her face lit up with a happy glow.

  “She is a sweet little thing, isn’t she? And I’m convinced she’s going to be terribly spoiled when she’s older. The boys adore her.” Aunt Beatrice said with a laugh. “And with your happy news, dearest, it means Lucy will have a child close to her own age when you visit Green Hill House.”

  Rhea looked at her sister who was smiling, but the haunted look in Arianna’s eyes made Rhea’s heart ache for her sister. An image of Ruckley flitted through her head, and Rhea bit down on her lower lip. Arianna was strong, but her pregnancy would make it difficult for her sister to manage her emotions as well as she usually could. Before she could share her bad news, Beatrice Fremont turned her attentions to Rhea again.

  “Your sister tells me Percy Rockwood came calling this morning, and how he spirited you away to lunch with his sister.”

  Rhea’s gaze jerked her head to look at her sister. Had Arianna told their aunt how they’d left Percy for dead in the museum? Arianna sent her a small smile as if she’d read Rhea's mind.

  “I told Aunt Beatrice that Mr. Rockwood seemed quite smitten.”

  The apologetic expression on her sister’s face made Rhea wince. Clearly Arianna had maintained her silence about the museum, but in exchange, her sister had offered her up like a sacrificial lamb to their aunt’s aspirations for Rhea’s marital status. Beatrice Fremont’s face was one of satisfaction as she looked at her nieces.

  “I’m not surprised. The man was quite disappointed yesterday afternoon when he paid us a visit,” Beatrice Fremont said with a smile of delight. “And to arrive here this afternoon to learn you’d gone to have lunch with Mr. Rockwood and his sister gives me hope.”

  “Hope, Aunt Beatrice?” A puzzled frown furrowed Arianna’s forehead as Rhea rolled her eyes and grimaced.

  “Yes, hope, Arianna,” Beatrice Fremont said with a happy smile. “Your sister has been adamant in her refusal to consider the possibility of marriage.”

  “I would hardly call lunch with Percy Rockwood and his sister reason for you to hope, Aunt Beatrice,” Rhea said with annoyed exasperation. Heaven help her when the man arrived in a few hours to take her to dinner with the remainder of his family.

  “That’s where you’re wrong, dearest.” Beatrice shook her head with a complacent smile. “The man took you to meet his sister. A man doesn’t introduce a woman to his family unless his intentions are serious.”

  “He wanted to show me the orphanage his family sponsors,” Rhea said between clenched teeth. “We hardly know each other.”

  “Perhaps, but it’s still an excellent sign that the man finds you intriguing.”

  “Not nearly as intriguing as Lord Foxworth found you, aunt,” Rhea said in a desperate effort to turn the conversation away from Percy.

  How she was going to leave the house this evening without her aunt being even more gleeful was a problem she wasn’t sure how to avoid. As she met her aunt’s gaze, Rhea noticed how Beatrice Fremont’s cheeks had flooded with a dark pink color. Rhea narrowed her eyes at the older woman. She’d found her aunt’s Achilles’ heel. Going forward Rhea could counter Beatrice Fremont’s matchmaker efforts with her own suggestions about Lord Foxworth. As she met her aunt’s gaze, the older woman shook her head as a stern expression crossed her lovely face.

  “Marriage is for the young, and my past history with Lord Foxworth does little to endear the man to me.”

  The moment her aunt spoke, Rhea knew she was lying. Whether it was to herself or to her nieces it was difficult to discern. Her aunt was definitely not admitting the truth. She’d seen the older woman in Lord Foxworth’s company. Despite her objections to the man’s authoritative manner, Lord Foxworth clearly had a disturbing effect on her aunt. With a shake of her head, Rhea didn’t bother to continue the argument. She could no longer put off her bad news. The fear spread its tight web around her. It made it difficult to breathe as sh
e looked at Arianna.

  “Something’s happened,” Arianna said and paled with trepidation as she slowly rose to her feet to stand stiff and unmoving in front of her chair. Rhea flinched at her sister’s words and nodded.

  “Ruckley has a way to find me—us.” Silence greeted her words as her sister and aunt stared at her in horror. Beatrice was the first to recover.

  “But how? Mr. Ashford has assured us time and again that his movements have gone undetected in his efforts to rescue the children,” her aunt exclaimed with concern. “How could Ruckley possibly know where you are?”

  “Unfortunately, one of Ruckley’s boys was at the Rockwood orphanage. He saw me.”

  “Perhaps the child didn’t recognize you, dearest.” Her aunt’s optimistic tone caused a look of hope to lighten Arianna’s features. Rhea’s gaze locked with her sister’s, and when she slowly shook her head, Arianna paled.

  “It was Edgar.” The moment her words filled the air, Arianna clutched at her throat.

  “Who is this Edgar?” Beatrice asked in a worried tone.

  “He’s one of Ruckley’s trusted lieutenants,” Arianna whispered as she focused her gaze on Rhea. “He had to have been at the orphanage to recruit younger children to fill Ruckley’s needs.”

  “Dear Lord,” Beatrice gasped in dismay before another look of optimism replaced her worried expression.

  “Simply because he saw you at the orphanage doesn’t mean he can find you.”

  “Edgar is very resourceful, especially if he believes Ruckley will reward him well for information,” Rhea said softly as despair threatened to overwhelm her as it had when she’d left the orphanage. The memory of Percy’s determination to help her eased some of that fear.

  “I refuse to believe this man has any power over you now, my darlings,” Beatrice said in a firm, defiant voice.

  “His power is in what he knows, Aunt Beatrice,” Arianna’s terse reply made Rhea’s heart skip a beat. Lucy. It wouldn’t take long for Ruckley to discover Blake knew nothing about his wife’s daughter. One word from Ruckley in Blake’s ear could destroy Arianna’s marriage. Beatrice didn’t speak for a moment then released a breath of air that indicated she’d made a decision.