by Monica Burns
“What you really mean is that you wouldn’t have been at the orphanage if you’d known Rhea was accompanying me.” The clipped statement made color flood Patience’s cheeks and her mouth thinned with anger.
“You betrayed me, Percy.” The bitterness in his sister’s voice made Percy’s gut twist viciously.
“It was never my intent to do so, Patience. I hadn’t planned to bring Rhea to the orphanage for lunch,” he said with sincere regret. “It was a spur of the moment invitation. Once the invitation was extended it was impossible to retract. It’s a mistake I deeply regret. I’m sorry.”
“You should be,” his sister said sharply. The glare she directed at him only deepened Percy’s remorse. After a long moment of silence her features softened slightly before she looked away to stare at the royal blue carpet with its cream-colored floral design.
“In truth, I suppose I should be grateful.”
“Grateful?” he murmured hopefully.
“Yes.” Patience nodded as she continued to study the carpet. “Today illustrated how terribly difficult the party would be for me.”
“Difficult how?” he snapped with self-frustration. “You appeared to enjoy yourself the other night at Melton Park.”
“That was different. I knew almost everyone in attendance.” She looked up at him with a look of irritation.
“And you’ll know most everyone at the ball.”
“Know perhaps, but not well enough to think they’ll ignore…”
Her voice died away as she shook her head. There was a look of fear and horror in her brown eyes that made Percy want to scoop her up into his arms as he had when she was little and had been hurt or frightened. He’d always been able to help her overcome her fears as a child, the fact that he couldn’t do so now pained him greatly. If there was anything he hated, it was to see anyone in his family in pain.
“Except for your initial shock, I think you enjoyed Rhea’s company at lunch,” he said gently.
“Miss Bennett was kind. She ignored my…my scars.”
“And people will be equally kind at the party,” he said quietly. “I think you know that or you wouldn’t have invited Rhea to dine with the family this evening.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Percy saw his brother-in-law jerk in surprise. He saw his sister dart a quick glance at her husband who was eyeing her with amazement. Patience’s mouth twisted slightly as if in pain.
“I won’t deny I found Miss Bennett quite pleasant. But that’s not why I asked her to dinner this evening.”
“Then why did you?” Suddenly feeling as though he had fallen into a spider’s web, Percy met his sister’s steady gaze warily.
“Because she’s important to you.”
The simplicity of Patience’s response was emphasized as she rolled her shoulders in a small shrug. Almost as if she were waiting for a reaction from him, her gaze narrowed with calculated assessment. Tension slid through him until his muscles were stiff and rigid. Slowly clasping his hands behind his back, Percy studied Patience’s serene and confident expression. She knew her observation had hit its mark. While it was an accurate appraisal, it wasn’t for the reason Patience believed. Derisive laughter filled his head, and he blocked out the sound.
“Perhaps you’d care to elaborate on that statement,” he said in a voice devoid of emotion.
“It means I believe you care about Miss Bennett. I’m simply undecided as to whether she’s just another stray waif you feel compelled to care for or if she’s special in another way.”
“I do not take in strays,” he growled.
The instant Patience raised her eyebrows and nodded toward Hercules, sprawled out on the carpet, Percy grimaced. The family was accustomed to him bringing home stray animals in need of shelter and a good home. Hercules had been no different. The old dog had been a treasured member of the family since the day Percy had brought the animal to Melton House more than ten years ago. Curled up in the pit of the dog’s chest and front legs, was the newest member of the house, Andromeda. Percy had found the kitten wet and half-dead from starvation near the Thames shortly after the first of the year. Hercules had taken on the role of protector the moment Andromeda had entered the house.
“Hercules wasn’t your first stray or your last,” Patience observed softly. “There have been others.”
Although his sister didn’t mention her by name, he knew Patience was referring to Nellie. Percy’s hand tightened its already painful grip on his wrist, as he continued to keep his hands clasped behind his back. With deliberation, he forced himself to appear nonchalant. As Patience studied him with a calculating look, he eyed her coldly.
“Rhea is not Nellie, and my interest in her is solely because her sister is married to my best friend.”
Percy’s jaw tightened further. His reply was a complete fabrication, and he knew it. But the last thing he wanted was Patience probing deeper into his connection with Rhea. If Patience discovered the circumstances of their first meeting, his sister would feel less than charitable toward Rhea. Actually, that was a mild turn of phrase for the outrage the entire family would heap on Rhea’s head. His brush with death had followed close on the heels of Caleb’s and Devin’s tragic deaths. The fear, worry, and panic his siblings had suffered the night after the museum theft was still an open wound in their minds. Patience cocked her head to one side as she stared at him intensely.
“I think there’s more to all this than meets the eye.”
“Now, you’re going to tell me you’ve had a vision,” he said with a harsh sarcasm that covered a moment of panic. Had the an dara sealladh shown his sister something about Rhea? No, she would have interrogated him the minute he’d enter the drawing room a short time ago. Ever since the fire, Patience had taken to asking questions whenever she’d had a vision that made no sense to her. Percy was certain that deep down Patience still blamed herself for Caleb’s and Devin’s deaths.
Everyone knew there was no blame to place on anyone. It had been a terrible accident, but he knew his sister well. They’d always been close, and he, more than anyone, understood how self-recrimination could cripple you. His stomach knotted as the horrifying image of Nellie’s death spilled its way into his mind. Ruthlessly, he shoved the terrible memories back into the abyss from where they’d emerged. His own past allowed him to understand Patience better than she thought, and she needed to face her fear. A voice in the back of his head snorted with disgust at his hypocrisy. As he met Patience’s gaze, she shook her head in disagreement.
“No. I’m referring to the fact that you experienced the an dara sealladh at the orphanage.” Patience raised her hand as he opened his mouth to refute her words. “Don’t deny it. We both know you never have a migraine after the an dara sealladh unless your vision is relevant to someone who’s important to you.”
“How do you know the an dara sealladh didn’t involve you?” he hedged trying to guide the conversation in a different direction than where Patience clearly was headed. She rolled her eyes and glared at him.
“You’ve never taken me for a fool, Percy Rockwood. Don’t start now.”
His sister’s scorn made his jaw tighten as he fought to keep his expression devoid of emotion. He wasn’t about to admit her astute observation had hit far closer to home than he’d been willing to acknowledge up until this moment. It had been easier to ignore the fact that his interest in Rhea wasn’t simply because of Ruckley. She was strong, resourceful, self-reliant, and courageous. They were admirable qualities in anyone, but it was the vulnerability hiding beneath those attributes that aroused a need to protect her by whatever means necessary.
Patience was correct. Rhea was important to him. He’d known their paths were destined to cross from the first time the an dara sealladh had shown him those beautiful violet eyes of hers. His vision had never been clear where Rhea was concerned, and it wasn’t until that night in the museum when his gaze had locked with hers that he’d realized he was meant to help her. But deep inside he kn
ew there was another purpose to their connection. A link he wasn’t quite ready to consider.
“You’re mistaken,” he said in a flat and emotionless voice. But he realized his stiff posture belied his denial. Patience narrowed her eyes.
“Am I?” There was a note of sisterly rebuke in Patience’s voice as she arched her eyebrows at him. “You don’t sound all too certain of that.”
“My interest, or lack thereof, in Rhea Bennett is not a topic of debate.”
“I am not debating the issue with you, Percy,” his sister said with a frown. “I’m simply making an observation.”
“An observation—I see.” Percy’s voice echoed with suspicious disbelief as he saw complacency sweep across his sister’s face. With the skill of a politician, Patience had shifted the focus of the original discussion, and he had no intention of allowing the subject to fall to the wayside.
For weeks, the family had been gently coaxing Patience to attend Sebastian’s birthday celebration here in town. The fact she’d attended the party at Melton Park had been almost as big a step forward as her decision to return working at the orphanage whenever she and Julian were in town. It wasn’t the fear of being stared at that bothered Patience the most. It was the fear of being pitied.
What she didn’t understand was that she’d stared death in the face and lived despite the horror of it. A few probing questions or piteous looks from insensitive members of the Set were nothing compared to what she’d endured. She had the heart of a lion, and he needed to drive that point home to her. To do so meant he had to be cruel, and the knowledge already tasted bitter and foul in his mouth.
“Perhaps I’m the one who should be making observations.”
“About?” Patience eyed him cautiously.
“The fact that my sister isn’t just being stubborn, she’s acting like a coward.”
“A coward,” Patience exclaimed as she sprang to her feet. She whirled to face her husband. “Julian MacTavish, are you going to stand there and let him call your wife a coward?”
“I did no’ hear Percy call you a coward, mo ghràdh. He said you are acting like one,” Julian said soothingly. “He’s saying you are allowing your fear to control you. The mon is right, mo leannan. You can no’ keep hiding from people.”
“I am not a coward,” Patience fumed as an expression of pain replaced her anger. Before Julian could go to her, Percy was at his sister’s side. Gently, he took her hands in his.
“I told you once before you were the bravest person I’ve ever known,” he said quietly as he stared down at his sister. “I still believe that.”
“You just called me a coward,” she said with humiliation and resentment. The brown eyes meeting his were dark with anger and hurt. He shook his head.
“No, as Julian said, I think you’re acting like a coward,” Percy said with a shake of his head. “I know you’re afraid, and there’s no need to be. There isn’t a single member of the Rockwood family who would allow someone to say or do anything to hurt you. Julian and I will be at your side just as we were the other night. The minute someone is uncharitable or dares to make you uncomfortable, they’ll be shown to the door, never to be acknowledged by a Rockwood again.”
“Aye.” His brother-in-law’s response was short, and to the point.
The fiercely protective note in Julian’s voice made Patience look at her husband. A silent message was exchanged between the two, and his sister drew in a deep breath as she looked back at Percy. It was obvious his sister was wavering in her decision, and Percy remained silent for fear of pushing her in the wrong direction. Patience’s features darkened with reluctance.
“Very well, but—” Her response was cut short by Constance’s laughter.
“I take it Lucien and I now owe you money, Percy.” At the amused comment from the oldest of the three Rockwood sisters, Percy scowled at her. Immediately, Constance’s amusement became that of contrition.
“Bad timing?”
“Quite,” he growled. He’d forgotten all about the wager he’d made several weeks ago with Constance and her husband the Earl of Lyndham. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw anger furrowing Patience’s brow. Christ Jesus. Just when she’d been on the verge of acquiescence.
“Am I to understand you made me the subject of a wager?” Patience’s voice was tight with displeasure, and Percy suppressed a groan.
“He didn’t initiate the wager, dearest,” Constance said in a soothing voice as she leapt to Percy’s defense. With a remorseful look, the oldest Rockwood sister crossed the floor to sit on the cream-colored stripe sofa next to Patience. “He was quite reluctant to agree to it, but I goaded him into accepting.”
The fragrance of heather brushed against his nose as his aunt entered the salon and came to stand at his side. With a chuckle, Matilda Stewart eyed him with affectionate despair.
“Aye, yer sister made it impossible for him no’ to accept the wager.”
“If it helps, my winnings go to the orphanage fund,” Percy said ruefully as he met Patience’s angry gaze. She continued to glare at him for a moment before she shook her head in disgust. The small sign of forgiveness made Percy relax slightly.
“Well, dearest, is it true? Has Percy actually convinced you to attend the ball next week?”
Constance wrapped her arm around their sister and gave her an affectionate hug and waited for an answer with an expectant air. Patience glanced over her shoulder at her husband who had moved to stand behind the couch. One large hand rested on the mahogany scrolled edge of the plush sofa, while the other gently squeezed his wife’s shoulder. A second later, Patience turned her gaze back to Percy and narrowed her gaze at him.
“Yes, I’ll go, but on one condition.” His sister’s words indicated there was a provision being added to her agreement, and Percy frowned. As Patience eyed him shrewdly, he knew he wasn’t going to like what his sister had to say.
“Condition?” he murmured suspiciously.
“You must escort Miss Bennett to Sebastian’s birthday party.”
The quiet, but firm, edict stunned Percy. Slack-jawed with amazement, he stared at his sister while Constance’s gaze darted back and forth between him and Patience.
“Who is Miss Bennett?” she asked with a frown of puzzlement as Aunt Matilda laughed softly.
“I believe she’s the lass Helen introduced ye brother tae at Melton Park the other night.” Aunt Matilda said in her soft Scottish burr. “Am I right, Percy?”
“Yes,” he growled as he glanced at first Aunt Matilda then Constance who eyed him with growing curiosity. His gaze shifted back to Patience who returned his glare with smug satisfaction. With a shake of his head he gritted his teeth.
“Rhea told you this afternoon at the orphanage that she was returning to the country Saturday morning, Patience. She’s given no indication of when she intends to return.”
“I thought you were discussing a Miss Bennett. Who is Rhea?” Constance asked with a perplexed frown.
“Miss Bennett,” Percy and Patience exclaimed at the same time.
“Such familiarity seems a bit odd under such short acquaintance, Percy,” the eldest Rockwood sister said with a raised eyebrow. A second later a look of devilment enhanced Constance’s loving features. “You barely know the woman. You must be quite taken with her.”
“For the love of God,” Percy muttered in a dark tone of voice as he saw the assessment on Constance’s face that matched Patience’s.
“I thought the same thing too when he brought her to the orphanage today,” Patience said with a serene expression as she leaned into her sister. “I’ve simply not been able to decide whether she’s Percy’s pet project of the month or if she might be special.”
“He brought her to the orphanage?” Constance gasped as she directed a dark glance of disapproval in Percy’s direction. “Did you tell Patience you were coming?”
“No, he didn’t.” The scars on Patience’s cheek tightened slightly as her mouth thinned with the same
disapproval Constance was displaying. “But I liked her, and I invited her to dine with us this evening.”
“You invited…good heavens.” Constance’s eyes widened as she stared at Patience in astonishment while Aunt Matilda’s mouth fell open in startled amazement. Percy suppressed a groan.
“I did,” Patience said with a great deal of satisfaction as she eyed him with a small smile. “So what is your answer, Percy?
Feeling trapped, Percy glared at his sister as he tried to come up with a plausible reason not to do as Patience was demanding, while ensuring she attended the party next week. He failed miserably.
“Damnation, Patience. I just told you that Miss Bennett is returning to the country this weekend, and she’s not given any indication when she expects to return.”
“Then you will need to convince her to return for the party, won’t you.” The challenging note in his sister’s voice was emphasized by the gleam in her brown eyes that dared him to refuse. It had been a long time since Patience, or any of his brothers or sisters had managed to back him into a corner such as the one he was in now. The fact irritated him immensely. Particularly when it involved his personal affairs. It was one thing for him to confront Patience about her fears, but he’d never meddled in her relationship—he didn’t complete the thought. He couldn’t actually state he’d not interfered in Patience’s life where Julian was concerned.
The knowledge only served to make him all the more irritable. It was an outrageous condition. He wanted to throttle her for proposing it and Constance for needling him into accepting the wager that he could convince Patience to attend Sebastian’s party. If it weren’t for that damned wager he wouldn’t be faced with his sister’s ridiculous provision. The most galling thing was that Patience had seen through his nonchalance where Rhea was concerned. It was an insight he’d have preferred to ignore for a little while longer, and not just by Patience. Over the next few days he would suffer interrogations by his siblings unlike any in recent memory. The thought did little to endear Patience to him at the moment.
