by Monica Burns
The sincerity in Lord Foxworth’s voice made Rhea smile at him warmly.
“I should be pleased to do so, my–” Rhea stopped as Lord Foxworth raised his eyebrows, and she laughed. “Uncle Lionel.”
The man immediately stepped forward to kiss Rhea’s cheek. Caught off guard, Rhea flinched. Although she knew the gentleman’s gesture was merely congenial, it still made her uncomfortable. She retreated a small distance from the couple, and her gaze met her aunt’s. Concern crossed Beatrice’s face, but Rhea stopped her from questioning her as she smiled at the couple.
“If you’ll forgive me, I must change as I have an evening engagement.”
The concern on her aunt’s face became a worried frown, and Rhea directed a warning look at the older woman. Beatrice was well aware of Rhea’s destination this evening. While her aunt expressed a deep concern about her niece’s actions, she’d not made any attempt to stop her. Lord Foxworth on the other hand might provide the support Beatrice needed to persuade Rhea to remain at home. With obvious reluctance, her aunt gave way to Rhea’s silent warning not to question her actions. The resignation on her face was quickly replaced with concern once more.
“Perhaps you might look in on Arianna, dearest,” Beatrice said. “I’m quite worried about her.”
“Of course,” Rhea said as she kissed her aunt’s cheek once again. With another smile at the couple she left the salon. Delighted at her aunt’s happy news, Rhea’s weariness ebbed away. She’d come to love her aunt dearly in the short time since Beatrice had found her and Arianna. When Rhea reached the top of the stairs she moved along the corridor toward the nursery. Entering the small room, she saw Arianna playfully blowing against Lucy’s hand as the child reached up to touch her mother’s face. Giggling, Lucy laughed harder every time Arianna blew against the child’s hand. A smile curving her mouth, Rhea walk toward the two, and her sister looked up at Rhea then smiled at Lucy.
“Look who’s here, my darling. Auntie Rhea has come to visit.” At her sister’s remark, Rhea planted a quick kiss on the child’s cheek then touched Arianna’s shoulder.
“Have you received any word from Blake?” The question made her sister pale, and Rhea immediately regretted asking about her brother-in-law. “He’ll come, Arianna. He loves you.”
“So Aunt Beatrice says as well.”
“It’s the truth,” Rhea said firmly. Silently she vowed to go to Sherrington House herself if her brother-in-law didn’t visit his wife soon. The man needed to understand how wonderful and generous his wife truly was. “He won’t be able to stay away.”
Arianna’s expression illustrated she wasn’t as confident as her aunt or sister. She turned her attention back to her daughter and smiled as the child beamed up at her. Without looking at Rhea, her sister sighed softly.
“Do you still plan to bring Peter and Fanny home with you this evening?”
“Yes. Although Mr. Ashford said there is no guarantee Fanny will be with Peter, but I’m hopeful.”
“Please promise me you’ll be careful Rhea,” Arianna said quietly as she looked up at her.
“If Ruckley were to–”
“I promise you, I’ll not do anything rash. I have no desire to face Ruckley again.” The response seemed to reassure her sister, and with a small tickle of her niece’s chin, Rhea left the nursery.
Chapter 14
Rhea entered the foyer outside of Ashford’s office. The small entryway was dark, but light shimmered through the frosted glass of the private investigator’s office door. She knocked quietly to announce her arrival then entered the small office. Ashford was loading a pistol, while another one lay on the desktop. As he loaded bullets into the rotating chamber, he looked up to greet her with a nod.
It always unnerved her seeing the man load his weapon. Although he’d never had to use it, the thought of the man being hurt while helping her was a troubling one. Almost as if he could read her thoughts, he met her gaze and a small smile twisted his lips.
“It’s merely a precaution,” he said in a matter-of-fact voice. Rhea nodded her understanding. Before she could reply the office door opened, and Percy strode in with a grim look on his handsome features.
“Ashford, have you seen, Miss Bennett?” Percy’s voice held a sharp edge that covered a distinct note of concern.
“I’m right here,” she said as she realized the low light made it difficult for Percy to easily recognize her in her wig and male attire. At her quiet reply, he jerked his head in her direction. Eyes widening with surprise, he stared at her for a brief moment before his mouth thinned in disapproval.
“What the devil are you wearing?” he bit out.
“What I always wear when I go with Mr. Ashford.” She looked down at her coarsely made clothing then back up into the condemnation in Percy’s gaze. “If I were to dress as I do during the day, I’d draw attention to myself and others.”
Percy appeared ready to argue when Ashford cleared his throat.
“Miss Bennett is correct, Rockwood. It’s for her own safety.”
After a short hesitation, Percy nodded his head then was at her side in two quick steps. Her fingers gripping her elbow, he threw a quick glance in the direction of the private investigator.
“I need to speak with Miss Bennett for a moment,” he bit out in clipped tones. “We’ll wait for you in the entryway.”
Ashford raised his eyebrows but didn’t reply as Percy pulled her out of the office into the small foyer. Startled by his actions, Rhea had no time to protest as he shepherded her out of Ashford’s office. The door closed behind them, Rhea recovered from her surprise and pulled free of his grasp. Irritated by his behavior she scowled at him, but he didn’t give her the chance to say a word.
“You left in the middle of the night and according to Jenkins you left on foot without an escort,” he growled. “Not to mention the fact that you didn’t even say goodbye.”
Caught off guard by his fierce rebuke, she bit down on her lip. Although she’d expected him to be put out with her for not waking him, it was apparent he’d been worried about her. Guilt bit into her as she met his angry gaze.
“My past has taught me how to take care of myself, but I’m sorry that I worried you.”
“Worried?” he snarled. “Christ Jesus, when I couldn’t find you today, I expected the worst. What if something had happened to you walking home like that?”
“But it didn’t.” Her calm demeanor seemed to anger him even more as he glared at her.
“And your failure to say goodbye?” The question was issued with a silent demand for a reply.
“You were sleeping soundly,” she said quietly. “But this is neither the time nor place for this discussion.”
“I think it is,” he snarled. “I spent the entire morning trying to find you then repeated my efforts this afternoon.”
“I went to Green Hill.”
“What? Why?” he demanded fiercely.
The possessive note in his voice filled her with conflicting emotions. Resentment rose in her at his domineering manner, while another part of her experienced a rush of pleasure that he’d been worried enough to still be angry with her. It meant that he cared what happened to her. The thought sent an immediate jolt of apprehension through her. As he arched his eyebrows in a silent command for her to answer him, she sighed.
“I needed time to think. Last night… Last night was…” Words failed her as she remembered the pleasure she’d experienced in his arms.
“Incredible,” he said softly.
His anger vanished as he closed the distance between them. Rhea caught the scent of spice, and her heart skipped a beat as her gaze met his. Fire flared to life in his brown eyes as he bent his head toward her. Certain he was about to kiss her, she drew in a sharp breath at the anticipation streaking through her. Desire warmed her blood in a split second. The sudden sound of a door opening made Percy jerk upright and turn toward Ashford as the man emerged from his office. If the private investigator had witness
ed anything his expression didn’t reveal it.
“Ready?” Ashford said quietly.
Rhea nodded as did Percy. In silence the three of them filed out of the office building and into the waiting carriage. Tension began to grow inside her as it always did at this stage of the rescue. Traffic was light as they headed toward the docks in the East End, and they reached the outer edge of their destination in less than thirty minutes. As the carriage came to a halt in an unfamiliar spot, Rhea frowned.
“This isn’t Southampton Street,” she observed as she looked out first one window and then the other.
“This is where I first saw the boy, and my informant says he’s here three times a week, and always the same days, including Fridays at approximately the same time.”
“Then that means Ruckley has expanded his holdings. This used to be Bilkin’s territory.”
“Bilkin’s body was found in an alleyway not too far from here about a week ago.” Ashford’s response echoed with note of frustration.
Although she didn’t know any of the investigator’s clients, she knew he did a great deal of work for solicitors and barristers in the courts. Ruckley’s expansion meant the investigator would find it more difficult to secure information. Informants always faced the prospect of retaliation by the man in control of a territory. And Ruckley was renowned for his vicious and sometimes fatal methods.
Ashford exited the carriage followed by Percy. Aware of her role in the rescue operation, Rhea remained where she was. The private investigator murmured something to Percy before moving to speak with the driver. Percy leaned back into the carriage to study her for a moment. There was a look in his dark eyes that made her realize how deeply worried he was.
“Ashford says he placed a man at the end of the street in the event of trouble. But you’re to stay in the carriage,” he said sternly.
A sudden urge to stop him from leaving swept through her, and Rhea quickly reached out to grab his forearm. Almost as rapidly as she’d reached for him, she drew back. Before she was out of reach, Percy caught her hand and tugged her toward him.
“After the way you left this morning I was beginning to think you didn’t care.” The husky sound of his voice caressed her like velvet. Fire burned her cheeks, and she hoped the dim light hid the pleasure his words gave her. She shook her head as she tried to free herself from his grasp.
“I have no desire to see you or Mr. Ashford injured.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” he said softly as he bent his head to kiss the inside of her wrist. “But somehow I think the concern you feel for me is quite different than what you feel for your friend Mr. Ashford.”
The way his mouth lingered on her skin sent a tremor through her, and she suppressed the desire to lean forward and kiss him. With a shake of her head, she tried to dismiss his observation. But Ashford reappeared and tapped Percy on the shoulder. With one last kiss to the inside of her wrist, Percy stepped back and closed the carriage door. Left alone in the darkness of the vehicle, Rhea tried to quell a sense of dread that wrapped around her like a heavy cloak. She reminded herself that she always felt this way every time she returned to the East End. Closing her eyes, she leaned back into the leather squabs of the carriage’s seat.
“Breathe, Rhea. Just breathe,” she murmured.
Deliberately she forced her thoughts to focus on the good things that had happened to her since her aunt had pulled her out from under Ruckley’s control. One image after another flowed through her head. Arianna’s marriage, the children playing with carefree abandon at Green Hill House, even the simple fact that her belly was full was a blessing. And then there was last night.
As much as she tried to deny it, she wanted to be in Percy’s arms again. When he’d kissed her wrist moments ago she’d been terrified something might happen to him. She still felt that way. The strong feelings she developed for him in such a short time frightened her almost as much as the idea of him being hurt.
The sound of voices outside the carriage sent tension streaking throughout her. She was accustomed to Ashford taking much longer than this to spirit a child away. Rhea leaned forward to peer out to the window and saw a young girl trying to fight off a man who was clearly intent on having his way with her. The girl could not have been any older than Arianna had been when their father had sold them to Ruckley. Without thought or hesitation, Rhea quickly exited the vehicle and crossed the street to where the girl was struggling with the man.
“Hear mate, get on with you,” Rhea said in a rough, but passable male voice. “The girl don’t want nothing to do with you.”
The man spun around with a grunt of irritation. A nearby lamp post cast off a shadowy light and highlighted the man’s features. The moment she recognized him, Rhea experienced the sensation of being pushed into the Thames in the dead of winter. Edgar. The self-preservation instincts she’d honed well while living in the East End automatically rose to the surface. It was possible Ruckley’s lieutenant might not recognize her if she maintained a cool head.
“Who the devil are you telling me to leave this tart alone.” Edgar turned his head only to see his prey had disappeared. With his back turned, Rhea deliberately shifted her position to ensure her features remained in the shadows. The young man whirled around to face Rhea once more. Despite her natural reaction to retreat in the face of his anger, she held her ground. The one thing she remembered clearly about Edgar was how he exhibited the same type of propensity for cruelty Ruckley did.
“What the fuck do ye think you’re doing pushing your nose in me business,” he snarled. “That whore was simply bilking me out of more coin than she were worth.”
“Then I’ve saved you a few quid,” Rhea said quietly.
“But I didn’t ask ye to help save me money,” Edgar said with furious outrage.
When Rhea didn’t respond, the young man uttered an oath, and with the speed of a striking snake, his fist connected with Rhea’s jaw. The blow caused her to stagger backward several steps to avoid falling into the slick, fetid street. The world shifted beneath her feet again as Edgar grabbed her by her wig and tugged hard. The pins holding the wig in place scraped across her scalp as the hairpiece came off in Edgar’s hand. She heard a low shout and footsteps pounding the cobblestones in the distance, but she ignored the sounds.
The boy stood still staring at the wig in amazement before his gaze swerved to Rhea. Eyes widening with amazement, Edgar stared at her for a moment before his expression grew malevolent. He tossed the wig aside and pulled something from his pocket. The sudden glint of silver in the dim light made Rhea’s limbs grow taut. Danger was something she was well acquainted with and this was no different than any other time. Rhea’s gaze swept over Edgar looking for any sign of weakness she could exploit. Nothing revealed itself, but she knew he would underestimate her and make a mistake soon enough.
“Well now, lookee here. If it ain’t the high and mighty Miss Rhea,” the young man sneered. “Come to kidnap more of Ruckley’s family? He ain’t gonna like that none. But he sure will like it when I bring you home as a present?”
“Family?” Rhea ignored the threat of Edgar handing her over to Ruckley, and eyed the young man with cold contempt. “Ruckley’s sense of family died the day he was born. In fact, I think the two of you are the closest thing to family each of you has. It’s almost buggery the way you do his bidding.”
Shock registered on Edgar’s face before, with a vicious rage, he slashed out at her with his knife. Rhea easily darted out of reach as she recalled all the times she’d been forced to watch others fight Edgar. A wave of hatred crested over her as she dodged him a second time. The thief growled with fury and lunged forward to grab her arm. Despite being caught off guard by his attack, Rhea quickly twisted away. To break free of his hold, she swiftly bent her head and bit down on Edgar’s filthy hand.
It was a defensive move she’d learned a long time ago in these rat-infested streets. Like a repulsive vermin scurrying in retreat, the young man cried ou
t in pain then jerked his hand away from her. Rhea wiped her mouth on the sleeve of her jacket in an attempt to erase the taste of the boy’s unwashed body. Edgar stood a few feet away nursing his hand, and Rhea took advantage of his distraction. In two quick steps she was in striking distance, and she planted her foot viciously into the thief’s side.
With a grunt Edgar stumbled backward before he quickly recovered and flipped his blade to his good hand. Despite the tension threatening to hinder her mobility, Rhea centered her thoughts on the threat at hand. As she watched him advance, she saw him shift to the left, and she smiled grimly. She had him. Whenever Edgar feinted to the left, it meant he intended to feint to the left a second time and then go right. It gave her the opening she was hoping for.
Prepared for his move, Rhea tensed as his knife flashed in the light of the gas light as the blade moved in her direction. She’d already twisted her body and was preparing to deliver a vicious blow to Edgar’s kneecap when a hard body came between her and Edgar. She heard Percy make a hoarse sound of pain and immediately knew Edward’s blade had connected with Percy shoulder.
“Damn it, Percy,” she snapped as she ducked under his arm and planted a hard kick between Edgar’s legs.
The boy howled with pain as he clutched his crotch and sank to his knees. Rhea didn’t hesitate as she kicked outward again. This time her boot connected with the side of Edgar’s head, and the boy fell backward into the street with a grunt and remained still. Rhea whirled around to see Percy hold his injured arm as he stood watching her with a mixture of anger, amazement, and what she thought might be admiration on his face. Rhea glanced away from him to see Peter staring out the carriage window while Ashford and another man stood next to the carriage. Tension reflected in their stance both men were clearly poised to do battle.
Rhea turned back to Percy. The disapproval darkening his face angered her, and she glared back at him. Percy didn’t say a word. He simply nodded in the direction of the carriage. Rhea didn’t fail to understand the silent command and blowing out a harsh breath of exasperation, she whirled around to stride toward the carriage. Peter’s eyes were wide in his face as he stared at her from the vehicle. But his smile was bright and cheery. When Ashford opened the carriage door the child flung himself forward to wrap his arms around Rhea’s neck. A small crowd was beginning to grow around Edgar’s unconscious body and Ashford touched Rhea’s arm.
