by Monica Burns
“I’ll never marry,” she said in a voice so soft he could barely hear her. “I’ll never give any man control over me again.”
“I don’t want to control you, Rhea,” he snarled as he grabbed his coat and shrugged into it, ignoring the sharp twinge in his shoulder as he did so.
“But marriage is about control,” she replied with quiet conviction.
“Not if you love someone it isn’t.”
The moment he spoke, he experienced the sensation of having walked into an invisible wall. He loved her. It amazed him how he’d spent the entire day in denial of that very fact. Percy took in the panic on Rhea’s face and his gut twisted. Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he looked at her again. He debated whether to say anything further, but for once self-control crushed his propensity for reckless behavior. If he had any hope of winning her, it was important to move slowly. He would need to restrain his natural tendency to rush forward without a plan.
“Fuck,” he breathed so low she couldn’t hear him.
Without looking at her, Percy stood up and strode quickly toward the exit. At the salon door he looked over his shoulder at her. The look of confusion on her face gave him hope. It was almost as if she was struggling not to rush forward to stop him from leaving. Instinctively, he hesitated, silently urging her to stop him from going. When she didn’t move, he clenched his jaw as he tried to find the right words to make her understand he wouldn’t give up so easily. His gaze locked with hers, and he swallowed the urge to stride back to her, pull her into his arms, and kiss her until she understood how much he loved her.
“You underestimate yourself, Rhea,” he said quietly. “You are far more worthy of any man than you realize, and I’m going to do my damnedest to make you see that.”
The startled look on her face made him believe he’d reached her, and he closed the salon door on his way out of the house. When he reached the front steps of Fremont Place a dark premonition touched the edge of his senses. He went still as he waited for the an dara sealladh to roll over him.
When the warning slithered into the darkness without revealing anything, Percy grew even more uneasy. Something was on the horizon, and for once he wished his gift had made an appearance to give him any insight or warning about Ruckley’s intentions. The bastard was a clear and present danger where Rhea was concerned, and even Ashford had admitted concern for her safety if Ruckley were to find her.
Vigilance was required to ensure no harm came to her, but at the moment he was lost in the middle of an ocean without any idea what direction to sail in. The fact didn’t just frustrate him. It worried the hell out of him. How could he protect Rhea if he didn’t know where the danger was coming from? Percy descended the steps and hailed a passing hack. At the moment, he needed someone’s counsel where Rhea was concerned.
Patience was the one person who would understand Rhea. Patience understood what it was like to believe you were unworthy of being loved. It was a feeling he believed his sister still experienced to a small degree. If anyone could help him find a way to reach the heart of the woman he loved it was his sister. He’d go to Melton House first thing in the morning. His arm was beginning to ache more noticeably now, and at the moment, all he wanted was a good stiff brandy and some sleep. As he sank back into the seat cushions of the hack, a sense of purpose descended over him. He finally had a plan of action, which lead to another plan. In the end, he would win Rhea’s heart. Anything else was unacceptable.
§ § §
Percy prowled the floor of Melton House’s morning room as his sister read the note Rhea had sent him early this morning. The letter had arrived only moments before he’d left home to visit the family’s London seat. Patience looked up from the stationary in her hand to scowl at him.
“Would you please sit down and let me read this. You’re beginning to make me nervous.”
The exasperation in Patience’s voice made him grimace. With an impatient grunt, he threw himself into a nearby chair. Moments later he was on his feet again unable to remain still. Percy crossed the floor to the window, and with one arm raised slightly, he gripped the window frame as he stared out at the morning traffic, which was still light. The Set had yet to swell the streets with their daily round of social calls.
Tension held him rigid and in an attempt to alleviate his tight muscles, he shrugged. The action pulled painfully at his wound, but it was inconsequential compared to the sense of despondency he was enduring at the moment. Behind him Patience gasped loudly, and he grimaced as he recalled his own reaction to the note. Percy turned his head to see his sister staring at him in amazement.
“You proposed to her?”
“You say that as if I made a mistake in doing so,” he said irritably turning to face her. “I love her.”
Patience shook her head again in apparent dismay then returned her attention to the note. He’d read it several times on his way to his brother’s house, and had memorized the brief wording. The note reflected a resolve on Rhea’s part that worried him greatly. The thought he might not be able to change her mind filled him with dread.
Dear Mr. Rockwood,
Last night you honored me with your proposal. I believe any woman would count herself fortunate to have such an honor bestowed on them. I know my reply was not the one you wished to hear. However, I must reiterate my refusal. I know you believe it within your power to change my mind, but I urge you to believe otherwise.
We both know my reasons for refusing your noble gesture, and it was noble of you, Percy. It is a trait few men have, and it is one of many attributes you possess that only deepens my feelings of admiration and affection for you.
Since you are unwilling to consider the alternative arrangement I proposed, we are at an impasse. When our partnership concerning our mutual adversary is concluded, there will be no further reason to continue our acquaintance. I trust you will respect my wishes and not pursue this matter to its inevitable, and only, conclusion.
Rhea
Once again Patience gasped loudly, and he turned away from the window to see his sister’s appalled expression.
“Dear lord, she offered to be your mistress?”
The scorn on his sister’s face exacerbated his growing anger with Patience’s reaction. He’d expected better from his sister.
“Rhea believes herself unworthy of me.”
“And rightfully so,” his sister muttered with obvious distaste.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you know very little about the woman and what she’s done.”
“The an dara sealladh showed you something,” he bit out with a growing sense of concern. Dismayed sympathy caused Patience to shake her head in sorrow.
“The an dara sealladh showed me she’s wronged you Percy, and you don’t even know it.”
“We both know our gift never gives us a clear understanding of anything we see.”
“I saw enough to know she shot you and left you for dead in the museum last year.”
“She did not shoot me,” he bit out in an icy voice. “A man by the name of Ruckley is the one who shot me.”
“Even if that is true, she left you for dead,” Patience protested angrily and sprang to her feet.
“She had no choice in the matter.”
“Don’t be a fool. Has your infatuation with the woman blinded you to the fact that everyone has a choice, Percy? How can you defend her when she left you to die on that cold floor?”
“She thought I was dead, and if she’d tried to save me she would have been killed.”
“I don’t understand how you can defend the woman.” Patience eyed him with disbelief. “You’re asking a great deal of us to believe that Miss Bennett had no other choice but to leave you dying on that museum floor.”
“Us?” The realization that his sister had told someone else about her vision increased his outrage. Percy pinned his gaze on her, and a color flushed her cheeks as she looked away from him. “Out with it, Patience.
With whom have you discussed your vision?”
“Everyone,” she whispered with a rebellious note in her voice.
“Everyone? Since when do you speak to others about visions that involve me?”
“Since I happen to love you and care about your safety.” His sister drew herself up to her full height as she met his gaze with a look of frustration. “Surely you can understand how upsetting it was to see Miss Bennett hovering over you as you lay dying.”
Despite the anger flowing through him, Percy struggled to empathize with his sisters’ explanation. He stared at Patience for a long moment then turned away from her and returned to the window. His hand brushed the translucent lawn curtain to one side as he struggled with what his sister had done.
While he didn’t doubt Patience’s fears for his safety, it was impossible to ignore the fact that she’d shared a vision involving him with the entire family. Simply based on Patience’s own demeanor, he had no doubt the family now viewed Rhea in less than favorable terms. He now had only one of two choices. He could betray Rhea’s confidence by sharing her secrets or continue to let his family think the worst of her.
“Percy, thank goodness you’ve come to visit.” The sound of Louisa’s voice made him turn, and his heart sank as she crossed the carpet to his side. The youngest sibling in the Rockwood clan turned her head toward Patience. “Did you tell him what you saw, Patience?”
“Yes,” the abrupt note in their sister’s voice made Louisa frown as she turned to look at him again.
“Are you all right?” Louisa said with a note of concern in her voice. “We’re all quite worried about you.”
“There is no need to be,” he bit out between clenched teeth. Percy stiffened as Constance entered the morning room. The oldest of his three sisters halted a few feet away from him, and her gaze swept across all of their faces.
“Well, it’s obvious Patience has told you the news,” Constance said quietly. “I am sorry, Percy. This must be a terrible shock.”
“What? Shocked to learn my sister betrayed me?”
“Percy,” Louisa exclaimed with astonished dismay. “Patience didn’t betray you.”
“No? She shared her impressions about a matter that concerns me with my family without speaking to me first.” Percy glared at each of his sisters in turn, and Louisa stepped back in surprise at the fury he was certain she could see on his face. “Patience’s images were incomplete, and each of you has reached a conclusion about Rhea that is undeserved. You’ve tried and convicted her of misdeeds that were out of her control.”
“If that’s the case, perhaps you should enlighten us as to what would prompt the woman to leave you dying on that museum floor,” Patience snapped fiercely.
“I’m not at liberty to comment on Rhea’s action that night. Suffice it to say that you must—”
“For God’s sake, Percy. The woman left you to die,” Patience cried out with fierce indignation.
“No, she chose to let others live. The man who shot me threatened to harm Rhea’s sister and several children in her care,” Percy snarled. “She believed I was dead already. Was she to abandon others to the same fate? She had no choice but to obey a man who owned her like one owns an animal.”
His vicious outburst caused his sisters to gasp, and Percy immediately realized his misstep. In his anger, he’d betrayed one of Rhea’s secrets. Furious with himself at having done so, he ignored the remorse and shame on his sisters’ faces. He narrowed his gaze on Patience, whose expression was one of deep humiliation.
“I would have thought you, of all people, Patience, would know better than to accept the an dara sealladh at face value.”
“That’s enough, Percy,” Constance commanded quietly as the color drained from Patience’s face. “Patience was only concerned for your safety.”
“Do not patronize me, Constance.” His gaze quickly swung from Patience’s face to the oldest sister. “Are you going to claim you didn’t think the worst of Rhea when Patience shared her vision with you? Did you, Louisa?”
The two women slowly shook their heads in a contrite manner. All three women in the morning room showed a significant amount of regret, but it didn’t alleviate Percy’s rage. They’d judged Rhea, and it would take time for him to forgive them for having done so. He looked at each of them with deep disappointment.
“Each of you’ve have done yourself a disservice and injured a woman who rivals everyone in this family in courage and fortitude,” he said coldly. “If I’m able to find a way to convince Rhea to marry me, I shall consider myself a fortunate man. However, at the moment, I cannot say the same where my family is concerned.”
Percy barely took in the looks of devastation, consternation, and compunction on his sisters’ faces. His anger and disappointment in their behavior was too deep. Without another word, he brushed past Louisa, tugging free of her grasp to keep him from leaving and strode from the morning room. As he opened the front door, he heard his aunt call his name, and he glanced over his shoulder.
The dismay on Aunt Matilda’s face made him blow out a snort of anger before he viciously slammed the door of Melton House closed behind him. For the first time in his life, Percy realized just how reckless his family could be. He was no less guilty than any other Rockwood when it came to rash behavior. But this incident illustrated why his brother, Sebastian, made every effort to control the Rockwood trait of recklessness.
Unfortunately for him, Patience’s impulsive decision to share her vision with the family had cost him the counsel of someone he’d trusted—someone he’d hoped could help him find a way to convince Rhea to marry him. The worst of it was for the first time in his life there wasn’t a Rockwood in sight to support or encourage him in his quest. It was an unsettling feeling, but he refused to let anything stand in his way when it came to making Rhea his wife. If there was anything else the Rockwoods were known for it was their stubbornness.
Chapter 16
Arianna sighed softly as she sealed the envelope of her short note refusing the Viscountess Starling’s dinner invitation. More than four days had passed since she’d bared her soul to Blake. When it became clear he intended to stay at his club, she’d retreated to her aunt’s home. It had been too painful to remain at Sherrington House. Now with each passing day her hope of him seeking her out had diminished to the point of resigned despair.
She closed her eyes to keep tears from streaming down her cheeks. The desolation she’d experienced while being enslaved by Ruckley had been horrible enough. But this was as if her heart had been ripped from her chest. The hole it left behind was one she knew could never be filled by anything other than Blake’s love. Not even her love for Lucy and the rest of her family could compensate for the loss of Blake’s affections.
Quickly wiping the tear off her cheek that had escaped her closed eyelids, Arianna returned her attention to the stack of correspondence on the secretaire. The invitations had increased over the past two days, and she was certain it was because people knew she and Blake were estranged. The Marlborough Set was eager to uncover the reason, but she had no intention of satisfying the gossips. Letter opener in hand, she opened another invitation and proceeded to write a note declining her attendance. When she’d finished, she laid her pen down, her gaze flitting toward the stack still to be dealt with. She wanted to simply throw them onto the fire and be done with the lot.
The thought made her frown. Perhaps she should do what Rhea had done and return to Green Hill House. Impulsively, Arianna swept up the stack of correspondence and sprang to her feet. Without hesitating, she crossed the room and threw the envelopes onto the fire. Flames immediately curled around the formal communications until they burned brightly in the fireplace. Relief swept through her at the cathartic exercise.
It wasn’t until now that she realized she’d already made up her mind to join Rhea in the country. Although her chest ached at her decision, she felt better for having settled on a plan of action. The sound of her aunt’s laughter i
n the foyer tugged a sad smile to her lips. Beatrice Fremont’s recent news of her plans to marry Lord Foxworth made Arianna happy despite her own miserable situation. But the affection she’d witnessed between her aunt and Lord Foxworth had only served as a reminder of how her own marriage had failed.
The door to the salon opened, and Arianna turned to greet her aunt. Shock rippled through her at the sight of Blake filling the doorway with his tall frame. Behind her husband, Arianna saw her aunt looking at her with an expression of encouragement as she nodded toward Blake. A plethora of feelings crashed over Arianna like the waves in a tumultuous storm as she watched her husband close the salon door. Buffeted by the emotions engulfing her, Arianna pressed her hand into her stomach as her early morning sickness threatened to return.
“Good morning, Arianna.”
Blake’s voice was a deep, sensual sound that caused a frisson to streak across her skin. From the first moment they’d met, his voice had always had that effect on her. Arianna nodded a silent greeting as she studied his face. He looked exhausted. Had he missed her? A small flame of hope flared to life in her chest before she doused it. She was a fool to think he had arrived for any other purpose except to inform her he was seeking a divorce. The thought increased her nausea as she gestured toward the sofa.
“Let me ring for some tea,” she murmured.
“Thank you, no,” he replied.
The awkwardness between them made Arianna wince as she nodded. Blake took a step toward her, and she immediately retreated. It was a reaction born of self-preservation. A dark frown settled on Blake’s brow, and she bit down nervously on her lip at his apparent anger. Anxious to keep some form of barrier between them, Arianna moved to stand behind a chair a short distance away. She wrapped her fingers around the wood trim on the back of the chair and looked at her husband. It was impossible to discern what he was thinking. Uncertainty gripped her and her nails dug into the wood trim of the chair as she clung to the furniture as if it were a life raft in a violent sea.
