by Wendy Vella
“Sssh, Thea. I’m home now.”
Will felt her breath heave with a sigh, then she simply laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. She gave him the strength to lift his head and look at his brother.
Will now saw the gray hairs and lines on the face of Joseph Henry Edward Ryder, sixth Duke of Rossetter, that had not been there before he had left England, but he could discern nothing from his blank expression. Still standing where he had been when Will entered, the only thing indicating the Duke was less than his composed self was the clenching of his large hands into fists.
Their eyes met and held, neither moving, the only sound in the room the small hiccups coming from their sister.
“So, you have returned.”
Will’s arms tightened briefly around Thea then eased as his brother spoke, the deep controlled words sounding unerringly similar to the late Duke’s.
“I have, your grace.”
Will hadn’t meant the words to be an insult; he had simply not known how to address his brother after so many years. They had never been close. The bonds other brothers shared had been lost under the responsibilities forced on his brother from a young age. Yet, he saw instantly that Joseph had thought the formal use of his title an insult, his body growing more rigid, eyes narrowing.
“One hopes the years have changed you for the better, William.”
Will would not have stood passively while his brother made a statement like that before leaving England, but the years had changed him. He had learned that strength came from remaining in control at all times.
“I believe I have.”
The brothers once again looked at each other, the gap between them only a few feet, yet to Will it was the width of the ocean he had just crossed.
“And are you to stay with us or is this a fleeting, yet long overdue, visit?” Anger sharpened the Duke’s words.
“For a while, if that is acceptable?”
“Of course it’s acceptable, Will,” the Duchess said, pausing to glare at her husband before stepping between the brothers. “You have a nephew to become acquainted with.”
“A nephew,” Will said, shocked as he looked into the pretty face of his brother’s wife.
“He is two, Will,” Thea said with a last sniff as she eased out of his arms.
“And thoroughly spoiled by everyone here,” the Duchess added, moving forward to kiss his check and give him a surprisingly sturdy hug.
Petite with red hair, the Duchess might appear angelic, yet she had a backbone of pure iron when required. She loved her husband and family passionately and Will was relieved to see no censure in her eyes when she looked at him.
“His name is William, but everyone calls him Billy,” she added.
“William? Did you doubt I would return?” he questioned her, yet it was directed at his brother.
“It is a dangerous world out there, Will, and we had no idea in what part you resided or if, indeed, you lived or died. Joe and I wanted our son to carry your name in case you did not return.”
“I’m sorry,” Will said. “It was never my intention to hurt you, any of you.”
“And yet you walked away from here without word, William, and stayed away for years, never once sending so much as a note to let us know your situation.”
The words were spoken quietly yet Will heard the anger in them. His brother had no intention of forgiving him any time soon for his departure.
“I have no defense against your words, Joseph, everything you say is true.”
Surprise flashed across the Duke’s face briefly, he had expected Will to argue with him.
Penny squeezed Will’s hand before going to her husband and slipping her arm around his waist. Joseph unbent enough to do the same, pulling his wife closer.
“It is late now, and Thea needs her bed. Therefore the reunion will wait until the morning, William,” Joseph said.
“Oh, but—”
“Go to bed, Thea. We will talk tomorrow.” Will kissed the top of his sister’s head and then urged her from the room.
“Alders will have your room ready by now. Therefore, I bid you good night, William.”
He watched the Duke and Duchess leave the room, the latter throwing him a final wave before passing through the door ahead of her husband.
“Goodnight, Joe.”
Will knew his brother heard him, as his footsteps faltered briefly, but he did not stop.
Chapter Two
Olivia Langley gritted her teeth as Jenny, the family’s housekeeper, poured something that burned like fire over her shoulder.
Dear God, she’d robbed William Ryder!
Lying face down on her bed, Livvy gripped the blanket with both hands. Desperation had forced the Langley sisters out into the cold tonight in the hopes that they could steal enough money to survive, and of all the people who could have stepped down from that carriage it had been Lord William Ryder, the man she had once loved.
“I should have put a stop to this foolishness before it began!” Jenny said.
Livvy heard her sister, Phoebe, soothing the housekeeper as thoughts tumbled around inside her head. She felt numb; even the chill from hours spent outside could not penetrate it. They had stolen money from an innocent man and no matter how dire their circumstances, Livvy didn’t think she would ever forgive herself.
“It had to be done,” Phoebe said, reading her thoughts.
“I know we had no other choice, Phoebe, yet I still struggle with the guilt.”
“And the shock of who we robbed, sister. I know seeing Lord Ryder after so long has upset you.”
It had upset her because Livvy always believed that when she saw him again she would be prepared, Yet, how could you prepare yourself to see the man you loved while pointing a gun at his head?
“Tis wrong for gently-bred young ladies to go about dressed as hoydens brandishing pistols!”
“We’ve talked this over, Jenny.” Livvy sighed, suddenly feeling older than her twenty-two years. “Phoebe and I believe this was the only course of action open to us. After our cousin sent that letter stating he would no longer support us financially, everything changed.”
The sisters had sold anything of value in the house over the past few months, even their father’s precious hunting pictures, but the money had soon gone.
“The tonic Bella needs to ease her pain is expensive, and now that you’ve told us her leg is worse, we must find the money to get her to Scotland for treatment. This is the only way we know how.” Seeking a diversion, Livvy found the miniature of her mother that sat on the small table beside her bed. The mirror image of Phoebe with her blond locks and pretty face, she could have done with her soothing presence now.
“Thieving from people is the only course of action open to you?” Jenny demanded. “Have you written to your cousin again? The new Viscount Langley, explaining how dire your circumstances are now that he has withdrawn his assistance? Surely, he has obligations to you all.”
“I have written to him many times telling him of our struggle, yet he has not replied. We are out of options, Jenny. You must see that.” Frustration and fear made Livvy’s voice sharp.
“Jenny is only trying to protect us, Livvy. After all, this step we took was a dangerous one and goes against everything we’ve been raised to believe in.”
Livvy closed her eyes as Phoebe spoke from behind her. “You think I don’t know that? That I haven’t spent days thinking about how our parents would feel if they knew? Believe me, it is only desperation forcing us along this path. I will not see Bella suffer because she does not have the proper care. And I will not have our name blackened, and therefore both yours and Bella’s chances of happiness hindered, because our cousin will not fulfill his obligations and support his family.”
“And your happiness, Livvy?” Phoebe added.
“We cannot even afford the most basic necessities at the moment and even if I could find work, it would only produce enough money to stave off disas
ter. Nothing further.” As the eldest in her family it was Livvy’s responsibility to secure her sisters’ future happiness, not her own. She had long since cast aside her dreams of handsome men and happy ever afters in favor of reality. “I have not been back to the village since Mr. Bailey inquired when he could expect payment for the outstanding meat bills.”
“Yes, that was a horrid moment,” Phoebe agreed. “Until then, we had no idea that our cousin had stopped paying them.”
“A Langley has always lived in the village of Twoaks and we will not be the first forced from it. Our parents were well respected and I will do nothing to change that.”
“And yet if we had been caught tonight, our name would be sullied beyond redemption,” Phoebe added. “And if we continue with this, we could be imprisoned.”
“This was your idea, Phoebe. I just worked out the finer details,” Livvy reminded her sister.
“I merely said ‘Why don’t we steal the money we need to pay our debts’. How was I to know you would actually take my suggestion literally? Although, in all honesty, it’s a good plan because who would believe genteel Lord Langley’s daughters capable of such a deed?”
“Had Lord Langley cared more for his genteel daughters, he would have ensured they were provided for before his death,” Livvy snapped.
“He was a good father who loved us all very much, but he was not in his right mind towards the end,” Phoebe said softly. “Grief over mother’s death and the pain of his injury changed him; furthermore, he did not know he was going to die.”
Yes, he did, Livvy thought, but kept it to herself. How their father died was a secret she would never share with her sisters.
“I fear that you will be shot by someone.”
“We will do this only a few times, Jenny,” Livvy soothed the housekeeper, hearing the fear in her voice. “Just until we have enough money for Bella’s treatments and some of the household bills. I have no wish to become infamous for the wrong reasons.” Livvy heard the door open and close behind her as she finished speaking and knew it was her youngest sister.
“Does it hurt terribly, Livvy?”
“You should be in your bed, Bella. This does not need to concern you.” Livvy wanted to shield her little sister from tonight’s events. Wriggling, she tried to look over her shoulder, but could only see the faded blue curtains that were closed against the cold night air.
“Stop moving, Miss Olivia!” Jenny scolded.
Submitting, she rested her cheek on the backs of her hands and concentrated on taking slow, deep breaths.
“Don’t try to protect me, Livvy. I am part of this family. Therefore, I insist on knowing what is taking place within it,” Bella said.
“You are in pain,” Livvy whispered. “And I do not want you upset further.”
Bella’s sigh was loud enough for everyone to hear.
“As I told Jenny, I have been in pain lately with the cold weather, but my tonic helps. I am not about to die, Livvy.”
“Well, I am pleased about that, little sister; however, we did just rob a carriage at gunpoint on the strength of your illness. A whimper or two will ease my conscience,” Phoebe said which made Bella giggle, as she had intended.
Livvy knew Bella was lying. Jenny would not have told them her leg was worse had it not been the truth, but she said nothing further.
“I have no wish for you both to do this just for me,” Bella said as she softly rubbed Livvy’s foot in comfort.
“It was not just for you, Bella. We need the money if we are to survive.”
“Yes, Livvy, I understand that. However, it is also because your pride will not allow anyone to see our circumstances. Could we not simply ask for help?”
“An excellent question, little sister,” Phoebe said.
“I have asked for help from the only person capable, our cousin, and he will not give it. Therefore, we are forced to steal,” Livvy said, her words muffled in the pillow she had buried her face in. “And I will speak no more on the matter.”
Livvy knew by the silence behind her that her sisters and Jenny were giving each other pointed looks; thankfully, however, they chose not to continue the discussion.
“Does it hurt?” Bella asked again.
“No,” Livvy lied. Closing her eyes, she tried to push the pain aside, but instantly her head was filled with visions of him, William, Lord bloody Ryder. Why did he have to return now of all times, when the pain of his leaving had finally begun to ease to a dull ache?
“Isabella is sixteen, not stupid,” Phoebe said. By the clink of coins, Livvy guessed she was now counting the money they had stolen from Lord Ryder.
“A little sympathy if you don’t mind, Phoebe. I am in some degree of discomfort, you know.”
“Don’t be such a baby. It’s only a small wound.”
Livvy felt the bed dip as Phoebe delivered these heartless words, and then her face appeared before her as she crouched beside the bed.
She was the beauty in the Langley family. Delicately arched brows rose as deceptively soft, sleepy, brown eyes studied Livvy. Long, dark lashes brushed her cheeks as she blinked. If only all those men who worshipped at her feet, spouting badly-written poetry knew what she was really like, Livvy thought, eyeing the innocent look in her sister’s eyes with trepidation.
“If you’re too pathetic to get out of bed, then I get to eat your supper.”
“Witch!” Livvy spat as Jenny set in the first stitch.
“Oh, come now, sister, surely you can do better than that?” Phoebe scoffed, her perfect lips forming a pretty pout.
“Were there any justice in this world,” Livvy hissed, “your face would mirror your shrewish temperament!”
“And yet here I crouch, still the muse to many a man.” Phoebe looked anything but contrite as she flicked a golden brown curl over one shoulder. “I would also like to point out at this stage, sister, that we have stolen a nice amount of money tonight, which will see us in food for quite some time and get us halfway to Scotland.
“Really?” Livvy said.
“Really, and there is enough to pay some of our bills. It seems Lord Ryder carries a great deal of money on his person when he travels.”
“Lord Ryder? Was it he you robbed?” Bella gasped. “Dear Lord, he must have been returning home from his travels.”
Livvy groaned and buried her face in the pillow once more. They had robbed him and he had only just arrived in England. What must he be thinking? Not that she cared, the cad. He deserved some suffering for the pain he had inflicted upon her.
“Yes, it is not an auspicious homecoming, I’ll give you that,” Phoebe said. “Still, I’m sure a few coins will not see him in the poorhouse.”
“Ouch, Jenny! Must you torture me so?” Livvy cried as the housekeeper stabbed the needle, with some force, through her skin.
“If you kept still it would hurt less,” Jenny said, sounding unsympathetic.
“Was Luke with him?” Bella asked softly.
“I think so, but it was hard to see in the dark. However, if it was him driving, then it was probably he that threw the knife,” Phoebe added.
“How did you feel upon seeing him, Livvy?” Bella appeared beside Phoebe so their eyes were level.
Livvy could see the pain Jenny spoke of now. The pallor of Bella’s hollowed cheeks and the dark smudges beneath her green eyes told their story. The weight of responsibility suddenly felt heavier as Livvy chastised herself for not seeing what was before her.
Bella had grown up over the last year and lost the last traces of youth. She was maturing into a young woman and should have the love and support of her mother and father, not her elder sisters, as she navigated the treacherous journey into womanhood. Livvy would do everything in her power to make her well again; even if she had to rob every bloody night to ensure it happened.
Phoebe met Livvy’s eyes and knew they shared the same thoughts. The elder Langley sisters were feeling guilty for what they had not seen.
“Who, L
uke?”
“No, Lord Ryder, silly.”
“It was a shock seeing him of course, Bella, but no more so than had it been anyone I had not seen for a number of years,” Livvy said.
“But you did not love just anyone, Livvy, you loved him,” Phoebe said.
“I did not love him!” Livvy swiftly denied the claim.
“Oh, please, both Bella and I heard you wailing into your pillow for weeks after he left without a word.”
“I did not!”
“Of course you did. We used to watch Mama and Papa decide which one of them would comfort you that night. When it was decided, Jenny made the tray and filled it with tea and cakes and then whoever was designated would go into your room and sit with you. Bella and I were quite envious.”
Livvy remembered those nights. She had cried long and loudly into the comfort of her parents’ arms. She had not realized that her little sisters were listening, however.
“Could you not have just left me with my pride? I believed neither you nor Bella knew.”
Phoebe laughed. “Livvy, you used dance around the house, sighing and giggling and hugging yourself after you had spent time with Lord Ryder. It was fairly obvious.”
“Yes, and when you and he were together it was as if everyone else ceased to exist.” Bella sighed. “I had always believed he felt as you did, Livvy.”
“Apparently not, as he left without a word.” Livvy tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
“I’m sure he had his reasons, sister. Lord Ryder may have been a spoiled, indolent nobleman, yet he was always a gentleman with you,” Phoebe stated.
“Well, it matters not, as all that is behind me now,” Livvy said briskly. “We are both different people since last we met.”
