Page 26 of Redemption

“My brother is correct, Miss Bennett. I expect to see you this evening around five-thirty as dinner is at six,” Patience said confidently. An odd look crossed Rhea’s face as she nodded.

“Very well.” At her reluctant acceptance, triumph surged through Percy. Rhea scowled at him, and he immediately questioned whether she would actually come to Melton House for dinner this evening. With a frown he kissed his sister goodbye. When the two women had exchanged their farewells, Percy escorted Rhea out of the orphanage to their waiting carriage.

With Rhea situated inside the vehicle, he instructed the driver to take them to Hyde Park. Short of riding around the city in the carriage, the only way he could talk with her without too many interruptions was if they walked along the Serpentine. It was also his best option to prevent Rhea from escaping his company. And if he was to gain her trust, he needed time to convince her that he was trustworthy. She frowned as he climbed into the carriage and closed the door behind him.

“Why are we—”

“The boy—he recognized you.” His interruption made the color drain from her face. The minute she appeared on the verge of refuting his statement he shook his head. “Don’t try to deny it Rhea. You’ve been on tenterhooks since you first saw the boy.”

Stark fear made Rhea’s violet eyes become a deep, dark purple. Percy frowned as he waited for her reply. Resignation twisted her lovely mouth as she shook her head.

“I don’t deny knowing Edgar.”

“I take that to mean the boy is a member of Ruckley’s band of thieves,” Percy said with confidence, but still seeking confirmation of his assumption.

“Yes, and he’ll not hesitate to tell Ruckley he’s seen me and where.”

“Then you won’t return to White Willow House until the man has been dealt with.”

“Whether I return or not is irrelevant. Ruckley now has a way to find me,” Rhea said with a world-weary resignation that startled him.

“And so you’re simply going to give up?”

“I am not giving up,” she snapped bitterly. “But thanks to you, my options have become severely limited. I told you not to interfere, but you refused to listen.”

“Even if I’d heeded your warning, neither of us could have foreseen Edgar being at White Willow House today.” The irony of his words caused Percy to grow tense. The suggestion that it was impossible to foresee things wasn’t quite accurate. If Rhea were to learn of his ability. She might easily view his gift of sight as a way for him to peer into the dark recesses of her past—even her thoughts. The idea nipped at him like a dog worrying an old shoe. Rhea slowly turned her head to look at him.

“You’ll need to hire several men to guard the children, Mrs. Hughes, and anyone else in the orphanage,” she said softly.

“Bloody hell,” Percy exclaimed under his breath.

He’d been so focused on Rhea and her situation that he’d failed to consider the ramifications to anyone else. With a hard knock on the carriage ceiling he ordered the driver to take them to Sherrington House. The startled expression on Rhea’s face tugged a grim smile to Percy’s lips.

“The Rockwoods might be known for their reckless behavior, but we’re also known to act quickly when circumstances call for it,” he said firmly. “I’ve no intention of giving Ruckley unfettered access to the children at White Willow House, and I refuse to let the man come anywhere near my family or you.”

Rhea didn’t respond. She simply turned her head to look out at the passing scenery. Percy studied her in silence as he debated how to gain her trust. The anguish and fear shadowing her features made him lean forward to take her hand in his.

“Let me help you, Rhea.”

“You can’t,” she said without looking at him.

“I think it’s more to the point that you won’t let me,” he said with frustration at her obstinate refusal. The sharp tenor of his words made her jerk her head toward him. In a vicious twist of her hand, she yanked free of his grasp.

“What makes you think you could possibly help me,” she said bitterly. “Ruckley will find me, and he has the means to make me do what I’ve always refused to do where he was concerned.”

“What will he make you do?” Percy shook his head in bewilderment.

“He wants to see me grovel,” Rhea whispered as she closed her eyes. The anger in her voice had become one of defeat and disillusionment. “And I’ve never begged him for anything. I fought him. I defied him. I could make him see the advantage of doing one thing when he was about to do something else. But not once did I ever plead with him. All of that’s changed now.”

“How has it changed?” Percy asked quietly. She opened her eyes to look out of the window.

“Because I’ll do just that. I’ll beg,” she choked out and he was certain she was holding back tears. “If I don’t he’ll…he’ll do terrible things to the people I love.”

“Then let me help you.”

“I don’t need any more of your help,” Rhea said fiercely. She jerked her gaze back to his, the full force of her anger darkening her eyes until they were a dark, purplish hue of fury and fear. “After all, with me as bait, your goal of finding that bastard just became much easier.”

The vicious accusation made Percy straighten up in his seat to stare at her in cold silence. Even though he knew her words were rooted in fear, they still stung. He would never use her as bait. The idea that she’d even considered the possibility made him realize why it was difficult for her to trust him. She’d been right in stating he’d not believed her where Ruckley was concerned. He’d believed she’d been giving the man too much credit. A sudden flush of color filled Rhea’s pale cheeks and she bent her head in obvious remorse.