Page 76 of Redemption

“That’s what I always liked about you, Rh—Miss Bennett. Straight to the point. I’ve come with a business proposition.” The absurdity of his statement made her laugh. He appeared surprised by her reaction, as did her sister and aunt.

“You have a business proposition for me.” Each word a sharply pointed icicle, Rhea tightened her lips as she glared at the man who had destroyed her life and that of her sister’s.

“Aye, are you willing to hear me out?”

“No. I’m not,” she said with a quiet bitterness that she could see surprised him again. “I suggest you leave now, or I’ll summon the police.”

“Fancy words, Miss Bennett.” The unkempt man picked up a miserable substitute for a hat and started slowly toward the door. “Perhaps I’ll have to tell the police my own story.”

“Your story?” She met his gaze steadily. “You have so many lies to tell, Ruckley, I doubt anything you say will hold any weight with the police. In fact, you’re quite likely to implicate yourself.”

“You don’t say,” Ruckley said with a nasty grin that exposed his rotting teeth and the gaping hole where one of his upper teeth was missing. “Perhaps you forgot about that little job you and Arianna did at the museum and that gent you killed.”

“I didn’t kill anyone,” she bit out as she glared at the man. “You shot the man in the back.”

“Ahh, but they won’t know that. I mean Edgar was there with you and little Arianna. The boy will be quite willing to say you were the one to pull the trigger.”

The veiled threat made Rhea freeze. The fact that Ruckley didn’t realize Percy was still alive was a gift she refused to give up. She had no intention of the bastard going after Percy simple to tie up loose ends.

“Edgar’s word against mine? Against the Viscountess Sherrington? Do you seriously think the police will take your word, a known reprobate, over our denials?”

“Don’t get cocky on me now, Rhea. There are other stories I can tell,” Ruckley’s head turned toward Arianna. “What about that brat you had a year ago. I reckon your husband don’t know nothing about her.”

“Actually my husband knows everything about my past,” Arianna said in a cold voice, but the pain on her face made Ruckley narrow his gaze at her.

“Are you sure of that Miss Arianna?”

“Oh, I’m quite sure, you bastard. The only thing I haven’t told him is how to find you, and I’ve not done so to save you, but to save him. He’d kill you, and I won’t allow him to be hung for the likes of you.” The loathing in Arianna’s voice made Ruckley arch his eyebrows.

“Well now, little Miss Arianna has developed claws since she left me high and dry.”

“Get out, Ruckley. Your threats are pointless here. You cannot harm us anymore,” Rhea said in a cold, icy voice. At her command, he scratched his chin through his beard.

“All right, it seems I came for nothing, after all.”

The man shrugged and started for the door. The way he gave up so easily made Rhea stiffen. Ruckley was far too nonchalant to not have another trick up his sleeve. She didn’t move as he walked toward her. The stench of the man swept over her as he brushed past her, and she tried not to gag. As she turned to watch him leave, he paused at the door.

“Oh, and don’t go getting any more ideas about stealing my boys and girls out from under my nose.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” At her reply a calculating look crossed Ruckley’s face as he narrowed his eyes, and her heart sank.

“Now don’t go playing games with me, Rhea,” he chuckled with vindictiveness. “Did you think I wouldn’t figure out who stole Vincent and Rufus away from me?”

“You’re losing your touch, Ruckley. If any children are no longer a part of your band of thieves, I’m glad. But I had nothing to do with their disappearance,” she lied with cold contempt.

“I see,” Ruckley said with a slow nod of his head. “Well you can’t blame a bloke for trying to find the truth of it. Of course, I’m going to be needing someone to replace them. They was my some of me best dippers, they were.”

“If you’re expecting sympathy, you’ll be waiting until hell freezes over.”

“Oh no, Miss Bennett. I don’t need no sympathy,” Ruckley said with a familiar swagger. “I already know where I’m getting my next dippers.”

Something in his voice made her eye him carefully, and she saw a look of malice cross his face. With the White Willow orphanage off limits, the bastard had found another source of children to exploit. She shook her head.

“Take care with what you tell me, Ruckley. I won’t hesitate to go to the police if I have too.”

“No, I don’t think you will, my poppet,” he drawled with a venomous smile. “You see, you’re the one who’s going to get me my new dippers.”

“I’m not going to help you do anything,” she said with a derisive laugh.