Page 83 of Redemption

Chapter 18

Seated beside Arianna in the viscountess’s carriage, Rhea accepted the small Derringer her sister handed her. She slid it into the pocket of her dress before her fingers wrapped around the small reticule in her lap. The weapon’s cold metal sent a chill through the layers of her clothing until it seeped into her thigh. The icy sensation spread its way across her skin until it engulfed her.

“You don’t have to do this Rhea,” her sister said as she touched Rhea’s arm. We can send for Blake and Percy.”

“They would still need me as bait, and you know they’d never agree to that. And you know I cannot ignore Ruckley’s threat where Fanny is concerned. We both know he’ll do precisely what he said he would if I don’t show myself.”

Even in the dim light of the carriage, Rhea saw the way her sister paled. With a resigned nod Arianna looked out the window. They’d entered the East End several moments ago. It hadn’t taken long for the stench of the squalid living conditions to permeate the carriage. Rhea wondered if Newgate Prison smelled this bad. Bile rose in her throat, and she quickly swallowed the bitter-tasting matter. Outside her window she recognized a building she’d seen hundreds of times. It emphasized she was in familiar territory. She pushed aside the horrific memories of her life in the East End. They were a distraction. She needed to focus her energy on the matter at hand. Tension threaded its way through her until her heart was beating as fast as a wild bird trapped in a cage. It was an appropriate description. There was nowhere for her to run or hide. She reached out and touched her sister’s arm.

“The Bull and Hare is up ahead. Does your footman know what to do?”

“Yes,” Arianna said softly. “He’s to accompany you into the pub and not leave until he has Fanny and Harry.”

“When the children are safe with you in the carriage, you’re to leave,” Rhea said sternly. “Take the children to Fremont Place.”

“I am not leaving you here alone, Rhea Bennett. I’ve already instructed Fairlie to summon a hack. He’ll take the children to Aunt Beatrice while I wait for you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Rhea snapped. “You can’t be here when the police arrived, and they will come.”

“I’m not leaving you,” Arianna said in a calm, firm voice.

“So you’re willing to risk the safety of the child you’re carrying?” Rhea’s harsh words made Arianna flinch. Slowly the viscountess straightened her shoulders and met Rhea’s gaze steadily.

“I’m armed, and I’ll not let anyone do anything that might hurt my baby. Stedman will be here with me.”

“Don’t be a fool.” Rhea grabbed her sister’s arm and squeezed hard. As her fingers dug into Arianna’s skin, her sister released a small gasp of discomfort. “You’re to leave here the moment Fanny and Harry are with you. Do you understand?”

For a moment it looked as though her sister intended to argue. Rhea narrowed her gaze at the viscountess who nodded sharply and jerked free of Rhea’s grasp.

“Thank you,” Rhea said softly in relief, but her sister ignored her.

The carriage suddenly rolled to a stop, and Rhea’s heart raced even faster. Dear God, did she have the strength to do what was required of her tonight? The air left her lungs as the footman opened the carriage door. Rhea accepted his hand and stepped out of the vehicle. As the door closed behind her, Arianna softly called out to her.

“Rhea, be careful. You know Ruckley is always at his most dangerous when someone tries to cheat him out of something.” Her sister’s words echoed with fear, and Rhea reached out to squeeze the hand the viscountess extended to her.

“I’ve not forgotten.” The simple words made Arianna flinch.

“No, I suppose we never will,” her sister whispered. Arianna’s air of hopelessness made Rhea’s hand tighten on her sister’s.

“We might never forget, but after tonight we’ll be free of the man.” Rhea turned away then stopped as she remembered one last detail. “I left a note for Percy in my room. Please see that he receives it.”

“You can give it to him—”

Arianna’s eyes widened with horror as she suddenly realized Rhea was prepared not to return. Before her sister could say another word of protest, Rhea headed toward The Bull and Hare’s door. She was only a few feet away when it swung open abruptly. A man stumbled into the street his arm slung over the shoulders of the woman at his side. He was clearly drunk, and the woman was encouraging him to join her in a dark corner.

The woman’s suggestive words caused Rhea’s stomach to roil as the scene in front of her stirred memories she’d fought to bury over the course of the past few months. Desperately, she pushed the past into the dark recesses of her mind and forced herself to focus on the matter at hand. Panic lashed out at her, but she pushed it aside. Fear could be a friend or an enemy. She chose to make it a friend she held close to her breast like a shield. She glanced over her shoulder at the footman.

“The moment you have the children, you’re to see them to safety along with the viscountess. Do not let her remain here.” Rhea frowned as the man shook his head in obvious disapproval. Not about to argue with him, she glared fiercely at him until he nodded his agreement. “Thank you. I’m entrusting the lives of three people I love dearly into your safekeeping.”

“Yes, miss,” the man said.

Rhea opened the tavern door and stepped inside. The first smell to assault her senses was that of sweaty, unwashed bodies. In the next breath, the scent of stale ale and tobacco smoke filled her nostrils. It nauseated her. From the farthest end of the bar, she heard Ruckley call her name. The sound forced Rhea to choke back another wave of panic that threatened to debilitate her.

As she watched Ruckley approach, she realized he’d been drinking. For the first time, a glimmer of hope pushed through her fear. Perhaps if he drank enough—she didn’t finish the thought as he stopped in front of her. The rank stench of his breath made her breathe through her mouth in an effort to keep the horrid smell of him out of her nose.

“Well, my poppet, you’re here at long last,” he said with a smug satisfaction. “I thought you might back out of our little arrangement.”

“Where are Harry and Fanny?”