Page 14 of Redemption

Chapter 3

Rhea pressed her fingertips against her temples as the hackney cab rolled toward Arianna’s London townhouse. The headache she’d developed last night after her confrontation with Percy still throbbed, although lack of breakfast was no doubt contributing to the pain. Rhea knew Aunt Beatrice would find her early departure odd, simply because Rhea had not planned to leave for London for another three days.

At least her aunt knew her primary reason for traveling to London was to meet with Ashford. The private detective had made arrangements for Peter’s escape from Ruckley’s street gang, and she insisted on shepherding her charges back to the country. They’d been taught to trust no one. They would be skittish enough with Ashford if she wasn’t there to reassure them.

She could only hope the note she’d left for her aunt would make the older woman believe she’d wanted to visit with Arianna for a couple of days. But if Percy Rockwood held true to his word appeared at their front door, her aunt was certain to believe otherwise.

Instinctively, she knew the man had no intention of leaving the issues between them unresolved, which meant he would call at Green Hill House. The last thing she wanted was to be there when he paid a visit. She needed time to collect her wits.

Last night he’d been an unstoppable force that had buffeted her senses on every front. He’d been a mixture of anger, kindness, and seduction. It had been easy to shield herself from his anger. Seven years of bearing the brunt of Ruckley’s foul temper had taught her to remain silent until the storm had passed.

She’d even managed to block herself off from Percy’s kindness, although that had been far more difficult. What had been the most alarming of all was her reaction to the man. Ruckley had sold her body many times, but Rhea had never allowed the men who bought her to kiss her. It had allowed her to distance herself from the horror of being used for a man’s pleasure. The handful of men who objected, had found a knee pressed threateningly between their legs or her fingers pressed into their jugular. Their protests had died quickly.

But last night Percy had broken through that barrier. When he’d kissed her, she’d experienced no repugnance. For those few moments in the Melton Park gazebo, she’d believed herself capable of giving herself to a man without hesitation—freely offering herself in a mutual exchange of pleasure. The realization had haunted her through the night. She’d slept fitfully with Percy intruding her dreams in such a way that it frightened her.

This morning, the memory of that seductive kiss to her wrist when they’d said goodbye had only reinforced her need to flee. While Percy frightened her for what he knew about her, it was the feelings he aroused in her that were even more terrifying. She liked the way his touch warmed her. Something about his strength made her feel safe, and that made him dangerous. She couldn’t afford to believe someone else could keep her safe. Not even Percy Rockwood.

While the man hadn’t said he would protect her from Ruckley, she knew he would attempt to do so. Rhea wasn’t sure how she knew that. She’d certainly done nothing to deserve his protection. Yet, instinct told her he had decided to champion her. Why else would he forgive her for leaving him to die in that dark museum? But Percy couldn’t protect her from Ruckley any more than she’d been able to keep Timothy safe from the sadistic brute. The thought of the boy made her throat close with tears. She’d failed him, and she could never forgive herself for it.

After a brief second, she suppressed the urge to cry and swallowed her emotions. Percy Rockwood was a problem she’d have to deal with soon, but she needed time to think before she faced him again. It was imperative she warn Arianna, especially since she had a strong suspicion Percy knew her brother-in-law quite well. The hackney rolled to a halt with a jerk, and Rhea winced as her head protested the abrupt stop.

In minutes she was standing inside Sherrington House with her small collection of luggage. Arianna emerged from the morning room with a look of pleased surprise on her face. The viscountess quickly crossed the entryway to greet her.

“Rhea.” Arianna kissed her cheek warmly then stepped back to study her. “I wasn’t expecting you until Wednesday.”

“I needed to speak with you about a matter that couldn’t wait.”

“All right, why don’t you freshen—”

“No. I need to speak with you now.”

Arianna raised her eyebrows in concern, but nodded her head in understanding. Quietly instructing the footman to take Rhea’s things upstairs, her sister gently pulled her into the morning room and closed the door behind them. A tray with tea and scones rested on a table in front of a dark blue couch. Gently, Arianna pulled Rhea toward the sofa.

“Come. Have a cup of tea. I’m certain you’re parched. When did you last eat?”

“I don’t want tea.”

“Well, you’ll drink a cup all the same. You look as though you’ve not slept in days. I’ll not have Aunt Beatrice chide me if you fall ill.” The stern reprimand in her sister’s voice made Rhea stare at Arianna in startled amazement. “Don’t look so surprised, Rhea. You’re not the only one capable of giving orders or taking care of those we love.”

“I’m simply unaccustomed to seeing you so strong-willed,” Rhea said with a sense of bewilderment. Almost overnight, it seemed her sister had gained a large measure of confidence, and she found it surprising. Arianna urged Rhea to sit down.

“That’s simply because you’re older than me, and you believed you had to be the strong one.”

Satisfied Rhea wasn’t about to leave her seat, Arianna turned and proceeded to pour a cup of tea. Her sister added a delicately-made scone to the saucer of the tea cup she handed to Rhea. As she took a sip of the hot brew, Rhea silently admitted she was glad her sister had insisted she eat something. The scone melted in her mouth, and without thinking, Rhea reached out to pick up another one of the treats as she sipped the hot beverage in her cup. Arianna sat opposite her in silence, only moving to refresh Rhea’s tea. Two more scones disappeared from the serving platter before Rhea picked up her fifth scone. She stared at it in surprise for a moment before putting it down on her tea cup’s saucer.

“I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” she murmured as she set her tea down on the table in front of her. Vaguely she noted the soft, polished sheen of the furniture and the scalloped, laced edging that formed a low barrier around the entire top of the table.

“I think it comes from going hungry for almost seven years,” Arianna said in a somber voice. “I often find myself stuffing bite after bite into my mouth whenever I eat. It troubles Blake because he understands why I do so.”

“How much have you told him about Ruckley? Does he know…”

Rhea’s words trailed off into thin air as her sister paled and a look of intense pain swept across her beautiful face.

“That I was a whore?” Arianna choked out. “Yes, he knows.”

“And Lucy? Have you told him about her?”

“No.” She shook her head in a barely perceptible movement. “I don’t know what he’ll say.”