Page 18 of Redemption

Chapter 4

The next morning, the quiet murmur of conversation reached Rhea as she walked down the hallway and halted just outside the dining room. Arianna and Blake sat at the table, their heads together in a moment of tender affection. Feeling like an intruder, Rhea was about to retreat when Blake saw her standing in the doorway.

“Good morning,” Blake exclaimed with an expression of excitement on his handsome face. “Congratulate me, Rhea. Your sister has informed me that I am to be a father.”

Relief swept through Rhea as she took in the viscount’s jubilation. He grinned broadly as she quickly circled the table to hug her sister and kiss her brother-in-law’s cheek. Delighted for them both, Rhea couldn’t stop smiling as she took a seat across the table from her sister. The flush of excitement and joy on Arianna ’s face warmed Rhea’s heart. She loved seeing her sister so happy. It was as if the news she’d brought yesterday and their painful past had never touched Arianna.

“I had planned on telling Blake sooner,” Arianna said. “But I never found an opportunity to do so until last night.”

“It explains her overwrought behavior last night at the theater.” Blake smiled at his wife with such adoration that it made Rhea want to kiss the man again for caring so deeply for her sister. Arianna took her husband’s hand in hers as Blake shook his head in happy bemusement. “I should have guessed her condition sooner. She’s been quite irritable and prone to tears of late.”

“And I should have recognized the signs more than a month ago. It’s not as if—”

Arianna flinched as her voice broke off in mid-sentence. Rhea saw the flash of fear and panic in her sister’s gaze. As Blake eyed his wife in puzzlement, Rhea quickly filled the breach to allow Arianna time to regain her composure.

“I’m surprised I didn’t recognize the signs myself when I arrived yesterday,” she said with a smile. “We shall have to watch you closely to ensure you don’t overtax yourself.”

“Agreed,” Blake nodded his head in concurrence. “I’ll have Marston send for the doctor immediately.”

“Is that really necessary?” Panic flitted across Arianna’s face again.

“I must insist, my darling,” Blake said with a slight frown.

Fear darkened Arianna’s blue eyes as her gaze locked with Rhea’s. Her sister’s obvious trepidation made Rhea stiffen. Arianna was afraid a doctor would know she’d already borne a child, and might tell Blake. Rhea leaned forward slightly in a silent effort to comfort and calm her sister’s fears.

“Will it make you feel less anxious if I’m present during the doctor’s visit?”

At Rhea’s offer, relief swept across her sister’s face. They both knew Rhea would ensure the doctor would not report any evidence of Arianna’s previous pregnancy. Although relief lightened her features, Arianna still clung to her desire to avoid the doctor paying a house call. A stubborn expression on her lovely features, Arianna shook her head as she looked at her husband with a look of pleading.

“What can a doctor do other than to tell me what we already know?”

“He’ll offer advice as to what you should or shouldn’t do to ensure you and the babe come to no harm.” Arianna opened her mouth to argue, her husband eyed her sternly. “This is one battle you will not win, my love. I indulge you far too much as it is.”

Something silent passed between the two, and Arianna blushed. When her sister didn’t speak or protest, the viscount looked at Rhea with a wicked glint of mischief in his eyes. The man clearly knew he’d won the argument. Arianna blew out a breath of aggravation to which Blake simply raised an eyebrow. Frustrated, Arianna glared at her husband. Her reaction made both Rhea and the viscount laugh at his wife’s disgruntled frown. With a small sound of disgust, Arianna reached for a piece of toast and buttered it as she cast looks of exasperation at her husband and sister.

The remainder of the meal was filled with laughter as Arianna’s rebellious manner quickly evaporated, and the discussion focused on preparations for the baby. Blake mentioned his desire to see his old nurse come to care for the baby, and a haunted look crossed her sister’s face. Arianna had hesitated at the suggestion, but when she’d seen her husband’s disappointment she quickly ended her protest. Although she made it clear she wouldn’t allow their child to be raised by others. There was a soft shimmer of pain in Arianna’s eyes, and Rhea knew her sister was thinking of Lucy and her inability to raise her daughter.

Breakfast finished, Blake left them to attend to several business matters, while Arianna and Rhea moved to the morning room. With her sister occupied with responding to daily correspondence, Rhea wrote a quick letter to their aunt then retrieved a book from the small library across the hall. Engrossed in her book, Rhea jumped as Arianna touched her arm more than an hour later.

“You have company.” At her sister’s words, Rhea’s heart skipped a beat.

Percy. Anticipation spiraled through her and her mouth went dry. A second later, when Arianna said Colonel Dewhurst’s name, the disappointment Rhea experienced made her stiffen. She knew it was inevitable Percy would arrive on her sister’s doorstep, but she didn’t like the fact that she found the prospect a pleasurable one. The man posed a danger to her loved ones, but an even greater danger to her sensibilities. As she met Arianna’s gaze, she nodded her understanding and rose to her feet to greet her caller.

Colonel Dewhurst proved to be an entertaining visitor with the stories of his military service in Egypt. Rhea and Arianna were laughing heartily more than an hour later when Marston entered the room to announce Percy’s arrival. Until she heard his name, Rhea hadn’t realized how on edge she’d been anticipating his arrival. Every part of her grew rigid, and she wasn’t sure if it was from alarm or anticipation. She refused to answer her own question as a mixture of emotions swept through her.

The delight she’d experienced earlier at the sound of his name had returned. It was a reckless emotion. Even her heart was pounding as if she’d run a long distance, and she berated herself for it. Percy Rockwood had come here to continue a conversation she had no intention of finishing. She’d said all she had to say on the subject of Ruckley and her past. But if there was one thing she’d already learned about Percy, it was his determination to have his own way.

Beside her on the sofa, Arianna grew still, and without thinking Rhea reached out to touch her sister’s hand. Across from them, Colonel Dewhurst noted Arianna’s consternation and Rhea’s protective gesture. The man’s eyebrows arched upward as he eyed her with curiosity and concern. Rhea forced a smile to her lips as her sister instructed Marston to show Percy into the room.

“As you can tell, my sister is a bit unsettled by Mr. Rockwood’s arrival. The last time they saw each other there were unpleasantries exchanged.” Rhea looked at Arianna as she squeezed her sister’s hand again. “I’ve told her that Percy bears neither of us ill will.”

“As if anyone could be unforgiving of you or the viscountess,” Dewhurst said with a sympathetic smile.

Before she could reply, fire danced across her skin. She didn’t need anyone to tell her that Percy had entered the room. Tension pulsated through her, and her heartbeat quickened to a frantic pace. It was disconcerting how easily his presence could throw her into a state of confusion simply by entering the room. A shiver skimmed down Rhea’s spine as she rose to her feet and faced him.

Arianna made a small sound, and Rhea touched her sister’s shoulder in a gesture of reassurance. Satisfied Arianna’s composure was intact, she moved toward Percy with her hands outstretched in an effort to ensure Colonel Dewhurst’s curiosity didn’t deepen. She didn’t know the colonel well enough to know whether he was prone to talking out of hand. While it was unlikely any gossip about her or Arianna would reach Ruckley’s ears, she wasn’t willing to risk the possibility.

“Percy, how lovely to see you.” Her enthused greeting made him arch his eyebrows slightly before his sensual mouth quirked upward slightly.