Page 24 of Redemption

At the quiet dismissal, the boy jerked his head toward Percy. There was something insolent in the lad’s expression, and Percy narrowed his gaze as he met the boy’s defiant look. Immediately, the impertinent look on Edgar’s face changed to a sulky one. Eyes glittering with rebellion, the boy looked at Rhea one last time and left the room. Mrs. Hughes filled Percy’s plate with a healthy portion of stew then set the bowl on the table.

“Edgar is a new stray,” Percy murmured as he carefully watched Rhea, but she didn’t react to his statement.

“He came to us two weeks ago,” his sister said with a weary sigh. “I don’t think he’s taking well to the rules we have here in White Willow House. Wouldn’t you agree, Mrs. Hughes?”

“I’m afraid you’re right, Lady Patience. The lad is one for mischief. However, he is extremely good with the younger boys. He already has a number of them following him around like lost puppies.” At Mrs. Hughes’ words, Rhea coughed, and he could have sworn it was to cover a small cry. As if she’d read his thoughts, she lifted her head, but quickly averted her gaze.

“How did he come to the orphanage?” Percy asked as he looked at his sister.

“He simply showed up at the back door asking for something to eat,” Patience said with a small shrug. “Mrs. Hughes fed him, and we offered him a place to stay with the understanding he needed to work if he wished to remain.”

“Which is something I should see the boy is doing,” the cook muttered as she turned to leave the dining room. Prompted by an inexplicable sense of foreboding, Percy acted on his instincts.

“If you don’t mind, Mrs. Hughes, I’d like to speak with Edgar after lunch. I have need of a messenger from time to time. He might be of use to me. That is if you don’t mind me stealing the lad out from under your nose.” Percy smiled and winked at the older woman whose cheeks flushed with sudden color.

“Of course not, Mr. Rockwood. I’ll send Edgar in when you’ve finished your meal.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Hughes, that’s most kind of you. I can see why Lady Melton and my sisters speak so highly of you.”

“I’m happy to help,” the cook said as her blush became even more visible, and she scurried from the room. Patience laid down her spoon to study him with astonishment.

“Since when do you have need of an errand boy?” his sister asked with a skeptical frown.

“I often have need of one when I’m working with Budge at the museum,” he lied unwilling to explain he simply needed to reassure himself the boy had no connection with Rhea or Ruckley

Ignoring his sister’s snort of disbelief, Percy nonchalantly took a bite of his stew. His headache was little more than a slight twinge now, and he was pleased he could eat his meal without his stomach threatening to rebel. Surreptitiously, he watched Rhea as she conversed politely with Patience. When she looked at him a second later, his muscles knotted and hardened with tension. Until now, he’d never seen such an exceptional performance of emotional control.

Even Sebastian would have been hard pressed to match the way Rhea had veiled her horror. Despite her outward appearance of calm serenity, the dark emotions shimmering in her eyes indicated she was in a state of panic. Her fear only strengthened his belief that Rhea was acquainted with Edgar. With a grimace, he realized he’d made the right decision to meet with the boy. Instinctively he knew Rhea had done everything she could to keep Ruckley from finding her.

Whatever he did, he needed to ensure the boy didn’t tell anyone he’d seen Rhea in the orphanage. Somehow, he thought convincing Edgar to remain silent would be easier said than done. Edgar’s attitude had been one of insolence for authority, which meant it would be difficult to ensure the boy didn’t betray Rhea’s whereabouts for the sake of a few coins. Percy had barely finished his second spoonful of the beef dish when Mrs. Hughes reentered the room.

“I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Rockwood, but Edgar is gone.”

“Gone,” Patience exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes, my lady. Robbie told me the boy ran out to the mews and didn’t come back.”

“How odd,” his sister said with a frown as she contemplated the boy’s behavior. Percy quickly directed his attention to Rhea, and the look of sheer terror that slipped through her serene expression made him bite back the dark curse that almost passed his lips.

“You did say he was having trouble adjusting to life in the orphanage,” Percy said quietly.

“Yes, but I didn’t think it was quite that bad.” Patience nodded as her frown deepened and she sighed. “Hopefully he’ll return. I hate to think of him on the streets, but there’s little we can do unless he comes back. Thank you, Mrs. Hughes.”

The cook nodded and retreated to the kitchen. Still frowning, Patience released a soft sigh of resignation before turning her head toward Rhea. It didn’t escape his notice that Patience turned her head only just enough to avoid exposing her scarred features to Rhea. Even though the two women appeared to be comfortable in each other’s company, Patience still exhibited her reticence to trust people she didn’t know. He clenched his jaw. The fire at Westbrook farms had taken more than two well-loved members of their family.

In some ways they’d lost Patience as well. His sister had possessed a cheerful, outgoing nature before the fire, but her physical and emotional scars still plagued her more than a year later. And all of it due to a log that rolled out of the fireplace, crashed through the fire screen, and set the main parlor’s carpet on fire. It had been a terrible, unfortunate accident that had left all of them struggling with grief.

“I’m sorry we didn’t meet the other night at Melton Park, Miss Bennett,” Patience said with a small smile. “I understand you became ill and left early.”

“Yes… I… I’m not fond of large social affairs.”

“I quite understand.” Patience nodded as she shot a glance in his direction. “I avoid them as well, particularly when I’m in London.

Percy frowned at his sister’s comment. It was a subtle reminder of Patience’s refusal to attend Sebastian fortieth birthday celebration in little more than a week. The birthday party the other night at Melton Park had been for friends and neighbors in the country. It had been an enormous feat to convince Patience to attend that social event. Her acquiescence had only been because the guests were people she knew from childhood.

The upcoming party was for friends and acquaintances who resided in town. If bringing Rhea to the orphanage resulted in Patience digging in her heels even more than she already had when it came to attending the upcoming celebration, he was doomed. It wouldn’t just be Julian who would have his head. He would be severely censured by the rest of the family. Even Helen would be upset with him, and his sister-in-law’s gentle spirit rarely saw her angry. The thought wasn’t a pleasant one. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Patience look at Rhea before she turned her head to meet his gaze.

“So tell me, how did the two of you meet?” There was a gleam of curiosity in his sister’s eyes Percy recognized all too well. Patience sensed a mystery to solve, which meant he needed to quickly put an end to her prying.