Page 28 of Redemption

Chapter 6

The warmth of Percy’s hands sent heat pulsing its way through Rhea’s skin. She didn’t understand why his touch invoked such a sensation. Nothing about him or their odd association made any sense at all. He was asking her to take a leap of faith where he was concerned. She’d already done that to some extent. What he asked of her now was to go one step further. The brown eyes studying her reflected a warm sincerity Rhea found compelling. With each passing second, her ability to refuse his request became more difficult. She’d told Arianna she trusted Percy. So why was it so hard to take the last step and admit it to him as well?

“Is taking that leap so hard?” he asked quietly. The gentleness in his voice struck at the very core of her. It created a tiny fracture in the wall of ice she’d built around every part her heart and soul.

“Yes,” she swallowed the unexpected knot forming in her throat. “When you are accustomed to the worst life offers, the idea of something good happening is an almost unbearable thought.”

“Ruckley has a great deal to answer for,” Percy said grimly.

“And you continue to overestimate your ability to make him pay for all the things he’s done.”

“You seem determined to challenge me to prove you wrong,” he said with a slight twist of his sensual mouth.

“I am not encouraging you to do any such thing,” she snapped. “I am simply pointing out the reality of the situation.”

“Yet you insist on ignoring that fact yourself.” The stern note in his voice made her stiffen. She was about to reply when he shook his head.

“Don’t bother trying to deny it,” he said with exasperation.

Percy released her hand and sank back into the black leather cushions of his seat. Rhea immediately experienced disappointment that he’d let go of her hand. Startled by her reaction, it took her several seconds to gather her wits and respond to Percy’s allegation.

“It’s rather difficult to deny something when I have no idea what you’re referring to,” Rhea said coolly as she fought to maintain her composure.

“Vincent explained what you’ve been doing.”

Percy’s words made her suck in a quick gasp of air. Their gazes locked, Rhea’s heart pounded wildly in her chest. Was Percy bluffing? Vincent knew from his years with Ruckley not to give up information to people he didn’t know. A sudden thought careened through her. Dear God, had Percy seen Lucy? In a split second, she understood her sister’s reluctance to tell Blake the truth. She wasn’t even in love with Percy, and the idea of him discovering her past and thinking the worst of her was not a pleasant thought. A chill danced across her skin despite the heat of the day.

“Whatever Vincent told you, I’m sure it’s some flight of fancy on his part. He’s just a child.”

“The boy is far older than his years, and deeply afraid for your safety.” Percy’s face had hardened into a harsh, forbidding expression. “He told me how you’ve been spiriting children in Ruckley’s band of thieves out from under his nose and taking them to Green Hill House. Vincent also said you were planning to rescue another child this coming Friday night, which would explain your refusal to my dinner invitation.”

Unable to think clearly, Rhea sat frozen in her seat. Vincent had shared far too much with Percy. Had he done so under duress? Had Percy threatened the boy? Without even thinking twice she ruled out that possibility. Even on such short acquaintance she knew Percy was incapable of threatening a child. Then why would Vincent tell Percy what her plans were? Almost as if he could read her churning thoughts, Percy released a low noise of aggravation.

“The boy overheard me asking your aunt how I could find you in London. He stopped me before I left and threatened me with bodily harm if I hurt you.” His expression of resentment made her smile.”

“Vincent has always been protective of me,” she said softly. “I looked after him from the first day Ruckley bought him from his parents. He was only five years old.”

“Five,” Percy exclaimed with a quiet outrage that emphasized his disgust.

“It’s not unusual for young children to be sold into thievery. Some are born into the life.”

The thought of Lucy made Rhea’s stomach lurch. At least her niece would never know the pain, fear, and heartache her mother and aunt had endured.

“And what about you and your sister? How did you come to be in Ruckley’s employ?”

“We were not in his employ,” she said bitterly as the all-too-familiar numbness engulfed her. “Ruckley owned us.”

“Owned you,” Percy bit out in furious disbelief.

“Our father sold us to Ruckley to pay off his gambling debts.”

“Sweet Jesus.” Percy’s soft exclamation was little more than a hiss of air between clenched teeth. “How old were you?”

“I was eighteen, almost nineteen.” Rhea heard the mechanical sound of her reply. It allowed her to distance herself from the horror of the past. “Arianna was fourteen.”

“Bloody hell.” The anger and disgust in his voice didn’t surprise her. But to her dismay his outrage at her plight pierced the thick layer of ice she’d encased her heart in long ago simply to survive.

“And your mother didn’t object?” His words made her stiffen with anger.