Page 8 of Redemption

“My life wasn’t mine to give away. There were others to consider.”

“And yet, here you are, at my brother’s estate, dressed like a woman of means without any encumbrances.” The sarcasm in his words and expression made her flinch as if he’d slapped her. She didn’t know why, but she didn’t want him to think badly of her.

“Leaving you on that gallery floor that night has haunted me ever since,” she said in a hoarse voice.

“How touching. But the fact is you did leave me, didn’t you, Rhea?” The harsh condemnation made her lift her head slightly. She’d wronged him terribly. She knew that, but he didn’t know her reasons, and any explanation would reveal her shame. It would also open up Arianna to a scandal.

“I’m sorry for what I did. I will have to live with that sin until my dying day,” Rhea said softly. “I’m simply grateful I was wrong in thinking you dead.”

“Of that I’m certain,” he said icily. “Accessory to murder isn’t quite as serious a crime.”

Rhea could feel the blood draining from her face and her body was as cold as if she’d fallen into an ice-covered pond. She swayed slightly and braced herself with one hand against the bench. Accessory to murder. Yes, that’s what she was—an accessory. She’d done nothing to stop Ruckley, and she’d done nothing to save Percy Rockwood. A surreal calm washed over her as she met his angry gaze. She would accept her punishment, and she would see to it that Arianna and the children wouldn’t be implicated. She would lie if necessary to ensure that.

“I understand,” she whispered.

“Understand what?” Percy’s words cracked through the air with viciousness of a bullwhip.

Unable to help herself, she flinched. Ruckley had never used the whip on her or Arianna. He’d not wanted to damage valuable merchandise. But the bastard had not hesitated to use the lash on any of the boys. She'd often thought Ruckley had done so deliberately because he knew how much it horrified her.

Her stomach roiled as she tried to accept the fact that Percy Rockwood was going to ensure she was punished. She would no doubt go to prison. She might even be hung. The thought made her light-headed. Rhea swayed again where she was sitting and felt her head loll backward as she fought to remain conscious.

“Bloody hell.”

In seconds, Percy was seated beside her with his arm around her waist. The warmth of him enveloped her as she sank into his side, and he pulled her close. There was great strength in the shoulder that supported her head. A sudden rush of awareness spiraled through her, and she immediately wanted to sink deeper into his embrace.

The knowledge stunned her. Ruckley had made a fair profit off her as she’d serviced the needs of men who’d paid to use her body for their satisfaction. It had made her numb to all sensation where men were concerned. At least that’s what she had believed. Now, to experience attraction for a man was a startling revelation. But of all the men she might ever have been attracted to, she would never have expected it to be Percy Rockwood. A man she’d left to die in a dark museum.

She stared up into a pair of dark-brown eyes still filled with anger, but there was concern reflected in his gaze as well. Why would he be worried about a woman he intended to hand over to the police? Rhea gulped back her fear, drew in a deep breath, and released it.

“When you summon the police, if you would have them remove me as discreetly as possible I would be grateful. I have no wish to embarrass my aunt.” Her calmly spoken request pleased her. At least she was still capable of maintaining her emotions.

“Damnation, I have no intention of sending for the village constable or the metropolitan police in London,” he ground out almost as if he were angry she’d even suggest such a thing. “However, you are going to tell me how you came to be at Melton Park and where this Ruckley fellow is.”

The mention of Ruckley sent a shudder sailing through Rhea. In a swift movement, she freed herself from the solid strength of Percy Rockwood’s embrace. He didn’t stop her as she slid across the bench to put distance between them. Almost immediately she found herself wishing she could return to his side. There was something about the man that made her think he’d keep her safe from harm. She dismissed the thought with a sigh of silent disgust. He knew nothing about Ruckley or how the bastard thought. Percy couldn’t keep her or anyone else she loved safe from her one-time master. The only person she could trust to do that was herself.