Page 52 of The Rogue’s Offer

Chapter 12

“We had to carry the man out of Brooks.”

Percy dropped his gaze at the appalled expressions on his sisters’ faces. It was all he could do not to laugh. When Charles had suggested he help Mathias reconcile with Ophelia it had been an emphatic no to meddling in the affair. But the moment Charles had suggested he casually mention the incident to his sisters he knew it was a task he’d be all too happy to place at his sisters feet. The Rockwood women were far more skilled when it came to match-making than he would ever be. And if it helped Ophelia find some happiness, all the better.

“Percy, are you listening to us?” Clearly exasperated, Louisa glared at him when he looked up from the book he’d been reading when Rhea and his sisters had entered the drawing room.

“What?” He met his youngest sister’s gaze with feigned puzzlement.

“Mathias never drinks to the extreme. What in heaven’s—”

The moment Louisa halted in mid-sentence, he quirked an eyebrow at her, but she waved her hand at him in dismissive gesture before she turned away from him to look at Constance and Patience. He returned his gaze back to his book, merely pretending to read as he surreptitiously watched the small plotting session begin.

“He’s in love with Ophelia.” Louisa exclaimed with confidence.

“How on earth do you know that?” While there was a dubious note in Constance’s voice at the youngest Rockwood’s statement, Percy knew she was already partially convinced Louisa was right in her declaration.

“Because the only time he’s ever imbibed to the point of needing to be carried out of any establishment was when Miriam...oh what is her name…she led Mathias on just to throw her cup at Charles.” Louisa turned back to him, and he quickly turned the page of his book as if he was completely impervious to the conversation.

“What was that woman’s name, Percy?” At Louisa’s question he kept his eyes focused on the book he’d not read a word of since his sisters had entered the room.

“Hmm?” he said without looking up.

“I asked you the name of the woman who broke Mathias’s heart several years ago.” Louisa rolled her eyes at him as she waited for an answer. As if pondering the question, he feigned a puzzled frown.

“Miriam…Miriam Wadsworth?”

“Yes her,” Louisa exclaimed with triumphant contempt. “She married some poor viscount not long afterward, and just in time it seemed as she was enceinte not long afterward.”

“Are you talking about Lady Liddle?” Patience asked as she entered the parlor during his reply to Louisa.

“Yes, Lady Liddle,” Louisa said with disgust. “I never did like her, but when she broke Mathias’s heart, I wanted to push her head into a bowl of punch.”

It was a struggle, but Percy managed not to make a sound as he swallowed his laughter. As always, his youngest sister was a fierce champion of those she cared about. She’d always had a soft spot for Mathias, and in the past he’d often wondered if Louisa had ever thought herself in love with the man. If she had, it was a shame she’d married Devin. The thought of his brother-in-law made his mouth tighten with suppressed anger.

Despite the rest of the family’s opinion, he was certain he was the only one of his siblings who knew the truth about Louisa’s marriage. He’d always like Devin, but shortly before the fire at Westbrook Farms, the an dara sealladh had shown him images of Devin with another woman. Rhea was the only one he’d told about what he’d seen, and she’d been a wise counsel.

Every time he’d debated whether to confront the man or speak to his sister, his thoughtful, compassionate wife had told him not to. But the images he’d seen had made it difficult for him to treat his brother-in-law as if he’d seen nothing. His vision had made him believe the man had betrayed his sister at some point in their marriage. It was a betrayal he was certain Louisa was oblivious too until shortly before the fire that claimed Devin’s life and his brother Caleb.

After Devin’s death, he’d been grateful he’d not shared his suspicions with Louisa. The grief that had consumed her for more than two years now demonstrated how much she’d loved her husband. It would have been cruel to tell her of Devin’s betrayal. In the end, he’d been thankful for Rhea’s threats of banishment from their bedroom if he breathed even one word to either his sister or her husband.

“Oh, I don’t think we should, Louisa.” The uncertainty in Patience’s voice pulled him out of his contemplation, and he looked up from his book to see his sisters huddled together.

“Of course we should,” Louisa exclaimed as she dismissed her sister’s doubts. “Don’t you agree, Constance?”

“But what if she doesn’t love him, Louisa?” The middle of his three sisters expressed her doubts as well. “While I agree with you that Mathias cares for Ophelia, won’t it make it harder for him if she doesn’t return his affections?”

“Possibly, but I know Ophelia. She’s blossomed recently, and that’s Mathias’s doing. You didn’t see the way she looked at him that night at the opera. If she wasn’t in love with him then, she was on the verge of it.”

“But hasn’t she been seen with the Earl of Chelmsford for the past week? I heard just the other day that the man was seriously considering offering for her.”

“Oh dear lord, then we must move quickly. I’m convinced she’s in love with Mathias, and whatever falling out the two of them have had, I’m certain it can be overcome.” Louisa eyed her sisters with an obvious determination to enlist their help in reuniting the two estranged lovers. With a slow nod of her head, Constance agreed. Patience, however, shook her head with regret.

“I cannot, Louisa. I’ve promised Julian I’d not meddle anymore when he found out I’d helped Constance with the arrangements for Lady Kimbolton to visit the orphanage, at the same time Lord Hubbard and the rest of the board of directors were there for their monthly meeting.”

“Do no’ tell me ye are interfering in someone else’s affairs, Patience MacTavish,” the displeasure in her husband’s voice made his sister wince. The tall, Scotsman towered over his wife, as he eyed her with irritation.

“I promised you I wouldn’t, and I was refusing to do so.” Her hand touched her husband’s arm in reassurance. A look of satisfaction swept over his brother-in-law’s face, but it disappeared a second later as Patience smiled up at him. “After all, I seem to recall you made a promise to me as well.”