Authors: Nichole Matthews
Didn’t need this.
Couldn’t believe this.
Rockwell
watch
ed
Parker’s eyes, saw the pain that flashed inside them. He pulled the paper from Parker’s loose grip and stared at the writing. “
Fuck
.
”
***
“You had better send messages to your friends and inform them of this new development.” Granville leaned back in his chair, crossed an ankle over the opposite knee, and lifted his tumbler of brandy from the side table
where
he had se
t it
earlier.
Laurent Tisdale, the M
arquis of
Knighton
, stared
at him silently
, watching
as Granville sipped from the glass.
“What friends?”
Knighton
finally asked.
Granville shook his head. “Don’t be
dense;
you know of whom I speak.”
Knighton
reached up and pinched the bridge
of his nose. Patience was not
his strong point. “St. Claire is the son of an
earl;
Seighton
will surely miss his heir. How are you planning on explaining his absence?”
“Men choose to disappear all the time,
Knighton
,” Granville said by way of explanation. “St. Claire wouldn’t be the first.” He flicked his wrists. “Besides,
Seighton
ha
s plenty of heirs. St. Claire i
s an idiot anyway.” He snorted in disgust.
Guilt flickered briefly in
Knighton’s
eyes. “How did it get this far?”
“He is weak,” Granville yelled, coming to his feet in a barely controlled rage.
Knighton
shrunk into the back of his chair.
Granville returned to his seat, leaning forward. “Don’t you go soft on me too,” he snappe
d, his eyes glittering angrily. “You have brought his father’s power back to the forefront of my thinking. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so hasty.”
Knighton
sighed, but there was no regret, only knowledge and acceptance and fear. He didn’t want to become a liability. He
was too well versed with what Granville did to
them.
***
Persephone, Piper, and Adele stood back from the hearth and admired their handiwork. The mantle had been adorned with fragrant greenery, glossy branches of holly, and festooned with red ribbons.
“It is beautiful,” Persephone breathed.
“I know it is early, but it helps ease the emptiness,” Piper removed her spectacles to clean them. “I will miss Poppy and Peyton dearly.”
Adele pulled her close to her side, hugging her tightly. “It will be our first holiday apart.”
Persephone reached for Piper’s hand and squeezed.
“Thank you for obliging me,” Piper managed a watery smile.
Persephone releas
ed Piper’s hand
. “I say we sit and admire our
handi
work and enjoy some
much deserved
refreshments.” She couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. “The men I’m sure are happy for a reprieve from these particular duties.”
Piper lifted her head from her aunt’s shoulder and laughed. “I wonder if Mrs. Harris has
prepared any of her minced pies.
”
Persephone stood and strolled to the bell-pull. “Shall we see?”
“By all means
,” Piper interjected as she sat
next to her aunt.
“I fear you girls have tired me beyond redemption.” Adele held her hand over her mouth as a wide yawn overcame her. “Even Cook
’
s mince pies will be unable to revive me.” She kissed both girls on their cheeks before she left the room.
***
Parker sat sprawled in his deep leather wingback chair his legs spread out before him and groaned. “Don’t I employ servants for this sort of physical exertion?”
“I fear, if my wife says jump that I cannot deny her wishes.” Rockwell’s smile one full of contentment and something far greater.
Parker was surprised that he felt something similar and feared that his face reflected those same emotions. “The women I’m sure are seated in the parlor purring with satisfaction that we neither argued nor fought their demands, but
followed their commands as if we are their
dutiful soldiers.” Parker sipped his brandy, missing the shrewd glance Rockwell directed his way.
“I did not hear you protesting overly at the demands.”
Parker leaned his head back, closed his eyes and let out a heartfelt sigh. “Coming from lips so sweet, I could not deny any request.” He unconsciously ran his hand across his chest over his heart. “I believe I understand the sentiments spoken in poetry, my friend.”
“Hmm.” Rockwell’s gaze was
on the fire. “I fear Piper’s displeasure more than I ever feared my father’s reprimand
s
.”
He chuckled, grateful that he no longer had need to worry about his father.
Parker thought of her green eyes. Her complexion accentuated by the golden flakes that sprinkled across her delightful nose and wondered when the change had truly overtaken him. When had he so willingly relinquished his heart to her commands? And why hadn’t it bothered him?
Both sat listening to the crackling fire far into the night, sipping the expensive brandy, content with their lot in life unaware of any turmoil or battles being waged in distance parts of the house
by one green-eyed lady, but all too aware of the tasks that waited for them on the morrow.
***
Later that night after everyone had retired to their rooms for the evening, Persephone sat huddled on the floor of the nursery, hugging her knees to her chest. S
he rocked Tillie back and forth in
a constant motion
. She wanted to keep her
q
uiet and not wake up the nurse and
attempt
ed
to soothe her own riotous nerves.
She could not sleep, even though she had
tried. She had lain in bed
tossing and turning as her thoughts dwelled on the task that stood before her and the magnitude of its outcome. She hadn’t been able to quiet her mind, not with what loomed before her. She was saddened by what she had to do and what it would mean for her future. She mourned for what might have been. She would remember their talks. His smile. His eyes. She would be forever grateful for his kindness and the brief time she felt cherished again. She would lock these memories away to pull out in secret.
She wanted to go home. She wanted to race up the drive to find her mother and father waiting on the front steps for her to return from one of her long rides. She wanted to roam the park, remembering the way it had
been when she was a girl. T
hrough the eyes of innocent wonder and a hopeful heart, not the inky blackness that shrouded her mind and stopped her breath at the memories of the house of horrors that truly awaited her. Her sorrow was too great to name. How she longed for the home of her youth. One full of joy and laughter
. One
that she
would be able to
proudly present to Tillie.
“I won’t be gone long.” She closed her eyes and rocked harder. “I promise.” She
pressed her face into the crook of Tillie’s neck and shoulder and
inhaled the sweet smell of her daughter, committing her scent to memory. She sucked in deep breaths and tried to focus her thoughts on the journey ahead.
“You will be safe with
Parker
.” His image brought her comfort and eased her fears. “He will take care of you if anything should happen to me.” Sadness crept into her soul.
Her protector.
Her champion.
Her angel.
Angry tears burned her eyelids. She c
ould not cower in the darkness forever
. She would end this once and for all.
No more running.
No more hiding.
Tillie would be safe forever.
No matter what, Tillie would be safe forever.
She kissed Tillie’s
forehead and laid her gently down in the bottom of the cot. She pulled the blanket over her little body and rushed from the room without a backwards glance.
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep
And doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone and they’ll come home,
Bringing their tails behind them
P
arker looked up from the note that he found
lying across his pillow
, his heart immediately plummeted
and
curse
s
exploded from his mouth
.
His heart
beat
raced in his chest like a rabbit being chased across
a field
by a hungry fox
as he reread the ominous words a second time
.
His pulse
galloped
so fast he felt light-headed.
Fuck
.
Th
e little fool!
I must settle this once and for all.
Eight words. Eight simple words
that punched him in the gut.
No explanation. No goodbye.
“I’m going to
wring her neck.”
Parker gripped the back of his
own
neck and glanced down at the note in his hand
once
again. He
s
wiped his
hand roughly over his
face and took several deep breaths in an effort to clear his mind. He felt so goddamn helpless.
A sick knot formed in his stomach.
They knew who it was now. They knew who had done these unspeakable things to her.
They knew what he was capable of and so did she.
I’m coming for you, Persephone, and I’m going to kill the son-of-a-bitch who did this to you.
He
needed no
additional urging. He
sprinted
from his room
past footmen and maids going about the
ir
afternoon
duties and called frantically
, “Dobbin’s
! Dobbins!
”
“Yes, my lord,” Dobbins called up the flig
ht of stairs mystified by lord Ashford’s
uncharacteristically
undignified behavior.
“
H
ave Rockwell’s
horse and my horse
saddled immediately.”
First
he flew
up the stairs to the nursery, scaring
Mrs. Collins in his haste as the door crashed open.
As soon as he stumbled into the room, he cried, “Tillie.”
“My lord,” Mrs. Collins
cried, her hand flying to her chest
. S
he rose unsteadily to her feet
. “Is anything the matter?”
“Is
Tillie
well
?”
“Sh
e’s sleeping sound, my lord.” Mrs. Collins
gestured towards the cot
, peaking over the edge making sure she hadn’t awoken with his unceremonious entrance
.
He walked towards the cot, his gaze drawn to the pink-cheeked infant. Her red curls wild atop her head. He hated the hope that sprung to life within him when he saw her still safe in his home.
He knew that Persephone wouldn’t leave her daughter. Not forever and not without great cause. He knew how important this was for her, but he wished the little fool would have asked for his help. As
ked him to accompany her on her
dangerous journey.
He
rubbed his h
ands over his face and then gripped
the back of his neck. He turned, alm
ost running into Mrs. Collins.
“Are you alright, my lord?”
she asked worriedly.
“I’m sorry to
have
disturb
ed
you, Mrs. Collins.” He mana
ged a weak smile, then he hurried
out of the room.
Damn woman
.
He knew enough to know why she fel
t compelled to confront her demons
, but she shouldn’t have gone alone. The
se men
were dangerous.
Desperate to remain nameless.
One thing he knew for certain, he was going after her and bringing her back to
Rosebriar
. He didn’t care if she was kicking or screaming
when he did
.