Willoughby 03 - A Rogue's Deadly Redemption (25 page)

His eyes pleaded with her. “You are to go to America.”

The simple phrase splintered her, and up from the cracks came an anger so fierce, her body shook. “I am tired of your excuses. You decided the course of our marriage when you shut me out of it. When our baby died, when your mother died, instead of turning to me, you left. I bear some responsibility for pushing you, for not seeing outside of my own pain, but there was so much I didn’t know or understand.

Then you walked away the other day, without a word, without an explanation. Now, for whatever reason, you are twisting fate to your will once again. I will not be manipulated.”

“I am not trying to—Damn it, Lily, I made a promise.”

“What promise? To whom? You made promises to me! They were called our wedding vows.”

“I am doing the only thing I know to keep you safe.”

She stepped closer. “Tell me how, Robert. Tell me what you’ve learned, tell me
who you are
. Don’t keep me in the dark anymore.”

His face was drawn, his blue eyes dark with regret. “I never wanted you to be a part of what, of who I’ve become. I still don’t. I don’t want it to touch you.”

“
It
abducted me.”

“Which is why I need you to go.” He dropped his coat and reached out to her, grabbed her arms and yanked her close. His lips descended upon hers and heat coursed through Lily’s body, making her limbs liquid, setting her insides on fire. She put her arms around his neck, felt the need pulsing inside him. The desperation there.

But she couldn’t fight the cold truth seeping in. This was a goodbye kiss.

“
Fight for me
.” Her heart hammered in her chest and the heavy rush of grief, of a need never fulfilled overcame her. It was a challenge she knew he would refuse.

“I
am
. I am fighting for you.”

Lily broke free, stepped back. Her eyes felt painfully dry, even though her heart was drowning. “No, you aren’t. You are letting me go. That isn’t good enough anymore.”

She put her hand on the door and stopped.

She turned and found him unmoved, his gaze wild and desperate to lock with hers.

“Be happy, Lily. That is all I want for you.”

Lily walked into the house, even though her heart was breaking.

***

Robert closed the door to his carriage. He was exhausted— physically, emotionally and his night had just begun.

Every bloody word that came out of his mouth had been opposite his intent. He’d gone there to assure of his love, to give her what she needed to move on with her life. So she would know, always, how much she meant to him.

Bloody hell, he’d wanted her to know it was her letter he’d answered and he hadn’t even done that.

Everything he’d said had hurt her more. The bitter taste of regret bit his tongue, and he thought of what Adam had said. He’d been right.

All Robert had done was cause her pain. The sadness on her face had hollowed out his heart.

He lifted the hatch to speak to his driver. “Lebrawn Street.”

His gaze drifted to the box next to him. He’d set up the meeting. He’d finished the plates.

He’d done his part. Now he needed to trust that Marcus and Lily’s brothers had done theirs.

The idea did not calm his nerves.

The minutes it took to cross the city, still clogged with traffic at this hour, felt like seconds, leaving him precious little time to say the prayers that might get him into heaven.

Not that he imagined the Almighty was listening to him, but it couldn’t hurt to make an attempt.

The carriage slowed and Robert stared at the empty seat across from him. The low-slung whack of grief hit with a vengeance. He missed Edwin’s calming presence. Robert had a hired footman, a brick wall of a young man, to accompany him. But this was a stranger without the loyalty that Edwin had showed, and Robert wasn’t certain he was all that safe.

He grabbed the box and pushed the door open. The night was dark, lit by a quarter moon that cast more shadows than light. In this area of town, the moon itself hid from view.

What if they failed?

This was the organization’s turf. Not his. Not one his well-dressed, well-connected Marquess brother held sway. Even the constables and runners couldn’t guarantee the outcome.

The young footman stopped at his side. No turning back now.

They walked down the alley to the familiar door of the pub. The room was near empty, expect for a small group of men who sat around a table, mugs of ale at one hand. Knives or other weapons at the ready with the other. Kane’s men.

Robert slowed as he stepped into the room. He was a blithering idiot to go along with this. Hell, he’d
suggested
it.

The men turned as he walked in. But Robert kept his head straight, gathered the arrogance that offered his best defense like a cloak around him and strode toward the rooms where Kane did business. He counted three men in the room. A miserly lot this night, and relief spurted through him at that.

He’d left the particulars to Marcus, assuming Marcus’s plan included a way of getting him out safely.

But dread slithered under his skin as he moved to the back room. His muscles twitched.

Kane sat in his normal place. Four more large men here.

Robert strode to the table and set the box down. “Here. I shall deliver five more within a fortnight.”

Kane stood, which shouldn’t pose a threat given his short stature. But the movement was a signal, and the four men in the room faced in, forming a semi-circle. Kane reached out to the box, opened it, and inspected the plates Robert had finished that day.

“I should kill you,” Kane said. The casual toss of his words made the hair on Robert’s arms stand up.

“You can’t kill me.” Robert’s false bravado was far removed from his churning gut. “A dead man can’t etch a plate.”

Kane dropped the plate back into the box and nodded at one of the men, who took it. “How is your wife?”

“Leaving, thank God.” Robert had a knife in his boot. “She’s leaving the country. Can’t leave soon enough to my way of thinking.” He could kill Kane in one swift movement. Even if it cost his own life.

“Then ye won’t mind if we delay her a bit and keep her nearby, just to be certain you do as yer told.”

“Do what you want with her; it makes no difference to me.”

Kane came around the table. “Anything? She seemed ripe for the taking.”

Robert’s hand twitched and it fisted until his nails bit into his skin. “She’s a cold fish.” His blood roared in his head.

Kane watched him for a minute, then let out a cackle. “Yer a cold bastard, ain’t ya?”

Yells erupted from the other room, and a loud bang reverberated through the dulled level of noise.

“What the hell?” Kane flashed toward him, a dagger in his fist. Robert snatched the knife from his side and faced off.

Kane slashed out. Robert sprang to the side, brought his arm around at Kane. Kane jumped sideways, then lunged forward with his knife.

He couldn’t take his eyes from the small, but deadly man in front of him, but felt the rush of force that barreled into the room and surrounded them. In all directions, men came at them.

Kane slashed out again. Robert dove to the right, but the sharp sting of the blade sliced at his side. He lunged at the smaller man and tackled him to the ground, the pain from his side piercing through him as they landed. Kane shoved at Robert and then came at him. He brought his hand up, knife aimed at Robert’s heart, and Robert grabbed his wrist.

Kane might be small, but he had the strength of an ox. They struggled, Kane aiming the knife down. The fury at Kane’s threats to Lily surged through him and Robert hauled his other arm back, and dropped his fist into Kane’s face.

Kane let out a roar, and his head snapped to the side.

Robert threw his fist at Kane’s arm until the knife clattered to the floor. Robert moved in to pin him to the ground, and a pair of arms grabbed him from behind.

“Let me go!” Robert bucked but the arms hauled him away.

Kane slithered away.

“No! Let go of me!” Robert chucked his elbows backward, into the sides of the man holding him. Damn it! He couldn’t let Kane leave.

He had one second to take a breath and brace to run after Kane, and something slammed into the side of his legs. The ground came up behind him and he slammed into the floor. His side felt like a torch had been shoved inside of his skin.

A man jumped on top of him, knee at his throat. Robert pummeled his hands against the man. The torch lit his insides. His lungs were on fire. His chest heaved as he struggled for air.

Lily.

He bucked up, arching his back until it shoved the other man clear. Sucking in a gulp of air, he smashed his fist into the nearest man.

A fist landed in his right eye, slamming his head into the floor. Pain shot out through his head and down his neck.

Damn it! All of this wasn’t going to be for bloody nothing. His arms were grabbed and twisted behind him as his face was shoved down.

“Get the bloody hell off me!” He bucked again.

“Sorry, chap. You’re under arrest.”

“You blithering idiot, that man is the one you want.” Robert yanked his arm away to point at Kane’s direction of retreat.

“Sure he is. And you just wandered in here as innocent as a babe.” The ice cold iron of manacles slammed against Robert’s wrists. “We got a tip about this ring. You bastards never seem to get caught, but it’s always the poor unsuspecting souls given your false money who meet the gallows. Not this time.”

“Copper plates,” another man called. Robert twisted his head against the ground to see the man looking through his box. Kane’s men lay dead, injured, or bound by the Bow Street Runners that teemed about the room. There had to be at least a dozen.

“My brother, the Marquess of Wayfair gave you the bloody tip.” Robert shoved up against the man who yanked on his arms. “Let me go.”

“Heh,” the man snorted as he hauled Robert to his feet. “And my best bud is good ol’ King George.”

He looked at the men on the floor. “Where’s Kane?” Panic galloped through his blood. “Did you catch Kane?”

“Shut it, will you?”

“Bloody hell, he’s the one you need!” Robert snapped.

The runner cuffed the side of Robert’s head. “That’ll be enough out of you.”

“This is a mistake. I was not to be arrested.”

“And we’ll be having tea and cakes in your cell later, I’m sure.”

Robert yanked away, only to have two men smash their fists into his sides. His body twitched from the need that coursed through him. No. All of this would not be for nothing. He didn’t do this so Kane could escape—Robert’s blood ran cold.

Lily was out there. Unknowing.

God, Lily, get on that damned ship
.

“I need to speak with my brother. Get me my brother.”

A runner snorted. “Right after we summon the King for you.”

What the hell had happened to the plan?

Lily took a long sip from her tea cup. It was her favorite. It had a tiny chip above the handle that had happened years ago when they’d been young enough that their foremost concern was being home for dinner and Adam had been in his scare-my-sisters phase.

The tea warm on her tongue, Lily looked around the breakfast room she’d sat in so often. The wood paneling halfway up the walls that shimmered from loving attention, topped with gentle stripes of blue and ivory wallpaper. The landscapes painted in lush greens and brilliant blues with a rainbow of flowers on the walls. The table she sat at. The chair she sat in every morning. It formed to her just right.

Today was the last day she’d sit there. This breakfast, in fact.

Her nerves wound like tangled wool inside of her. She was terrified.

Her, an adventurer?

“Good morning,” her brother said as he entered the room. He took his place at the head of the table and picked up the paper left in its normal spot. “Did you enjoy your party the other night?”

“Yes.” Lily forced a smile. Robert had said he’d made a promise. He wasn’t supposed to be there.

Did Adam know more than he was admitting?

She couldn’t stop going over Robert’s visit—his words, his refusal to offer her anything but words.

He’d said he loved her. How was she supposed to believe that? He had encouraged her to leave. She had to wonder if he knew how to love at all.

“I can’t believe today is…We’ll miss you around here.” Adam’s words were casual, gruff yet laced with sadness. Lily’s eyes began to sting, and she blinked a few dozen times. It wouldn’t do to start the day in tears. She might never stop.

Adam took a sip of his coffee and looked over the top of his mug at her. “Are you packed? Ready to go?” His question seemed more conversational than curious as he opened his paper and began to peruse.

“Yes.” Her trunks were packed. They’d never truly been unpacked, and she’d been living out of them since she’d arrived at Adam’s.

“Blythe and Ravensdale will be here in a few hours to send you off.”

Lily nodded. “I need to go to my library to say my farewells this morning,” she said. When he didn’t react, she added, “Perhaps stop by Robert’s townhouse.”

No reaction.

“I’ll have plenty of time. My ship doesn’t depart until early this evening.”

Adam didn’t answer.

“Perhaps I’ll wait for another day. I could always take a trip to India.”

Adam hadn’t heard a word she said, but his entire demeanor changed. His shoulders squared, his jaw tensed and he folded the paper in half.

“Adam, is something wrong?”

His gaze snapped to hers. “No, no. Nothing.”

He was a terrible liar.

Adam put his napkin on the table and slid his chair back. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to see what’s keeping Aria.” In a smooth move, he swiped the newspaper off the table and tucked it under his arm.

Lily narrowed her eyes. Going to see Aria about the paper? What was he hiding?

“Adam, did you have a conversation with Robert about me?” she asked just as he made it to the door.

“What?” He turned away. “Excuse me.” He was through the door before she could speak another word.

Lily shoved her chair so she could rise “Adam, don’t walk away from me.”

But he had. What had been in that paper? Another scandal in their family? About her? About Robert? Not that it was her concern. Robert had made that clear. He wanted her to leave and stay out of his life.

Oh, bother that.

Her brother was not one to fluster easily. Whatever he’d seen, he was intent on keeping it from her which in her mind, added up to something serious.

She dropped her napkin on the table and followed her brother.

“Adam.” She peered into the front parlor. No sign. It was like playing a game of hide and seek, without the fun and with quite a bit of added annoyance.

She strode to the staircase and headed up to the rooms. Coming upon Adam and Aria’s room, she knocked. “Adam? Aria?”

The rustle of voices could be heard from behind the door, and then Aria called out, “Come in, Lily.”

Lily opened the door. Aria sat curled in a chair, blankets atop her lap, near the empty fireplace. Aria didn’t care for fires, they could trigger unpleasant memories from her past, so unless the air was on the verge of frozen, she rarely had one lit.

Adam stood next to her, pacing. The offending paper was crumpled in his hand.

“I know you are hiding something and I know it has to do with Robert. Whatever it is, nothing could surprise me at this point, and for goodness’ sake, I am leaving today.”

“Adam,” his wife urged.

“No,” he snapped. “There is no point.”

“She deserves to see it. You cannot let her ship off without knowing.” Aria lifted the blankets from her lap and unfolded out of the chair. “Give her the paper.”

Adam’s mouth was set in a grim, thin line. “Fine.” He turned to Lily. “It does nothing to alter your course. Promise me.”

“I will promise no such thing.” She held her hand out.

“It’s Melrose.”

“I figured as much,” she replied. “What has he done this time?”

Adam didn’t answer.

She yanked the paper away, uncurled it and searched the front page for the mention of—“Oh my God.”

“Something went wrong,” Adam said as he started pacing again. “That’s all I can think of. It wasn’t intended to happen that way.”

“What did you do, Adam?” she cried. “He told me last night he’d made a promise and—

“He was
here
?”

“Is this really the time to be up in arms about that?” Realization set in and her mouth dropped. “Is it because of the sketches I gave you? Did you do this?” She smacked a hand on the paper. “For God’s sake, he’s been arrested!” She looked at the newsprint again, praying the words would change, praying she’d read it wrong.

“I attempted to help his worthless hide, along with his brothers. Wayfair had a plan, one that would provide Robert the chance to right his wrongs. He made a deal with the bank. For Robert’s cooperation in capturing the members of the forgery ring, he would be free to go and no charges would be levied against him.”

“You knew about this?”

“This was Wayfair’s deal. He made the arrangements, he set up the meet with the bank and with the constable to settle Melrose’s deal. Michael and I provided support with Jeremiah Harman. When we left, everything was set. Melrose’s involvement was to remain quiet. Beyond that, I don’t know what happened.”

“Then you must find out.” She reread the words again.
Melrose, arrested in conjunction with a forgery ring.

They would hang him.

Her mouth felt dry and brittle, her hands had gone numb with cold. “Adam, you have to fix this. You must get him out.”

Adam’s expression hardened. “Are you suggesting I bribe the magistrate now?”

“Has he seen a magistrate? Were sessions held last night? How is it he’s in Newgate already, and we’ve heard naught of any due process? Did you set him up?”

“Robert is no innocent.”

“
Did
you?”

“No! But it isn’t as if he hasn’t earned his place there.”

“You can’t leave him there.” She knew he’d made mistakes. A lot of them. But he was going to be put to
death
. Her stomach curdled, and Lily crossed an arm over her middle. The pain wracked her with shudders and she wanted to scream out the fear that had infested her.

“Wayfair is his brother, he will fix this.”

“That’s good enough for you? Banking that his brother, who likely blames him for Cary’s death, will make good on his promise?”

“I have no reason to believe he won’t.”

Lily held up the paper. “This is your reason! You expect me to leave for Boston as though none of this was happening?” Had her brother lost his faculties?

A slamming door sounded in the distance.

“Adam!” The bellow was Cordelia. “Adam, where are you?”

In minutes, she appeared in the doorway. “There are people. Outside.”

“This differs from any other day?” Adam snapped.

Aria moved to the window and peered outside. She looked back in. “There are at least a dozen people on the street, right in front of our gate. Who are they?”

Cordelia shook her head. “I don’t know, but they demanded answers when I walked past them. Something about forgery?” She looked at Lily. “Is this about Robert?

“He’s at Newgate.” Lily turned to Adam. “You will fix this, whatever you’ve done. He’s my
husband
, Adam.”

“He agreed to a divorce.”

That was a slash through her heart. “I have not.” Lily stepped closer to him. “That is what you extracted from him, isn’t it? His promise for your help.”

“He was not to interfere with your leaving. He didn’t adhere to that agreement, did he?”

“He came to urge me to
leave
, if you must know. Because we spent
ten minutes
talking, you’re going to let him hang?

“I had nothing to do with this!” Adam yelled.

“Can we address the fact that there are strangers at our gates?” Cordelia yelled louder. “They were angry. Very, very angry.”

Adam strode to the window. He placed a hand on Aria’s back and looked out past her. “They will disperse.”

“If Robert goes to trial, our family will be dragged along with him,” Cordelia stated.

“He isn’t going to trial,” Adam said. “The agreement I was privy to included Robert walking away from his crimes.”

“He’ll be tried in the court of public opinion if nothing else. As will we all,” Cordelia pointed out.

“And we are so pure?” Lily tossed at Adam, fueled by her worry for Robert.

“Lily—” Aria started.

“No.” Lily pointed at her. “Adam is judging Robert from a position built on sand. We have our own family secrets, and we have kept them.”

“Lily, you are treading here.” Adam’s tone had lowered, hardened.

Fear and desperation egged her on, even as she knew she went too far. Adam had killed two men—in different circumstances—to protect those he loved. Blythe’s first husband, after she’d been shot by him and the man who had held Aria captive. Nausea rolled in Lily’s stomach. She knew his choices tortured Adam.

But she could not let Robert
die
.

“We have swept secrets under our rugs to protect our own. Whether you like it or not, Robert is my husband. All I am asking is that you do the same for him. You made an agreement with him, and this was not it.”

Adam turned away from her, his body held tight as if to keep himself in control. Lily saw his hands at his sides, clenched.

“Adam, please.” Lily glanced at Aria, and winced at the stricken cast to her features. Lily offered a silent look of apology and prayed she would forgive her.

Adam had turned back around, ever in control, but his flat gaze put a marked distance between them. “I will find out what happened, Lily. I will not let this family be hurt for his activities. But you will get on that bloody ship. Trust me to handle this. He has done enough damage.”

She opened her mouth, but she was unable to make that promise. The worst scenarios flashed like living nightmares through her head.

Robert went to trial and was convicted.

Her family was dragged through the mud along with him, their name in tatters for having a forger in their mist.

He was killed at the gallows, thousands of spectators watching, jeering, calling for his hanging.

She couldn’t get the yells of “Hat’s Off!” out of her head. That day they walked by the Old Bailey, became surrounded by the onlookers, the air ripe with their impatience, their bloodlust. The fear had paralyzed her when Robert’s fingers slipped through her grasp, and she was alone in the crowd.

Envisioning Robert standing at the gallows, the focus of that… Her throat tightened, and a chill ran through her. She fisted her hands together, as her fingers had grown so cold they hurt.

No.

Her gut twisted at the thought.

“Lily. Promise.”

“I can’t,” she replied. “I cannot promise that.”

“Then I can’t help you.”

“Adam.” Aria’s tone was filled with angry surprise. “You must.”

“No, I mustn’t. Our family is my first priority. I’ll do whatever I must to protect us.”

Fury rose inside Lily until her vision grew blurry from the heat of it. Her arms shook with a need to throttle her brother.

“I never knew you to be so heartless,” she managed through clenched teeth. Anything else she might say could only hurt everyone in the room more than she already had, so she turned and left.

Adam wasn’t responsible for Robert’s actions, Robert was. But how could Adam expect her to get on a ship, knowing what she was leaving behind?