Page 36 of Redemption

“I did no’ hear Percy call you a coward, mo ghràdh. He said you are acting like one,” Julian said soothingly. “He’s saying you are allowing your fear to control you. The mon is right, mo leannan. You can no’ keep hiding from people.”

“I am not a coward,” Patience fumed as an expression of pain replaced her anger. Before Julian could go to her, Percy was at his sister’s side. Gently, he took her hands in his.

“I told you once before you were the bravest person I’ve ever known,” he said quietly as he stared down at his sister. “I still believe that.”

“You just called me a coward,” she said with humiliation and resentment. The brown eyes meeting his were dark with anger and hurt. He shook his head.

“No, as Julian said, I think you’re acting like a coward,” Percy said with a shake of his head. “I know you’re afraid, and there’s no need to be. There isn’t a single member of the Rockwood family who would allow someone to say or do anything to hurt you. Julian and I will be at your side just as we were the other night. The minute someone is uncharitable or dares to make you uncomfortable, they’ll be shown to the door, never to be acknowledged by a Rockwood again.”

“Aye.” His brother-in-law’s response was short, and to the point.

The fiercely protective note in Julian’s voice made Patience look at her husband. A silent message was exchanged between the two, and his sister drew in a deep breath as she looked back at Percy. It was obvious his sister was wavering in her decision, and Percy remained silent for fear of pushing her in the wrong direction. Patience’s features darkened with reluctance.

“Very well, but—” Her response was cut short by Constance’s laughter.

“I take it Lucien and I now owe you money, Percy.” At the amused comment from the oldest of the three Rockwood sisters, Percy scowled at her. Immediately, Constance’s amusement became that of contrition.

“Bad timing?”

“Quite,” he growled. He’d forgotten all about the wager he’d made several weeks ago with Constance and her husband the Earl of Lyndham. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw anger furrowing Patience’s brow. Christ Jesus. Just when she’d been on the verge of acquiescence.

“Am I to understand you made me the subject of a wager?” Patience’s voice was tight with displeasure, and Percy suppressed a groan.

“He didn’t initiate the wager, dearest,” Constance said in a soothing voice as she leapt to Percy’s defense. With a remorseful look, the oldest Rockwood sister crossed the floor to sit on the cream-colored stripe sofa next to Patience. “He was quite reluctant to agree to it, but I goaded him into accepting.”

The fragrance of heather brushed against his nose as his aunt entered the salon and came to stand at his side. With a chuckle, Matilda Stewart eyed him with affectionate despair.

“Aye, yer sister made it impossible for him no’ to accept the wager.”

“If it helps, my winnings go to the orphanage fund,” Percy said ruefully as he met Patience’s angry gaze. She continued to glare at him for a moment before she shook her head in disgust. The small sign of forgiveness made Percy relax slightly.

“Well, dearest, is it true? Has Percy actually convinced you to attend the ball next week?”

Constance wrapped her arm around their sister and gave her an affectionate hug and waited for an answer with an expectant air. Patience glanced over her shoulder at her husband who had moved to stand behind the couch. One large hand rested on the mahogany scrolled edge of the plush sofa, while the other gently squeezed his wife’s shoulder. A second later, Patience turned her gaze back to Percy and narrowed her gaze at him.

“Yes, I’ll go, but on one condition.” His sister’s words indicated there was a provision being added to her agreement, and Percy frowned. As Patience eyed him shrewdly, he knew he wasn’t going to like what his sister had to say.

“Condition?” he murmured suspiciously.

“You must escort Miss Bennett to Sebastian’s birthday party.”

The quiet, but firm, edict stunned Percy. Slack-jawed with amazement, he stared at his sister while Constance’s gaze darted back and forth between him and Patience.

“Who is Miss Bennett?” she asked with a frown of puzzlement as Aunt Matilda laughed softly.

“I believe she’s the lass Helen introduced ye brother tae at Melton Park the other night.” Aunt Matilda said in her soft Scottish burr. “Am I right, Percy?”

“Yes,” he growled as he glanced at first Aunt Matilda then Constance who eyed him with growing curiosity. His gaze shifted back to Patience who returned his glare with smug satisfaction. With a shake of his head he gritted his teeth.

“Rhea told you this afternoon at the orphanage that she was returning to the country Saturday morning, Patience. She’s given no indication of when she intends to return.”

“I thought you were discussing a Miss Bennett. Who is Rhea?” Constance asked with a perplexed frown.

“Miss Bennett,” Percy and Patience exclaimed at the same time.

“Such familiarity seems a bit odd under such short acquaintance, Percy,” the eldest Rockwood sister said with a raised eyebrow. A second later a look of devilment enhanced Constance’s loving features. “You barely know the woman. You must be quite taken with her.”

“For the love of God,” Percy muttered in a dark tone of voice as he saw the assessment on Constance’s face that matched Patience’s.

“I thought the same thing too when he brought her to the orphanage today,” Patience said with a serene expression as she leaned into her sister. “I’ve simply not been able to decide whether she’s Percy’s pet project of the month or if she might be special.”

“He brought her to the orphanage?” Constance gasped as she directed a dark glance of disapproval in Percy’s direction. “Did you tell Patience you were coming?”

“No, he didn’t.” The scars on Patience’s cheek tightened slightly as her mouth thinned with the same disapproval Constance was displaying. “But I liked her, and I invited her to dine with us this evening.”

“You invited…good heavens.” Constance’s eyes widened as she stared at Patience in astonishment while Aunt Matilda’s mouth fell open in startled amazement. Percy suppressed a groan.

“I did,” Patience said with a great deal of satisfaction as she eyed him with a small smile. “So what is your answer, Percy?

Feeling trapped, Percy glared at his sister as he tried to come up with a plausible reason not to do as Patience was demanding, while ensuring she attended the party next week. He failed miserably.

“Damnation, Patience. I just told you that Miss Bennett is returning to the country this weekend, and she’s not given any indication when she expects to return.”

“Then you will need to convince her to return for the party, won’t you.” The challenging note in his sister’s voice was emphasized by the gleam in her brown eyes that dared him to refuse. It had been a long time since Patience, or any of his brothers or sisters had managed to back him into a corner such as the one he was in now. The fact irritated him immensely. Particularly when it involved his personal affairs. It was one thing for him to confront Patience about her fears, but he’d never meddled in her relationship—he didn’t complete the thought. He couldn’t actually state he’d not interfered in Patience’s life where Julian was concerned.

The knowledge only served to make him all the more irritable. It was an outrageous condition. He wanted to throttle her for proposing it and Constance for needling him into accepting the wager that he could convince Patience to attend Sebastian’s party. If it weren’t for that damned wager he wouldn’t be faced with his sister’s ridiculous provision. The most galling thing was that Patience had seen through his nonchalance where Rhea was concerned. It was an insight he’d have preferred to ignore for a little while longer, and not just by Patience. Over the next few days he would suffer interrogations by his siblings unlike any in recent memory. The thought did little to endear Patience to him at the moment.