Rescue Me Please

by Nichole Matthews

  It took her a moment to speak as her breaths threatened to strangle her. “I fear I’ve grown tired, my lord,” she whispered miserably, tears stinging her eyes as if sharp needles were being poked into them. “The evening is wearing on me.”

  Parker stepped closer. “What is the matter, Persephone?” He swallowed hard.

  She bit her lip and looked away, anywhere but in his eyes. “I believe I will retire to my room for the rest of the evening.” She fled, forcing herself not to run out of the gallery, but she fled all the same. Tears blurred her vision as she rushed down the hallway.

  He listened as her footsteps receded down the hall in tripping steps.

  What the hell? His scowl deepened as he studied the portrait. What had frightened her? He pushed a hand through his hair, his eyes widening. Had she suffered at the hand of his brother?

  It couldn’t be?

  His mouth twisted in an expression of pain and regret.

  He wouldn’t.

  The bitter taste of bile rose high in his throat. Suddenly he was questioning everything he knew about his brother.

  It couldn’t be.

  It couldn’t be.

  ***

  No! No! No! Persephone raced up the stairs and quickly closed the door, her heart thundered. She shook so hard her teeth chattered.

  It couldn’t be.

  Was it too much of a coincidence to believe that she had made her way to Rosebriar by happenstance?

  His brother?

  He was his brother?

  Even now, he probably had any number of people looking for her. She couldn’t imagine him not being able to find her if he set his mind to it.

  She pressed her fist to her mouth to hold back a sob. She thought it likely he already knew of her whereabouts, he had too many people willing to do his bidding.

  Would the nightmare never end?

  Would she never feel truly safe?

  She brushed away a stray tear as she made her way to the large bed, climbing up without even bothering to remove her clothes. She curled up on her side in a ball and allowed the hot tears to spill quietly down her cheeks.

  Would she never be free?

  ***

  Parker stood outside her door, a black look on his face. Why?

  Why her?

  Why him?

  Why now?

  Why was he thinking about a shrinking redhead?

  He knew why he was thinking about her. Because she held a measure of strength and determination that he couldn’t fathom. She was beautiful, especially now that she had added weight to her small frame. Her big green eyes held secrets that he desperately wanted to uncover.

  How could he earn her trust if his family was part of the reason for her fear?

  He didn’t trust the feelings that were swirling throughout his body and he didn’t know if he was prepared to have his heart ripped out of his chest all over again.

  His jaw firmed and he turned from her door and walked to his room. His legs felt leaden. Their weight felt immense as he lifted his feet with each step. The farther he walked from her door the harder it was to move. He wanted to turn around and demand answers. He wanted to grip her arms and shake her, forcing her to speak but he knew that facing her with his anger so close to the surface would only harm their relationship. It would only lesson the trust that was slowly building between them.

  He needed to see Peyton.

  He needed to talk to his brother.

  He needed answers.

  ***

  Granville circled Hunter as he dangled from his arms, his feet barely able to touch the ground. “I know it’s not your fault, boy.” He paced across the room, stroking himself through his trousers as he went. “But someone needs to be punished and you’re all that I have left.”

  He listened as Hunter’s breath hitched his muscles tense as he waited for the first lash and the pain that would follow.

  The whip sliced across Hunter’s naked shoulders and Granville smiled as Hunter grunted in pain. He watched as the raised red welt started seeping blood and his heart rate quickened. His nostrils flared as the sweet smell of blood permeated the darkened room and the blood began its slow trickle down Hunter’s back, his buttocks, and his legs to drip under his feet.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Lavender’s blue, dilly, dilly,

  Lavender’s green

  When I am King, dilly, dilly,

  You shall be Queen.

  Piper Morgan, Lady Rockwell, looked up from the note in her hand, her eyes wide over the top of her silver spectacles and gasped. “You are never going to believe what is going on at Rosebriar, Gray.”

  Graydon Morgan, The Earl of Rockwell, lowered his morning news sheet and glanced at his wife with an indulgent smile. “Is that so, my dear?” He flattened his lips into a straight line to mask his smile. “Pray tell, do not keep me in suspense.”

  “Oh, pooh.” Piper pursed her lips in what Graydon found a most delightful manner. “Parker wrote: I do hope you are well, dear sister. I fear there has been an obvious quiet surrounding Rosebriar since your marriage to Rockwell.” She looked up with a smirk. “Your ceaseless prattle…“ she paused, scowling. “…has been missed by Aunt Adele and myself, of course.” Piper’s brow puckered, looking up with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Can you believe he had the gall to write such nonsense?”

  “Of course not, sweeting.” She watched as he shuffled the pages of the freshly ironed news sheet. Graydon smiled as she resumed her mumbled reading.

  “Oh listen! And I would like to confirm that your companionship can be expected at Rosebriar for Christmas…”

  Graydon lowered his paper, his hand thrown dramatically over his forehead and sighed interrupting Piper’s recitation. “Thank goodness he had the foresight to make plans.” There was a decided twinkle in his eyes as he reached for his coffee and proceeded to take a sip before hiding his smile with the newssheet once more.

  “You are sorely tempting me to do bodily harm.” Piper sat back with a frown.

  Graydon nearly dropped the paper and stood. “Is that so?”

  Piper continued reading, mumbling, then with a squeak, “…her name is Persephone…” She looked up from the letter, her dimple apparent. “How exciting! Parker is writing about a lady.”

  Graydon grunted.

  “Are you listening?”

  “Of course, darling.” Graydon lifted the paper to cover his smile.

  Another gasp. “She has a baby named Tillie.” Graydon looked up at her sigh. “Isn’t that delightful? A baby at Rosebriar.” She looked up with a glow in her cheeks, but a hint of sadness in her eyes. Graydon knew that she wanted a baby of her own. After the loss of their unborn baby two months prior and with the birth of Poppy’s baby, he knew she felt an emptiness that he could not even begin to understand. He reached across the table his fingers closed over hers, warm and strong. “Is this lady residing permanently at Rosebriar?” Graydon’s brow furrowed. “Perhaps she is his ward?”

  “I haven’t a clue.” Piper answered not looking up from the letter. “Oh, my! We must leave for Rosebriar at once.”

  “Piper, we have already made plans to travel in a fortnight.”

  “You don’t understand, Gray.” Piper’s eyes were wide with worry. “He found her and her baby lying in a field behind Rosebriar.”

  “Lying in a field?” His brow lifted.

  “Yes,” Piper replied. “He knows nothing of this woman—where she comes from, who is her family?” Worry lined her brow. “He needs me! I’m sure he is feeling quite alone with only Auntie Adele for company. Besides, Poppy is unable to travel such a distance with the new baby. Gabriel. Such a fitting tribute for Hawksley. He loved his brother so.”

  Graydon lowered his paper, his lips twitching. He knew that he would get no more reading done this morning. “Very well, send a note round to Parker letting him know we will be arriving unconscionably early for the holiday festivities.”

  Piper jumped from her chair, ran t
o his side and gave him a loud kiss atop his forehead. “Thank you, my darling. First I must write to Poppy. She will be delighted that there is a female staying at Rosebriar who is not a relation.”

  Graydon shook his head as he signaled to a waiting footman to refill his coffee. An amused grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Poor Parker.” He muttered.

  The retreating footman, coughed to cover an otherwise loud guffaw. He stopped, turned and bowed. “Pardon, my lord.” Before he turned again and quickly fled the dining room.

  Rockwell set his paper aside and picked up the missive sitting near his right hand. He had hidden the pages from his wife’s prying eyes under the edge of his plate.

  He pulled out the drawing that accompanied the urgent letter, studying the signet with narrowed eyes.

  No rest for the weary.

  He sighed.

  ***

  Adele looked up from the new pillow covering she was working on when Parker walked into the sitting room. Her eyes followed his progression as he headed towards her and pressed a kiss to her upturned cheek. The slight upturn of his lips would have been missed had she not been watching him closely.

  His smile widened when he noticed Persephone was seated on the settee with the book she had dropped held firmly in her hands. He had her maid leave the book on her nightstand the next morning after he had risen.

  Persephone felt the atmosphere in the room change as soon as Parker entered the room. She picked up her cup of tea and took a sip, needing some sort of task to pull her from her daydreams. They hadn’t spoken of her reaction in the gallery two days prior and she was glad about that. She didn’t want to talk. She wanted to forget, unfortunately seeing a portrait of him brought all the emotions to the forefront of her mind.

  She tried not to blush when he looked at her, but she was finding it difficult to sit still when she felt the heat of her body rise with just one look.

  Adele smiled at her nephew. “Would you care for some tea, dear?”

  “I believe I would.” He sat in his least favorite chair accepting the cup of tea his aunt had prepared. He was uncomfortable with the stirrings of attraction he had for Persephone. How could he want her and want to comfort her at the same time? It seemed like such a contradiction. He wanted to pick her up and cradle her close. Tell her everything was going to be alright. Everything felt jumbled, confused.

  Persephone regarded him as if she were waiting for him to blurt out her fears in the drawing room. His blue eyes studied her face. “I see you found your book of sonnets.”

  “Yes, my lord.” When she sighed, he nodded with a small smile.

  He turned to his aunt. “I received a note from Rockwell; they are coming to Rosebriar sooner than expected.”

  Adele glanced at Persephone. “You will enjoy Piper. She is lively.” Her eyes held a brief hint of sadness.

  “What is it, Adele?” Worry flickered in Persephone’s eyes. Adele gave Parker a look full of meaning. Persephone watched as he nodded.

  “Piper and Rockwell lost a baby two months ago.”

  Persephone thought of her own healthy baby girl in the nursery and tears pooled in her eyes. The thought of his sister losing her baby broke her heart. She was shocked at the depth of the pain she felt. She hadn’t been prepared for this bit of information. Her hands threaded together in her lap, gripped tight enough to show white around her knuckles.

  Parker stared intently at Persephone, watching the range of emotions that filtered over her face. Her tenderhearted spirit and the tears that threatened to fall struck Parker like a hard punch to his gut. He jumped up and sat next to her on the settee gathering her in his arms and for a second she panicked, her breathing grew shallow, then he wrapped his arms tightly around her and pressed her snuggly against his side rubbing the back of her head in long even strokes and she wished they could stay like that forever. With each stroke of his hand, her breathing began to slow and her spine began to soften.

  Damn the way she tugged at his heart. He shot his aunt a helpless look, but didn’t like how she was gazing back at him. His aunt’s expression softened to pity.

  Persephone didn’t want to move. She wanted to stay in his warm embrace forever. She felt safe and being in his arms reminded her of the times her father had comforted her. She missed him. She missed being comfortable without a care in the world.

  What she noticed the most were his hands. His hands were different than the last hands that had touched her. His were strong, yet gentle at the same time and they didn’t frighten her. She liked how he palmed her nape, playing with the loose tendrils of hair that fell over her neck. His fingers sifting through her hair calmed her. Soothed her. After a couple of minutes, she took a ragged breath. “It’s not fair,” she finally said, her small voice muffled by his chest.

  “Life is far from fair, little one,” he said, his eyes gentle even though she wasn’t looking at him. He wasn’t just talking about her life; he was talking about life in general.

  Persephone knew that better than anyone. Tears threatened again, she forced them back. She gathered her courage and pulled away from Parker’s side, pink washing over the nape of her neck and spreading to her already overheated cheeks. She hadn’t meant to cry, she hadn’t meant to leave a large wet spot on the front of his jacket. “Forgive me, my lord.” She looked up at him with her wide green eyes, her lips quivering. “I haven’t a clue what came over me.” She looked up to see Lady Peregrine standing over her with a fresh cup of tea.

  “Here you go, my dear.” Parker stood so that his aunt could take his place next to Persephone. “I’ve added milk and plenty of sugar, dear.” Adele waited for Persephone to remove the cup from her hand. “Drink it. It will help.”

  One side of his mouth curved up as he looked down at her, watching as she grimaced at the overly sweet brew. She obviously didn’t take her tea the same as Poppy and Piper. More sugar than tea.

  Persephone felt Parker watching her intently. She lifted her gaze to his. His eyes were such a vibrant blue. She felt as if she were looking into a cloudless summer sky. “Thank you,” she managed. “I’m feeling much more the thing now.”

  Adele patted Persephone’s hand. “A turn about the garden might be just the thing, Parker.”

  “Capital idea,” he said. “Persephone?”

  Persephone set her tea down. “I believe that would be just the thing,” she echoed Adele’s sentiments, turning her red rimmed eyes up at him. “I just need to fetch my shawl.”

  Parker glanced out the window. “I believe a pelisse would be more the thing,” he countered. “Winter has finally decided to show her face. It appears a little gray and damp this afternoon.”

  “Of course.”

  Parker watched as she left the room and waited to hear her footsteps fade before turning to his aunt. She watched him with an amused expression.

  His expression grew troubled the longer she looked. “I’m afraid to ask what that expression on your face implies, Aunt.” He dragged his fingers through his already rumpled hair.

  “You’re imagining things, dear.” She smiled at him. “I believe I will visit the nursery this afternoon before heading over to the school,” she said coming to her feet.

  “What are you up to, Aunt?” he pressed.

  “You are being paranoid,” she challenged.

  Parker followed her into the hall, but remained at the bottom of the stairs and waited for Persephone to appear for the stroll through the sparse garden.

  Persephone went down the stairs draping the bright red pelisse over her shoulders as she went. Fresh air would be just the thing. She was being irrational, too emotional, and definitely too needy. The last thought grew even more insistent when she rounded the final landing to find Parker staring up at her from the bottom. Blast. She huffed out a breath. His lips curved, but she noticed the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. She bit her lip and braced for what looked to be a serious walk in the garden.

  Parker led her down the hall to the brea
kfast room. He held open the stained glass door and she nearly gasp when the heated air hit her face.

  “It’s warm in here.” She gasped.

  A small smile played at his lips. “The stove is lit.” He stepped through. “This is where we grow the lemons for your pudding.”

  “I think I’ve found my new favorite place.” She closed her eyes and inhaled the tangy, sweet scent of lemons and oranges.

  “Have you tired of the library already?” he teased.

  “Of course not.” Persephone let out a soft laugh as they moved farther into the room. She stopped and pointed. “I can curl up and read on that bench, the smell of lemons and oranges surrounding me and be toasty warm all at the same time.”

  “Good idea.” He reached for her hand and tugged her to the back door. “Prepare yourself.” He grinned. “It’s cold outside today.”

  The damp coldness of the December air brought a rush of color to her cheeks and for a second almost stole her breath as she inhaled deeply in an effort to clear her mind. “Brrr…” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “You weren’t jesting when you said the weather had taken a turn.”

  Parker laughed.

  They walked in silence for a few minutes, then Parker turned to her and asked, “What occurred in the gallery, Persephone?” He tilted his head and waited.

  For a second she couldn’t meet his eyes, then she looked up to see him waiting patiently and it eased her mind. “Fatigue.” She shrugged hoping that would end this line of questioning.

  “You looked as if you had seen a ghost.”

  “I was just tired.” She pulled her pelisse tighter around her body and stared up at him.