Willoughby 03 - A Rogue's Deadly Redemption (28 page)

“What is it?” Keenan asked.

“I must insist on a favor in return.”

Robert paced his small confines. The groans and moans filtered to him and he held on to the pureness of Lily’s love as though it was a life raft. Her face. Her kiss. He recalled the musical tones of her voice over and over, a forgotten violinist repeating the same bittersweet refrain.

Every second he spent in this dank hellhole would make it harder to remember her. By the time he walked the Graveyard toward the Old Bailey for his hanging, if he hung, he’d be lucky to recall anything but the grim sounds of despair, the putrid smells of death.

Was she all right? He paced harder. Damn it, he hoped she’d listened to him. That she was now on her way to the ship that would take her far away from Kane, from the world Robert had dragged her under.

From Robert.

If anything happened to her…

How would he know? He slammed a hand against the unyielding wall and welcomed that slash of pain that rode up his arm.

Marcus could have his revenge on Robert, but Robert couldn’t stomach the thought of Lily paying the price for his choices.

Requests Robert had made to get in touch with his brother, with the bank’s governor, hell, even with a solicitor had fallen on deaf ears. He might never know what had happened.

The clanging of keys caught his attention and he turned toward the cell door. In moments it was opened, and the turnkey stood in the frame. “Follow me.”

“Where?”

“Get your bloody arse over and do what I tell ya.”

Robert followed him, out of the cell, into the dark corridors. Down twists and turns, then he was let into a room.

Oh God, no.

He swiveled around. “Is it the same woman as before? Did she come back? You have to send her away. I refuse the visitor.”

The turnkey offered a disgusted snort. “It ain’t no woman. They’ve come to collect you. You’ll be departin’ our hospitality.” The man guffawed at his own humor then closed the door.

Marcus.

Joy, anger, fury, relief—he had no idea what the hell was coursing through him, but it hurled so fast his stomach threatened to heave. Whatever Marcus’s reasons for leaving him to rot, he’d changed his mind.

The door opened again, and Robert looked up.

His hands fisted. His body tensed.

“Blade.”

“Thought I smelled a snitch.”

“Yet I’m the one in here, not you.” Robert stepped forward, using his bravado as a shield. “Odd that you weren’t there when the runners raided the place.”

“I don’t wait around to get caught.”

Robert saw the manacles dangling from Blade’s hand just before he tossed them at Robert’s feet.

“I’m to deliver you alive. Didn’t say anything about injured, so aye, resist. Please. Or put those on and I’ll see to it you get there mostly in one piece.”

Robert picked up the manacles. Dead in prison after a public trial or dead at the hands of the organization. It wasn’t much of a choice. And this way, he had a chance. If the opportunity arose, he could fight his way free or die trying.

He snapped his hands into the cuffs.

***

“Where the hell have you been?”

Lily had barely stepped inside the door before Adam trounced upon her, bearing down with all the pomp of his title.

His gaze missed nothing. It landed on her clothes, the rip in her shoulder; her hair askew and matching a headache that throbbed where handfuls of hair had been yanked out. “What the hell happened?”

Cordelia pushed at her from behind to get her to move inside.

Adam’s gaze shifted to her. “I should have known. What the hell were you thinking—wait, you were together?”

“Yes,” Lily said. “Are Blythe and Ravensdale here?”

“They’ve been here for a few hours waiting for you. Lily, there is no time left. We have to get through London traffic to the West India docks. You did this on purpose. You are going to be on that damned ship.”

“Yes, I am.”

“I mean it, you—Wait. What?”

“I need to see Michael.”

She moved past Adam, but he grabbed her arm. “Of all the goodbyes you have to make, you put him at the priority? What is going on? Where have you two been? Why do you…” He stopped. “What happened.” His words snapped out as an order, not a question.

“I have a ship to catch and goodbyes to say.” She slipped her arm free and hurried toward the parlor. She had promised Keenan she would deliver his message.

At her entry, Blythe looked up from where she sat on the couch, surrounded by her children. “Lily! There you are!” She stood, rushed toward her and pulled her into a hug. “I was worried. Where have you been? You have to leave, and I thought—” She hugged her again. “I couldn’t imagine not saying goodbye.”

At the tear-choked voice of her sister, Lily hugged her. The sadness she’d managed to keep at bay started to seep out.

“I am going to miss you so much,” Blythe said. “But I am excited for you. I have gifts and letters for Mama and for Georgie, they are already with your things.”

From over Blythe’s shoulder, Lily looked around the room. No sign of her brother-in-law.

“Aria is upstairs.”

Lily looked at Blythe. “What?”

“I thought you were looking for her. She wanted to be sure that they got all of your belongings. Adam had them sent over to the docks already so they could be loaded on the ship. You just have to get there.”

“Where’s Michael?”

“Oh, he’s somewhere looking for Bethie, I believe,” Blythe said, referring to their eldest daughter. “You’d think she would have grown out of the hide and seek game by now.”

“Should we help him look?”

Blythe cocked her head and frowned. “He’s had plenty of practice. He’ll find her. Oh, Aria, there you are.”

Lily turned and saw Aria walking toward them, a firm, don’t-mess-with-me expression set on her beautiful face.

She pointed at Lily. “Now. I’m not going to cry. Are we clear?”

Lily’s mouth twitched. “Of course. No crying.”

“Everything has been sent over to the docks.”

“Blythe told me.”

“Where have you been? I thought for a minute I wouldn’t get to send you off without a hug and—” She stopped. “Well, blast it.” She dabbed her eyes. “If you’d been here earlier, I wouldn’t feel so frantic about this.”

Lily hugged her sister. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t go without saying goodbye.”

Adam strode into the room. “We have to leave.”

“No,” Lily said. “We can’t.”

“You told me you were getting on this ship, Lily.”

“And I will. Just…not yet. I need a few more minutes.” God, how long did it take a man to finish a hide-and-seek game?

“There is no more time.” He gestured her toward the door.

With a last hug from Blythe and Aria, she moved. She had promised him.

She knew Keenan would live up to his end of the bargain, but what if she hadn’t? What would happen then?

Cordelia stood at the door. “You’re really leaving.”

Lily nodded.

“Why?” Cordelia asked. “What did you say to him?”

Lily knew the “him” Cordelia meant was Keenan. She pulled her sister into a hug, felt the jolt of Cordelia’s surprise and then her give into the embrace. Into Cordelia’s ear, she said, “Tell Ravensdale he has to leave Keenan alone. Tell him to stop whatever he’s doing. Oh, and take care of my library. It—just protect it, Cordie. Continue what I started. Say my goodbyes.”

Cordelia pulled back, searched Lily’s face. “What did you do?” The words were soft enough that no one else heard.

“What I had to, to have the life I want.”

A smile curved Cordelia’s perfect lips. “Good for you.”

A hard knock pounded on the front door, startling them. Higgins came into the entry and opened it, and Robert’s brother strode into the room.

“Where is he?” he demanded. “He bloody well is here, and I know it.”

“Wayfair.” Ravensdale appeared down the corridor.

Lily’s heart leapt. “Michael.”

Marcus headed into the parlor, looked around. “Where is he?”

“He isn’t here,” Lily said.

Adam stood next to her. “I don’t care for your attitude, Wayfair. I’ve been sending you note all morning. I want to know how our deal fell apart. Why the hell is he in prison? He was supposed to be free.”

“And he would be, had he remained there. He’s gone.”

Adam’s gaze snapped to Lily. “Gone?”

“He isn’t there. They told me two women paid to visit him today.” He stepped closer to Lily. “Do you know who they might be?”

“Lily?” Adam added. “Cordelia?”

Lily pressed her lips shut.

“What the hell…How did you do this?” Adam wanted to know.

“We didn’t do anything but visit him,” Cordelia said. “He was there when we left.”

“I don’t believe you,” Marcus said. “Tell me where my brother is.”

“No.”

“Lily,” Adam snapped.

Lily glared at Marcus. “You want to know, so you can put him back in prison? Leave him to die again? Never. He is my husband. My family. I am doing what I need to do.”

“You are going on a ship, that’s what you’re doing,” Adam told her. “We’re leaving now. This is done. I don’t care where the hell Melrose is.”

“Adam, I know you love me, I know you want what’s best for me so because of that, I am trying not to be too furious with you. But for all that is holy, please stop interfering. This is my life. My choice.” She strode into the entry way.

Adam followed. “Whatever he’s talked you into, it’s a mistake.”

“He hasn’t talked me into anything. Now, can we go? I don’t want to be late.”

“Late? Now you don’t want to be…God, the women in this family drive a man to drink,” Adam muttered.

“Welcome to the club,” Michael said.

“Where is my brother?” Marcus demanded. He stepped in front of the door. “I am not going to put him in prison, Lady Melrose.”

“You already did, so why should I believe you, Marcus?” At his startled blink, she added, “In this family, we call our siblings by their first names.”

She couldn’t tell what surprised him more. Her use of his first name or the demand for an explanation.

“Despite what Robert believes, all I have done, I’ve done to protect him.”

Adam coughed. Lily turned to glare at him.

“I believe we’ve all had enough of being protected.”

“I am damn tired of watching him throw his life away, that’s all. I admit I let him be arrested and hauled into prison. It was the only way to keep him from being labeled a snitch, if at all possible. I could have shared that with him, but he needed to learn a lesson. I never intended to
leave
him there, but I thought he needed to at least feel a portion of the bloody consequences for his actions. It hasn’t been twenty-four hours since he was put in there, and I went to get him.” His shoulder dropped. “I love my brother, Lady—what is your first name?”

“Lily.”

He sighed. “Lily. I want the best for him. Tell me where he is.”

“If I tell you, you must promise to leave him alone.”

He paused, and she could see the struggle cross over his face. The need for control or the need to see his brother. “Fine.”

She took a deep breath. “Robert is coming with me. To America.”

Dusk had begun to settle on the docks, the setting sun filtering light on warehouses that managed to look dingy despite their sunshine bath. They teemed with activity, sailors loading, unloading, and prepping for sail. Not a single one likely to offer aid should Robert need it.

Blade walked behind Robert, close enough that no one could detect the ever-present knife in his hand. The sharp point never wavered from its position at the small of Robert’s back. Robert knew Blade’s skill, had no desire to put it to the test yet. An opportunity would come.

“Turn here.”

They stopped at a warehouse and Blade gestured at the doors. “Open it.”

Inside, the warehouse was dark, lit only by the light streaming in through the door they entered. A man stood sentry.

“Any trouble?”

The voice brought Robert back to the day he and Lily were captured.

The captain.

“None,” Blade replied.

The captain emerged from the shadows. “Shackles?”

Blade lifted a shoulder. “You wanted him alive. Seemed easiest.”

“Remove them.”

Hope laced with a hefty measure of alarm tensed Robert’s body.

The captain stopped in front of him, his broad shoulders and height towering over Robert’s not inconsequential height. “Provided you give me your word you won’t try to escape.”

“Now why would I tell you that?” The words were out before Robert could stop them, and he cursed his stupid tongue.

“Don’t mistake my kindness, Melrose. It isn’t directed at you, and should you not prove worthy of it, well, then, you will suffer the consequences for your betrayal.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“I’m not. I’m not convinced your worthless hide is worth the efforts for anyone.”

What the hell did that mean?

Blade released the shackles and Robert rubbed the soreness from his wrists.

“Blade will stay to ensure you are where expected.”

“You’re letting me go?” Robert frowned, baffled. “Why?”

“Are you questioning your good fortune?”

“No…well, actually, yes. I don’t understand.”

The captain stepped forward. “I’m giving you a chance to get the hell out of this life. One chance. You aren’t built for it, and you have a family. Protect that.”

The fear was receding, leaving an impossible belief. He was letting him leave. Letting him go.

“Robert!”

A cacophony of voices erupted from the doorway. Amidst a small army of people, Lily stood in the center. Disheveled, her hair a mess, and what appeared to be a few rips in her gown, but she’d never looked more beautiful. The rest of the world blurred around them.

She ran toward him. He opened his arms, filled them with her and brought her in close. “Oh my God, you’re here.”

She laughed, a sound he hadn’t realized he’d missed for all the years of their marriage. “
You’re
here.”

He held her shoulders so she angled back where he could see her face. “You did this?”

She nodded, a smile breaking.

“How? How did you do this?”

Lily looked at the captain. “Thank you.”

He gave a nod, and looked at Robert. “If you hurt her again, I will hunt you down.”

He’d let him go for Lily.

“Robert.”

Robert turned at the voice of his brother. The sight of him unleashed the anger that had festered inside the walls of Newgate. Robert let go of his wife, strode to his brother and punched him square in the jaw.

“I deserved that.” Marcus stretched his jaw, rubbed it. “For the record, I had no intention of leaving you there.”

“Well, isn’t that bloody grand of you.”

“
Where is Keenan
?”

“Michael.” Robert turned back at Lily’s voice. She was focused on her brother-in-law. “He saved my life. He saved Robert. Please—” She turned in a circle. “He’s gone.”

“Where did he go?” Robert asked. Blade had disappeared, too.

“You’re leaving,” Marcus said, dragging Robert’s attention back. “They said you were leaving with her.”

Robert’s head was beginning to ache, and his arms ached to hold Lily close. To never let her go.

“I am?”

“All right,” another booming, unwelcome voice intruded. Adam approached them. “I let the ship know that you’re here, Lily, but we have to go now. They cannot wait.”

“Wait a minute. What the hell is going on here?” Robert asked. His head had begun to hurt. He’d had enough of not knowing the world around him, not knowing what was happening in his own damn life.

“We’re going to America.” Lily’s words were hopeful and music to his ears. “Now.”

The rest of the room faded away.

Robert focused on the love that shone in her eyes. How could she have forgiven his sins, all of his transgressions?

“After all I’ve done?”

“You said if you had the chance, you wanted to spend the rest of our lives—”

“—Proving you could trust me.” He remembered. When he’d said it, it had been a dream he’d never thought he’d attain.

“Robert?”

He turned to Lily. Her eyes were wide with uncertainty, her lower lip smashed under her teeth.

“I didn’t even think to ask…I…”

“What is it?”

“Do you want to go with me?”

***

Lily ignored Adam’s attempts to pull her attention. Her gaze stayed on her husband. Now that her crazy plan had come to fruition, now that he stood in front of her, she had no idea if he’d wanted this.

Maybe he wanted his freedom after all.

He reached up and cupped her cheek in his hand. “With every fiber of my being, I want to be by your side.”

“Given the attention you’ve garnered, it’s probably best for all of us that you leave the country,” Marcus added dryly.

“Shut it, Marcus.”

Lily’s lips curved. The brotherly tone was familiar to her, it was the way her family showed affection. Acceptance. Forgiveness. But she’d never heard Robert use it with his brothers before.

“You’ll come to visit us?” she asked Marcus, amused to see him startle at the thought.

Her body held a lightness she hadn’t felt in years. As though she’d been bound by the uncertainty, the years of believing she wasn’t good enough and had finally broken free. “Visit? Well, yes. I suppose.”

“The boat is leaving. Now.” Adam sounded exasperated.

Lily reached over to give him a hug. “Thank you, for everything, Adam. I love you.”

He squeezed her. “I love you, too. Now,
go
.”

Lily put out a hand toward Robert. “Are you ready?”

He laced their fingers and held them up. “Yes. By God, yes.”

Joy bloomed inside of her. “To
our
new adventure.”

They walked out of the shadows, holding hands, and into the sun.

Epilogue

Lily took in a deep breath of salty air and leaned farther over the railing. The tip of land was on the horizon, over the crashing waves, and the sight sent a spurt of joy through her.

They were almost there.

“Not so far over the edge, if you don’t mind.”

Robert’s arms surrounded her, tugged her back from the railing until she pressed against him. She snuggled into his arms.

“I, for one, have no desire to jump in to save you,” he teased in her ear. His hands came to settle on her stomach. “How are you feeling?”

Lily gave a soft sigh. “So happy to see land.”

Robert chuckled. “I imagine. The sickness hasn’t been easy on you.”

Lily swiveled around in his arms and peered up at him. The misty spray of the ocean waves had teased the curls from his dark locks and she reached up to tuck one off his forehead. “Yes, but I don’t think that will go away because we’re off the ship.”

“The babe is all right?”

Contentment filled her with such solid footing, Lily could have purred. “Right as rain, as far as I know.”

She’d only been certain of the pregnancy a month prior, halfway into their trip toward America, toward a new life. It had brought her such joy, such fear and such reminders of grief at first.

His fingers caressed her belly. They had spent hours talking about the babe they’d lost and the one they’d been blessed with now.

“We’ll never forget.” Robert’s words were a nudge, one that told her he knew what she was thinking about.

She shook her head, with a smile. “Never.”

“It’s all right to be happy now.”

She curled into him. “Yes, it is. My mother will be beside herself.”

“Even with me for a father?”

“Even with.”

The teasing light faded from Robert’s eyes, and he looked down at her, lips drawn, brows pressed inward. “Lily, are you certain?”

Lily reached up, smoothed the frown from his brow. “Yes. We’re building a new life together, Robert. Away from our past.”

“I know, but—”

“No buts. This is our story, Robert. We choose how it ends. This is all I’ve ever wanted.” It warmed her heart to be the one reassuring him, to know that his love had filled her so completely there was no room for doubt, no room for uncertainty. She believed. She knew.

She trusted.

He leaned down and pressed a light kiss to her lips. “You had your chance to get rid of me.”

“It’s a good thing I’m smart enough to know better then, isn’t it?”

He laughed. “Yes. Yes, it is.”