The Defiant Wife (The Three Mrs #2) - Jess Michaels Page 0,60
want to.”
“I know you’re correct,” he said, but didn’t release her. “I want to care about that. But I miss you.”
She caught her breath at that admission, softly given but as powerful as a blast to the chest. “Rhys,” she whispered as she backed away. It took every ounce of strength to do it.
“I’m sorry,” he said, smoothing his jacket. “That wasn’t fair, to either of us.”
“Well, nothing in this situation is fair,” she said. “That isn’t your fault or mine.”
“How is Kenley?”
She smiled at the change of subject, for at least the boy gave her no difficult emotions. “Very well. He likes Abigail a great deal, and he is adjusting nicely to having Nan as a nursemaid, but I think he does miss you.”
He pursed his lips. “I’ve not done a very good job in checking in and that isn’t fair to him. I’ll make a schedule to see him more regularly.”
Leave it to Rhys to find a way to plan his way out of trouble. She did like that side of him: the planner. The fixer. “I’m sure that will help, especially when we move to the new house. He will have an adjustment period and friendly faces will be a comfort.”
Rhys shifted and his gaze darted away, but not before she saw worry on his face. Something that went deeper than the connection to her. Deeper, even, than whatever hesitations he had regarding Kenley’s future.
“What is it?” she asked.
He drew in a long breath. “Rosie Stanton has not left London.”
All her tangled thoughts about Rhys fled her mind as fear replaced them. She remembered Rosie’s angry face when Pippa, Abigail and Celeste had gone to confront her. How she’d been part of holding Celeste at gunpoint. She remembered the moment when Rosie had shot Erasmus. That twisted rage that had made her pretty features terrifying.
She stared at him. “Wh-what?”
He moved closer. “You’re pale. Sit.”
She did as he asked, and he rejoined her on the settee. “Please tell me what is going on,” she whispered.
“We thought she had left the country on a ship bound for Maryland.”
“Yes, I recall that before we left for Bath weeks ago. Are you saying she didn’t?”
“No. Owen found out that she had inquired about a boat to America and another to the Lower Canada…but she took neither. She seems to have disappeared back into her old life here in the city.”
Pippa could hardly hear over the beating of her heart now. “I…why would she do that when she has so much to lose?” He stared at her evenly, and she slid away from him, as if moving back would erase what she understood. “Kenley.”
He nodded. “The day she shot my brother she made it clear how much she loved the boy.”
“Erasmus wanted to abandon him and it enraged her. No matter what else she’s done, I know she cares deeply and genuinely for her child,” Pippa breathed. “But that doesn’t change the fact that she was complicit in a slew of Erasmus’s bad deeds.”
“And that she killed him,” Owen added softly.
She heard the lingering pain in his voice. She reached for his hand, but then stopped herself. They’d begun this situation saying they had to become better at hiding their connection. No matter what she wanted, she had to make that effort. She forced her hand back into her lap.
“Yes, also that she killed him.” Pippa tried to focus, to think about what rational step needed to be taken next. “I would be more comfortable if we had a guard on the house. If Rosie maintains an interest in the child, we need someone watching for her so we aren’t surprised by anything she does.”
He did what she had stopped herself from doing and caught her hand. “It’s done, Pippa. Someone has been watching over you for a few days now and they’ll continue to do so until we have surmised what Miss Stanton may want.”
She stared at him as understanding dawned and slowly pulled her hand from his. “Someone has been watching the house for days?”
“Since our return in London,” he said. “Why?”
“You…you knew this threat existed and you didn’t tell me?” She stood up and backed away.
He watched her go, his cheeks paling. “Phillipa—”
“Why didn’t you tell me immediately?”
He let out what sounded like an exhausted sigh before he got up. “There was so much going on, so much for you to worry about as you arrived in London and settled yourself and Kenley.”