Taming the Wicked Wulfe (The Rogue Agents)

by Tammy Jo Burns

  “She’s what?” She found her mouth being muffled by his hand. She pulled away and laid back on the bed. “I can’t believe this,” she rolled onto her side and brought her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around them.

  “Let’s go home where we can talk about this. You can yell at me all you want, and you can say things there that you cannot here.”

  “Leave me alone,” she said, jerking away from his touch.

  “I thought you trusted me,” he said.

  “If you recall, I said I trusted you in what we were doing at the time, and that is all that I trust you in.”

  “You trust me to see that you reach pleasure in bed, but that is all? I thought this marriage stood a chance, but evidently your father is ruining it from the grave just as well as he could from here on earth. I’m taking the children home.”

  “Don’t you dare,” she moved too quickly and her head pounded and her stomach churned.

  “They are my responsibility, as well. You can’t even sit up on your own. They need their own bed. I will assure them you will be fine. I hope that you figure out just exactly what it is you want, because I can’t keep doing this. One minute you want me, the next you are blaming me for everything bad that has happened to you. When are you going to realize that what I did, what we created, would have been good? Your father is the one that tainted it.

  “Don’t place me in the same grouping as your father. I would have loved our child. I would have married you years ago, if I had known. I would have been faithful to you. By now, we would have had a houseful of children. Your father was a selfish bastard that could not see past his nose what he truly had, and he threw it all away. Don’t become your father. I was as much of a pawn in Fate’s game as you were. I hope that you realize what you have before it’s too late, because I promise you I will not be tarred and feathered for the rest of my life for something I had no control over.”

  The door clicked quietly shut. Rebekah sobbed harsh, wracking sobs that filtered out the window and landed on her husband’s ears below as he left Gertrude’s house with the twins in tow.

  Thorn knew the words he had spoken had been cruel, but he would be damned if he spent the rest of his marriage being compared to Hezekiah Johnson. It was time she came to terms with all of the past and moved on. Otherwise, she would turn into a bitter, old woman who pushed away everyone close to her and would be left alone in the world. He looked at the twins cuddled on either side of him in the rented hack and said a silent prayer that she would come to her senses, because he refused to allow the twins be raised in an embittered household.

  ***

  Sobs ripped through Rebekah. She rolled over, lying on her stomach, clutching at the pillows. Thorn’s words kept playing through her mind, and she found that her heart ached more than her head currently did. He was correct, and she knew it, but she was scared to let go of her bitterness. She was frightened of opening herself up to feeling again, to hoping for a future that might not happen.

  She felt a slight dip in the mattress, and quickly looked up see her mother sitting there, a look of such sorrow and compassion on her face. Rebekah’s tears started anew, harsher than before. She buried her head in her mother’s lap, something she had not done since she was a very small girl and cried until she had no more tears. Rebekah saw a handkerchief dangle in front of her and took it, still sniffling occasionally.

  “Your husband is right. You are going to turn into a bitter woman all alone in this harsh world. Do you want that Rebekah?”

  “No,” she moaned, feeling an ache deep within her. She tried to fight them, but more tears sprouted, this time silent. Her mother played with her hair, soothing her.

  “I was never more glad than when Hezekiah took his last breath. I imagine I will spend my eternity in Hell for that.”

  “No, you won’t,” Rebekah said firmly. “He caused us all so much pain. Such evil should not be allowed to walk among us.”

  “But it does every day. Rebekah, when are you going to admit it?”

  “Admit what?”

  “That you love Thornton?”

  “You’re wrong.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “You are,” she pushed up and away from her mother. She got to her feet, holding to the bed post until her legs became firmer beneath her. Rebekah crossed to the window and watched as the shadows began to deepen with the setting sun.

  “Not all men are Hezekiah. There are good men in the world. Thornton is a good man.”

  “Thornton killed his father!”

  “You know better than that, young lady! The old duke’s gun misfired while they were out hunting. Only the rabble-rousers that thought Thornton too wild blamed him, namely Hezekiah. That boy loved his father almost more than life itself. If you had not gone to him that night, I don’t know what he would have done.”

  Rebekah looked at her mother over her shoulder, about to argue, but unable to think of anything to say. She returned to looking out the window. The fresh air was doing wonders for her aching head, and she rested it along the window frame. She breathed deeply of the fresh, rain-washed air. Even with her mother in the room with her, she felt very much alone at the moment. Oh, how she wished the twins and Thorn were here, hugging her and holding her. She took in a shattered breath and rubbed a hand over her heart.

  “You love him don’t you, dear?”

  Rebekah looked over her shoulder at her mother. “I’m not sure.”

  “I think you are. I think the thought just frightens you a bit. Be strong and all will be well. Now, why don’t you rest?”

  “No, I think I should go home, to my family.”

  “That’s my girl,” Edith smiled, stood and crossed the room. She gathered her daughter in her arms and hugged her tightly. “I love you, my darling girl.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “May I make a suggestion?”

  “What is it?” Rebekah asked warily.

  “Why don’t you wait until tomorrow. Get yourself in order. If you go now, you will only upset the twins.”

  “Perhaps you are right.”

  “Rest child,” her mother hugged her once more. “I have so missed this. Missed being able to hold you in my arms. I feel I failed you on so many counts.”

  “No, Mama. He failed us. He preached to others about being faithful and a good example, but he could not do it himself. The Reverend fooled so many people over the years.”

  “Yes, he did, but no more regrets and no more wishing to change the past. We are moving on from this point, the both of us.”

  “I’ve missed you more than I realized,” Rebekah said, clutching her mother tightly to her once more. “Please, stay and talk to me. We have so much to talk about, so much lost time to make up.”

  “Yes,” Edith smiled for the first time in years.

  Chapter 23

  Thorn settled the children and the pups before he left for the evening. The twins had begged him not to go, Ivy resorting to tears while Zachary valiantly strived not to shed any, though his bottom lip wobbled precariously. They did not understand what was wrong with their precious aunt and automatically feared the worst. That tends to happen when everyone you love begins to leave you. You sit in fear of who will be next, and when it will happen.

  Wulfe was in his room, with the assistance of Barkley, getting dressed for his meeting with Walsh. He had sent a note to the peer saying that he had been unavoidably detained due to a family emergency, but would be there within the hour. After that he would have to put in an appearance at the Lady Luck. How had he come to resent an aspect of his life that he had so enjoyed at one time? The gaming hell required he spend hours at the establishment that could be spent in the arms of his delectable wife. And then there was the spying game. Something he had once considered fun and intriguing now irritated him. He found himself in a constant state of worry as to the safety of Rebekah and the twins.

  “What the bloody hell has happened to you, old man?” he in
quired of himself in the mirror.

  “You’re a family man,” a voice answered back.

  “What did you say, Barkley?”

  “Having a wife and children change a man, my lord, whether he wants it to or not.”

  “Since when have you called me ‘my lord’ in private?”

  “Since that is what you are acting like. You no longer act like the wild rogue that I was attached to as a batman in our early war days. You have changed, grown up, if you will.”

  Thorn ripped the cravat that he had unsuccessfully been attempting to tie from around his neck and threw the wrinkled mess on the bed. He punched the wall in frustration and watched in dismay as his fist created a hole.

  “Problems, my lord?”

  “Shut it, Barkley,” he bit out while flexing his hand. There were only some minor scratches and redness along his knuckles, the wall would have to be patched.

  Barkley walked over, opened a drawer, and retrieved a fresh cravat. “I think a waterfall will be appropriate for this evening,” the older man said before beginning to tie the cravat in the style he had mentioned. “Now, going around punching holes in walls is not going to help anyone. The mistress has had a lot to deal with,” he raised his hand to hold off whatever Thorn was about to say, “as have you,” he continued. “I suggest you give her a day or two. She is a smart woman, yet for some reason, she has set her sights on you.”

  “What are you talking about? She fights me at every turn.”

  “She might fight you, but in my humble opinion, she loves you.”

  “I doubt that,” Thorn harrumphed.

  “We shall see. There, now you are presentable for society. You have a meeting with the Duke of Walsh before going to the Lady Luck, have you not?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you think he is the leader of the group?”

  “If not, then he is very close to the top.”

  “I will bid you good luck then, my lord. I will also have someone look at repairing that hole.”

  “That is the least of my concerns. Be certain the children are well tended. Rebekah would kill me if I let anything happen to the twins.”

  “Yes, she would, my lord.”

  Thorn shot his valet a seething look before leaving the house.

  Fifteen minutes later, he found himself standing outside a rather magnificent mansion located in Mayfair. When he knocked on the door, he gave the butler his card and then waited in the foyer before he was shown into the study. The room was empty. Ah, so this is how it was to be. Thorn had kept him waiting, and now the duke would keep him waiting. Wulfe crossed the room and chose a comfortable, high-backed chair that would hide his presence from view. Almost thirty minutes later, he heard the tell-tale clipping of boots on the marble and parquet wood floors as Walsh moved from one room to another.

  “Henson, I thought you said Wulfe had arrived.”

  “I have,” Thorn said, peeking around the edge of the chair and staring at the harried man that stood in the open doorway. Good, he’s not as in control as he wants to be, Thorn thought. “Very comfortable furniture you have here, Walsh.” Thorn stood as the other man entered the room and shut the door.

  “Thank you. Can I get you a drink?”

  “Thank you, but no. I have a business to see to after this.”

  “Of course. Shall we get right to it then?” Walsh asked, holding out his arm for Thorn to take the chair across from his desk. The duke then walked around the desk and sat, the leather creaking as he did so.

  “I’m curious, Walsh, why did you seek me out?”

  “Wulfe, you have always been a rebel. I can recall my father saying that you would ruin the Wulfecrest reputation.”

  “Many people feel that way about me.”

  “And now you are responsible for the Duke of Wulfecrest and all the decisions made regarding the dukedom until he reaches his majority.”

  “None of this is news, Walsh.”

  “There is a large group of us disgruntled with the way Prinny is conducting himself and running through the country’s funds.”

  “And you believe I can do something about it.”

  “We believe we can do something about it.”

  “Who is ‘we’?”

  “A group of concerned peers of the realm, and that is all you need to know for the time being.”

  “If I am going to throw my support in, I will want to know the people that are involved.”

  “Of course,” Walsh agreed, “but you have not yet said you would join us.”

  “What exactly is your group planning?”

  “We want Prinny removed. The man is an embarrassment to all that is England.”

  “And just who do you plan to replace him with?”

  “His daughter. She is a biddable young woman. Our group of advisors will direct her in decisions that should be made. We will make certain she marries a man that is not only good for her, but also England.”

  “Interesting,” Wulfe mulled over what the other man said. These men want to kill the Prince Regent? They are out of their minds. “I need time to consider this.”

  “Of course.”

  “What would my part be in this?”

  “That, you will find out if you choose to join us.”

  “And what if I don’t choose to join?”

  “That is a problem, isn’t it, Wulfe?”

  “What exactly do you mean?” Wulfe asked the younger man, attempting to size him up.

  “Well, you know what we want to do, though you do not know how we plan to take care of the matter. You know that I am involved,” Walsh waved his hand as he leaned back into his chair.

  “You are telling me that my life will be forfeit if I choose not to stand with you.”

  “You said it, my friend, not I.”

  “I still need time.”

  “Of course. I expect to hear from you in the near future.”

  “Always a pleasure, Walsh.” Thorn stood, bowed low, and then turned and left the room. The man was insane, and now Thorn had a target neatly drawn on his back. He did not remember leaving Walsh’s residence, nor the trip to the Lady Luck. The only thing he kept thinking about was the fact that his life could very well be over and what would become of the twins? Who would watch over them in his place? Who would love Rebekah? He stopped mid-stride in the middle of the Lady Luck. Did he love Rebekah? Yes. Somehow, somewhere throughout their time together, he had fallen in love with his wife.

  “Lord Wulfe, are you all right, sir?” a footman queried, a look of concern on the man’s face.

  “Yes.” He nodded before continuing on across the nearly empty gaming hell. Somehow she had gotten under his skin in more ways than one. Although she greatly irritated him on occasion, she intrigued him. She kept him on his toes with her superior wit. Dammit, Walsh’s threat was not one to be taken lightly. He needed the name of the other members of the group and to find out when they planned to carry out their assassination attempt. What the younger man had said was true. Prinny was a spend-thrift and had wasted much of the country’s coffers when there were many of its citizens starving. Didn’t the man realize there were other ways in which to bring the man to heel?

  “What’s the matter, Wulfe? You look as if the weight of the world is on your shoulder,” Glandingham chortled.

  “Are you a part of them, Glandingham, or do they just use you?”

  “What are you talking about?” The portly man looked nervously about the room for prying ears.

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “I haven’t said a blasted word.”

  “You didn’t have to. What are they offering you, and what exactly are you providing them?”

  “I have no idea…”

  “Oh, come off it, Glandingham. I want to know everything.”

  “In the office,” the man looked nervous and beads of perspiration dotted his brow and upper lip. Upon reaching the office, Thorn shut and locked the door, then turned to see his partner blotting at t
he moisture on his face and balding pate.

  “I’m waiting.”

  “You don’t know what you are getting involved in, Wulfe.”

  “Such kindness and words of warning.”

  “Dammit, I am trying to help you. Don’t get involved with them.”

  “I fear it is too late for that. They have cornered me, not vice versa.”

  “Then they suspect you have something that can aide them. They only come after people who they think will further their cause.”

  “Is that how you became involved?”

  “Yes.”

  “The Lady Luck?”

  “No, they had nothing to do with us becoming partners. I ran the estate into the ground. I took the last of my wife’s dowry that I had inherited and bought into half of the Lady Luck. Thanks to you, my daughters will have dowries to inherit, and my son will not have only a title to inherit someday.”

  “You risked your reputation being involved with a gambling establishment for money?”

  “Wulfe, you have always thumbed your nose at society. You have always played by your own rules. Most of us are too frightened to do any such thing. To me, the cost of being turned away by a few peers was fitting. I deserved not to be allowed entrance into their homes. I am allowed in other homes because I keep the men’s secrets that frequent here, often with their mistresses in tow. They use their authority over their wives to ensure that my son and daughters are allowed entrance to make good matches. My children should not be punished for my misdeeds.”

  “I don’t feel sorry for you. You made me shoot my friend to allow you to enter into the business as my partner.”

  “I did not make you do anything, Wulfe. You would not have done it unless you wanted to.”

  “I am not going to argue this aspect with you. I want to know who this group of men is that you keep talking about.”

  “I cannot tell you.”

  Thorn walked over to the far wall, moved a painting, and worked the safe combination. He retrieved a gun that he kept primed and loaded. Turning around, he lifted the gun and pointed it at Glandingham. “You bring up a good point, Glandingham. I would not have shot Liam if I had not wanted to, if I had not thought it would benefit me in some way. I find that I want to shoot you even more at this very moment.”