I took a sip of my tea. “Why?”
“I have some Christmas surprises for you.”
An attempt to earn back favor, no doubt. “Jasper, what did you do?”
“A few surprises, that’s all.”
I kept my eye on him as I finished my breakfast and drank the rest of my tea.
“All right, I’m done,” I said. He extended his hand to me and helped me out of bed. I pulled my dressing gown over my shoulders and put on my slippers. We weren’t expecting company until much later, and I planned to be comfortable for as long as possible.
When we got into the hallway, Jasper covered my eyes.
“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to pull my hands away.
“I told you, it’s a surprise.”
I paused. “All right, but you have to make sure I don’t trip.”
“I would never let you trip.”
Walking awkwardly, Jasper’s hands still over my eyes, we made it down the hallway. I didn’t need to be able to see to know where we were. He had led me only a few steps, and I heard a door to my left open. We were at the nursery.
We waddled inside the doorway, where Jasper pulled his hands away. I gasped.
Originally, the room had been an awful variety of olive shades. Olive walls, olive carpeting, olive drapes. I had been brainstorming ways to fix it since the summer, and Jasper had put my ideas in action. The walls were now a soft sage, with the wall behind the brass crib papered in a soft white decorated with jungle animals. The drapes had been replaced with a white chiffon and a gold velvet. The carpet, too, was an ivory shade that matched the dresser and rocking chair. The closet was full of little boy outfits, and a rocking chair had parked itself next to the bookshelf.
My eyes welled with tears. “Oh, Jasper, it’s beautiful.”
“I’ve been working on it for months,” he said proudly.
How on earth had he found time to redecorate the room with me right next door? “You’ve been very sneaky.”
“It wasn’t easy.”
I reached over to hug him, his head making me warm all over. “I love it.”
“I’m glad,” he said, kissing the top of my head, “but I’m not done yet.”
“Oh?”
“We’ve got to open presents,” he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had gotten a Christmas gift. It must have been before my father fell ill, back when we’d had some spare money. I hadn’t been sure what to expect for my first Christmas at Wolf’s Peak, but Jasper had already outdone himself.
Hand–in–hand, we descended the staircase. We hadn’t talked about the incident after the funeral, but it seemed that Jasper was purposely avoiding the conversation. I didn’t mind. In hindsight, I was embarrassed for how I had acted. It had been very immature of me.
We had stashed our gifts under the Christmas tree in the lounge. It wasn’t as big as the one in the entrance, but it had a sweeter, cozier feel. It wasn’t so ostentatious, decorated with a few flowers and beads and baubles.
Jasper and I sat down beside the tree and he pulled out a slender box from the pile of gifts, handing it to me. For a few minutes now I had worried that my gift was never going to compare, and as soon as I opened the box, I knew I was right. It was a stunning necklace, with silver scallops and a large sapphire in the center, circled by little diamonds.
“It’s part of a set. It goes with your ring,” he said, gesturing to the ring he had given me when we became betrothed. “I don’t think I ever told you, but it was my mother’s.”
Emotion welled up in my chest. “Really?”
“Not her engagement set; she was buried with that. But it was one of her other favorite sets.”
“Jasper, I love it,” I said, hoping I hid the guilt in my voice. There was no way my gift for him would be comparable. Nevertheless, I fished the package out of the pile and handed it over.
Jasper took his time opening it, and tension built in my chest the entire time. When he peeled off the last bit of wrapping, he gasped. “Oh, Christine.”
I’d been clueless as to what to get him for Christmas. I had no money to my name, and anything I’d be purchasing for him he’d be paying for. I’d begged the girls for months to give me ideas, but finally, I’d had a breakthrough.
“I’m going to hang it in the parlor,” he promised.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said, but I was happy he wanted to. After months of agonizing over his gift, I’d finally sent a copy of our wedding portrait to a painter in London. Jasper’s bedroom was decorated with photos of family, but the rest of the house was strangely barren, probably due to the fire. The painter had recreated the photograph in oils, and I had to say it turned out stunning. It was well worth what I had paid him.
“It’s perfect,” he told me, leaning down and sweeping me up in a tender kiss.
We had guests coming later that evening, and Jasper was set on hanging the painting up before they arrived. I sat in a chair in the parlor, amused, as he ran around the house trying to find a hammer and nails. I was extraordinarily proud of myself for giving him a gift that he loved so much, and I was thrilled that he had managed to give me a gift that I loved as well. Not the necklace. I could do without jewelry, although the sentiment and history attached were lovely. It was the nursery upstairs, decorated in perfect accordance with my ideas, that made my heart beat faster. It was hard to imagine that in just two months, there would be a small baby taking up residence there.
I was in a good mood as I prepared for the party. Bridget helped me into a navy–blue gown with a neckline low enough to show off my new necklace. I admired it in the mirror, the way it sparkled and shined. I suspected that I had never worn anything this expensive in my life, despite my last seven months in Wolf’s Peak.
Christmas dinner was planned to be a quiet, more intimate affair. Only the Randolphs and Lester were invited. Most of the other councilmen had family to be with for Christmas day.
The cook brought out a delicious roasted chicken, and we all devoured it quickly. After mealtime was over, we lounged in the drawing room with tea and cookies.
“Did Stephen say anything to you about the meeting?” I asked Annabelle.
She shook her head. “Not a word, which is very unlike him. What about Jasper?”
“I hardly saw him at all yesterday.”
“Maddening,” she sighed.
We were quiet for a few moments, watching the men laughing across the room.
“What did you think of the nursery?” Annabelle asked.
“Oh, it’s beautiful!” I said. “Wait. You knew about that?”
“Of course!” she laughed. “Jasper asked for my help in putting everything together and keeping you distracted.”
“Of course he did,” I muttered.
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” I told her.
“No, what did you mean by that?”
I really, truly did not want to get into this argument with Annabelle right now. Thinking quickly, I told her a lie. “I only meant that he trusts you, and so of course he had your help.”
“Right,” she said, although she looked unconvinced.
I cleared my throat, looking down at my hands.
“Look, Christine,” she said. “I know—”
Jasper stood up from his chair. “Let’s play a game!” he proclaimed.
That sounded like a horrible idea to me, but he’d clearly had more to drink than usual, with a wide grin spread across his flushed face. No matter how much I protested, he insisted, and we all played an absurd game of charades. Jasper and I lost terribly.
After our guests left, I retired to my room. I was tired from the festive day, and the baby made me exhausted much quicker. I stripped off my clothes and slipped into the warm bath.
The hot water relaxed my body, pulling out the tensions from the last week. My neck and shoulders were stiff from—I assumed—carrying all this ext
ra weight around in my middle. The water was soothing, the scents from the oils relaxing.
There was a knock on my door, then I heard it open. I craned my neck out of the bathroom door to see Jasper. I waved at him from the bathroom, and his face lit up once his eyes fell on me.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said.
“It’s all right.” I grabbed the towel from the hook beside the tub and pulled myself up, wrapping my body in the soft cloth. When I was dry, I wrapped myself in my dressing gown and came out to the bedroom. Jasper was sitting on the bed, waiting for me, and his eyes roamed my body as I came out of the steamy bathroom.
“You looked beautiful today,” he said as I came and sat beside him.
“Thank you. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Christine,” he said softly. “I wanted to apologize for the other night.”
I raised my eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.
“Some of the men have been complaining that you and Annabelle have been too involved in the wolf politics as of late.”
“That’s ridiculous!” I said. “Annabelle, yes, possibly, but that’s sort of the way she is. She’s involved in everything.”
“I’m well aware. However, I think a few of the men are sick of it. That’s why we needed to keep you out of the great hall. In addition, we had to discuss the matter of Seth, and we needed the utmost discretion.”
I nodded. I wasn’t completely happy with the explanation, but with all the work that he had put into Christmas, along with his apology, it was clear he was making an attempt at reconciliation.
“I appreciate your honesty,” I said.
A beat passed. “Did you have a good holiday?”
“I would say there were some mixed emotions.”
“That’s fair, I suppose.”
I hesitated before breaking into a smile. “I can’t believe you made me play charades.”
“I can’t believe you’re so rubbish at it.”
I playfully punched him in the shoulder and he laughed. He reached over, and I thought he might reciprocate, but instead he took my shoulder and pulled me toward him. He met my lips in a hot, urgent kiss. His hand slipped to the back of my neck, lowering my body down to the bed. He straddled me, supporting himself on his arms as his kiss deepened, searing hot against my skin.
He kissed down to my neck as one hand pulled back to work at the knot on my dressing gown. The satin fell open and he kissed down my chest and took one of my erect, swollen nipples in his mouth. He sucked gently, but the sensations running through my body were enough to make me arch my back and call out softly. His tongue ran circles around the nipple, teasing and playing until I felt ready to scream. Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, he moved his mouth lower, kissing my round belly for a moment before trailing his kisses even lower.
Ever since I had become pregnant, every part of my body was more sensitive than I was used to. My nipples were, of course, but the bits between my legs even more so. It was little more than a soft lick that tore a moan from the back of my throat. My clit was swollen, throbbing between my legs, and Jasper was taking his time, nipping and licking enough to drive me wild, but not enough to send me all the way over the edge. I wanted to beg, plead with him to allow me to reach the apex of my pleasure, but I could do little more than whimper in absolute pleasure.
Jasper pulled away from me and I cried out in disappointment. I opened my eyes to see him unbuckling his pants and kicking them off. The flickering flames of the fire highlighted the strong muscles in his legs and the fine curve of his backside. He pulled me to the edge of the bed so my legs fell on either side of him. Supporting my thighs with his hands, he positioned his hard member at my entrance.
“Are you ready, Christine?”
“Please,” I whispered.
He thrust inside of me, a slow but deep motion, filling me entirely. I groaned in pleasure as his member brushed at my most sensitive spot inside. He pulled himself out, almost all the way but not quite, the tip still resting inside of me. He thrust again.
Despite the domination he exhibited in his professional life, Jasper had always been a gentle lover, treating my inexperienced body with the utmost care. The longer we were together, the less worried I was that I was going to break beneath his fingertips. Tonight was no exception. He thrust in and out of me with abandon, but always put my pleasure first. My ecstasy flashed through me, my vision spotty and blending with the shadows cast by the fire. He soon followed, emptying himself inside of my before peppering my face with kisses.
I fell asleep with him beside me, feeling better than I had when I had woken up.
Chapter Seven
The holidays seemed to pass in a blur, and soon it was the new year. Despite my constant hesitations, Jasper and I were getting along better than ever. He was constantly attempting to make me happy and to make amends, and that meant more than any gift he could give me. He had been sure to tell the prince that he wouldn’t be traveling over the holidays, so we spent the whole week together. It was almost a honeymoon–type bliss, and it was all broken two days into January.
We were playing mahjong in the parlor when there was a knock on the door. I’ll admit it made me jump; the house had been so quiet lately. Most days there were council members constantly filtering in and out, so to hear the pounding on the door reverberating through the house gave me a start.
After a few moments, Mr. Potter brought our guest in. It was the coroner, his hat pressed to his chest and his nose and cheeks red from the cold.
“Good evening, my lord,” he said, giving Jasper a slight bow.
“Hooper, what can I do for you?” Jasper asked, rising to shake his hand.
“I have news regarding Mr. Melle.” The coroner’s eyes flickered to me. “Perhaps we should go somewhere more private?”
Jasper looked at me. “Christine can listen,” he said, and for once I felt included. “Take a seat.”
Mr. Hooper glanced nervously at me for a moment before acquiescing, sitting down in the chair opposite us. He cleared his throat and looked at me again, as if wondering if I was supposed to be here.
“What’s your news, then?” Jasper asked impatiently, looking down at our mahjong tiles, letting Mr. Hooper know that the duke’s time was precious.
Mr. Hooper fiddled with his hat. “Well, unfortunately, my news is that we don’t have much news.”
“Pardon?”
“As you know, we examined the body at length. My conclusion is that the attack was animalistic in nature, most likely a wolf. His torso was torn and bitten, which is why his entrails were spilling out.”
His eyes darted to me. If he had expected me to be sick, he was sorely mistaken. None of this was news to me. I held his gaze.
“Yes, you told me that before the funeral,” Jasper said.
“We examined some hairs at the scene and were able to conclude that they were, indeed, from a wolf,” the coroner said. “A black one at that.”
Jasper and I exchanged a look. We both knew what that meant.
“Unfortunately, other than that, I don’t have much else for you. It’s difficult to ascertain time of death because of the cold weather.”
“There’s a small window of time that he was missing,” Jasper said, “although we thank you for your attempt.”
“It’s not small enough,” I sighed. I wanted to know exactly at what point in the party he had gone outside and been attacked, but it seemed that would be unlikely. No one at the party had kept much track of time, and even if they had, Roderick hadn’t been one to draw much attention.
“Do you have anything else for me?” Jasper asked Mr. Hooper.
“Unfortunately, I do not.”
Jasper rose. “Thank you for your time, again,” he said. Mr. Hooper gave a slight bow before being escorted out the door.
I watched him leave. Through the window behind me, I saw him step into his carriage. “You were rather short with him.”
“He
had nothing new to tell me.”
“Well, that’s not his fault.”
“He was wasting my time, and he knew it. He only wants accolades. He’s worked under me for years.”
“Still,” I murmured, “we’re not completely without anything new. He did confirm that the wolf hair was black.”
“That doesn’t tell us much. There are a lot of black wolves in the world.”
My jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious. We both know who killed him.”
He shook his head. “We suspect. We highly suspect. We’re almost certain. However, I’m the alpha of England, and I must update the elders. Saying that we know it’s Seth because the hair was black will not be enough for them. They will need concrete evidence to prosecute him.”
I thought for a moment. “So if one were able to find solid proof, they would be able to prosecute?”
He frowned at me. “I suppose, but I’m not sure what you think you can do. It’s not as if Roderick left a note in the snow spelling out the name of his murderer.”
“That would have been convenient, though,” I sighed. Still, Jasper had given me and idea. There might not be writing in the snow, but it was completely possible that there was something we missed.
“I can see the gears in your head turning,” Jasper said. He took my hand. “Christine, stay out of this. Let me and my men handle it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I tried to avoid his gaze.
“Please,” he said, gazing into my eyes. “I’m doing my best to be transparent with you, and I need you to give me the same courtesy. Promise me you won’t get involved.”
I looked down at the tiles on the table.
“Christine.” His voice was more urgent. “Promise me.”
“How can I do that?” I asked. “This man is dangerous!”
“I know that! I know it better than anyone. That’s why I need you to promise me you won’t meddle. I can see the workings behind your eyes. I know you want to help, but this time, there’s nothing you can do.”
“How can you say that? How can you turn away help?”
“To keep you safe!”
The Wolf's Bait (The Wolf's Peak Saga Book 2) Page 5
