Bonus Book 1: A Bride for the Wolf King
“Father’s home!” Beth announced to the whole house. Anna heard her sister’s heavy boots bounding down the wooden stairs to greet their father at the front door. For her part, Anna was not as excited. She closed her book and lay it on the nightstand, then calmly stood and walked to the large picture window in her room, staring down three stories to the cobble street below. Sure enough, there was their father’s carriage. She watched as his feet emerged from the enclosure, first the right, then the left--each foot clad in expensive leather shoes. And she watched as he stood and gazed up at his home with the pride of a man who had not seen it in a fortnight.
Anna could remember a time when she too were just as excited to see their father--back when their mother was alive, and Anna herself could still act like a child. Now, those days were gone. At the young age of 21, she had filled the role of mother in her little sister’s life, which lift her little time to pursue a life of her own.
Nevertheless, she peeled herself away from the window, and dragged herself down the stairs at a snail’s pace, lifting her skirts almost to her knees so that she wouldn’t step on them. She hadn’t made it past the landing when the door opened and her sister quickly enveloped their father in a bear hug.
“Hello sweetheart,” he said, brushing a few stray blonde hairs away from Beth’s
forehead so that he could plant a soft kiss there. Then he looked up the staircase to where Anna stood, watching them. “Was everything alright while I was away?” he asked her.
“As well as can he expected,” she returned without a smile.
Beth interrupted then, and in her sweetest little girl voice asked, “Did you bring me a present?
“Yes! I almost forgot. This is a gift from the duke and duchess,” he explained with grandiosity as he reached into his bag and pulled out a package for Beth. She ran out of the foyer with it, and disappeared into the parlor.
Anna could hear the wrinkling of paper coming from the other room as her father smiled and turned his attention back to her. “I have a gift for you as well,” he said to her softly.
“I’m too old for trinkets,” Anna responded, coming slowly down the stairs to where her father stood, “So is Beth. She just hasn’t realized it yet.”
Her father shook his head at her, “Not a trinket,” he said earnestly, “a suitor.”
Anna tried to hide her disappointment. She had no desire to meet whatever old friend of her father’s he was trying to push her toward. She only let one syllable escape her lips, “Oh.”
Her father heard the disappointment in her voice. Or, read it on her face. She was sure that it was written all over. “Are you not happy?” He asked incredulously, “Your mother would want this for you.”
Anna could have screamed at him for bringing up her mother, but she held back. “I know,” she managed, and tried to force a polite smile at her father’s sentiment. But Anna knew very well that her mother would not want this for her, as they had talked about it many times. As she brushed Anna’s long hair in the evenings, and discussed the future, she would say, “Make sure you marry for love. A marriage for money is the worst of lives.”
Anna’s mother was a beautiful woman--and one who had married an older man because her own father had forced her into what would be considered an advantageous match for their family. She had seen her mother’s unhappiness, and had never had any intentions of repeating her mistakes. Anna loved her dear father very much indeed, but she wasn’t fooled for a second that her parents were actually in love.
Lost in her own thoughts, Anna barely realized that her father was still talking. “And he will join us for dinner tonight,” he announced gleefully, “so be sure to look your best!”
Anna was going to say something in return, but at that moment, Beth reemerged from the parlor holding an ornate mother-of-pearl hand mirror and hairbrush. “I love it, father!!” she squealed, throwing her arms around him in an embrace that nearly knocked him off his feet. Then, “Anna, you must show me what father brought you from his journeys!” her face lit up eagerly.
Anna looked at her sister, who was only thirteen and still had so much hope and love in her twinkling blue eyes. She wanted to tell the girl that being a woman in this world was not all that it was purported to be--that it was not all about brushing hair, grooming and looking beautiful. But she could not bear to destroy that hope within her sibling. “Father doesn’t need to bring me anything but his love,” she told her sister, and even kissed the old man on the cheek, to illustrate the point, before politely excusing herself.
* * *
Entering the quiet retreat of her bedroom, Anna threw herself on her bed in despair. What gift did father bring me? She mentally asked herself. Prison shackles in the shape of a man?
She realized of course, that at her age, women were already mothers, ladies of the house, mistresses of the manor. But, she did not imagine that she would be meeting her future husband at a businesslike dinner, hosted by her own father. She had dreams of a magical romance that would sweep her off her feet; she imagined that when she met the man that was made for her, his touch would make her tingle, and his kiss would set her on fire.
Actually, she had imagined that many times before, as she lay in her bed in the privacy of her own bedchamber. She had never felt the touch of a man, but she had speculated wildly about how it might feel to have a man’s flesh against her own, to feel strong, rough hands gripping the most tender, sacred parts of her body…
Thinking about this now, Anna realized she had caused the blood to stir in her body again. She had found a need within herself that she could do little to to satisfy. But that did not stop her from trying. And so she touched herself as a man might, exploring each inch of her skin in a way that would shame her if anyone ever found her out. Finally, her mind went completely blank, and she lost control, leaving her body to writhe in the sweat-covered bedsheets until her muscles finally relaxed, and the silence of the room enveloped her.
As she lay there in the darkness, Anna paid close attention to how her pulse slowed. She had been unaware of anything--even her own existence--for the last several minutes, and so the slowing of her heartbeat felt like a sort of returning to earth. She listened to wolves howling in the distance, their cries ringing out into the night like sirens announcing their own freedom, and for a moment, she was jealous of them.
She considered the possibility of disappearing into the night herself--would her father come looking for her? Probably. It wasn’t worth the risk. And anyhow, maybe this man that her father had invited to dinner wouldn’t be so bad after all. Anna rose from her bed, and began to consider what to wear. Regardless of who was coming to dinner, she would want to look her best. She chose a green gown that had belonged to her mother and admired herself in the mirror after she put it on. It made the red ringlets, that fell about her shoulders in soft curls, come to life, as if they were on fire. It was perfect.
* * *
When Anna finally emerged from her bedchamber, it was nearly time for dinner. She snuck into the kitchen to see what the cooks were preparing, as she had often done when she was a small child. Now that she was grown, however, the family’s help had less patience for her intrusions.
“Get out of here, Ms. Cartwright,” Ella, their head cook, admonished her, “you’re going to get grease on that beautiful dress and your father’s guest will think you’re a common beggar.” Anna laughed with Ella, and gave the old woman a kiss on the cheek. She had been like a grandmother to Anna for most of her life, especially immediately after Anna’s mother died, when the young girl had needed comforting the most.
“Ok Ella,” Anna conceded,”I’m taking a piece of bread though. I’m starving and I can’t have this man thinking I eat like a horse.”
“As you will, Miss Anna,” replied Ella, smiling, and the old woman went back about her business--which included glazing the pheasant with honey brought in from the hives in the apiary. Anna’s stom
ach growled at the sight. This must be a special guest. Pork
“Anna!” she heard her sister’s voice echo throughout the narrow three story house and she sighed. Inevitably, Beth needed help pinning her blonde locks to the top of her head. Anna swallowed her stolen piece of bread in practically one bite, before heading up the tall stairwell to help her little sister.
She knocked lightly on Anna’s door. “Come in!” Beth called. Anna swung the door open to reveal a not-so-small pile of dresses stacked on Anna’s bed, and another half-dozen gowns strewn haphazardly across the wooden floor.
“What happened here?” Anna asked her sister.
“Did you not hear that we have a guest coming for dinner?” Beth asked excitedly. Her little sister’s eyes were dancing, and if she didn’t know that her Beth hated the taste of any kind of alcohol, she would have thought she’d been drinking; she was so flushed with excitement.
“Yes. Father’s friend. But, dear Beth, the gentleman is here to meet me, you silly goose.” Anna set about picking up the dresses, and depositing them back into the tall oak wardrobe in the corner of her sister’s room.
“Oh, yes, of course, sister. But I’m sure father would still be most pleased if I looked my best also.” Beth said cheerfully, “Would you be so kind as to help me tame these tresses?” Beth looked at her with a hopeless expression, offering the hairpins to Anna.
Anna exaggerated a deep exhalation, crammed an armful of gowns into the wardrobe and forced it closed before accepting the tools of her grooming job from her sister.. “You know, you’re getting old enough to do this yourself,” Anna warned. , “I won’t be here to do this for you forever.”
“I know, dear sister” Beth said, “But I am reminded of mother, when you help pin my hair.”
Anna had no idea that Beth remembered their mother at all. The younger sister had only been what? 5? 6? When their mother passed away. “You remember her?” she asked, curious.
“Bits and pieces,” Beth answered, “ I remember how gentle she was, when she combed my hair. She smiled at Anna earnestly. “But mostly, I remember you taking care of me after she was gone.”
Anna stopped what she was doing, and hugged her sister tightly. God she loved her so. They didn’t only share the bond of loss of their mother; they also genuinely liked one another. As people, not just as siblings. Anna pinned her sisters healthy blonde curls in a tight roll at the top of her head. “I love you unbearably,” she said softly, kissing her sister’s forehead.
“I love you too,” Beth said.
Dinner was planned for later than was usually common. Father said it was because his guest had to travel from very far. But by the time he was due to arrive, it seemed like the whole house was grumbling in a state of intense hunger. Anna wondered what kind of rude person would keep his hosts waiting all night; all the while knowing that they wouldn’t be able to eat until he arrived. When the guest did arrive, father made Anna and Beth stand at the door like silly schoolgirls waiting for class to start.
“ Anna! Beth!” he called to them, “Come to the foyer. Our guest has arrived.”
Anna did as she was told as usual. She and her sister met at the front door, either side, facing one another and waited for their father’s guest to enter. She caught Beth’s gaze, and stifled a giggle. Anna realized that she was a little nervous. She also just had the epiphany that her father had not even told her the man’s name! How strange it was that she was expected to grow to like, or even love, someone without even knowing his name before they met! Butterflies filled the empty space in her stomach, and fluttered around there just long enough to make her feel sick with worry. Her father went outside to meet the mysterious guest at his carriage. When they reemerged through the front door and Anna almost fell backward upon witnessing the man's appearance. He was so tall, he had to duck just to make it through the doorway of their Brownstone. Anna found herself looking almost straight upwards just to examine his face.
“ Anna, Beth. this is “Monsieur Lupine,” her father introduced. And then, “Monsieur Lupine, these are my daughters, Ms. Bethany and Anna Cartwright.”
Their very tall guest bent low to take a hand of each sister, to plant a soft kiss on the back of it. First, he kissed Beth’s. Then he moved on to Anna. He instantly looked deeply - almost searchingly - into her eyes, for a long moment before bowing his head to kiss her hand. His eyes were dark and impossible to read beyond some kind of inflated self confidence.This focused stare of his, made Anna immediately self-conscious and uncomfortable. She was not accustomed to the grasping appraisal of men’s eyes, and Monsieur Lupine’s held an arrogance that was already stirring feelings of resentment and resignation in Anna’s heart.
“Mademoiselle,” he said, as he broke the gaze and planted his well practiced kiss to Anna’s hand. He gripped her hand firmly--a little too firm for her comfort--as if he were taking possession of it, and lingered in its grasp just long enough to make her feel like she somehow already belonged to him. She did not enjoy being touched in such a way; this was not how she imagined that a man’s hands should feel. They were unnaturally warm, but their touch sent chills through her spine. She tried, gently, to pull away, but it was as if he gripped her more tightly to prevent her from doing so.
“Sir,” she returned politely, and bent her knees in a slight curtsy to greet him. She hoped that their greeting had lasted long enough to please their father, and silently begged him to interrupt them so that she could be freed from Monsieur Lupine’s grasp. After what seemed like an eternity, the old man finally stepped in to usher his daughters and his guest to the dining room. Monsieur Lupine sat next to Anna, closer than she felt comfortable with.
“So, do you have a profession Mister Lupine? What kind of employment steals your time?” Beth asked before they had even been served their food from the kitchen. Anna wanted to kick her for her rudeness to their guest, but the dining table was too wide for her legs to reach, and besides, she was curious about his activities as well.
For his part, Monsieur Lupine did not seem offended by Beth’s question, and responded politely. “I have a number of investments across the continent, Miss Bethany.” He waved his hand with galant nonchalance. “In reality, however, I suppose I spend most of my time drinking wine and traveling abroad. I was very lucky to be born into family blessed with skills of a pecuniary genius, so really, I want for nothing.”
Anna found herself astonished by his response, and began wondering how old the man must be. She dare not ask for fear that she might be thought to be rude. She tried not to be obvious as she examined his face. He couldn’t possibly be any older than thirty, could he? And yet something about him--his demeanor, perhaps, or the way that he spoke about the world like it was some plaything that he owned--made him seem far older than she believed.
As if he could read her thoughts, Monsieur Lupine turned toward Anna, and caught her staring. “You can ask me anything,” he said to her calmly, locking those dark pools for eyes on her, once more. “Nothing is too personal between, ah....” He broke off.
“Is that what we are? Ah?” Anna asked him snidely. She couldn’t help herself. The man’s pride had her utterly vexed. She avoided her father’s cold glare.
“I certainly hope so.” He reached toward her to touch her then, but pulled back, as if he thought better of it. Anna pretended not to notice the gesture, but it took her aback--something almost too private to be shared out in the open. She turned her attention back to the table; to her sister and father..
“Well, father has told us literally nothing about you, Monsieur Lupine,” she said broadly, forcing a smile for manners sake. “Tell us about yourself. Who are you? Where do you come from? I’m afraid you’re quite the mystery.” She took a drink of her wine to ease her nerves. This man jangled her nerves so. She wanted to flee. But she also couldn’t ignore the strong allure she felt toward this near stranger.
“Ah, so you think I’m mysterious?” It was less of a question than a tease. Anna turned
sideways to look at him, and found mischief in his eyes. They looked dark and playful. Anna lost her words. My word, he’s terribly forward! She thought to herself. She wasn’t sure how to respond without sounding coy or coquettish.
“Well...I…,” she stammered.
“I’m just playing with you,” he said finally after letting her suffer for a moment, “My name is Robert Lupine. My family has a large estate in the south, near Arles. I was visiting a friend in London, and met your father, who simply would not stop talking about you, so I just simply had to meet the incomparable Anna Cartwright.” It sounded sarcastic. Bored, even.
Anna felt her cheeks warm, as a blush rose in her cheeks. She wasn’t sure whether to take the words he had just uttered as ‘truth’, or to give merit to the sarcastic tone on which those words were delivered. Anna fidgeted uncomfortably in her chair, pretending to adjust her skirts. For reasons unknown, even to herself, she felt compelled to sit there and absorb Mr Lupine’s company. His voice was low and silly, and pleasing to her ear. She refused to let him know that of course. The arrogance he was so clearly afflicted with, would never allow him to show the humility that Anna found attractive. No, any kind of attention from her would go straight to his pompous head and he’d begin to think she had feelings for him, which she most certainly did not. Nevertheless, the four of them continued talking throughout dinner, about art and travel, about Monsieur Lupine’s family and his estate in France. They talked for so long that by the time dessert arrived, Anna was downright bored by his presence, and was looking for any excuse to pull herself away and escape to the privacy of her own room.
When the time finally did come for Robert Lupine to leave for the night, Anna found herself silently begging that she would never have to see him again. It was possible, she told herself, that he would not be interested in her at all, and would go back to his fancy French estate and never be heard from again. But, Anna should have known that she would not be so lucky.
Clean Regency Romance: The Earl's Temptation (The Pure Heart Triumphs Series Book 1) Page 6
