by Wendy Vella
“No there is not, and you can stop that right now.”
Eden just smiled and looked at Samantha once more, allowing Wolf the luxury of inhaling.
“So, Miss Abernethy.”
“I believe we have established that is her name, Dev,” Wolf said as his other cousin started in on him from the right.
“She has your colors.”
“You checked?”
“Of course,” he said, totally unrepentant. “But you know that already, don’t you?”
“Why would I know that?” Wolf had no wish to lie outright, so he evaded.
“The feeling you got as we approached the room and the fact you have already saved her are odd, considering she is not a Raven, and yet I do not believe that is set in stone. That a Sinclair must wed a Raven, I mean.”
“Stop it.” Wolf’s words came out in a soft growl.
His cousin raised his hands to suggest he was surrendering, but Wolf knew better. He and the others had formed an opinion of Rose Abernethy, and nothing would change that. Perhaps it was time for him to go home and visit his family in the country for a while. Distance would ease whatever this fascination was for Rose Abernethy, for both him and his family.
“I mean it, Dev. There will not be anything serious between me and a woman, and especially not Miss Abernethy, for a long time.”
“Because you are still suffering?”
Wolf exhaled loudly. “You are more tenacious than my horse.”
“I do believe that is a compliment.”
“No, it is not.”
“Forgive me if my teasing has upset you, Wolf; that was not my intention. I was simply pleased to see that Miss Abernethy had unsettled you. I will not mention the subject again.”
“She does not unsettle me,” Wolf lied. “Plus, she is not someone I would wed, even should I wish to... which I assure you I do not.”
“Why?”
“Don’t play that game with me. She is not from our world, as you very well know. Not,” Wolf added before his cousin could form a word, “that I am interested.”
“Max and Emily are baseborn, and yet fit into our circle.”
“Baseborn children of a duke.”
“I did not believe you one to care for such things, Wolf.”
“It matters not, as you know my thoughts on the matter.” Wolf ignored his cousin and looked down into the slumbering face of the child, and tried to push Miss Rose Abernethy from his mind.
No easy feat.
Chapter 8
“Why are you taking me back to your house?”
“I’m not,” Dev said, entering the street.
“Your uncle’s?”
Dev shook his head.
“James’s or Max’s?”
Another head shake.
“Cam’s, then?” Wolf looked at his cousins, who rode to his right, then behind him to the Raven brothers. He had managed to put off this trip for a few days, but when Dev arrived at his lodgings with the Raven brothers and Cam, there was little to be done but call for Apollo.
“No. Our first stop is just along the street.”
“From your house?”
“Yes.”
They dismounted a few minutes later and followed James through a black iron gate to look up at a house. It was not as big as those to its right and left, and made of brick with arched windows to either side of the front door trimmed in white. It looked a comfortable place to live, and the gardens bloomed with color.
“Well, I’m waiting?” Wolf said. “Are we to meet someone here?”
“This,” Max waved at the house, “has been owned by the Earl of Chartley for years. One of his ancestors supposedly had it built to house his mistresses, who apparently he could not live without.”
“Mistresses?” Cam questioned.
“Mistresses,” Max confirmed. “It is three stories, but not as big as many on this street. Three weeks ago, the current earl decided he was retiring to the country, and as this had mainly stood empty for the last few years, he decided to rent it, and will sell should someone wish to purchase the property. His residence”—Max pointed to the huge house to the left that sat slightly back from this one, far enough away that the earl’s wife could not see the comings and goings—“will remain staffed, should he require it.”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Wolf said, knowing exactly where this conversation was going. “I have my rooms for now and will rent something for my family when they are due to arrive in London.”
“You don’t need to now,” James added. “There is also the small matter that you are a Sinclair, and this is the street you should live on. It is expected.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I do not have to live in your pockets.”
“You’re a Sinclair, thus you’re termed odd. Now come inside before you make your decision,” James said.
“We are not odd, Raven,” Dev added. “It is simply that you Ravens cannot be left alone to care for yourself for more than a day, thus we must live close to keep you safe.”
“I lived here first,” James stated.
“For pity’s sake! All of us on one street? Surely this will be the end for society. We will be run out of town by the laughter.”
Cam shrugged. “I like having a point of difference. Nothing worse than being termed predictable. It smacks of boring to me.”
It was such a ridiculous statement that Wolf laughed.
“Come, let’s look, and you can think it over. But it will benefit your sisters and mother to be close to the women of our family,” Max said.
He followed the Raven brothers inside with his cousins at his back... as he knew they always would be.
“As it was decorated for mistresses, it is not as dark as some of the houses I have entered, and being smaller, I think it will be more comfortable,” Max explained.
The hell of it was Wolf felt comfortable as he walked through the rooms. They were bright, the colors pastel, and the furnishings less for effect and more for comfort.
“I do not know how I feel about housing myself and my family in what could be loosely termed a boudoir.”
“Not every room in the house was used as a bedchamber, Wolf. Shame on you for thinking such a thing,” Max drawled.
He could see himself here, and his sisters. Walking into a small parlor, he went to the window. Below he found a seat on the rise that looked over a small garden. The trees and other plants were not uniform, but planted in a haphazard fashion, positioned with love rather than effect.
Something washed over him that felt remarkably like peace.
“I like it,” Dev said. “It feels as if those who lived here were happy.”
“Oh, I’m sure they were,” Cam added, his smile wicked.
“I know,” Wolf said, still looking out the window. “Bloody hell, I hate it when you’re right.”
They laughed.
“But I insist that the mattresses and other available surfaces will be changed, and the place must be thoroughly cleaned,” Wolf said, needing to have the last say in the matter.
They left the house and mounted their horses once again.
“I will have my man look into securing the lease tomorrow,” Wolf said.
“And you will make sure to keep your pantry stocked also,” Cam added.
The air was cool and crisp as they rode to their next destination, wherever that was. As yet no one had told him, only that it was a business investment they wished him to be involved in.
“Does anyone care to enlighten me as to our intended location?” Wolf said as they left their street.
“You shall see. But first we’re stopping at the Speckled Hen for something to eat,” Cam said.
“We could have eaten at one of your houses,” Wolf protested.
“I want a peas and kidney pie, and they serve the best,” Cam looked happy at the prospect of food, as he always did.
“The only problem being you have to go into the seediest part of London to get it,” Max said.
&nb
sp; “I never knew you were so soft, Max.” Cam added.
“Oh now, we all know I’m not the one in this group who’s soft, Sinclair.”
The bickering continued until they reached the Speckled Hen, a lively tavern they’d frequented before. It was a place where you kept one eye open for trouble.
The street was narrow and dark and filled with people, some going about their work, others looking for an easy mark to steal from. Children dodged between horses and people, and there was a general air of chaos that was the norm on most London streets.
Dismounting, Wolf looked about for someone to watch their horses, and signaled five young children from across the street. Handing them coins, he instructed them to watch over the animals carefully. Max added his encouragement and promise of more money upon their return.
“I think my ribs have stuck together, I’m so hungry,” Cam groused as they made for the tavern.
“Miss Abernethy, how nice to see you again, and so soon.”
Wolf’s head spun so quickly at James’s words, he feared he’d done permanent damage to his neck.
She was with Miss Dodds, and Wolf took his time approaching, needing a moment to slow his heartbeat.
“Allow me to introduce you to Lord Sinclair and Mr. Huntington. I believe you have already met Mr. Sinclair, and Captain Sinclair.”
She was nervous, her eyes shooting from left to right. Wolf watched as she bobbed a curtsey, tugging Miss Dodds down with her. His eyes found a long red-gold curl that had escaped her bonnet and come to rest on her shoulder. Would it be soft to the touch?
“Will you introduce us to your friend?”
“Oh... ah, of course, your Grace. This is Miss Dodds.”
“Ooooh, I’ve never met a real duke or a lord. But of course I’ve met Captain Sinclair!” Miss Dodds clapped her hands. “And what a handsome group you all are.”
“Kitty,” Rose whispered, clearly mortified. Her cheeks were scarlet. “Curtsey at once.”
“Well it’s true, and I’m right miffed you’ve not mentioned that fact before now.”
Wolf swallowed his smile as Miss Dodds rebuked her friend while she curtseyed.
“Good day to you all,” Miss Dodds added. “What brings you here to our neighborhood?”
“Is it your neighborhood? We had no idea,” the duke said as if it was every day he spoke to women like these. “Do you live far from here?”
“A ten-minute walk that way.” Miss Dodd waved a hand over her shoulder.
“The peas and kidney pie is the best in town from the Speckled Hen,” Cam added, which Wolf thought may be a hint for them to keep moving.
“They are!” Miss Dodds clapped her hands again. Miss Abernethy looked like she would rather be anywhere else. “We are about to go and have one ourselves, although Rose prefers a sweet pie.”
He couldn’t be sure above the noise, but thought he heard Rose groan.
“Excellent, we shall move inside then,” Cam said, waving the women forward.
“We cannot.”
“And why is that, Rose?” Miss Dodds asked her friend. “You told me you were hungry, and as we have enough coins, we could have a meal here.”
“You go on inside, your Grace, my Lord, Captain Sinclair—”
“We know who we are, Miss Abernethy,” Wolf said before she rattled off their names once more.
“Of course, please excuse us.” She grabbed her friend and tugged her away.
Wolf watched as the women stopped several feet away and a heated debate erupted.
“Your Miss Abernethy does not look happy,” Dev said into his right ear. “Methinks she has an issue with sharing a meal in the same place as us… or is that you?”
“I’ve found that—” James mused, watching the two women, as they all were.
“What?” Miss Dodds was now waving a finger in Rose’s face, Wolf noted.
“Those in the lower classes are sometimes more conscious of class than we are.”
“Reverse snobbery, do you mean?” Max mused. “I remember being like that.”
“Who bloody cares! Now can we please eat?” Cam demanded.
“Your Miss Abernethy certainly looks distressed.”
“She’s not my anything. Now let’s go before Cam turns feral.”
He didn’t look at her again, instead moving into the dark recesses of the Speckled Hen. There were plenty of patrons, and the noise was a steady hum. As the day and intake of alcohol progressed, Wolf had no doubt it would rise.
Food was ordered, and Wolf tried to focus on the conversations going on around him. Something made him shrug, as if his jacket was too tight. As their meals arrived, Wolf got to his feet.
“I need to check on Apollo.”
“I’m sure you care more for that horse than us,” Cam declared around mouthful of pie.
“Of course I do,” Wolf said, leaving the table.
The horses were where they’d left them, and unharmed, but moving farther out into the street he let his eyes adjust to the sights around him.
“You will not speak to my friend that way!”
He knew that voice. Wolf’s gaze found a small group of people, mainly men. Rose’s voice came from there, he was sure of it. He arrived seconds later.
“Excuse me.” Parting the men at the rear, he stepped into the circle and found Rose, legs braced, hands on her hips. Before her was a big beast of a man, and he had a hold on Miss Dodds, who in turn was trying to get free.
“I said let her go!”
Before he could stop her, Rose had lunged at the man, who was raising a meaty fist. Wolf moved fast, and wrapping an arm around her waist, he lifted her back to his side, then grabbed her arm as she attempted to move once more and shackled her there with his hold.
“Release me!”
“No. Now tell me what’s happening.”
“He won’t let Kitty go.”
She was furious, anger radiating from her lovely body. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes narrowed. Wolf had thought her beautiful before, but right then she was something so much more.
“Unhand the woman, sir.”
“Mind your business,” the man snarled at him. “This here is between me and my woman.”
“She’s not your woman and never will be!” Rose shrieked.
“Is this man lying, Miss Dodds?”
“He is. I’m not his woman, and never wish to be so, but he won’t get that through his thick skull!”
“She’s my woman, she’s just shy about it,” the man said, and his smile had Wolf’s hackles rising.
“Release her now,” he said. Behind him the crowd was growing restless, and Wolf knew it was likely that some had come with the bully. At any moment a brawl could start, and the women would be caught in the middle of it.
“Make me,” the man said with a toothless smile.
Wolf released Miss Abernethy and shrugged out of his jacket.
“Hold this.”
“What? No! Absolutely not!”
To Wolf’s surprise, Rose now stood in front of him.
“You can’t fight him. He’ll hurt you.”
He was slightly miffed at her belief he could not hold his own with the man. Yes, he was a large man, but so was Wolf. “Do I look weak?”
“Of course you are not weak,” she whispered loudly, “but you are not used to these types of people. You could be gravely hurt.”
“These types of people?”
She shot a look over her shoulder to the man who was growing restless.
“Men of lower birth.”
“I’m sure I’ll be annoyed by that statement shortly, but as said man still has your friend in his grip and is glaring at me, we’ll put that discussion off for another time.”
“No, but he won’t fight fair, and you shouldn’t—”
“Take your friend and go into the Speckled Hen and collect the men I came with.”
“No—”
“Now, Rose.”
Wolf could feel the men around him st
epping backward, making the circle bigger. She gave him a last furious look, then grabbed Miss Dodds and left.
“You’ll need to give us more room, gentlemen,” Wolf said, keeping his eyes on the large, raging man before him. “We’re both big men.”
The circle increased.
“Kitty Dodds is my woman.” The man started circling Wolf with his fists raised. “She’s just shy.”
This had the other men laughing.
“But she’ll come around.”
Wolf felt his temper simmer at the man’s behavior. He knew the type; they thought women were put on this earth to meet their needs.
“And yet she says different.” Wolf knew how to fight, he just hadn’t done any of it since leaving the war. His thigh was not sore today, so hopefully it would hold.
“I’ve never fought no toff before.”
“And I rarely fight animals,” Wolf taunted.
The man roared and charged at him. Wolf stepped to one side and stuck out his foot.
“Quite slow on your feet then?”
The man landed face-first on the street.
“Get up, Bull!” someone roared. “Use your feet!”
“Yes, Bull, listen to your friends,” Wolf said as the man rose. Bracing himself as he saw the rage in the eyes of a man he had just humiliated, he knew the fight was far from over.
He took the first fist to his jaw and saw stars, but got in a good jab to the gut.
“He’s doing fine, Miss Abernethy, there really is no need to panic.”
Wolf heard Dev’s words as Bull roared and charged at him, catching him in the stomach. He staggered under the weight, but managed to slide free and kick the man in his backside, sending him to the street once more.
“Oooh, it’s right good to see that pig, Bull, getting his,” Miss Dodds said, sounding a great deal happier than a few minutes ago.
“He’ll kill him, please intercede!”
“Now now, Miss Abernethy, I assure you that is not the case,” Cam said. “Wolf is quite capable of holding his own, and as it will be a fair fight, it would hardly be right for us to weight the numbers on my cousin’s side.”
