by Wendy Vella
“I will not.” She slid her fingers onto his arm. “But I need to tell you something before you see her.”
“What? She’s not sick is she? You told me—”
“She told me she is leaving London with Miss Dodds.”
“No.” He shook his head. “She’s not going anywhere.”
“I didn’t think so, but thought it best I inform you.”
“Thank you.”
“I like her, by the way, very much.”
He took a moment to lean down and kiss his gentle cousin’s cheek. “So do I.”
They followed Cam and Emily into the Raven residence when they arrived, and up to James’s study. Everyone else was assembled. It seemed it was to be a full family meeting.
“You smell better. Less smoky.” Cam scratched Hep under the chin as he took the seat beside him on the sofa.
“A person tends to get smoky when they are about to turn into a cinder.”
“You were the one who charged into that building in a heroic way. Foolishly, I may add.”
“No, please, do add that,” Wolf muttered.
“The place was engulfed in flames!”
“And people were still inside.”
“But not just any people,” Cam added. “Your person.”
“I have no idea what that means, and furthermore it was terrible use of the English language.”
“Stop bickering and pay attention,” Dev intervened.
“We are debating, not bickering, brother. Please note the difference.”
“Before we discuss what James called you here for, I want to discuss Miss Abernethy,” Max said, drawing all eyes.
Wolf kept his hand on Hep’s head, not showing the tension that had suddenly increased inside him at the mention of Rose’s name.
“I wondered if you would look at placing her and Miss Dodds at the mill, Wolf, when the renovations are complete. She will be the perfect person for such a place, and be wonderful with the veterans. It would give her a home and a purpose.”
“I think not,” Wolf said.
“But it is an excellent opportunity for both her and Miss Dodds,” Lilly said. “Surely she would be safe there?”
“No, she is not leaving London... or me.”
There was silence for two seconds.
“How wonderful.” Eden clapped her hands together.
“Oh well, that didn’t take much convincing.” Lilly looked disappointed. “We had planned quite the production to get you to admit your feelings.”
Wolf decided he would go for honesty now that he had declared his hand.
“She is very aware of the fact that, in her opinion, she is beneath us, and has already turned down my marriage proposal. But I will do everything in my power to convince her to change her mind, and if not I will simply gag her and head for Gretna Green.”
“You have proposed already?” Dev looked shocked.
Wolf nodded.
“What, one wonders, led up to the proposal?”
“That is my business.”
“Well, should you need our help convincing her, then we are at your disposal,” Eden said.
“They have wonderful rings at Gretna Green, so I’ve heard.”
“Excellent, I am glad that is settled.” James ignored Cam. “There is a link between this family and Miss Abernethy that has me worried for her welfare, but as you are to marry, I need worry no more.”
“She does not want to marry me.”
“She will,” James vowed, and Wolf hoped he was right. “Now I wish to tell you of the other matter I called you here to discuss. I need your help.”
“Of course.”
“Anything.”
“Thank you. Yesterday word came that Mr. Breel Senior, my father’s solicitor and right-hand man, has been found here in London. Max and I went to speak with him.”
“By that look all did not go well,” Dev suggested.
“No. The man is still what he once was.”
“James made Breel get to his feet and bow to him.” Max smiled. “Then made him do the same to me. That did not sit well, as Mr. Breel said I am a bastard and unworthy of his respect.”
“I can’t imagine the duke coped very well with that insult,” Cam said.
“No. In fact he grabbed him by the collar and hauled him out of his chair before I could stop him. Then shook him like a bedsheet. I interceded when the man went puce.”
“He’s always been a mean bastard,” James snarled. “Seeing him brought it all back.”
Eden moved to her husband’s side, taking his hand.
“He punished you?” Dev asked.
“Many times, while my father watched.”
“It is lucky for him I did not know that before we entered that room,” Max said, looking mean.
Bigger than all of them, he was the one man in the room who rose above the others as someone not to cross. His past had been dark, and his survival was due to his ruthlessness.
“What else was said?” Wolf asked.
“I said that I believed he had embezzled funds from me and that he held papers belonging to my father, and hence me. I then demanded them.”
“It was a moment we both enjoyed,” Max said. “Because the old bastard was shocked. He denied both charges vehemently, James refused to believe him, and called in Mr. Brown and Mr. Spriggot, who we had taken with us.”
“The family bullies,” Cam drawled.
“They then searched every room in the house. Mr. Breel was almost apoplectic with rage by the time they reached his bedroom, vowing retribution and lamenting the fact James was not the man his father was.”
“And for that we are thankful.” Eden kissed her husband’s cheek.
“But did you find anything?” Wolf asked.
“Two large wooden crates, and in each were hundreds and hundreds of papers with the Raven name on them. We have them here, and are now in the process of going through each piece.”
“And you want our help?” Cam guessed.
“I do, when you can spare it.”
“Whatever is in those papers could be damaging and painful for you, James. Are you sure you wish us to be party to what is found?”
The duke didn’t hesitate, simply nodded. “There is little we do not know of each other, and I have no wish to start that now. We need your help, as Eden, Max, Em, and I will make slow work of it ourselves.”
“Then our help is yours,” Dev said, looking around the room.
“Perhaps this will help you finally lay your father to rest... in hell,” Wolf said softly.
Everyone agreed with that.
Chapter 31
Rose answered the knock on her door and found Wolf standing there.
“Captain Sinclair.” Rose dug her toes into the soles of her boots to stop herself from moving to meet him. “Why are you here?”
“I told you I would come and talk to you.” He kept walking until the tips of his boots touched hers, so close she could inhale the man she loved.
“But we could be seen.”
He touched her hair, which she had not yet pinned in place, taking a handful and wrapping it around his fingers.
“I knew it was beautiful, but this is so much more. Marry me, Rose.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I cannot allow that to happen just because you are a man of honor.”
“You think this is about honor?” He cupped her cheek.
“What else can it be?”
“It was not honor that coursed through me when I knew you were inside that burning building, Rose. Nor was it honor that told me you were in danger. Marry me.”
He kissed her. It was urgent and nothing like the soft kisses they’d shared before. She wanted it; she wanted him and so much more.
“Marry me and we can have this, my sweet Rose.”
“I-I—”
“Rose, I am... oh, Captain Sinclair, forgive me. I did not realize you were in here.”
Rose quickly stepped
away from Captain Sinclair.
Marry me. Dear Lord, she’d been about to say yes.
“Good day, Miss Dodds. I hope you are well?”
Rose exhaled a shaky breath as Wolf spoke with Kitty. How could he sound so calm when she was a mess?
“It would take more than a fire to lay us low, Captain,” Kitty said when Rose didn’t speak.
“I am pleased to hear that. Now, if you will excuse me I am to meet with the twins. I will return soon for that answer, Rose.”
“Well,” Kitty said after he’d gone, “I was sure there was a great deal between you and that man, but that confirms it.”
Ignoring her friend’s smirk, Rose gathered the gloves Mrs. Huntington had given her.
“The man has saved me several times, Kitty; of course there is something between us.”
“No, Rose.” Kitty grabbed her hands and gave them a little shake. “This is more than that. This, if my guess is correct, is much, much more.”
“I-It can’t be,” Rose whispered, feeling the composure she’d battled to hold in place slip. Tears fell as she slumped onto the bed.
“Oh, Rose, but there is.” Kitty enfolded her in her arms. “You love him, don’t you?”
She cried then, loud, pathetic sobs, and her friend held her tight, murmuring nothings into her ear.
“W-we have to go, Kitty. We must g-get out of London as s-soon as we can.”
“No, Rose Abernethy. You need to stop running. Captain Sinclair is not the perfidious Herbert.”
“But we come from different worlds.” Sniffing, Rose pulled away.
“If he doesn’t care, then I’m not sure why you should?”
Could she contemplate it? Surely not?
“Reach for the happiness, Rose. I am.”
“P-pardon?”
“Mr. Trent and I, well, I’ve seen him a few times, and he’s just so lovely, Rose.” Kitty’s face softened as she spoke of the man they’d met at the theatre.
“And you like him a lot?”
“I do, a lot.” Kitty grabbed Rose again, hugging her. “He called here, Rose, yesterday, after he’d heard about the fire. He was so worried.”
“He called here?”
“Mr. Trent was told by someone near the lodging house where we had gone, so he came here. And, Rose…”
“What?”
“He held me and kissed me. It was thrilling. He took me into the park and said that the thought of me being hurt was unbearable to him.”
“Oh, Kitty, I am so happy for you.”
“He cares nothing for my past, only that I am in his future.”
“He said that?”
“Yes, and that he loves me. He did not hesitate to come to the Duke of Raven’s house to find me, Rose, not one bit.”
“It is very soon to speak of love, surely?” And yet Rose had known when she first saw Wolf that he would be special to her, so why not Kitty and her Mr. Trent?
“No one has ever treated me as he does. I had thought coming here, living in such a place would be the most miraculous thing to ever happen to me, but it’s not.”
“Love is.”
Kitty nodded, giggling like a little girl. “So if I reach out and take a chance, why not you?”
Could she?
“I will think about it.”
“Very well, but now I am to help Mrs. Huntington and the duchess, and they wish your company too.” Kitty laughed. “Can you imagine me helping a duchess?”
“What are you helping them with?”
“The concert, and you are playing, Rose, as we owe these people so much.”
“But it is tomorrow, Kitty. I have not practiced.”
Her friend made a pfft noise.
“Your talent does not need practice, and there is still time for you to do so.”
Rose watched her friend skip from the room.
Could she reach for happiness? Her eyes took in the huge bed, the softest she’d ever slept in. The rugs under her feet were plush, and the furnishings were in soft duck-egg blue. It was a beautiful room. A writing desk sat against one wall, the delicate legs turned and carved, the surface polished to a sheen. Everywhere she looked, she saw wealth. Everything matched, everything was expensive, and it was a taste for Rose and Kitty of just how those with money and status lived.
If I married him, I could have this.
Pinning her hair in place, she decided that Kitty was right. She owed these people a great deal, and performing in the concert may go some way in repaying that. Plus, this was a cause dear to Wolf’s heart, and for that alone she would play better than she had ever done before. After the concert she would decide on her future.
Leaving her room, she found a maid.
“Could you take me to the Duchess of Raven and Miss Dodds, please.”
She found her friend taking tea with the duchess and Essex Huntington.
“Come and sit, Rose. We are making the final preparations for the concert,” the duchess said.
She did as she was told.
“Now. You and I will do two songs. Then you will perform three on your own, as will I. Then I think a break will be needed.”
Remembering the lemon dress someone had left on her bed, Rose thought if she could get needle and thread from the housekeeper, perhaps Kitty could take it in to fit better for the concert.
“I have a dress that will fit you perfectly,” Essie said, reading her thoughts. “I purchased it thinking I could wear emerald, but as my husband delicately pointed out, in fact I can’t as it makes me look sallow.”
“Never mind, darling, I can’t wear puce,” the duchess said.
“Who would want to?” Essie added.
“I can’t allow you to do that,” Rose said. “I am sure this dress will do.”
“It swims on you, and is an old one of mine. No, it will not do. If we are to strip the masses of their wealth tomorrow night, then you must look ravishing.”
“This is yours?” Rose looked down at the dress and back to Mrs. Huntington. “I had thought it belonged to one of your staff.”
“Wolf was right, you really do have a problem with those you see as above you.”
“P-pardon?” Rose looked at the duchess in shock. “I do not have a problem with it, I just know my place... if you’ll pardon me for speaking in such a way.”
“And that is exactly what he meant.” The duchess laughed. “Rose, we like you, and I had hoped you liked us. Can we not be friends?”
“I don’t see how,” Rose said, before she could stop herself.
“Oh I do, but we shall not discuss that now.”
“For goodness sake, Rose. These women are lovely, and surely you can see they are different,” Kitty said. “After all, I am the daughter of a minister.”
“I beg your pardon?” Rose looked at her friend as if she had never seen her before.
“I will not go into details, as he was a monster, but we were quite a well-to-do family.”
“Good Lord.” Rose couldn’t take it in. “I had no idea.”
“Because it is not something I talk about, and I have not seen my family for many years.”
“That’s so sad,” Mrs. Sinclair said. “Is there no chance you can see your siblings again?”
“None. My father has control of them, but I would not allow him to control me in the way he chose.”
Rose patted Kitty’s hand. “But now you have Mr. Trent.”
“Who is Mr. Trent?” the duchess said. “I demand to know.”
Kitty told them about her friend, and the ladies were charmed by the knowledge she had found her love.
“But enough of that for now. We need to organize what is to be worn tomorrow night and what songs we will play,” the duchess said.
Rose was then urged out of her seat and nudged to the door. Minutes later she found herself in the music room, where practice commenced.
Confused, outnumbered, and thoroughly unsettled, Rose could do nothing but follow along. She even found herself laughing
as the hour turned into two.
Chapter 32
The Raven townhouse was alive with light, noise, and color when Wolf walked through the front door. Standing just inside, he took a moment to adjust.
“Can I be of assistance, Captain Sinclair?”
“No thank you, Buttles. You have your hands full tonight already,” he said to the Raven butler.
“Indeed we do, Captain.”
Handing over his hat, Wolf followed the other guests to the ballroom. Would Rose be here already, or would she make an appearance later just for her performance? Knowing her, the latter, believing she was not suitable company for the masses. The woman was driving him slowly mad.
He’d been thwarted at every turn when he tried to see her again. Even when he’d tracked her down to the music room, she’d been practicing with Eden.
He’d then gone back later on the pretext of asking Essie for something to help him sleep, which just showed how much he needed to see Rose, as he rarely admitted to sleeplessness, especially in front of a family member. Again he was thwarted, as Rose was being fitted for a dress to wear to the benefit.
Frustrated, he’d dragged Cam to Angelo’s and thrashed him at fencing.
Tonight he was going to make her admit she loved him, and then agree to the marriage.
“If you walk about with that look everyone will run for cover, cousin.”
“Hello, Eden, you look lovely.”
She took his hand as he reached her in the receiving line.
“Perhaps when you compliment a woman you could sound as if you actually mean it,” James said after the guest he was greeting moved on. “Especially my duchess.”
“She’s not your duchess, she’s my cousin.”
“She can be both,” Eden said, kissing his cheek. “Now run along and find someone to make you smile. Rose will be down soon, so that should do it.”
Wolf grunted something and made himself smile.
“That is so insincere I do believe I’m insulted.”
He snorted.
“Put any money you are carrying on you in the trays the footmen are holding.”
“I’m family,” Wolf protested.
“Therefore your money is even more valuable,” the duke replied.
Shaking his head, Wolf entered the ballroom and stopped, letting his eyes adjust once more.
