“Because of Lowell.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat as I thought about my little bundle and about the nightmares that had plagued me. I’d had such resolve to put Seth away at one time. Where had that gone?
“You can’t let Seth intimidate you,” Jasper said. “Trust me, I can tell you that from experience.”
Seth had ruined my life, and he’d ruined Jasper’s life. He had killed their parents. He had killed Roderick. He had nearly killed Adam and Christoph. He had robbed children of parents and almost robbed a bride of her fiancé. He had destroyed every life he came into contact with, and it had to stop. I wasn’t going to let him scare me. He was a ferocious person, but I was a new mother and I had a ferocity he hadn’t even dreamed of. I was going to testify, and I was going to do a bloody good job at it. I was going to do such an amazing job, they wouldn’t have to call anyone else to the stand. I was going to look Seth in the eyes and tell him exactly what I thought of his attempts on my life. I was going to put him away or sentence him to death so he couldn’t mess up my family any longer.
There was no other option.
Chapter Ten
The following evening, we held a dinner at Wolf’s Peak for everyone that would be accompanying us to Sweden. That included all the councilmen, Anne, Bernadette, Hazel, Annabelle and Daniel, Christoph, Ingrid, and Alice, Bridget, Daisy, Dr. Brighton, the doctor who had treated me while I was sick, Hooper the coroner, and Detective Inspector Watson. It was a crowded table, but we didn’t mind. Hannah had roasted a pig, and our dinner included potatoes, carrots, and a rich chocolate cake for dessert. I think perhaps Jasper was trying to stuff us full before he went over the stress of what we should expect.
Bernadette kept her distance from me, watching me out of the corner of her eye with annoyance. I ignored her. I had far more important things to worry about than her feelings.
Lowell napped upstairs during dinner; Bridget had promised to keep an ear out for me so I would know if he was crying. Annabelle had brought Daniel’s nurse along to watch after the toddlers so we could eat dinner in peace and have our discussions. As a result, it was one of the rare nights I was able to relax, drink a single glass of wine, and enjoy the company of my friends.
And Bernadette.
Hazel and Adam talked about their plans for the wedding. We would hold the reception here in our home, and Annabelle would be in charge of pulling everything together. Annabelle and I were standing up with Hazel. It was an honor I had never thought I would get to have. I didn’t have much time for friends when I was taking care of my father.
Dr. Brighton, Christoph, and Conor discussed medical procedures, although they were told several times to keep their voices down, as they were making Bernadette a bit queasy. Still, the doctors seemed to be getting on well, and even Hooper joined in every once in a while. I listened with interest. My father had been a doctor, and I had assisted him often.
Our trip to Sweden was surely going to be a headache, but the fact that everyone was getting along well made things a little easier to stomach. Perhaps it was the wine, but people were happy to talk with near–strangers. Of course, Bernadette and Anne kept to themselves, but there wasn’t much to be done about that. If they were keeping to themselves, that meant they weren’t bothering anyone else.
After dinner was over, Daisy brought out the cake. She had baked it herself, and it tasted rich and savory. It put me further at ease. I knew Jasper was going to be going over the itinerary for the next few weeks, but at that point, I was happy and relaxed. I laughed with Annabelle and Hazel and watched my husband and his councilmen. It was going to be a tough, stressful few weeks, and I wanted to savor all the relaxation I could.
Soon enough, though, our time to relax was over, and Jasper shepherded us all into the parlor while sending Mr. Potter to gather up the servants that would be coming with us. We all crowded into the room. Hazel, Annabelle, and I squished together on the loveseat while Jasper stood next to the fireplace.
“All right, everyone,” he said, raising his voice to get the room’s attention. “Thank you all for coming tonight. We’ve got a busy few weeks ahead of us. First off, I want to go over everyone who has been subpoenaed for this trial. The elders have requested myself, Christine, Conor, Adam, Bridget, Hazel, Annabelle, Stephen, Lester, Merrill, Peter, Hooper, Watson, Christoph, and Daisy. None of that should come as a surprise to any of you since I’ve spoken with you individually. Now, it’s possible that you may not actually end up testifying, but they want you there nonetheless. If you have questions about what they might ask you, come see me. If you are concerned about your ability to testify, speak with me or someone else, and we’ll be happy to help you practice. Any questions?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“Now, I want everyone here the day after tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. sharp. Is that understood?”
Everyone nodded.
“Good. Our train leaves from Ervine to London at noon. That gives us an extra hour to get everything loaded up and to board the train. It’s a two–hour trip from London to Ervine, for any of you who have not made the journey before. We’ll spend two days in London. From there, we’ll travel to Sweden. That journey should take us about five days, giving us an extra two in the case of weather or other complications.”
“Where are we staying in Sweden?” I spoke up.
“At the elders’ palace,” Jasper answered. “It’s a massive estate, nearly twice the size of Wolf’s Peak. There is plenty of room for us. Now, the trial is slated to take a week. It could be less, it could be more. You have all been given a leave of absence by your employers, excepting, of course, those of you employed here. You will be compensated for your time.”
Everyone nodded.
“Any questions?” Jasper asked.
The room was quiet for a moment before exploding in chatter. Jasper put a hand up.
“All right,” he said. “One at a time.”
There was only a brief pause before everyone began talking over each other once again.
“Quiet!” Jasper instructed. “We’ll do this like elementary school. Raise your hand if you have a question.
Nearly every hand in the room went up.
“Yes, Conor,” Jasper said.
“The full moon will occur while we’re there,” he said. “Have they made accommodations for that?”
“Yes. For those of you who will be shifting who have not been to the elders’ castle before,” he looked around the room, his eyes falling on Adam, Christoph, and Bridget, “the castle is situated in the middle of a dense forest. We’ll be shifting there over the full moon. Yes, Bernadette?”
“Will there be food?”
Jasper frowned at her. “Are you asking if we will be eating on our journey?”
“Yes.”
Jasper blinked twice. “Yes, Bernadette. There will be food.”
He was about to move on to the next question when she spoke up. “What kind?”
Jasper sighed. “I have no idea, Bernadette.”
She looked like she was about to speak up again when her husband hushed her. She sat back in her seat, pouting. I struggled to keep myself from rolling my eyes.
“Any questions that are not about the food?” Jasper asked. “Yes, Christine?”
“Why are we stopping for so long in London? Why not go straight through to Sweden?”
Jasper grinned at me. “Why, for a bit of fun,” he said. He looked so happy, I had to smile back.
He had turned to Christoph and was about to hear his question when Mr. Potter popped his head in the doorway.
“Your Grace?” he said. “The nursemaid said that Lowell needs his mother.”
I glanced at Jasper.
“Go ahead,” he said. “I’ll fill you in later.”
I excused myself to go upstairs, lingering in the doorway, trying to hear whatever it was they were still talking about. From upstairs I could hear Lowell’s cries, and I sighed as I climbed the stairs and made it to Lowell’s nurser
y. Daniel’s nursemaid was holding him, bouncing him up and down, but it was no use. I was familiar with that cry; he was hungry.
I sighed. I loved him more than anything, but I wanted to hear what was going on downstairs. There would be no way for that now; it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to feed him in the parlor or within view of the men. I’d have to stay upstairs.
I took Lowell from the nursemaid’s arms. I had been right about his hunger. He turned his head from side to side, mouth in a little O–shape, searching for food.
“Hey there,” I said soothingly as I stroked his hair. “You hungry, little man?”
I situated myself on the rocking chair and let Lowell latch to my chest. I cradled him in my arms as he ate, gently running my fingers over his silky hair. My heart melted as I looked at him. True, I was a little annoyed that I was missing out on the discussion and planning in the parlor, but I didn’t mind if it meant spending time with my son.
I would do anything for him. He was the reason I was traveling to Sweden and facing Seth. Granted, I was doing this for my marriage and peace of mind as well, but the main reason was for my son.
His soft little hand rested just above his head, and I took it, his hand wrapping around my finger. This reflex was one of my favorite things about my baby. It would go away with time, but I was going to savor it for as long as I could.
Holding him soothed me. With him in my arms, I was a fierce tigress. I could take on the world if it meant keeping him safe. I would be facing my nightmare. I would be looking Seth in the eyes. I would be going through every single horrible thing that he had done to me, telling my story in front of my friends and the elders. It was going to be difficult. It was going to break my heart all over again. It was something I had to do to keep my son safe.
I rocked back and forth in the chair until he pulled off my chest, smiling up at me with milk spilling from his mouth. I couldn’t help but laugh as I reached for a cloth and wiped it off before putting him up on my shoulder to burp him. When he was done, I set him on my lap.
He wasn’t old enough to sit up on his own yet, but that didn’t mean he didn’t try. He sat on my lap, clutching my hands and smiling his gummy smile. He giggled as I bounced him up and down. I climbed down to the floor with him and set him on his stomach, and I placed a few toys in front of him as I lay down next to him. He held his head up for a minute, then laid it down on the ground and looked at me. I grinned at him before scooping him up off the ground and into my arms, pulling him in for a hug before tickling him. His sweet giggle filled the room and filled my heart with warmth.
I wanted to get back to the meeting in the parlor, but I didn’t want to leave him with the nurse. I grabbed a blanket from the trunk by his crib and swaddled him tightly so he would be calm and content. I made sure the neckline of my dress was in place, quickly adjusting my cleavage, then picked up Lowell and cradled him in my arms. I popped into the playroom to let the nursemaid know that I was taking him with me, then we went downstairs and reappeared in the parlor.
All eyes were on us as I resumed my seat between Hazel and Annabelle. Annabelle gently brushed Lowell’s cheek, and I handed him off to her so she could hold him for a bit. Bernadette watched jealously. It was almost satisfying.
“All right,” Jasper said. “I want you all to keep in mind that although it’s spring, the weather in Sweden will be a little bit colder. Be sure to bring warm clothes. Though we are being summoned, we are still guests in the elders’ castle and I expect you to treat them with the utmost respect. Many of the items in the castle, as well as the elders themselves, are very old. I would also like you to be sure to bring things to entertain yourselves, as it is a long journey. Any last questions?”
Everyone in the room shook their head.
“Wonderful. I’ll see you all the day after tomorrow.”
Chapter Eleven
That next night, after I had put Lowell to sleep in his crib, Bridget came into my room to help me pack for our journey. I was at a loss as I stared between my full wardrobe and my empty trunk. Finally, Bridget sat me down on the bed and went to work by herself.
“All right,” she said, hands on her hips. “Let’s start with the trial.”
“Jasper told me he wanted me to look feminine and sympathetic. He suggested blue,” I told her.
“Well, that’s easy enough,” she said, pulling out a pale blue frock with white lace accents. “What do you think of this?” she asked.
“Works for me.” I shrugged, and she sighed.
“Sorry, you know I’m not good at this,” I said. “I don’t really care about clothes or putting together outfits. You should have had Annabelle help you.”
“Luckily I’m good at this type of thing. We don’t need Annabelle’s help.”
I watched as she laid out a few dresses on the bed. She bustled around the room, setting shoes next to each dress and adding coordinating jewelry. I watched as she folded each outfit into the trunk before pulling out another set of dresses and repeating the process all over again.
“You are good at this,” I told her. It fascinated me. I didn’t care much for fashion because it was never anything I was concerned about growing up. I spent so many years of my life looking after my father, I hadn’t had time to care for anything else. Yet, despite Bridget living on the streets, she was excellent at coordinating clothes. “How did you get so good at this?”
Bridget pressed her lips into a tight line. “I used to have occasion to dress up.”
I cocked my head at her. “What do you mean?”
“I wasn’t always a prostitute,” she said simply.
She continued to pack my bags.
“What was your life like before you were on the streets?” I asked. I realized I had no idea what her life was really like before we met. We had rarely spoken about it.
“Oh, you know.”
“No, I don’t,” I said.
She turned to me, her mouth still pressed. “It wasn’t easy,” she said. “
“I assumed. I mean, you wouldn’t have ended up on the streets otherwise,” I said. “What happened?”
She sighed, adding my dressing gown into my bag. “I didn’t have a very good family life.”
“Did they pass?”
“No. They’re still alive.”
I sat up on my bed, crossing my legs and looking at her. “You still have family?”
“I do. A father and two brothers.”
“And you never see them?” I couldn’t imagine having family still alive and not see them. Before I married Jasper, I had no family. I had found a new one at Wolf’s Peak, but that didn’t mean I didn’t miss my departed family every day.
“No. I haven’t seen them since I was fifteen.”
“Why?”
She cleared her throat. “I would prefer not to talk about it.”
That stung a bit. I had confided in Bridget when I had been hurt. She had hidden her lycanthropy from me, but I had accepted her. Why was she still holding back?
I didn’t say any of this, although I thought about it. Instead, I nodded, looking down at my hands.
She sighed. “They were werewolves, and they weren’t kind. I left home and never looked back.”
There was far more to this story that she wasn’t telling me, but it was clear she didn’t want me to press.
“How are things with Conor?” I asked.
That brought a smile to her face. “Wonderful,” she said.
I stretched out my stomach, feet up in the air. “Has anything actually changed since you started courting? You were fairly close before.”
By “fairly close” I meant that they were already sleeping together, but I didn’t say that.
“I mean, not really. We make a bit more of an effort to see each other in busy weeks, that’s really all.”
“Are there wedding bells on the horizon?”
She blushed. “Oh, I don’t know about that.”
“Come on,” I prodded.
She smiled into the trunk. “I certainly hope so.”
I rolled onto my back, head lolling off the mattress as I watched her continue to pack for me.
“I’m going to miss you,” I said.
“Well, as of right now, I’m not going anywhere.”
“I know.”
“And besides, we’ll still be friends. Annabelle is over here all the time. Why shouldn’t I be?”
“I want you to have your happily ever after, don’t get me wrong,” I said, pulling myself back to a sitting position. “I’m just going to miss having you work with me. Who’s going to pack my suitcases?”
I was teasing, but there was still a hint of honesty.
“You’ll have to learn to care,” she said, grinning.
“Ugh. I don’t want to hire someone else,” I said, wrinkling my nose.
Bridget paused. “What about the new girl, Nellie?”
“Nellie?”
“The girl who interviewed for the nursemaid position,” she said. “The young one? She started here as a maid the other day. You could move her to be your chambermaid if necessary.”
“What do you mean, ‘if necessary’?”
“I mean, in the case that you need to hire a new chambermaid.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course I will. You’re not going to keep working here when you’re married. Conor’s got plenty of money. You won’t have to work.”
“In case Conor and I don’t get married,” she murmured.
I almost laughed. “Of course you’ll get married. Why wouldn’t you?”
Bridget closed the lid of the trunk and came to sit next to me on the bed. “If I’ve learned anything in my life, it’s that nothing is certain. I’m not going to plan my future around someone else. I’m going to do what’s best for me in this moment in time, and I’ll take better offers as I get them.”
“That’s a very hard stance to take,” I told her. She simply shrugged.
After that, I dropped the subject. While Bridget was happy in her relationship with Conor, it seemed she was genuinely concerned with getting ahead of herself. Instead, I simply gave her a hug.
The Wolf's Cub (The Wolf's Peak Saga Book 3) Page 8
