The members of Vivian's pack were alerted and any who could be spared joined in the search.
"I think you are right," Nathaniel said. He sniffed the air as they backtracked their earlier movements. As Vivian was not a member of his pack her scent would not be as strong to him but he still hoped that their time together would make it easier to detect her scent than a werewolf he had met only socially.
Since Claire had joined their pack he noticed her scent had become easier to find in the air than it had been when she was under her father's pack.
Still, he thought he could have caught her scent in the air before that if he was looking for it.
"Nothing," Reggie said as they entered the estate's gates. Nathaniel nodded that he had caught no scent of Vivian either. If they could not smell her then she was not in the house. She must still be missing.
"Anything?" Claire asked as they walked through the door.
"Nothing," Nathaniel said.
"Has there been any word? Any requests for ransom?" Nathaniel asked.
"Nothing," Claire said.
"There is nothing to be done but to try again tomorrow," Eldon said. Nathaniel could tell that Claire was not happy with that answer but she said nothing.
"We will try again at first light. We had a late start today. We will be able to cover more ground tomorrow," his father said.
"I will meet with the butler and housekeeper and we will make arrangements for your overnight stay on such short notice," Owen said. He and Nathaniel's father both looked old and haggard. Eldon sipped from his flask as they waited for instructions. Owen was just as efficient as he was on their estate and Nathaniel's room was prepared and supper sent up in an hour.
After Nathaniel ate Reggie came in to help him undress.
He climbed into the unfamiliar bed with a sigh. He was exhausted.
He longed to go to the nursery to kiss Keturah goodnight. He thought of Sophronia and the night of passion they had shared the night before. It seemed like a month at least had passed since he had been inside of her but it had been less than twenty four hours.
He wished he could have stayed with Sophronia after he revealed his secret to her but her fainting reaction had told him what he needed to know. She thought him a monster now and it was going to take more than a few words of love to convince her otherwise. He had no time for that after receiving Claire's message. He would need to make it up to her once Vivian was returned safe and he was home. Perhaps by then the shock would have lessened and she would be able to talk to him without needing smelling salts.
Chapter 23
Sophronia rolled over and nearly tumbled to the floor. The bed she was sleeping on was small and hard. Between that, the poor quality food, and the rocking of the boat she had been feeling ill since the day she boarded the ship almost a week before.
The energy rushing through her as she escaped the Wolstenholme estate and boarded a ship to America had fueled her. Now that energy had worn off and she had nothing to fill her days but sitting in her small cabin and waiting.
The ship was part sail and part steam so it would make the trip to America in less than a month. She wished now that she was the only passenger and could ask the captain to turn the ship around.
She ached for Keturah and Nathaniel.
She had woken up almost every morning with thoughts of running to the nursery to snuggle her daughter only to realize she was on a ship.
What had she been thinking leaving Keturah? Who would raise her? Eldon had shown no interest in her at all. Claire was a loving aunt but she was not Keturah's mother and once she had babes of her own she would have no time for a niece. Mercy might marry one day and move from the Wolstenholme estate so she could not be counted on. There was only Nathaniel who was her legal father but her uncle in truth. He might give her all the care he knew how but it was a poor substitute for her mother. She had felt so overwhelmed the day she left thinking of Keturah growing up and becoming a werewolf. Now, it did not matter to her what sort of monster her daughter became. She wanted her child.
Surely, she would not be a true monster. Nathaniel, Claire, and the Marquess had been kind to her since her arrival on the estate. They had done more than another family would for a woman showing up with a bastard child she claimed was one of them.
She had been rereading Frankenstein when the sea was calm and reading did not make her sick. Frankenstein had seen his creation and deserted it. How different would the story have been if Dr. Frankenstein had taken the time to know the monster he had created? If the creation had been loved and taught by his maker perhaps he would not even have become a monster. He certainly did not seem a monster at his core.
Nathaniel and Keturah may well be abominations of nature but that did not stop her from longing for them.
She vowed that once they came into the harbor she would return to England. She would beg Nathaniel to forgive her and to let her be with him and her daughter.
She would make her rashness up to them if it was the last thing she ever did.
Nathaniel sighed as home came into view.
They had been searching for Vivian for a full week but there was no trace of her to be found. They had contacted packs in Paris and Italy asking if anyone had seen her but it had come to nothing. Convincing Claire to come home had been difficult but after a week with no leads she had finally relented.
The carriage pulled up and a footman helped him down. Mercy was at the door. Alice was beside her with Keturah in her arms. The babe was crying miserably. He rushed forward and took her in his arms. She did not feel warm nor did she look sick.
He looked around for Sophronia but she was not there.
"Is my wife ill?" Nathaniel asked.
"I would not know. I had hoped she was with you," Mercy said.
"Why would she be with me?"
"I thought she had joined you in the search for Vivian. It is what she said when she left," Mercy said.
"When did she leave?"
"The same day you did," Mercy said. He could barely hear her above the wails of Keturah.
"No one has seen my wife in a week?" Nathaniel asked. Alice shook her head.
"Do you think she has been abducted as well?" Mercy asked.
"You saw her leave. I am sure it was of her own free will. Damn it all to hell. I should have stayed here. I should not have left after giving her such a shock. I should have-"
"What are you talking about?" Mercy asked.
"I told her what we were. I told her that I and likely Keturah were werewolves," Nathaniel said.
Mercy's hand flew to her mouth.
"She was in the nursery asking questions about were-children. I answered her and did not think much of it. Was I wrong to do so?" Alice asked.
"The fault is mine. Only mine. I knew I had frightened her but I never expected her to run away," Nathaniel said.
"I do not see how she could leave without Keturah," Mercy said.
"What would she know about raising a were-child? Of course she could not take her though it would make tracking her that much easier," Nathaniel said.
"You mean to go after her?" Mercy asked.
"She is my wife. I plan to find her and bring her back."
"Where would she have gone?" Mercy asked.
"We will have to do some searching but I would suspect she has gone home. There are few other places she could have gone," Alice said.
"This is her home," Mercy said.
"America," Nathaniel said.
"To her parent's house?"
"Perhaps. Or perhaps to a friend. We need to scour every dock and see if anyone saw her."
"And if they have?" Mercy asked.
"Then I shall get on a ship and follow her," Nathaniel said.
"There is not enough time before the next moon even if you take a ship with a steam engine you will be aboard for the moon," his father said. He had not noticed Eldon, Claire, and his father join them. He hoped they had gleaned enough from the conversation that he wou
ld not have to tell them that he had revealed himself as a werewolf and frightened Sophronia so much that she had run away and left her child.
"There are ships that transport werewolves," Nathaniel said.
"They are dangerous and not easy to find. I do not want you vulnerable and away from your pack with this murderer on the lose. If he got an inkling that a wolf was traveling alone for the moon-"
"If we find anyone who says she has taken a ship then I must go after her. I will have to accept the dangers," Nathaniel said.
"But-"
"I am a second son. My life does not count for that much," Nathaniel growled.
"You are my son. Second born and not inheriting is no reason to risk your life," his father said.
"If you die and Sophronia is not found who will care for Keturah?" Claire asked.
Nathaniel forced himself not to look at his brother. He would be useless as a father to Keturah though it was he who had put her inside Sophronia's belly.
"I will go with him," Mercy said.
"For what purpose?" Eldon asked.
"The ships that transport werewolves keep them locked in cabins. I can sit at the door of the cabin and be sure no one finds him in his vulnerable state. I shall keep a pistol on my lap as I keep watch. I would welcome the chance to avenge Daniel," Mercy said.
"This is madness," Nathaniel's father said.
"I have bedded her since the birth of Keturah. Suppose I put another were-child in her? Can you not see us risking the journey if she is carrying another pup for the pack?"
"If you wait until after the moon-"
"She already has a seven day advantage. I will not give her a full month," Nathaniel protested.
"I will not forbid you but I will advise against it," his father said but there was little heart in it and Nathaniel knew he had won.
"Mercy, if you wish to come you should be ready to leave in two hours. Claire, you will see to Keturah?" Nathaniel asked.
"I will," Claire said though there was distress in her voice. He had to ignore it. Finding Sophronia was far too important.
Chapter 24
Sophronia did not remember feeling so ill on any past sea journeys. She felt nothing but relief when the boat docked and loathing that she would be back on a boat as soon as another was ready to leave.
She stepped out into the sunlight and squinted at the brightness. She had been in her cabin almost the entire journey and the sunlight was much brighter than the interior of the room she had been living in. She followed the other passengers to the gangplank. She was next to step on it when she noticed that one of the passengers who had just disembarked looked strangely familiar. She could not be sure from the distance but the passenger bore a strong resemblance to Vivian. She was dressed in bright yellow and not the colors of mourning which made Sophronia momentarily doubt her eyes and senses.
Still, if it really was Vivian, perhaps locating her would be a first step in penitence for her behavior towards Nathaniel. She decided she need to be sure of the woman's identity.
She did not wait for her luggage but instead followed the woman in yellow through the crowd. She made sure to stay back a distance. It stood to reason that Vivian was a werewolf just as her sister Claire was.
Sophronia followed Vivian through the vendor stalls on the border of the harbor where fishmongers sold their wares and street vendors were selling everything from sweets to linen.
She followed Vivian past a city block filled with warehouses and another lined with dilapidated office buildings.
Ramshackle homes soon gave way to small but neat houses with flower beds at the front and chicken coops at the back.
Her feet were aching as Vivian made yet another turn that brought them into a neighborhood where houses were larger and gardeners cared for lawns. Sophronia hung back further. Previously there had been bustling and she would have been hard to notice in a crowd especially as Vivian had no idea she was there. Now, however, the street was almost vacant.
She ducked down beside a hedge when Vivian turned abruptly in her direction. Vivian stood stock still for a moment and Sophronia wondered if she had been discovered. Then, Vivian marched forward through the gate of the fifth house up the street. It was not a mansion as the Wolstenholme estate held but it was clear the owner of the house had some wealth and standing.
She waited several moments but when Vivian did not again emerge she crept forward towards the house to ascertain who might live there.
There was nothing obvious to indicate who the occupants were. She debated whether she should knock on the door and ask for Vivian. She could return to the harbor and inquire of the locals who lived in that area though she was unsure how to do it casually. She also could simply take the information back to Nathaniel and let him decide how the situation should be handled. Of course that would be a much smaller penitence than to arrive armed with information about Vivian's whereabouts and purposes. Also, whether she was in any sort of danger. If there was danger it would be so long before the Wolstenholme's were notified that there would be little they could do to rescue her.
She decided that she must act on her own as she was there and the Wolstenholme's were across the ocean. If Vivian was in danger she could at least alert the authorities. Someone would be willing to help her. She slunk up the street towards the house trying to stay hidden from the house itself but also trying not to be conspicuous on the quiet street.
She reached out for the gate but a moment before her fingers connected to it a rough hand came over her mouth and a strong arm came around her waist. She was lifted off the ground.
She started to kick against her assailant but he barely seemed to notice. She tried to bite the hand over her mouth but the angle of his hand prevented it. Her captor was no first time kidnapper. He carried her several block away and slipped with her into a dark cellar.
"If you do what I say I will not harm you. Yet," a gruff voice said.
Sophronia nodded hesitantly.
"I am going to remove my hand from your mouth. Do not scream. If you scream I will assume you are an enemy and will treat you as such. I can smell were-kind on you but I sense you are not a were-creature yourself. Nod if I am right."
Sophronia nodded.
"If you are truly a friend of were-kind you will not be harmed if you do as I say."
Sophronia nodded again.
The man took his hand from her mouth. She tried to get her eyes to adjust so she could look on her assailant. She heard the sound of a match striking a moment before he put it to the wick of a candle in a wall sconce. It cast an eerie shadowed glow on the room. Sophronia held in her scream. When he released her waist she spun around.
The man behind her was exceptionally tall. She guessed he was a head taller than Nathaniel. His hair was long, dark, and straight. His cheekbones were high but his skin was the color of coal. His nose was thick. She did not think him either Indian or African though he might be a mix of those or perhaps something else entirely.
"Are you here to meet with Vivian?" Sophronia asked.
"Vivian?"
"The woman who entered the house. She is my husband's sister-in-law."
"Then perhaps you are an enemy to our kind after all," he said.
"I am not. She did not know I followed her. I ran away from my husband and happened to see her leave the same boat I had been on. My husband had been looking for her. It was feared that she was abducted. Her father and mother were recently murdered and when she went missing her sister feared the worst. I thought only to locate her so that I could tell my husband of her whereabouts," Sophronia said quickly.
"Would that not reveal your own whereabouts?"
"It would," Sophronia said looking at the ground. "I realized that I had erred to run. I was only shocked to find what my husband and daughter were."
"He did not tell you before you married? That was wrong of him. You should have been told well before your wedding day and certainly before he put a were-child in your belly," he sai
d. His face hardened and his hands clenched. She feared that if Nathaniel had been there the burly man would have punched him. A punch from such a man would do damage indeed.
"It was not his fault. The situation was complicated. You see, the child I was carrying was actually his brother's. When my father brought me to him to restore his honor his brother was already married. Their father insisted I marry Nathaniel instead," Sophronia rushed to explain.
"You have a complicated story. I will hear it as we travel."
"Travel?"
"You are not safe here. I need to get you back to my clan. Our alpha can confirm what I suspect and make sure you are safe and protected until your people arrive."
"They have no idea where I am. I do not even know if they will come for me," Sophronia admitted. She hated to think that Nathaniel might have found her missing and decided not to give chase but it was possible. If she had not changed her mind on the boat it would even be what she hoped would happen. Surely, it would be easy enough to find him another wife. He might even be able to find a woman who was like him. Surely the second son of an alpha had some standing even if it was not the same as the heir.
"They will come for you," he assured her. "I will get you to safety and then I will send out scouts to connect with your husband once he arrives. We will bring him to you and perhaps we shall even rescue his sister-in-law."
"Rescue her? It looked as if she was here of her own free will. Do you think she really was kidnapped or perhaps blackmailed?" Sophronia asked. The idea that Vivian might be in peril tormented her. She wanted her companion to storm the house and rescue Vivian. Could he not bring them both to safety?
"My people have eyes on the house. I will try to find what I can and if she is in danger we will do our best to rescue her though the fact that she entered that house of her own free will is troubling. When I first smelled her I assumed her a spy. If she is not, then her presence here is most troubling. I will leave it to my alpha to decide how much information to share with you. It is not my place. My task is to bring you to safety. My horse is just a few blocks away. Will you walk with me willingly?"
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