The Wolf's Pursuit (11 page)

He was going to kill her.

No, he was going to tie her to a chair and
then…

Blast. He needed to stop his imagination
before it got out of hand.

"Er, yes," he grumbled.

Dominique tilted his head. "Then who was the
gentleman that gave you the black eye?"

Hunter opened his mouth to respond, but Gwen
beat him to it. "Oh, silly man, how could you forget?" She laughed.
Everyone joined in even though they had no idea why they were
mocking him, yet it seemed Gwen did. He couldn't wait to hear the
ending to her sordid tale. Would she explain her involvement?

He took a sip of coffee and waited.

"I punched him."

The liquid, of course, spewed out of his
mouth for the second time that morning, as well as every curse
underneath the sun, causing Isabelle to turn red and Dominique to
push back his chair as he jerked to his feet.

"Gwen?" Dominique looked between the two of
them. "Whyever would you punch him? And Hunter, I'm dreadfully
sorry for saying so, but what a wonderful right hook you must have,
my dear!"

Gwen beamed. "Thank you."

"Yes, let us all applaud her for assault."
Hunter clapped loudly and groaned, leaning his head onto his
hands.

"He tried to kiss me," Gwen blurted.

Isabelle gasped and then burst out
laughing.

"What!" Dominique roared as he stomped toward
Hunter and grabbed at the lapels of his smart jacket.

"Ah, so the Beast returns," Hunter joked,
though truly he was expecting Dominique to blacken his eye as well.
He even turned his face just slightly so the Beast would hit the
right instead of the left. After all, the left was his good
side.

"I'm not going to hit you."

"He screams like a girl when you do," Gwen
helpfully added.

Hunter cursed again.

"Cease cursing in front of gently bred
ladies," Dominique growled, releasing him.

"Calling the kettle a bit black, are we?"
Hunter smirked, then took a step back as Dominique lunged for him
again.

"Why her? Out of all the women you can dally
with."

Gwen began choking. Isabelle hit her across
the back.

"Why my sister-in-law?"

"It was dark."

The room fell silent.

"Pardon?" Dominique's eyes widened. "That is
to be your excuse? It was dark? What, pray tell, were you trying to
do, then? And how did it turn into a kiss?"

"Assault," Gwen said. "It was more of an
assault."

"Helpful," Hunter muttered. "Oh, calm down,
Dominique. Truly I meant no harm. I thought she wasn't breathing. I
was merely trying to help."

"By kissing her?" Isabelle piped up, her grin
wider than that of the cat that got the cream.

"Why, yes. Thought it would shock her system
and all that."

"And why wouldn't she be breathing?"
Dominique clearly felt the need to ask something intelligent.

"After the robbery, she panicked. You know
women, they tend to get all out of sorts when there is danger. I
believe she even screamed." He peered around Dominique and saw Gwen
roll her eyes. "Truthfully, you should thank me."

"For?" Dominique was incredulous.

Hunter grinned smugly. "Saving her life."

Isabelle cleared her throat. "Thank you." She
truly was the sweetest woman, and the only one to tame Dominique.
He glared at her, and she glared back, standing her ground, then
nodded toward her husband.

Dominique's eyes narrowed at Hunter. He
leaned in and whispered into his ear, "If you touch her again, I
shall kill you and bury the body in Russia."

Hunter felt himself pale, mainly because he
could see his friend doing it. Dominique's family had all but
betrayed him, and his father had tried to kill him twice, so his
remaining family was immensely important, and he was fiercely
protective, which suited Montmouth's needs just fine, considering
he was no longer the only protector of the three sisters.

"Have I made myself clear?" Dominique
asked.

"Crystal." Hunter squirmed beneath his stare
and went back to his seat. Gwen smirked at him and winked.

He smirked back, made sure Isabelle and
Dominique wouldn't be the wiser, and then licked his lips and blew
her a kiss.

She turned red.

He bit his bottom lip, allowing his gaze to
travel down the expanse of her dress in approval, then looked
away.

They finished breakfast in what could only be
described as a pregnant silence, where Dominique took special care
to play with the knife on the table and Isabelle glared at her
husband every time it clanked against a glass.

Gwen chose to ignore Hunter completely, which
irritated him. How could she ignore him when he was having the
devil of a time keeping his gaze away from her perfection?

Pride told him it was because he looked like
he'd had a fight with the devil and lost. Perhaps women weren't
attracted to men they could successfully punch.

"Gwen, are you taking callers this
afternoon?" Dominique asked, clearing his throat in the awkward
silence.

Gwen stole a glance at Hunter then looked
down at her lap. "Why yes, I believe I will be receiving callers at
Montmouth's residence. I do hope some men show up. After all, I
desire a husband above all else." She blushed convincingly and
ducked her head like an innocent virgin, which of course made
Hunter think of all the ways his body was willing to rid her of
said virginity.

Hunter flexed his hand, causing the fork to
clatter to the floor. He mumbled his apologies and quickly picked
up the discarded silver.

Dominique smiled genuinely at Gwen. "I'm sure
you will be the toast of the ton."

"Yes, I'm sure," Hunter said dryly.

"What has gotten into you?" Dominique
snapped.

"Forgive him," Gwen intervened. "After all,
Hunter had a rough night. Not many men escape my presence
unscathed."

There was too much truth to that
statement.

"And we cannot all be as clever as wolves
when it comes to escape, now, can we, Hunter?"

Isabelle looked at Gwen curiously. Dominique
did the same. Hunter wanted to laugh. The girl had no idea that
both of his dear friends knew of his current involvement with the
War Office, as well as his plans this Season. She was doing nothing
more than causing them to be suspicious of her.

So he added more. "But of course, if a woman
in a red cloak was to lead me down the path, I would have no choice
but to follow her out, in hopes that she wouldn't lead me
astray."

"Red is the color of treason."

"No, my dear." Hunter grinned. "It is the
color of lust."

Her eyes narrowed.

Dominique lifted his eyes heavenward.

But Hunter kept his eyes trained on Gwen. A
challenge had just been given. He was not about to run away from a
tiny woman. No matter how much of a punch she possessed. No, he was
going to hunt her, he was going to chase her, and make her wish she
had never awakened the Wolf in the first place.

With a cheerful smile, he lifted the coffee
to his lips and chuckled. He had plans to make.

Wolf—

Imaginations are a funny thing. For this
moment, I am imagining you being shot with my favorite pistol. Do
tell, how many duels have you had to fight because of your lack of
self-control? After all, wolves are rarely known for their
restraint, and I believe I've experienced that firsthand.

—
Red

Gwen donned her afternoon gown and sat
demurely on the sofa. Isabelle had begged to join her during her
first day receiving callers. The three sisters sat in relative
silence as they waited for the first gentleman to arrive. According
to Rosalind, flowers had been delivered all morning. They now
littered the blue salon, making her eyes water.

Weren't flowers supposed to make a woman
swoon? Or perhaps smile? It did nothing except fill her with
disgust. None of these men knew her, knew who she really was, or
the things she had put herself through for the wellbeing of her
family.

She sighed and took a sip of hot tea.

Goode, their butler, walked in and cleared
his throat. "My lady, you have callers. The Earl of Trehmont and
Viscount Redding."

Lovely.

"Gentlemen." Rosalind rose and greeted both
men. In Gwen's eyes, Rosalind was by far the most graceful woman
she had ever encountered. She was also strong, unyielding. Isabelle
was similar. With golden brown hair and bright blue eyes, she was
every man's fantasy. Whereas Gwen, well, Gwen was nothing. At least
she felt like nothing when she sat next to her sisters.

The only time she had ever felt beautiful had
been when Hunter kissed her upon their first meeting. And look
where that had led her, down a dark path of lust-filled gazes and
promises of seduction.

Redding was the first to speak up. "I do hope
you've received my flowers, my lady. And may I say how lovely you
look this afternoon?"

You may not
. Gwen felt her nostrils
flare. "Yes, and thank you. How kind of you to say so."

Trehmont flinched next to Redding. "Lady
Gwendolyn, are you possibly available for an afternoon ride through
the park tomorrow?"

No. I'd rather allow Hunter to trap me
against a chair again
. "Of course." She forced her face to
break into a smile. "That would be wonderful."

Isabelle elbowed her sister. Perhaps she was
doing it a bit brown. She grimaced.

"Are you in pain?" Trehmont blurted.

If only he knew that his very presence made
her feel ill. His hair was slicked back with gobs of something —
she had never seen such material in a man's hair. His jacket a bit
too tight, and his smile lecherous. If he tried to kiss her, she
was going to murder him.

"The Royal Duke of Haverstone," Goode
announced, as Hunter bounded into the room. With a flourish, he sat
near Gwen and snatched a biscuit from the nearby table.

Never had she been so thankful for the Wolf
to appear.

"Blast, but these are wonderful biscuits.
Tell me." Hunter ignored the men and turned to Gwen. "Does your
cook possess some sort of magic or does she merely add a bit of
your sweetness to the delicacy?" He licked his lips and took
another bite.

Rosalind coughed. Gwen had to bite her lip to
keep from grinning from ear to ear. The fool.

"Ahem." Trehmont stumbled over his words. "I
was just announcing to my valet this morning of your beauty, my
lady."

"Valet." Hunter laughed. "Didn't know you
still possessed the blunt to employ one, Trehmont."

Gwen's mouth dropped open as she tried to
think quickly of what to say to diffuse the situation. She looked
between the two men.

Trehmont's face turned a purplish shade of
red before he squirmed in his seat. "I'm happy to announce I've
come into a bit of a more comfortable situation. Surely enough to
provide for a beautiful young lady."

"Is that so?" Redding suddenly perked up,
seeming quite interested in this sudden change of information. "And
how, may I ask, has your situation improved?"

Rosalind laughed lightly. "Gentlemen, is this
truly a place for such talk?"

"Of course not." Hunter grinned wickedly at
Gwen. "Might I say that gown is terribly awful on you."

"Pardon?" Gwen gaped. "Apologies, but it
seems your attempt at humor has missed its mark."

"It was not an attempt, and I believe I hit
my mark quite well." He turned toward the two gentlemen. "I am,
after all, an excellent marksman."

"So we've heard." Redding glared.

"At any rate, allow me to explain myself."
Hunter cleared his throat and leaned forward. "That particular gown
is a pretty enough gown, but in my mind it detracts away from the
poetry of your face. The angle of your soft jaw, the billowy
softness of your lips against that pale skin. Those are the things
a man wishes to focus on, not gowns."

Gwen squirmed in her seat. Never had a man
been so forward. Unfortunately, the warmth she felt was entirely
false. Hunter might desire her, in a lust-filled selfish way, but
he cared nothing for her heart. In fact, she was convinced she
would never find a man who would.

Which was why this entire farce was almost as
painful as it was difficult. It was akin to giving a child a
beautiful new pony and then at the last minute ripping it out of
their hands.

She nodded in his direction and took a sip of
tea to collect her thoughts. "Your attempt at flattery confuses me,
but I thank you nonetheless. No doubt it took you days to come up
with such a compliment, and even then it fell flat."

Trehmont began to laugh. "Doesn't mince
words, does she?"

Redding joined in.

Hunter, however, did not take his eyes off of
Gwen.

"Say, my lady," Redding spoke up. "Since you
seem to be occupied with Trehmont tomorrow afternoon, would you be
agreeable to a chaperoned walk in the park Monday?"

"I would be honored." Gwen tried to keep
herself from glaring at Redding. Something about him gave her
pause, though she had no idea why.

She sighed.

"Perfect." Redding rubbed his hands together
and leaned forward.

Rosalind seemed to let out a deep exhale next
to her. Most likely in relief, considering she had been so worried
about Gwen ever since her return from Dominique's castle.

If only her sisters knew. Her innocence had
long ago been taken, by watching the horrors of what men with power
could do. Not a night went by when she didn't see the nightmares of
the torture Napoleon had inflicted on some of his people, women in
general. She had barely escaped without becoming another
conquest.

And the Crown had done nothing to commend her
except send her back into the darkness of Hades in order to glean
more information.

She was broken. Perhaps Hunter was right. She
was a temptation for a man, but that was all. For she could offer
nothing, save her body, to another human being, for who wanted a
soul that was so tainted?