Wolf Who Loved Me (5 page)

“I’m certain if you ask Lavendon nicely enough, he’ll buy you one even nicer. You appear to have quite a few assets with which you may still be able to bargain.”

The unmistakable sound of a slap reverberated off the walls. Wes was about to burst into the room when the crowd from the drawing room filtered into the corridor and started in his direction. The worst thing for both Archer and Lady Sophia would be to get caught in each other’s company, especially as their tempers ran high at the moment. So Wes casually leaned against the door until he spotted Gray in the crowd.

An instant later, his twin was at his side. “Cait has been asking for you and Archer,” Gray hissed. “What have you been up to?”

“I believe Archer went back to Eynsford Park,” Wes called loudly enough for their older brother to hear them inside the parlor. Hopefully, the dolt would get the hint that he should return to The Park while the others were dining, to keep anyone from suspecting he’d escaped the party with Lady Sophia. Having both of them reappear at the same time wouldn’t do, not if their absence had already been noticed.

“Why are you yelling?” Gray asked.

“I’m not yelling.”

“I’m standing right here and you
are
yelling.”

Wes glared at his twin. “I wanted to make sure you could hear me over the crowd,” he ground out.

“Uh-huh.” Gray furrowed his brow. “With my poor hearing and all, I can see why that would be a concern. Did you addle your brain in the fall today?”

“Let’s just head into dinner, shall we?”

Gray shrugged. “As long as you stop yelling, I’ll go wherever you want.”

How about straight to the devil? Wes pushed his twin back into the crowd and followed the group into the large dining hall, another room in the castle Wes had never entered before.

One could almost imagine a time long ago when feudal lords reigned over their kingdoms from this hall. Lavish dinners, knights, ladies, and lively music. Two long tables sat parallel to each other, and the Duchess of Hythe gestured both Hadley twins to the less grand of the two. Less grand in that the Duke of Hythe sat at the other, along with his daughter, the unhinged Gelligaer, and the higher-ranking peers present. Dash and Cait also sat at the grand table, which was a relief. At least he and Gray wouldn’t have their sister-in-law’s eyes on them the entire evening.

Just as they were about to take their seats, along with the lesser-titled peers, the duchess approached their table with Lady Sophia in tow. “I hope you gentlemen don’t mind if we join you.”

“Of course not.” Viscount Dewsbury nodded his head. “We’ll be honored to have such lovely guests.”

The duchess cast a reproachful look in the man’s direction. No one thought Her Grace lovely, as she was well aware.

So Lady Sophia belonged at the lesser table as well, did she? Interesting. But why was Her Grace joining their ranks? To keep Lady Sophia from being the only female at the table, most likely. Wes gulped. Having Cait’s eyes on them would have been better than the duchess’.

“Mr. Hadley,” Her Grace said imperially.

“Yes?” Wes and Gray answered in unison.

The duchess narrowed her eyes on the two of them. “Let’s put Lady Sophia between you. Perhaps she can manage to keep the pair of you out of trouble.”

Normally, Wes would have had no complaints about sitting beside a lovely young lady, but now he wouldn’t be able to tell Gray about the conversation he’d overheard. And with a table full of other guests, he couldn’t even question the lady about her connection to Archer or what was so important about this Bindweed Cottage she’d mentioned. To make matters worse, he had a perfect view of Lady Madeline and that blasted Welsh earl at the opposite table.

The rattle of her bedroom door handle startled Maddie awake. She pulled the counterpane tightly beneath her chin. “Who’s there?” she hissed.

Immediately, the rattling stopped and she took a steadying breath. Thank heavens she’d been of sound mind enough to turn the key in her lock after she sent Jane away. Did one of her father’s guests think to compromise her?

Weston Hadley immediately came to mind, with his dark scowl and even darker scar. She almost wished she could ask him to sleep outside her door to waylay any unwanted late-night guests. He’d been quite effective in the corridor, by his own admission. Maddie smiled to herself at the thought of Mr. Hadley frightening her suitors away with nothing more than his scowl and his scar.

What a wonderful talent to possess! Perhaps the gentleman could be persuaded to spend more time at the castle. At least until her father and all of his guests returned to London for the trial. Fortunately, she didn’t have to worry about
him
trying to compromise her.

Until tonight, she’d always been frightened of Weston Hadley, but after their short conversation in the library, she found she
did
like him, strange as that was to realize. He was quite handsome in a dark and dangerous sort of way, too. Funny she’d never noticed that before. Of course, he’d never smiled before, as though he preferred the world to see him as a sinister gentleman on the fringe of society. Why did he do that?

There was something quite charming in the way he seemed concerned about his brother but at the same time fished for information to needle Radbourne. The brothers Hadley possessed a camaraderie Maddie hadn’t even realized she envied until now. Too bad her own brothers were such scoundrels. How wonderful it would feel to be part of a family who cared deeply for each other!

A shower of tiny pings hit Maddie’s window.

Good heavens! What now? She slid from under her counterpane and crossed the cold, stone floor to her window. A grinning Lord Dewsbury stood beneath her in the courtyard, holding a handful of pebbles. Maddie glared at the man, wishing once again that her scowl was as effective as Mr. Hadley’s.

One thing was certain. If she was going to get any sleep, it wouldn’t be in her room, which seemed to attract reprobates as honey did bears. Maddie retrieved her wrapper from the edge of her bed. She slid her arms through it and tied the sash around her waist. Then she turned the key in her lock and peeked out into the corridor. Everything was dark. Still, she couldn’t make out any male-shaped shadows, which was a relief. So she stepped over her threshold and darted down the hallway and didn’t stop until she reached Sophie’s room.

Maddie knocked lightly on her friend’s door and was relieved when Sophie whispered, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Soph. Open up.”

A moment later, Maddie was safely ensconced in her friend’s room, having dropped onto the edge of Sophie’s bed. “Let me stay with you tonight,” she begged.

Sophie rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Bad dream?”

Maddie shook her head. “Bad houseguests. If one isn’t trying to break into my room, another is assaulting my window with pebbles. I think we’ll be safer together.”

“I have had every sort of proposal known to man within the space of a fortnight,” Sophie said. “Who would have thought my value would change so drastically in so short of a time?” She patted Maddie’s arm absently.

“How many proposals did you receive tonight? And I’m assuming none of them are of the respectable variety.”

“Not a single one,” Sophie sighed. “How about you?”

Maddie held up three fingers. “Three offers of marriage.” Why did that make her feel so unwanted?

Sophie shot her a look of commiseration. “Honestly, what was His Grace thinking by inviting that lot here all at once like this?”

Maddie sighed. “He was thinking he could finally be free of me.”

“Your father adores you. He just didn’t think the situation through clearly.” Sophie pulled back the counterpane and Maddie climbed into the bed.

Maddie turned on her side so she and Sophie could see each other. “What am I to do, Soph? I’d hop a ship bound for India and find employment training elephants before I’d marry any of those lechers.”

“Lord Gelligaer didn’t meet your expectations?”

Though it was dark, Maddie could tell her friend wore an impish grin. “When he bothered to talk at all, it was to discuss the color green ad nauseam. You would think there was only so much one could say about a color, but you’d be wrong.”

Sophie giggled. “Did it start with him discussing your eyes, by chance?”

It had started that very way. Maddie’s response was an unintelligible grumble.

“It couldn’t be worse than my dinner companions. Your grandmother barked at everything everyone said the entire night. I almost felt sorry for the fellows assigned to my table. By the end of the evening, Mr. Hadley, the smooth-faced one, just stared into his plate like a scolded puppy.”

“Speaking of Mr. Hadley, Soph, I know you said something to Lord Radbourne. What did you say?”

Sophie closed her eyes. “In public or in private?”

In
private?
Maddie nearly swallowed her tongue. She sat up in bed and stared down at her friend. “You met with him privately?”

“Certain things needed to be said without an audience.”

Maddie massaged her temple. “Please tell me nothing untoward happened.”

“All right. Nothing untoward happened.”

Maddie didn’t believe that for a second. “Heavens, Soph. I told you I would speak to Lady Eynsford. That she’d find a way to straighten all this out.”

Sophie shrugged against her pillow. “Well, I’ll get a chance to talk to Lady Eynsford myself tomorrow. She wants me to call on her… alone.” She let that last word linger on the air. “Very mysterious. I don’t know why you think she’s capable of sorting out my situation. She seems quite odd to me. Bursting out of parlors in the middle of tea for no reason. Pulling me to the side last night and telling me I must visit Eynsford Park in the morning and to come alone. She is more than a conundrum.”

“Lady Eynsford wants you to call on her in the morning?”

Sophie nodded. “Indeed. Though she didn’t even give me a hint as to why.”

“Hmm.” Maddie dropped back on the bed and stared up at the canopy above them. “Perhaps Grandmamma already spoke to the lady and she has a plan to help you.”

Sophie yawned and turned on her side. “I’m sure it’s something like that.” Sarcasm dripped from her words. “Now go to sleep, Maddie. I’ve apparently got a long day ahead of me tomorrow.”

Maddie sighed and settled deeper beneath the counterpane. Thoughts of tomorrow flitted across her mind. From sunup to sundown, she’d be barraged by marriage-minded men who wanted her fortune. All of whom had been hand chosen by her father. Sophie would be going to Eynsford Park in the morning
alone
, while Maddie was left to fend for herself. She wondered absently if the Hadley twins would be there. She couldn’t even remember the other twin’s name, the one without the scar. But Mr. Weston Hadley was a man she didn’t think she’d forget for quite some time.

***

Wes paced the floor in Dash’s study from one direction as Gray walked in the other direction. Occasionally, they crossed paths.

“If the two of you don’t stop it, I’m going to tell Dash about that prank you pulled last month in Town,” Archer said from where he relaxed in an oversized chair with a newspaper in his lap.

Gray’s head snapped up. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me,” Archer gloated from his position. “Sit,” he barked.

Gray dropped into a chair with a groan. Wes was still trying to remember which prank Archer might have in mind. Gray must have had a better recollection of recent events, since he seemed more than a little concerned about the threat.

“Sit,” Archer growled again. He’d never been a very effective pack alpha. But he did try on occasion when Dash wasn’t around.

Wes landed in the chair opposite his twin. Gray nudged Wes in the shin with the tip of his Hessian. “Do you have any idea why we’ve been summoned?” he asked beneath his breath.

But Wes had no clue and he shrugged his answer. After all, they hadn’t done anything since yesterday. They hadn’t had any time to get into trouble. For God’s sake, the night before they’d been stuck at the lesser table with the Duchess of Hythe. They’d been on their best behavior with her looking down her hawkish nose at them all night. Maybe Archer had done something after he left the castle. But if so, there would be no reason for Wes and Gray to be summoned as well.

Then an unfamiliar floral scent caught Wes’ attention. He lifted his nose in the air. “Who’s here?” he asked.

Archer made a similar action and grimaced. “Oh, good God,” he sighed beneath his breath.

Wes glanced at his twin. “Who do you know who smells like violets?”

“Lady Sophia.” Gray smirked. “Which you would know if you could take your eyes or your snout off Lady Madeline for five seconds.”

“I can’t help it if Lady Madeline’s rosewater overpowers everyone else in the room.”

“Quiet,” Archer growled. His head was cocked to the side, which indicated that he was trying his hardest to overhear a conversation in another part of the manor. “She’s here for Cait,” he finally said with a sigh, his body relaxing marginally as he lifted his paper and went back to reading.

“I sincerely doubt she’s here for
Cait
,” Wes said. “But you can delude yourself if you so choose.”

“She just asked for Cait, you idiot,” Archer growled. “That’s a fairly good indication of her intent.”

“And what was her intent when she trapped you in the parlor last night?” Wes raised his brow at his brother. Then he sat back and waited for Archer’s reaction. He didn’t have to wait long.

“And just what do you know of that?” Archer asked, his amber eyes narrowing as he laid his paper to the side.

Wes shrugged. “Not as much as you, apparently. But for some reason, the lady would like to get your bollocks in a vice. I feel certain she has a good reason.”

“There are so many to choose from,” Archer replied with a wolfish grin.

“She’s a good friend of Lady Madeline’s,” Wes informed him. “You’d do well to leave her alone.” He knocked his forehead with the heel of his hand. “I’ll wager that’s why we’ve all been summoned this morning. Because
you
somehow offended Lady Sophia, and now Lady Madeline has told the duchess. Who must have told Cait. And now we’re all in for it. And it’s your fault.”

“I sincerely doubt that’s why Dash called us all here at this ungodly hour,” Gray said beneath his breath as he laid his head back and closed his eyes, as though the very thought of keeping them open for one second longer was much too taxing for him.

Wes kicked him in the shin. “Then why did he call us, if not because of something Archer did? You tell me that. You and I haven’t done anything since the race.”

“It could be something you did prior to the race,” Archer reminded them both. “Sometimes it takes days for the news to get back to Dash.”

“Not this time.
You’ve
offended Lady Sophia. And now we all have to pay,” Wes ground out. “You should never have suggested she had nice assets with which she could bargain.”

Gray’s head bolted upright. He was suddenly fully awake. “Did you ask Lady Sophia to be your mistress?” he barked with incredulity.

“God, no. Do I look like an idiot?” Archer replied.

“Well, if you must know…” Gray said drolly. Archer scowled at him again. “So, what
did
you do then?”

Wes felt compelled to interject. “I overheard your conversation with the lady when you spoke to her alone in the parlor last night. And I know she slapped you.”

He had Gray’s complete attention now as he sat forward. “The lady slapped you? I’d have paid good money to see that.”

“If only you had any good money,” Archer replied.

“Well, now you have enough for all of us, don’t you?” Gray tossed back.

“If you think you’re going to get your grubby little paws on
my
fortune,” Archer growled, “Then you are sadly mistaken, pup.”

“So you’d leave us all in poverty while you take Lady Sophia as your mistress?” Gray grumbled.

“I have no plans to do any such thing,” Archer barked.

“She would never have you anyway,” Wes put in. “Not if her response to being within a few feet of you was any indication. The lady would have scratched your eyes out as quickly as she’d have looked at you.”

“I vaguely remember that evisceration was at the top of her list,” Gray added.

A grin pulled at Wes’ lips. “That wasn’t on her list. But I bet if she heard the word, it would be. Perhaps we can plant the seed.”

“Thank you both for helping her plan my demise.”

Suddenly, the door flew open with such force that all three men jumped to their feet. Their eldest brother stormed into the room as he raked a hand through his golden hair. For one so fair, he had a commanding presence. Particularly when he looked as though a storm cloud brewed above his head.

Dash stomped across the room and dropped into the chair behind his desk. He sorted through his correspondence for a few minutes without even looking up. Finally, Archer coughed into his closed fist and Dash looked up in a distracted motion.

“You sent for us,” Archer stated quietly.

“I did,” Dash agreed with a nod.

“We didn’t do it,” Gray began.

But Dash pursed his lips together and scowled at him. “Just what didn’t you do this time?”

Gray’s eyes danced toward Wes, as though looking for assistance. “Anything?” He shrugged.

Dash leaned back in his chair and templed his hands in front of his chest. “You expect me to believe that
you
didn’t do anything? You’ve always just done something.”

“Not today,” Wes mumbled.

“The day just started,” Dash reminded them.

“Indeed, it did,” Wes muttered back.

“Why don’t you get to the meat of the matter, Dash?” Archer finally said with a heavy sigh. “We’re here. You requested our presence. We came readily, as any good pup is wont to do. Pray ease our torment by telling us what they did wrong.” He gestured toward the twins with his head.