Wolfishly Yours (19 page)

She shot him a glance as she crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “You have been wrong before, I’m certain.” Then she crossed the room and tugged her oldest brother to the side. She whispered vehemently in his ear. So vehemently that Gray couldn’t make out a word of it. Damn her eyes. Armand looked up and grinned. “Why certainly,
bébé
sister,” he crowed. “We’ll take care of it for you.”

Gray highly doubted that the Mayeux brothers would be doing much caretaking. But he would give his eyeteeth to know what Livi had just asked of Armand.

As soon as Gray stepped inside the taproom, the tavern wench met his eyes and then giggled to herself. Bloody perfect. Wes would pick the very same taproom where Gray had numbed his senses earlier that week alongside Nathaniel Hayburn. And the woman did appear to recognize him. “Perhaps we should go to another tavern,” Gray grumbled.

But it was too late to leave as the wench gestured the four Lycans farther into the establishment. “Mr. Hadley,” she said in a singsong voice, “how nice to see you again.”

“You know her?” Wes mumbled in Gray’s ear.

“I had a few tankards this week,” Gray replied. More than a few, but he thought the better of mentioning so at the moment.

“More ale, sir?” The girl crossed the room to greet the foursome.

“Thank you,” Gray nodded. “A round for my brothers too. We’ll try to stay out of your way.”

“We’re not your brothers yet.” Etienne Mayeux tossed over his shoulder as he sauntered toward a table on the far side of the room.

Armand’s gaze trailed up and down the tavern wench’s slender body, finally stopping at her bodice. “I don’t suppose you have any rum, mademoiselle?”

“Rum?” She batted her eyelashes as she shook her head. “We’ve got gin, whiskey, and ale.”

“Then a round of ale it is.” The American tipped his head in thanks before heading toward the table his brother had already claimed.

“What do you think Miss Mayeux whispered to them before we left?” Wes muttered under his breath.

Gray would give his left arm to find out. “I haven’t a clue.” He glanced back across the taproom to find the brothers Mayeux with their heads tipped together as though they were Cassius and Brutus right before they turned Caesar into a sieve. “But I’m not happy about it, whatever it is.”

“Well, I suppose we’ll eventually find out, won’t we?” Wes clapped a hand to Gray’s back. “Come on, we’d best go take our seats before they conspire to bury your body somewhere along the River Avon.”

“And here I thought they’d just converge on me in the senate with their daggers drawn.”

Wes chuckled. “I would hardly think of you as Julius Caesar. That role is more befitting of Dash, don’t you think?”

“Oh? Well, who am I, then?” Gray grumbled.

Wes frowned for a moment in thought. “Falstaff, perhaps.”

Falstaff? That bumbling idiot? What a thing to say. Gray glared at his brother. “I shall remind you that we’re twins.”

Wes’ smile returned. “I am joking, of course.” He gestured once again to the Mayeux brothers. “Should I have said Hamlet instead? As you are most certainly procrastinating against the inevitable.”

At least the Danish prince was more regal than blasted Falstaff. Damn Wes straight to hell for needling him when he wasn’t in the mood. Gray heaved a sigh. “I’m not procrastinating. I just don’t know what to do. They’re Livi’s
brothers
, for God’s sake.”

Wes snorted. “Maddie has brothers too. And they’d been my friends before…”

Before Wes had abducted their sister and dashed for the border. “What should I say to them? How can I make them understand?”

Wes shrugged. “I’d probably have some clue if we had a sister.”

Really, for being Gray’s twin and best friend, Wes wasn’t any help at all. “Why am I asking you anyway? You gave Madeline
back
to her brothers.” Which was the exact opposite of what Gray wanted to do.

Wes’ mouth fell open and his dark eyes narrowed. “I did what I thought was best for her at the time. You should ask yourself what’s best for Liviana.”

“I’m what’s best for her,” Gray said and stood taller as he did so.

“Then go over there and tell them that.”

Gray would do that very thing. Armand and Etienne Mayeux were Livi’s brothers, but he was going to be her husband… Unless they stole her away from him in the dead of night. Gray’s hands became clammy and his breath hitched at the thought.

“I’ve never seen you so…”

“If you say like Falstaff, I will pummel you into the ground.”

Wes chuckled and gestured to the Mayeuxes’ table with a sweep of his arm. “Go on, Mark Antony, conquer your foes until they surrender at your feet. Is that better?”

“Somewhat,” Gray growled. Then he tipped his head back and started for the table where his would-be brothers-in-law held court. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said to the pair. “My brother and I haven’t seen each other for quite some time.”

“I am newly married,” Wes announced as he dropped into a seat across from the Mayeuxes.

“And here we thought you might be plotting.” Etienne grinned, though his eyes held no warmth.

“No reason for plotting.” Gray took his own seat beside his brother and leaned back in his chair, hoping a casual air would put the Americans more at ease. “Just a bit of family business.”

At that moment, the tavern wench arrived at their table with a tray heavy laden with tankards. “Here you are, gentlemen.” But her foot caught the edge of Gray’s chair and she stumbled forward, landing in his lap. Wes snatched the tray of four drinks from her hands just as they began to tip. A small amount tipped onto the floor before Wes righted the tray. Thank heavens his brother was there to support him. Or he would have gone home smelling like a brewery.

“Oh, Mr. Hadley!” She tried to scramble from his lap, but the ale that had splashed to the floor sent her falling right back into Gray’s arms.

“Here.” Wes bolted to his feet. “Let me help you, miss.” He lifted her from Gray’s lap and placed her squarely in the middle of a dry patch of wooden floor. “There, now. No harm done.”

“I say.” Etienne leaned forward in his seat. “How well do you know the little serving maid?”

Gray gaped at Livi’s brother. Surely he wasn’t suggesting something improper. Gray was the one, after all, who’d caught her in his lap when there was nowhere else for her to go. Chivalry was dead, apparently. “I don’t even know her name.”

“But she seems to know yours.” Etienne’s eyes flashed back to the tavern wench. “Do you imbibe a lot, Mr. Hadley?”

“Do I imbibe…?” Gray echoed, barely believing his ears, “As much as any other man.”

“But not just any other man is dead set to marry our sister,” Armand added. “We need to be certain that Livi’s future is safe with you.”

Gray rose from his seat and began to tug at his clothing to set them to rights. “Livi will be perfectly safe with me. She’ll never want for anything.”

“Except maybe for her home and her family,” Etienne put in. “No, Mr. Hadley. I’m afraid we’ll need more than just your word that Livi will be safe with you and that she’ll want for nothing. We’ll need proof.”

“Proof?” Gray growled. What sort of proof? What the devil did they want from him?

“Have you the income to support her, Mr. Hadley?” Armand asked as he handed Gray one of the drinks. He took another and raised it to his lips, regarding Gray over the rim with a skeptical glare.

Gray couldn’t tell them that he was the half brother of a powerful marquess, since he couldn’t publicly claim Dash as a sibling, and he didn’t have much else to recommend him, aside from the allowance Dash afforded him and the new business venture he, Wes, and Archer had just began. “I have enough,” he grunted instead.

Etienne raised a hand to his cup his ear. “What did you say, Hadley?” he taunted. “Didn’t quite hear you.”

Gray leaned closer to him and mouthed plainly. “Your sister will never want for anything.” He’d said it earlier, but they obviously hadn’t heard him.

Wes interjected, “We actually have a thriving business we just embarked upon. It’s doing quite well.”

Or would be once they got the place up and running. Thank God Wes hadn’t mentioned that last part.

Armand leaned forward, resting his chin on his elbow. “Pray tell,” he said with a most irritating glitter in his eyes.

Before Gray could expound on their not-yet-established business venture, Etienne tilted his head toward Wes and touched a finger to his own cheek. “Associate with vampyres much?”

Wes lifted his hand to his scarred cheek. “An unfortunate encounter a few years ago.”

Etienne shook his head. “Evil creatures. I wouldn’t want Livi around something so dangerous.”

“How often do you encounter vampyres?” Armand’s brow furrowed.

Damn it to hell. Gray raked a hand through his hair. He’d never had such intense scrutiny of his life or his brother’s life. And how Wes received his scar was none of Armand or Etienne Mayeux’s concern. “We don’t associate with their kind. As Wes said, it was an unfortunate encounter.
One
encounter. I don’t believe either of us has seen one since.”

A cough over Gray’s left shoulder drew his attention. He turned quickly to find the Marquess of Lavendon standing at his elbow, an eyebrow arched in Wes’ direction. “Left my sister to carouse with this degenerate, did you?”

Gray sputtered. Damn Lavendon to the fieriest depths of Hell. That was the very last thing he needed Livi’s brothers to overhear. Especially as they seemed to be doing their very best imitation of the Spanish Inquisition.

Then Lavendon’s laugh boomed off the tavern walls. The marquess clapped Gray on his shoulder. “I jest, of course. So good to see you upright, Hadley.” He leaned down and said in a conspiratorial manner that was more than a whisper, “That wench you had last week is asking about you.” He nodded in the direction of the bar.

Gray hadn’t had a wench last week. He glanced over in the direction of the marquess’ nod. “I believe you mean the wench
you
had last week, don’t you, Lavendon?”

The marquess shrugged. Then he grinned, a most irritating smile if Gray had ever seen one. “Had her last night too,” he remarked. “Do you care if I join you?”

He didn’t wait for an answer; he simply beckoned for an additional chair and lowered himself into it with a moan. “Lavendon, meet Miss Mayeux’s brothers from America. How fortunate that Armand and Etienne have arrived in time for the wedding tomorrow,” Gray said by way of introduction.

The brothers looked none too pleased, but they both greeted the man with a nod.

Lavendon’s grin widened. “Got caught in the parson’s mousetrap, did you?”

“Some men,” Wes began, “quite enjoy matrimony. I’m sure Gray will be as happy with Miss Mayeux as I am with Maddie.”

The marquess shrugged as though the topic suddenly bored him.

Etienne called for another tankard of ale. “Hadley was just telling us about his business venture,” he said.

Gray hadn’t been. But it would be rude to correct them.

“Oh, the gaming hell.” Lavendon stopped to take a long draw of his ale, and the Mayeux brothers looked at one another with skeptical glances. “The jackanapes won’t let me invest even though I’m family. Can you believe that?”

Armand pushed back from the table, gaping at Gray. “You plan to support our sister by operating a gaming hell?”

“It’s not just any gaming hell. It’s an upscale gaming hell.”

Etienne held up one finger. “I’ve a good mind to drag Livi to the first ship headed west this evening.”

Let him try.

Thank God, Weston was there. He pulled a shilling from his pocket and lined his glass up on the table. “I propose a little game, gentlemen,” he said. He winked at Gray. Things never went well when Wes had that look in his eye. But whatever he had in mind couldn’t be worse than Gray pummeling his brothers-in-law-to-be into the ground at the very thought of them absconding with his fiancée.

“Be careful with him.” Lavendon gestured to Wes with a cock of his head. “No one ever beats Weston Hadley.”

“Is that so?” Etienne asked as he narrowed his eyes on Gray and Wes collectively.

“We Mayeuxes are known for our luck as well.” Armand leaned forward in his seat.

“I’d wager you won’t beat Weston Hadley at his game. No one does. Learned that the hard way.”

“We’ll see about that,” Armand replied quietly, a challenge most evident in his voice.

“Indeed. Tell us more about this game of yours,” Etienne said as he dropped back into his chair. “I’d wager we Mayeuxes are more than a match for the pair of you.”

Livi paced back and forth in front of the doorway as she nibbled a fingernail. She stopped to look out the window, searching the darkness for any sign of her brothers or Gray. They had been gone all day with no indication that they might ever return except for Gray’s promise of “tonight.” Tonight, apparently, was a relative term.

Sophie sighed heavily and sat her needlepoint to the side. “It’s late. We should go to bed, Livi,” she said. “At this point, when they do return home, they won’t be fit for company.”

“What if they’re injured?” Livi glared at her friend. She couldn’t help but think the worst. After all, she knew her brothers better than Gray did, and they hadn’t been terribly happy with him when they’d left that morning. That morning! Good heavens, how many hours had it been?

“Your pacing at the window is not going to keep any of them from being injured,” Sophie admonished.

“But what if they’ve done something to him?” Livi’s fingernails would be a mess by the time her brothers and Gray finally came home.

“What on earth do you think they’re going to do to him?” Sophie crossed her hands primly in her lap.

That was the question, wasn’t it? But Livi didn’t want to conjure up every last horrible thing her brothers might do. “How can you remain calm at a time like this?” Livi asked. Sophie sat there, so prim and proper, while Livi felt like her insides were being ripped out each moment that ticked by. “You don’t know my brothers. They are wily beasts who have a penchant for trouble.” Especially when they didn’t like someone. And they didn’t like Gray, not even a little.

“You don’t know the Hadley brothers well, Livi. They are of the same ilk, those twins. When the two of them are together, they’re a force to be reckoned with. I’m not afraid for them at all. But your brothers…” Her eyes narrowed at Livi. “Are you more worried about Grayson or your brothers?”

“Both,” Livi muttered. She didn’t know who to be more worried about. Her brothers could do a lot of damage when they set their minds to it. But Gray did have his twin with him.

Suddenly, the jingle of tack in the drive drew her attention. She raced to the window and peered out into the darkness. She saw two forms stumble from the carriage, but she couldn’t tell if they were her brothers or Grayson and Weston Hadley. Then the two men reached into the carriage and hefted two lumps over their shoulders. “Oh, dear!” Livi cried.

“What is it?” Sophie asked, peering out into the dark street as well.

“They’re home,” was all Livi could croak.

“Good. Then you’ll finally be able to get some rest.” Sophie reached her hand out to Livi. “Come along, dear. Let’s go to bed before they see us hovering like old maids. Let’s not give them that satisfaction.”

Instead of complying, Livi rushed past Sophie into the corridor toward the front door and pulled it open. She stepped to the side as the men entered the house without slowing their gait. She couldn’t see their faces, as it was still too dark to tell who was being carried and who was doing the carrying, but there were definitely full-grown men thrown over their shoulders.

The overwhelming scent of cheap perfume hit her before they even turned around. Rage crept up within Livi as she crossed her arms in front of her and gritted her teeth. They’d been out whoring, and now at least two of them were so foxed they couldn’t walk, and the other two could barely do the same.

“Etienne? Armand?” Livi demanded.

One man turned, the feet belonging to the person thrown over his back knocking into her shoulder. She stumbled, and strong hands reached for her. “Beg your pardon, Livi,” Grayson Hadley said. “Didn’t mean to knock you over, love.”

She tapped her foot on the hardwood floor. “Just what did you intend to do?” she asked.

He stood very still for a moment as though he had no idea what he was supposed to do next. He scratched his head with the hand that wasn’t holding the back of Etienne’s knees.

Weston Hadley nudged his shoulder hard enough to knock him off balance. “You were going to put the sack of lard to bed,” he said with an intoxicated chuckle.

“Oh, that’s right.” Grayson laughed along with his twin. It was a silly sound, and it made Livi want to roll her eyes at him.

“What did you do to my brothers?”

Armand’s voice emanated from Weston’s back. He tried to lift his head as he talked, but it must have been too difficult. “He dinna do nuffin’, Liv,” he slurred. “We played some cards. And we had a jolly good time.” He patted Weston on the bottom. “He’s a good sort, Liv.”

“If you touch my arse one more time…” Weston warned.

Armand flushed. “
Bon
Dieu
, was that your arse? I thought it was your shoulder.”

“I’m certain you did,” Gray intoned. He looked over his shoulder at Etienne, who now snored loudly. “At least mine’s asleep and can’t play with my arse.”

“You had better put yours to bed,” Wes muttered. He looked to be the most sober of the lot, but even he was foxed. “I have a lovely wife I need to see before I go to sleep.”

“Right. To bed,” Gray slurred. “G’night, Livi love.” He bent to kiss her cheek, but she dodged out of his way. There was no way he would put his lips anywhere near her face when he reeked of whores and ale. When she dodged him, he stumbled past her and crashed into the wall.

Etienne woke with a grunt. “Where am I?” he complained.

“You’re slung off Hadley’s back like a sack of potatoes,” Armand said with a hilarious giggle. “But don’t touch his arse, ’cause evidently Hadley men really hate that.”

“I had no plans to touch his arse, you idiot.” Etienne patted the back of Grayson’s thighs. “Put me down.”

“If I do, will you be able to stand?” Grayson asked.

“Better than you,” Etienne said.

Gray and Weston lowered both of Livi’s brothers to their feet, and then it was like watching a game of lawn bowling, with all the pieces wobbling.

“
Bon
Dieu
,” Livi murmured. She motioned toward the stairs. “Sophie,” she called.

Sophie appeared as though conjured out of thin air. Of course, she’d probably been waiting for the opportunity to step into the corridor and intrude.

“Which ones do you want, Sophie?” Livi asked.

“I’ll take the Hadleys,” Sophie replied with a disgusted shake of her head. “Come along, boys,” she encouraged. When they didn’t follow immediately, she snapped, “Now!”

“Yes, ma’am,” they both said in unison, and they followed her into a nearby parlor like ducklings behind their mother. Foxed ducklings.

Livi had a feeling her brothers wouldn’t be so easy to deal with. They weren’t nearly as well trained. “Armand, Etienne, head for the stairs and I’ll show you to your chambers.”

Surprisingly, both Mayeux men started for the staircase, holding each other upright as they laughed at nothing in particular. They must have thoroughly enjoyed their evening with Gray, which did not speak well of her intended.

Livi followed the pair up the steps and then pushed her way in front of them to lead her brothers to their borrowed chambers. Before opening the first door, she spun around to face the duo. “Did you even do what I asked?” she whispered to keep the Lycans below stairs from overhearing her.

Both of her brothers stopped laughing and glanced at the other before shrugging their answer. Armand’s eyes widened as though doing so would sober him up. “I can’t remember what you asked, Liv.”

“So glad you traveled all this way to be exactly no help at all to me.” She pushed open the first door. “One of you can stay in here and the other across the hall.”

“We’re sorry, Liv,” Etienne said as he braced the wall to keep from tipping over. “What did you want again?”

To find out how Gray really felt about her. She asked them to do one thing. Just one and instead they fell deep in their cups and were completely worthless. “Never mind.” She shook her head. “Get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”

Armand reached for her hand when she started down the corridor. “Livi.”

She tipped her head back to glare at her oldest brother. “
Oui
, Armand?”

He frowned a bit and then tucked one of her stray curls behind her ear. “See you in the morning.”

There certainly was no way around that, was there?

***

Gray glanced back toward the corridor, hoping to catch another glimpse of Livi, but to no avail. Perhaps he’d just seek her out on his own. “I think I’ll retire to my chambers, Lady Sophia. I find I am a bit tired. Thank y—”

His tutor heaved a sigh. “You no longer have chambers here, Mr. Hadley.”

Gray couldn’t have heard her correctly. “I beg your pardon?”

Lady Sophia narrowed her eyes on him. “Had you returned home at a respectable hour, you would already be aware of the circumstances, Grayson. There simply wasn’t room for you
and
both of Liviana’s brothers. And since your…” she paused as though searching for the right word, “…benefactor has a home outside Bath, your things have been sent on to Lord Eynsford’s. I’m certain he’s awaiting you even now.”

Dash? Gray somehow managed to keep from groaning. The last thing he needed was another set-down from his oldest brother. “I won’t take up much space here.” In fact, he could sleep on one of the settees or the staircase. Better yet, he could keep Livi company in her own bed. That would be just the thing. They’d be married shortly anyway. Why shouldn’t they start how he intended they go on? Because her grandfather would kill him. Or her brothers. Or all three of them teamed up. That’s why. No matter how decadent the thought, Gray would have to put it to the side for at least one more night.

“I believe you have taken leave of your senses, Grayson. After the way you’ve behaved, I cannot—”

“Must you always be such a martinet?” Archer drawled from the threshold, drawing Gray’s and Wes’ attention.

Lady Sophia sucked in a breath as she placed a hand to her heart, clearly startled. “Good heavens, Lord Radbourne! What are you doing here?”

Archer’s brow rose in amusement at her discomposure. “Why? Did you miss me?”

“Like a hound misses a flea,” she muttered, but they all heard her, even Gray and Wes in their inebriated states.

“Such honeyed words always drip from your tongue,” Archer said smoothly. “I am touched, sweetheart.”

Lady Sophia’s teeth ground together. “What are you doing here?” she repeated.

Archer strode into the parlor as he retrieved a bit of foolscap from his jacket pocket. “I was playing Grayson’s errand boy, you might recall.” Then he thrust the little bundle into Gray’s hands. “Your special license all signed and ready, though why you’re stepping so calmly into the parson’s noose is beyond me.”

Stepping calmly into the parson’s noose? Archer was the one who’d seen to Gray’s rather hasty betrothal with all of his talk of thighs and kisses. Traveling so quickly to London and back must have dulled his brother’s memory. Gray glanced at the papers in his hand, and sobriety started to sink in a bit. “My special license.” The papers that would bind him to Livi for all time. A shiver skated down his spine.

Lady Sophia snorted. “After the way you behaved today, Mr. Hadley, I’m not so certain it wouldn’t be in Livi’s best interest to hop the next frigate across the Atlantic with her brothers.” Gray’s mouth fell open, but she clearly wasn’t done as she gestured to his entire person with a sweep of her hands. “Do you think she deserves a man who spends his time getting foxed? Getting her brothers foxed? The kind of man who stays out until all hours of the night? Who thinks only of himself?”

“Now see here, we were simply—” Wes began, but she shot him a withering glare that made whatever he was going to say die on his tongue.

“Don’t get me started on
you
, Mr. Hadley. Your expectant wife finally returned to Brimsworth House when she was too tired to remain here waiting for you to return. Is that any way for you to treat Maddie? You should be ashamed of yourselves, both of you.”

Wes straightened and suddenly appeared much more sober. “Is Maddie all right? Is she angry with me?”

Lady Sophia scoffed. “Amazingly not. She didn’t appear resentful at all of your time away from her. She said something about the moon and the fact that she didn’t worry about you, because you would need her when it’s at its fullest.” She narrowed her eyes on Wes. “She didn’t sound like the Madeline Hayburn I’ve known my entire life. I don’t know what you’ve done to her—”

“That’s because she’s Madeline
Hadley
now,” Archer tossed in. “Knows her place,” he added, his voice dropping dangerously low. “Perhaps you could learn something from her, my lady.”

Lady Sophia’s face turned a rather enraged scarlet, the color only Archer ever seemed able to elicit from her. “There’s not a lady I know whose place is beside any one of you. It’s too late for Maddie but Livi—”

“Is mine,” Gray growled, waving his new special license in the air. “Holmesfield agreed, my lady.”

Lady Sophia shook her head and said softly, “I have no doubt you care for her in your own… unique way, but perhaps you should consider what is best for Livi. You know as well as I that she’s wanted to return home ever since she arrived—”

“I didn’t travel all the way to Lambeth Palace for no reason,” Archer grumbled.

Their tutor folded her arms across her middle. “Heaven forbid you be inconvenienced, my lord.”

And as a fresh round of bickering between Archer and Lady Sophia ensued, Gray exchanged a glance with Wes and then quickly escaped the room before his absence could be noted. In the corridor, he stopped in his tracks. Livi sat on the steps, her knees tucked up under her chin. She was, without a doubt, the most gorgeous sight he’d ever seen. He clucked his tongue at her playfully. “Lady Sophia would tell you that’s not a very ladylike way to sit, Livi.”

She heaved a sigh and wrapped her arms around her legs. “Then it’s fitting, isn’t it? I mean, I’m not a lady. Not really.”

“Then you will fit in beautifully with the Hadleys, because none of us are truly gentlemen.” He chuckled and dropped heavily onto a step beside her. He lost his balance at the last minute, as his ale-soaked brain refused to acknowledge his descent with any grace whatsoever. He grunted as he righted himself. “Hard to believe you’ll be joining our ranks in the morning?”