My Feline Protector (Middlemarch Shifters Book 6) (13 page)

“You had me at cupcakes,” London said.

“Me too,” Gerard agreed.

London waved and set off with Geoffrey to enjoy the crisp day and the lake with The Remarkables mountain range in the background. Nothing better than a walk on a fine day.

They arrived back in Middlemarch late, just shy of six, after an amazing day. London had liked Lana Sinclair and felt comfortable. If she stayed at Middlemarch for a few weeks, Lana had told her they were sure to meet again, since Lana was attending one of the upcoming dances.

While Gerard had done his quote, she and Geoffrey had ridden on the
TSS Earnslaw
, an old steamer that used to sail the lake carting passengers and goods. Now, the ship sailed full of tourists.

Middlemarch was full of cop cars—well, three anyway, which was strange. London spotted several policemen questioning curious onlookers.

“What is going on?”

“I’ve no idea,” Gerard said. “I don’t feel like cooking dinner. Want a quick bite at the café?”

“That’s sounds good,” London agreed.

Inside the café, Leo and Isabella were eating. Gerard led Geoffrey to the outside spot reserved for dogs and filled a water bowl. Geoffrey drank then settled in a ball with a doggy groan of contentment.

“Come and join us,” Leo called when he spotted them.

Gerard glanced at her. “Is that okay?”

London nodded. “Your friends have made me welcome.”

“It’s your sexy English accent,” Gerard whispered next to her ear.

“I think that only works for you,” she whispered back.

His hand slid over her shoulders and propelled her toward Leo and Isabella. “It does. I can’t wait to get you home.”

The glow in his eyes thrilled her. It wasn’t a line to seduce her. He meant what he said. She winked at him, heard his sharp intake of breath and smiled as she settled in one of the spare chairs at Leo and Isabella’s table.

Gerard took the other seat. “What’s all the excitement? We saw at least six cops.”

“Henry has escaped,” Isabella said.

“What? How?” London asked.

“The cops aren’t saying,” Leo said with a grin. “The rumor is that the on-duty cop fell asleep.”

London accepted the menu a waitress handed her. “Really? But how did that help Henry? His cell was locked.”

“They’re saying someone aided his escape,” Leo said.

A cop barreled through the door, paused, then headed straight for their table. “Where have you been, Mr. Drummond? We’ve been looking for you all afternoon.”

“I told PC Hannah when we went to the police station this morning to inform him about Mrs. Weaver’s husband,” Gerard said. “I drove to Queenstown to do a quote for one of my customers.”

“Who did you see?”

Gerard recounted his day and who he’d seen. “London was with me. She’ll tell you,” he said when the cop’s expression remained skeptical.

“It’s true,” London said. “We haven’t been in Middlemarch for most of the day. You can check with the vineyard and Lana Sinclair. I went for a ride on the
TSS Earnslaw
. I spoke with several of the staff on the steamer.”

The cop took names and Lana Sinclair’s phone number before stomping off.

“What a rude man,” London said.

“He’s in trouble for letting a prisoner escape. I don’t think there has been this much excitement since the reporters descended on Middlemarch searching for the black leopards that those drunk tourists insisted they saw roaming the hills,” Leo said.

“Black cats?” London said. “This town becomes more fascinating by the minute.”

“Good,” Gerard said and tugged on her ponytail. “Maybe we can persuade you to stay for longer.”

Another cop arrived and repeated the questions. Gerard repeated his answers and the cop left.

“Is Henry safe?” Gerard asked in a low voice.

“Yes.” Leo glanced at the door as yet another policeman strode inside.

He questioned them, and London glared at him. “Why are you bothering us? We’ve told you where we were and given you contacts to prove our alibis. I don’t know where Henry is, but I am certain he didn’t kill my sister. Have you checked to see where her husband is? Believe me, he
is
capable of murder.”

“We haven’t been able to contact him,” the policeman said.

“And you don’t think that is suspicious?” London demanded. “Have you checked passport details or flight logs or whatever you do just in case he has left the country?”

The policeman’s mouth firmed and he stalked outside. The second he left the café, she turned to Gerard, Leo and Isabella. “All right. What is going on?”

“Henry is…has a condition,” Gerard said. “He doesn’t do well in captivity for long periods of time.”

“You knew?”

At his brief nod, she set down her menu. “You used me.”

“No,” Gerard said.

“No,” Isabella and Leo said at the same time.

“Look, we can’t talk here,” Gerard said. “You’ll have to trust us.”

London frowned. Good, honest people didn’t go around helping prisoners break out of jail. There was a right way to do this. “You didn’t consider getting bail and doing it legally?”

“They refused bail on the grounds Henry might flee,” Isabella reminded her. “You know that.”

She did, but hadn’t thought it mattered. They’d realize Henry hadn’t done the crime just as she had. What wasn’t she seeing? “But-but…” London trailed off when the waitress approached. “I’ll have the tomato and basil soup, please.”

London caught Gerard’s silent communication with Leo and Isabella, and felt a tinge of pain because they hadn’t told her whatever plan they’d executed. But the truth…she might have told, since she believed in law and justice. Aiding an escape—that wasn’t right.

Except, a little voice in her mind declared, the police weren’t doing a good job. They weren’t looking for anyone else in connection with Jenny’s murder. She’d told them about Royce. She’d informed them of the intruder trying to break into her room. The policeman in charge of the Middlemarch station had dismissed her, leaving her frustrated and angry.

Gerard placed his order, and their meals arrived quickly. The other three chatted about various events in the district and discussed gossip regarding the Jessop girl who was running wild. Evidently her parents had washed their hands of her and reported her to a local council, whatever that meant.

London frowned into her soup, listening with half an ear while everything that had happened in the last few days whirled through her mind. They were right to help their friend, even if they pushed against law and order to do it. Not that she’d have handled the situation this way, but part of her understood. If it had been Jenny sitting in a jail cell… Yes, they were right to help.

“Are you ready to go?” Gerard asked.

“What? Oh. Yes.”

“Good. I’ll let you know how he is,” Gerard said and went off to pay the bill and collect Geoffrey.

“Are you going to tattle on us?” Isabella asked.

“No.” London raised her nose in the air, then felt stupid so she met their somber gazes.

“Thank you,” Leo said. “Gerard will explain everything to you, and then you’ll understand.”

Riddles. Secrets. She’d had enough today and couldn’t wait to crawl into bed. She could do without extra excitement since her stay in Middlemarch had been action-packed enough.

Gerard thought of a hundred things to say on the short drive to his home, but he said none of them. The truth. He wasn’t sure how London would react to Henry’s presence, and once he revealed that truth, he’d have to give her the rest.

He wanted to trust her, thought he knew her pretty well after their short time together. His feline wanted her and he, the man, desired her as he’d craved no other woman. Revealing his identity though—that was fraught with problems. It took a special woman to accept a man who shifted into a beast. Gerard swallowed, casting London a sidelong glance. He’d hoped he’d have more time, but Henry took precedence. He couldn’t leave his best friend sitting in jail with the approach of the full moon.

Gerard turned into the driveway and pulled up outside the house. “Let me check in case we have an intruder.”

Geoffrey barked, scrambled off London and shot out the driver’s side door the instant Gerard opened it. He’d scented Henry.

“Holy sugar,” London whispered, her gaze glued to something outside. “Where did that dog come from? He’s huge. Shouldn’t you call Geoffrey in case—”

Before she could finish Geoffrey hurtled at Henry with a joyous bark. He ran in a circle then crouched in a play-with-me stance. Gerard smiled at the little dog’s excitement.

“Geoffrey knows him.”

“But where was he before? He’s so big. He looks like a wolf.”

“That’s what I need to tell you,” Gerard said, his stomach bucking with those pesky nerves, even though he knew he didn’t have a choice. Henry sidled closer after a wary glance at London. Geoffrey kept trying to entice his friend to play. “Come inside.” He spoke to both London and Henry.

“What about the wine?”

“I’ll grab it,” Gerard said, pleased for the opportunity to order his thoughts. Honesty. He needed to lay out the truth. He turned away to grab the box of wine they’d purchased at the vineyard and almost dropped it when London let out a terrified squeak.

“G-good doggy,” she said. “S-stay outside.”

Gerard regained his grip on the box and joined London. “He won’t hurt you, and he’s house-trained.”

Henry let out a snarl at that, and Gerard grinned. Tetchy.

“He wasn’t here before.”

“English, go inside. He won’t hurt you. I promise.”

London yawned and belatedly slapped a hand over her mouth. “It’s only seven thirty and I’m exhausted.”

“We’ll have a nightcap. I have brandy or whisky.”

“A brandy sounds good. I might have a quick shower first. Is that okay?”

“Sure. Don’t use all the hot water.” In other circumstances he’d have taken a shower with her, but he needed to speak with Henry.

Henry cocked his head and gave a low growl. London squeaked and ran behind Gerard. Geoffrey growled, his wiry body freezing, the hair along his spine rising to attention. Gerard wrapped his arms around London as he heard the foreign sound outside too.

“Stay here,” he said to London. He clicked his fingers at Henry. “Guard.”

Henry growled deep in his throat, not wanting to stay with London.

“Guard,” Gerard reiterated the order. “Need someone with two legs outside, bud.”

Henry’s growls subsided, and he planted himself between London and the door plus the windows overlooking the garden.

Gerard heard another faint scuffing outside and prowled to the door. He inched it open and let Geoffrey out before he followed. Cops or someone else? The cops would arrive in force if they suspected him of hiding Henry. Geoffrey barked, and Gerard heard a faint yelp of pain then running footsteps. Geoffrey continued to bark but Gerard called him back, not wanting the dog to get injured. The terrier came unwillingly and an instant later, a vehicle started up. Once it accelerated away, Gerard returned inside with Geoffrey at his heels.

“Someone was skulking around outside,” he said. “I wonder if it was the same person who tried to break into the bed-and-breakfast last night.”

“But that would mean they followed us,” London said.

“Yes. Don’t go anywhere alone, okay? Take one of the dogs with you.”

Henry growled another complaint as he parked his butt on the kitchen tiles. Geoffrey trotted over to sit beside Henry.

“You know what,” London said. “I don’t think it will be safe in the shower on my own.” She whipped off her pink T-shirt to show a low-cut lacy bra. “You should come and guard my body there.” She dropped the T-shirt on a barstool and reached behind her to unclip her bra.

“Henry,” Gerard snapped as the front of the bra dipped to reveal creamy curves.

Henry made the werewolf version of a laugh—a sort of hacking growl—and to Gerard’s relief, turned away.

London stopped undressing. “Why do you call him Henry?”

Henry took the decision out of his hands and shifted.

“Because it is Henry,” Gerard said and turned London in Henry’s direction.

“But—” She scowled at Henry and moved closer to Gerard as Henry’s change proceeded.

Soon, Henry stood in front of them. Big, human and naked.

“He’s naked,” London said.

“Don’t look,” Gerard ordered.

“I’m better looking than you,” Henry said in a gruff voice.

“He’s a wolf?”

“Yes, a werewolf.”

“But I thought they weren’t real.”

Henry clicked his fingers. “Right in front of you. Careful, you might hurt my feelings.”

“Is this what we needed to discuss? Did Jenny know?”

“Yes,” Gerard said.

“Jenny didn’t know yet, but I’d intended to tell her. We hadn’t known each other long. I thought I had time.” Henry’s face went hard. “Car,” he said and shifted to wolf and went to lay on the rug.