Tempest of Passion (16 page)

“
Emily.” He grasped her face with both his hands and looked
deep into her eyes. Her breath caught. “We have to
leave.”

She blinked. Ice-cold water rushed through her veins leaving
her cold and empty.

“
Very well.”

She
pushed at his chest.

“
Emily.”

“
Let go of me. We must leave, no?” She slapped his hand away
and slid off the bed. She shivered as her feet hit the cool floor
and hurried to light the room, careful to ignore William as he rose
and moved about the room. She rolled on her stockings and stood to
tie her stays.

“
Let me help you.”

She gasped as William materialized behind her. Her flesh
prickled at his proximity. She couldn’t seem to get enough of him.
If William hadn’t rebuked her earlier she’d be in bed with him
right at this moment. The thought sobered her. She stiffened.
William’s fingers worked quickly at her back.

“
Emily…”

“
What crimes did you commit?”

She had to stop this passion from blinding her. He had a
physical hold on her that frightened her. William kissed the spot
between her neck and shoulder. He rested his cheek against her
shoulder. Her heart thudded in her chest wildly. She wanted to turn
around and hold him.

“
William? What were you accused of?”

Give me a reason to hate you.

“
Fraud, among other things.”

He stepped away. Emily spun around.

“
And the London authorities prohibited you from seeing your
family and turned you out of the city for fraud?”

She could hear the incredulity in her own voice. He shrugged
and she hung onto the gesture like it was her only path for
salvation. He was lying to her. He was being like Phillip and all
other men. Who knew what else he was keeping from her? Other women?
Other children? Bed you and forget you. That was the modern man’s
motto.

“
What are you not telling me?”

“
I am innocent.”

She stopped mid braiding her hair and met his gaze. There was
truth in his eyes, but then, there had also been truth in Phillip’s
eyes when he told her about the very important business that kept
him in London every other weekend.

“
But fraud…?”

“
Not now,” he growled, startling her. “Don’t make me explain
now.”

Emily narrowed her eyes. Very well. She finished dressing as
quickly as was possible, grabbed her bonnet and walked out of the
room. If William didn’t want to tell her the truth then she didn’t
have to open her heart to him. She didn’t have to tell him that his
voice made butterflies dance in her stomach, or that his smile made
her want to kiss him. She definitely didn’t have to tell him she
thought her feelings for him went beyond the physical. She didn’t
have to tell him she might be falling in love with him because that
wasn’t true. After all, he was a deceiving cockroach. No one had
known that he’d been prosecuted, and no one had suspected that
behind his easy manner, he was alluring, charming her into a web of
deceit. God help her. What would happen if he were caught? Would he
be killed? Would she be a widow before she was a wife? Angst coiled
in her chest and she darted a quick glance toward William. He
followed a step behind her, his eyes trained on her. She turned
away. He might be a bastard but he did not deserve to be
killed.

He rushed to help her board the chaise but she ignored him.
Why would someone be banished from a city? Wasn’t that too harsh a
punishment? It didn’t make any sense. She didn’t look at William as
he sat at her side. If he was indeed an outcast why was he
returning to London? He was worried about his family, that she
understood, but couldn’t he send a letter to his family like a
normal person?

She bit on her lip and stared out. The road was still dark as
the coach rambled through the streets, a lantern hanging from its
sides illuminating the rocky path. Her stomach grumbled and she
realized they had failed to have breakfast. She looked at William.
He sat eerily still, his eyes darting from her to the world that
raced by outside. What scared him so much? Anger and frustration
coiled inside of her.

William wasn’t speaking to her. He glanced at her every five
seconds to check that she was still there but he didn’t tell her
what was happening. He didn’t explain what it was that made his jaw
twitch with unspent nervous energy. Fear latched its ugly teeth
into her stomach. She reached for William’s hand and found it
clammy. Still, she clung to it, hoping to reassure her husband in
some way. Though why she should, was beyond her.

The sky turned pink as they got closer to the city. They made
it by the tow road and into London without any surprises. The
outskirts of the city were coming to life as they rode through.
William’s grip on her tightened. He held on to her as if he was
afraid of letting her go and in turn, she was becoming scared.
Emily leaned toward him to kiss his cheek. She didn’t know why she
was doing it, but she knew that he needed it. William turned his
head at the same time, his lips crashing against hers in a hard
kiss that caught her by surprise but set her body afire just the
same.

“
Don’t stray from my side,” he whispered. “Stay with me,
Emily.”

Distress danced in his eyes, the flecks of amber she usually
saw there more pronounced than ever. She nodded, unable to discern
if there was more to the pleading in his tone. Finally, the chaise
rolled to a stop. She looked out the window and saw a pleasant
looking town house.

The footman opened the door and helped her out. William
followed close. He gave some quiet instructions to the coachman and
turned to her. The relief in his eyes caused her to smile and she
reached for his hand.

Instead, a scream tore through her as a man knocked William
aside.

Chapter Nineteen

William’s breath exploded from his lungs as somebody flung
into his arms in a bear hug.

“
Cousin Will.”

William took a step back, finally recognizing his cousin’s
scent. He held him at arm’s length, thrown back by the other man’s
outburst.

“
George?”

“
Follow me inside, quickly,” George muttered, smiling through
his teeth. He slapped him on the back with friendliness, grasped
his shoulder and started ushering him toward the house. Behind him
he could almost taste Emily’s concern. He turned on his heel, away
from his cousin’s grip and took Emily’s hand. Immediately, she
relaxed. He glared at his cousin.

“
Do you not see I come with company?”

George
dropped his gaze and bowed.

“
Forgive me. I was only looking after your
wellbeing.”

“
Quite all right.” William grinned. “You have never been too
observant, have you, G?”

George’s green eyes lit up and the corner of his lips twitched
before he frowned.

“
Do not call me that, William. Now, please, go inside before
anyone sees you.”

William nodded and led Emily toward his family’s home. He
couldn’t say what it was, but something was off. Perhaps it had
been his cousin’s effusive greeting, Emily’s fear, or the fact that
he hadn’t been home in months, but he felt uneasy. He’d barely
reached for the bell, when the front door burst open. A petite
woman with red hair pulled into a bun stood under its frame,
visibly shaken.

“
Oh. Thank God.”

Stronger than was possible for one of her height, his mother
Mary pulled him inside and into a hug that left him breathless. At
his side, Emily squirmed for he still held her hand. He refused to
let go. Not now that she was warming up to him, not now that they
could be in danger.

“
William, what are you doing here?” His mother cupped his
cheek, concern and hope dancing in the depths of her brown eyes.
Her gaze sidled toward Emily. “And you…”

“
I heard about Father. “

“
What?” His mother turned her attention back on him. The
wrinkles on her forehead deepened. “What about your
father?”

“
What about me?”

William gaped at the sight of Charles Dalton, his father,
Alpha of the Dalton clan and Elder member of the Wolf Council of
London. He stood tall and strong as always. His scent, earthy and
green … old, yet full of energy, just as he remembered. His
moustache twitched as he wrinkled his nose, and sniffed out the
people in the house.

“
Father?”

“
William Alexander.”

The low rumble of displeasure, evident in his father’s tone,
made his heart clench. The pit of anxiety in his stomach opened
into a maw of furious winds. His wolf bristled. The air was filled
with tension and fear.

“
Come into my study, all of you, now.”

Charles Dalton turned on his heel and strode through the hall
to his private study. He didn’t look back, fully aware that they
would follow without question. William’s mother gave him a teary
smile. She patted his arm before her gaze slid toward Emily. An
appreciative sparkle appeared in the depth of her eyes and she
winked at him. The discomfort in his stomach eased slightly and he
smirked. His mother approved of his mate. He pulled Emily closer to
him. No protest issued from her lips, but her body was stiff as a
board and her scent sour. How could he be so remiss?

“
Don’t be afraid, love.”

He kissed the back of her hand and squeezed it before tucking
it into the crook of his arm again. Her body softened and her scent
changed.

They filed into the room, his cousin George shutting the door
firmly behind them. Charles stood behind his oak desk. At sixty
years of age, his hair was silver but his presence was far from
fragile.

“
William Alexander Dalton, what are you doing
here?”

His
father pressed his fists against the wooden table, staring at him
furiously.

“
What are you thinking? Putting your life on the line like
this, coming to London, and compromising our investigation. Explain
yourself.”

William snarled, anger cutting through him at the accusatory
tone in his father. He knew the words were laced with worry, but he
wished the old man could at least show some consideration for his
troubles.

“
And her.” He gave Emily a perfunctory glance. “Who is she,
and why did you bring her?” He turned his silver gaze back at
William. “Does she know you’re endangering her?”

“
I’m right here, sir and not deaf,” Emily said, stepping in
front of William. “I am his wife and of course I know there is
danger.”

William bit back a grin at the shock in his father’s eyes. His
anger and nerves dissipated. He snaked his arm around Emily’s
waist, holding her steady. Her gentle frame trembled in his arms,
and the stench of fear could probably be smelled by every wolf in
the room, but she held her ground. She was his mate and she was
more than worthy. Having her at his side was all he needed in
life.

“
Well, are you going to introduce us properly,
boy?”

William glared at his father. His cheeks burned. Even as an
adult, Charles Dalton still managed to scold him like a pup. Emily
glanced at him expectantly. Her lips were pulled into a thin line
and her eyes betrayed her turmoil of emotions. William curled his
hand into a fist. He wanted to slide his thumb over that mouth and
make her gasp.

“
Father, mother, cousin George, this is Emily Bunsbury.”
William grinned. He kept his gaze trained on Emily. “My
wife.”

“
You’re married?”

“
Yes, Mrs. Dalton,” Emily said softly.

“
I am glad.”

Angelina Dalton, his mother, grasped Emily’s hand and pulled
her into a hug. William laughed at Emily’s baffled face. He’d never
seen her eyes grow so wide.

“
I’m happy for you, William.”

Angelina released his wife and turned to him. Standing on her
toes, she kissed his cheek. She looked at him for an instant, pride
and love shining in her eyes.

“
However, I don’t understand why you’re here.”

“
Precisely, what I want to know.”

His
father spoke up from behind his desk. He’d sat down and folded his
hands over the dark wood. The white cuffs of his shirt stood out
starkly. Almost as much as the red vest he sported, the color
reminding him of blood and the purpose of his visit.

“
I received a letter from Paul.” William snuck his hand
beneath his coat, searching for the pocket he held near his heart.
“He said Father was ill and dying.” He handed the letter to his
mother. “It had the house seal,” he hurried to add.

“
That’s not Paul’s handwriting.” Angelina’s tear-filled voice
broke through the room like the sound of shattering glass. “His
handwriting has improved greatly these past few months.”

“
Let me see that,” his father said.

Speechless, William watched as his mother handed his father
the missive. Her hands trembled and her reddish complexion was
pale. His cousin hurried to offer her a chair. She sat quietly and
covered her hands with her face. Emily moved closer to him,
offering him in silence her support. William swallowed.