The Wolf's Pursuit (18 page)

"Why?"

"That, my dear, is the question. Why? Why
live when death of one's heart and soul is so much less painful?
For if I return to that place, I die all over again, and I'm too
selfish to experience death twice."

"Now you speak in riddles." Gwen brushed the
hair away from his forehead and kissed his chin.

"I speak in truths. The man everyone knows as
the Duke of Haverstone ceased existing as a person the day he
watched his other half, his soul mate, die in his arms."

For a moment, Hunter couldn't believe he had
actually said all of that aloud, but he had no time to think.
Voices interrupted his thoughts, so without pause he pulled Gwen
behind the drapes and closed them. They were trapped between the
balcony and the room, nothing but a bit of material hiding them and
their costumes.

Wolf—

I would not hold my breath if I were you. And
if I've given you false hope, I sincerely apologize. My intention
was to give you Hades. Of course they both start with h so you can
see my confusion. Apologies.

—
Red

Gwen tried to calm her breathing as she heard
the door open. The hushed voices grew louder as the footsteps
approached the curtains and stopped directly in front.

"I always hated this house." The man sighed
and touched the curtains directly in front of Gwen's face. Her
breath hitched as Hunter drew her closer to his body. She could
feel every hard-planed muscle tense against her.

"Ah, Redding, do stop complaining. You are
not the first man to despise these masquerades or this house. The
decorations are less than to be desired. This much is true, old
friend."

Redding? Old friend?

"Hollins, we are not, nor have we ever been,
friends."

"Partners?" Hollins laughed. "Let us be
partners then, for I believe I have some information you may find…
interesting."

"Interesting how?" Redding sounded bored.

"Do you remember when you asked me a few
months ago if anything was amiss at the War Office?"

"Of course." Redding scoffed. "It was not
long after that that we became partners, as you call it."

"Precisely." Hollins cleared his throat.
"I've made a new code. One that we will begin using immediately,
starting this week, but I need you to become familiar with it
before it is sent out. That way if I die, you will be able to
continue in my place."

Silence, and then the feet shifted in front
of Gwen and walked away. She exhaled and waited.

"Morbid but necessary," Redding said. "Well,
what is it we are trying to communicate to the soldiers?"

"That, I cannot tell you just yet."

"Then what can you tell me?"

A few minutes went by and then Redding said,
"I understand. I will meet you then."

Footsteps echoed across the floors and then
the door clicked shut. Gwen peered around the curtain and saw that
the room was empty.

"That was close," Hunter said from behind
her, and then with a thud she fell to the floor as he pushed her
out of the way.

Gwen opened her mouth to yell, but Hunter was
on his hands and knees in front of the fireplace, where a piece of
paper burned brightly.

"Help me," he ordered, as he pulled the paper
from the fire and stomped on it. Gwen knelt down to look at it.

"I am sorry." She shook her head. "I cannot
decipher it."

Hunter turned pale and cursed. "That is
because it is in code."

****

That following afternoon loomed. Gwen dreaded
her meeting with Redding. Especially considering he was more than
likely the man they were looking for. All signs pointed to him and
Hollins. Then again, Trehmont was just as slippery. But he hadn't
made an appearance since Hunter called him out.

Truly it all gave her a headache. One could
not simply call Bow Street upon suspicion of a crime. They needed
evidence, and she had no idea how to gain any, short of waiting for
one of the men to of course take a false step.

She pricked her finger on her needlepoint and
sighed. Redding would arrive any moment, for he had specifically
said that he would walk with her during the fashionable hour.

Oh joy.

The Montmouth butler, James, entered her
sitting room and cleared his throat. "The Duke of Haverstone to see
you, my lady."

What the devil was he doing here? He was
going to ruin everything! Surging to her feet, she threw down her
needlepoint and crossed her arms.

Hunter entered the room and gave her a weak
smile.

Weak smile? Nothing was weak about Hunter's
smile. Was he ill? What the blazes was wrong with him? Perhaps his
gunshot wound was acting up?

"Hunter?" She narrowed her eyes. "Did you—"
Truly she was losing her mind. "Did you cut your hair?"

"But of course. So glad you noticed." He
winked.

She was convinced now, more than ever, that
she needed to quit spying lest she finally lose her mind. "Hunter,
I swear by all that is holy that if you do not be quick about what
you came to say, I will strangle you with my bare hands! Redding
will be here any minute, and we both know how important this
meeting is!"

"Then I am right on time." Hunter approached
her and took her hand in his. He smelled… different. Not
unpleasantly so, but oddly like a stranger. She leaned in and
sniffed again. No alcohol fumes? Is that why he looked so
healthy?

"When you are done sniffing me, I will
proceed." Hunter grinned.

Gwen leaned forward. "Your teeth, they look…"
They were perfectly straight like Hunter's except the way his mouth
formed around them was all wrong. His smile seemed wider and almost
forced.

Hunter groaned. "Like teeth. Now, do stop
getting distracted. This is important."

"Right." But Gwen could not for the life of
her take her eyes away from Hunter's. That feature she knew about
him. His eyes had always been an eerie golden brown, but right now
they looked positively green! Impossible! She shook her head.

Hunter looked down, breaking his gaze. "You
cannot go with Redding. Tell him you are unwell, tell him you find
him lacking in some way, but do not get in the carriage with him.
Do you understand?"

"No."

"Are you always this easy to get along
with?"

Gwen laughed. "You of all people should know
the answer to that question."

"I should. Shouldn't I?" Hunter leaned
forward and caressed her face. "I see it. I did not think I would,
but I see it. I see what the Wolf sees in you. Never lose your
fight, love."

"Are you drunk?" Gwen leaned in. Perhaps
there was whiskey on his breath?

"I wish I were. Perhaps then this nightmare
would finally free me from its clutches." Hunter dropped her hand.
"If you do not heed my advice, I will tie you up."

"Wouldn't be the first time," Gwen
mumbled.

Hunter threw his head back and laughed. "I
mean it, my lady."

"So now you call me a lady, after all we've
been through? Not Red? Sheep? Nut or plain old Gwen?"

"Nothing about you is plain, my lady." He
smiled warmly. "So I ask again, what will it be?"

"I will not stay."

"Then you leave me no choice." With a wicked
smile he yelled at the top of his lungs. "My lady! Do you mind! I
am not a piece of meat that you can throw yourself upon when you
suddenly have an urge!"

"What are you doing?" Gwen hissed and smacked
him on the arm. Insanity, it seemed, had finally caught up with her
partner. Pity, she had always bet he would die of alcohol
consumption first.

"My lady! Hands off!" Hunter smiled brightly.
"I will not seduce you!"

"Hunter, I swear I will—"

"What the devil is going on?" Montmouth burst
into the room.

"Ah, Montmouth is it?"

Idiot. He knew who Montmouth was.

"Kindly tell me why—" Montmouth looked from
Gwen to Hunter. "Why, er, why she was thrusting herself upon
you?"

"Other than the obvious?" Hunter clapped his
hands together. "After all, what woman wouldn't be curious about
my… talents?"

Montmouth lunged for Hunter, but Hunter
quickly moved away.

"It would be wise, Haverstone, to be quick
with your explanation."

Hunter slowly walked to the door and stopped
in front of Montmouth. "It seems your innocent little flower is not
so innocent, for not but three minutes ago she threatened to kiss
me. Apparently, the little girl wanted a bit of… rake."

"Leave," Montmouth said through gritted
teeth. "Now."

"My pleasure, but do be careful about keeping
her on a short leash. After all, Redding is on his way to take her
on a walk. Wouldn't want her asking him the same favor. You could
very well find her ruined."

Gwen watched in astonishment as Hunter ruined
every single plan she had for that afternoon and possibly her
life.

Upon Hunters exit, Montmouth slammed the door
behind him and glared at Gwen. "What must I do to keep you safe
from ruin? It seems you are even a danger to yourself!"

Gwen opened her mouth to speak, but Montmouth
held up his hand. A large vein in his head began to throb as if it
too was angry. So she kept quiet.

"You will not interrupt me, and you will not
leave this house."

"For how long am I to be kept prisoner?"

"Until I die!" Montmouth yelled.

Gwen bit her lip to keep from shouting
back.

Montmouth cursed. "I did not mean that." He
cursed again. "Women are a plague."

"I'll be sure to tell my sister you think
so."

"Brat." Montmouth smirked. "Please, I do not
care for gray hair. At least stay in the house until your sister
returns, and she can deal with you."

"You are passing me off?"

Montmouth strolled back toward the door.
"With pleasure. I'll be sure to have the staff watch you."

Just then the butler approached the door.
"Viscount Redding to see you, my lady."

"I will take care of this." And with that
Montmouth left the room.

Gwen had trouble deciding if she was more
upset or impressed with Hunter's acting ability. He better have a
good reason for keeping her away from Redding and it better be a
matter of life or death. If not, then she was going to shoot
him.

Red—

Sometimes I imagine what your face would look
like while reading these little love notes from yours truly. Do you
blush? Does your body warm at the thought of my hands touching you?
I find myself positively aroused thinking upon such things, which
is why I think upon them often. Care to take a guess at what I'm
thinking about doing to you now?

—
Wolf

Hunter pounded on the door for the third
time. Earlier that morning he had sent a perfect copy of the code
to his grandfather for him to decipher. He knew it was of the
utmost importance that he give the man time to look it over.
Considering their last meeting, he had reasons to believe
Lainhart's mind was indeed weak. Hunter had given him three hours
to look at the code. It should be long enough.

He knocked again.

Where was that blasted butler?

It was nearing the time when Gwen and Redding
would have their romantic walk, and he was planning on spying the
entire time. He knew Gwen could take care of herself, but something
about Redding did not sit well with him. Perhaps it was the idea
that the man would be breathing the same air as Gwen. Not that he
was jealous.

He pulled out his pocket watch and cursed.
After one final knock went again unnoticed, he tried the door and
pushed his way inside.

A maid was slowly walking down the stairway.
"Apologies, it seems our butler has gone missing!"

"Clearly," Hunter said dryly. "I need to see
Lainhart. We have a meeting of sorts."

"Of course. Just this way." She turned to go
back up the stairs, but he caught her arm.

"Actually, I know where he is. I am, after
all, his grandson."

The maid paled. "I'm so sorry, your grace, I
had no idea! I—"

"It is of no consequence. I will see myself
the rest of the way to his room."

Nodding, she nearly ran back down the stairs
as he quickly walked in the direction of Lainhart's room.

Without knocking, he burst into the room, his
eyes scanning for the maid who usually attended to his grandfather.
She was sitting by his side, and she was writing.

Lainhart looked up and pointed down. Not
good.

"Has he had enough time to decipher it?"
Hunter outwardly remained calm, even though his heart was pounding
in his ears.

Lainhart pointed up while the maid nodded.
"Yes, it seems part of the code was destroyed, but there is enough
to see the location and time. There is also a smaller code near the
corner of the paper that says something disturbing."

"And?"

Lainhart shook his head slowly and pointed
down as he opened his mouth. "A-again."

The maid sighed. "He's been saying that all
day. Again, again. I have no clue what he means, and he often falls
asleep after he tries to speak. The exertion is hard on his frail
body. I do not know how this will help but I wrote down what he was
able to decipher."

She held out a note.

Hunter greedily took it. "My thanks. I have
an appointment. I must be going."

"S-stop!" Lainhart wailed.

Hunter watched as his grandfather's mouth
shook, his lips trying to form words that his body was no longer
able to pronounce. "D-danger."

Sweat ran down Lainhart's cheek as he
repeated the same word again and closed his eyes.

"I know, grandfather. I know." His eyes
flickered to Lainhart's hand. It twitched and then he pointed up
and crossed his heart.

"What does that mean?" Hunter asked the
maid.