Wolfishly Yours (8 page)

Livi bit the inside of her cheek as she stood alone in her grandfather’s music room. Aside from a small piano in the corner, the rest of the room was empty. Settees and chairs had all been removed from the space so that nothing would hinder her first dancing lesson. First and last.
Bon
Dieu
! She would never be ready in time for tomorrow night. Perhaps she could plead a headache and stay abed instead of heading to the Assembly Room. At least it would gain her a little time to learn what she was doing before being thrust into a ballroom.

“You look like a lady who has been sentenced to the gallows.” Mr. Hadley’s voice startled her from the threshold.

Shaken from her musings, Livi glanced up to find the handsome Lycan leaning his broad frame against the doorjamb. She laid a hand upon her chest to quiet her rapidly beating heart. “Mr. Hadley, you frightened me.”

A small smile quirked the corner of his mouth. “You seem a much more stalwart creature than that. I didn’t think you frightened so easily, Miss Mayeux.”

She returned his smile with one of her own. “All these English formalities. ‘Miss Mayeux’ makes me feel like someone’s governess. Please call me Livi.”

Surprise flashed in his dark eyes and he pushed himself off from the wall. “Livi, then,” he said as he took a step toward her. “You may call me Gray, if you’d like. Just don’t let Lady Sophia hear you. You’ll get us both in trouble.”

Livi couldn’t help but laugh. How could such a thing get him in trouble? “I had no idea your mother’s companion held such sway over your life, Gray.”

A frown marred his brow, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. He studied her face for a moment before saying, “She’s not really my mother’s companion.”

If a big green alligator had rushed into the room, Livi wouldn’t have been more surprised. Her mouth dropped open. Was there something between Gray and Sophie? Was that why her tutor had berated him the night before?

“She’s not?” Her voice came out in little more than a whisper. “What is she to you?” And why did Livi care? That was a much better question.

He shook his head. “Actually, you’re the only one I can tell the truth to, if you can be trusted. And I think you can. You’re in much the same situation that I’m in myself, after all.” He shrugged. “You know what I am. What Archer is. Our older half brother, our pack alpha, has hired Lady Sophia to turn us into gentlemen, as he found our behavior in polite society to be a bit lacking. But such a situation would ruin the lady in question, so to the rest of the world she is simply our mother’s companion.”

Livi’s mouth fell open even farther. “He finds you too wild?” she asked, not quite believing Gray. After all, he was the tamest Lycan of her acquaintance.

“Among other things.”

“But you seem so tame,” she replied, and then wished the words back when he looked wounded. “I mean you look so average.”

One brow arched at her.

“Oh, you know what I mean,” she finally said.

He stared at her for a moment with such a serious face that Livi was afraid to speak. Then that slow grin she was getting so used to spread across his face. He took one large step toward her, his head tilting as he appraised her face. Appraised much too closely for comfort. “I’m not certain I do,” he drawled. “Pray tell.”

Livi stumbled momentarily over her own tongue. It suddenly seemed unwieldy and much too clumsy for her mouth. Gray chuckled, and heat crept up Livi’s face.

“You were saying that you think I look average.” His quirky grin made her want to smile along with him. And fan herself. Fan herself profusely, because it was suddenly growing unbearably hot in the room. Leave it to this man to break the chill she’d felt in her bones since she’d arrived in his country.

“‘Tame’ was my original choice of words.”

“Tame? No one but you has ever referred to me as tame.” He rubbed his chin between his thumb and forefinger as though he was thinking it over. “I feel a little disempowered by your estimation of me.”

“Wounded your pride, did I?” She leaned her elbows on the pianoforte and tried her best to appear unconcerned. “You probably work very hard to seem disreputable.”

“On the contrary, trouble just seems to find us.”

Livi wondered absently who “us” was.

“The Hadley brothers,” he clarified, without her even having to ask.

She snorted. Sophie would probably scold her properly for making that noise. But Gray just grinned even broader.

“Never done anything to provoke the heaps of trouble that have fallen upon your head?” she asked.

He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Never,” he said softly. “I am a paragon of virtue.”

Just then, his older brother strolled into the room. “First, you discuss the birthmark on her thigh. Now you’re discussing her virtue.” Radbourne made a clicking sound with his tongue. “A wretched idea if her virtue is important to her.”

Gray colored profusely.

“You discussed my birthmark?” she hissed at him.

“You, Miss Mayeux, are the one who brought up the subject of your birthmark.” Gray avoided her censure.

“And you repeated it.” She shook her head at him, feeling quite a bit like Sophie must feel on a daily basis. “I cannot believe you discussed my personal comment to you with your brother.”

He tugged at the lapels of his jacket, as though it was suddenly too tight. “I couldn’t believe you brought it up in the first place.” Gray turned to his brother, who leaned casually in the doorway, a bored expression gracing his handsome face. “And you talk too much,” he grumbled at Radbourne. “You’re such an arse.”

“Sweet nothings in my ear will get you nowhere, Grayson,” he said as he crossed the floor and dropped onto the piano bench. “You probably owe the lady an apology,” he added as he began to pluck out a tune. “For mentioning her unmentionables.”

“I beg your pardon,” Grayson grumbled.

“You talked about my unmentionables too?” Livi raised an octave. She would have to do him bodily harm.

“I most certainly did not.” His eyes roamed down her body. “I can’t discuss things I haven’t seen,” he drawled slowly. Then he arched an amused brow at her again. “I can discuss it whenever you’d like, however.”

“Good Lord,” Radbourne muttered. “The two of you will be leg-shackled before the fortnight is over if you keep that up.” He scowled at them both. “Matter of fact, if you’re going to continue making calf eyes at her, I’ll take my leave,” he quipped.

Livi jumped to deny his assumption. But Gray held up a hand to stop her. “I’ll make calf eyes at her if I want to.”

He would? Livi’s heart skipped a beat. She’d assumed the heated glances were nothing of importance. Just a bit of flirtation. Was she wrong?

“I was just explaining to Miss Mayeux the odd circumstances regarding Lady Sophia’s employment with Mother. Or lack of employment with Mother.”

Lord Radbourne stopped playing and spun on the bench to face them both. “You told her that the harridan is here to teach us our manners?” He shook his head with what she assumed was disgust. “Have you taken leave of your senses? I’d never admit that to a lady I had a romantic interest in.”

“He doesn’t have any romantic interest in me,” Livi blurted.

But Gray didn’t deny his brother’s accusations. He just looked at her. His eyes were so serious that he could probably see all the way to her soul with his piercing gaze.

“I didn’t say marital interest, Miss Mayeux,” Radbourne said over a laugh.

“You two think you’re so scandalous with your improper discussions.” Livi stepped away from them, hoping to calm her pounding heart, since she knew full well they could both hear it. “But you forget that I have brothers just like you. Worse, even. I’ve heard every bawdy joke ever told. And I’ve seen more in my years than the ladies you’re used to dealing with.”

Gray looked skeptical about her comment.

“I grew up on the docks,” she rushed to inform him.

“And just what does growing up on the docks entail?” Radbourne challenged.

Livi suddenly felt discomfited by the tone of this conversation. Jesting about her birthmark was one thing. But asking her to admit to things a proper lady would never do couldn’t possibly be to her advantage. Her grandfather would have an apoplexy at just the idea of mentioning such things. So perhaps…

A rustle of skirts in the doorway brought Livi out of her musings. “When in doubt, Miss Mayeux, take the high road.” Sophie shot both men a scolding glance. Gray actually flushed beneath her censure. Radbourne, however, tried to pretend she wasn’t in the room. He failed. But he did try. “Do not let men like Lord Radbourne drag you down to their depths.”

“But it would be your job to lift me up from the depths of disrespectability, Lady Sophia,” Radbourne said with an unrepentant grin. He laid his fingers on the keys again and began to pluck out a Vivaldi tune. “Shall we get to work teaching Miss Mayeux to dance? Something tells me Grayson is anxious to hold her in his arms.”

And she was anxious to be held. What did that say for her?

Sophie scoffed. “My lord, if you would be so kind as to let me direct these lessons, I would greatly appreciate it.”

“Enough to let me leave them all together?” Radbourne suggested as his brow rose expectantly.

“Would that I could,” she grumbled. “Up, Lord Radbourne. Your mother will play as soon as she joins us here.”

“I’m perfectly capable of playing, my lady,” he insisted.

Sophie heaved a sigh as though dealing with the viscount would be the death of her. “And I’m sure you perform beautifully, my lord—”

“No one has complained thus far, sweet—”

“However,” Sophie cut him off, her voice suddenly much louder than his, “it will be important for Livi to see each dance demonstrated as well as trying them herself. Therefore I’ll need the talents of both of you gentlemen for this endeavor.”

“Mother’s back?” Gray asked.

“Where was she anyway?” Radbourne reluctantly rose from the piano bench.

Sophie ignored the men and smiled instead at Livi. “We are in luck. Lady Radbourne was successful in her mission this morning with Lady Cowper.”

Mission? What in the devil was Sophie talking about? Livi had never heard of the woman. “Lady Cowper?” Livi asked.

Sophie nodded with glee. “Emily Cowper is one of the patronesses of Almack’s. She is quite an important woman in society, with more than a little power and sway. We are fortunate Lady Cowper has always been fond of Madeline Hadley. Everything in life is who you know, Livi.”

“Or who you were born to be,” Lord Radbourne chimed in.

“Not necessarily,” Sophie shot back more forcefully than necessary. “You aren’t welcomed into prestigious homes, my lord, despite your title and newfound wealth.”

“And who says I want to be?” the viscount returned.

“This isn’t about you, Archer Hadley. This is about Livi. And your mother and her grandfather do want her to enjoy a warm welcome in society.”

Bon
Dieu
. Livi’s stomach roiled at the thought. “This was for me?” she squeaked. “Lady Radbourne’s visit to this Lady Cowper?”

“Livi, you look a little green.” Sophie stepped closer to her, as though to examine her color. She clutched Livi’s hand in hers and squeezed her fingers reassuringly. “Take a deep breath. It’s nothing to fret over. Lady Radbourne simply secured Lady Cowper’s permission for you to waltz tomorrow night.”

Which did not help Livi’s roiling stomach in the least. She gulped. “Do I have to?”

A frown marred Sophie’s face. “Well, you should be prepared. There will only be two waltzes at the very most. But you should be able to do so, in case you’re asked. You’re such a beautiful girl, so exotic. I’m certain gentlemen will want to waltz with you, Livi.”

“I know Gray does,” Radbourne tossed in for good measure.

Did he? Livi’s eyes shot to Gray who was glaring at his older brother. “Will you mind your own affairs?” he growled.

“Well, Grayson is out of luck,” Sophie continued. “Lord Radbourne, you’ll partner Miss Mayeux, and Mr. Hadley will assist me in showing her the steps.”

Lord Radbourne rose from the piano bench and grinned rakishly as he bowed before Livi. “My dear, I have always been the luckiest Hadley brother.”

“That is the damned truth of it,” Gray grumbled, but Livi heard him just the same.

“Language, Mr. Hadley,” Sophie admonished. Apparently their tutor had heard him as well.

***

Gray glared at Lady Sophia. She was damned lucky he hadn’t said something much worse. Handing Livi over to Archer, for God’s sake. Gray sighed. He shouldn’t have been surprised. Lady Sophia would never want Archer to partner with her for the sake of demonstration. Insufferable prick that he was, Archer would most likely stomp on her toes out of spite and make a complete nuisance out of himself just to torture her. None of that would help Livi at all.

But even knowing why Lady Sophia had made the decision she did, Gray still didn’t like it. He wanted nothing more than to take Livi in his own arms and hold her tight. The very thought of Archer being in such close proximity to the enchanting chit was maddening.

When else would he get the opportunity to hold Livi Mayeux close? It wasn’t as though he could ask her to dance tomorrow evening at the Assembly Room. She was in Bath as a precursor to her first season of husband hunting. And Gray would never make her grandfather’s long list of potential husbands, let alone his short one. The memory of her delicate hand on his chest the evening before had played across his mind more than once during the day. His heart actually constricted at the thought of watching a stream of London dandies whisk her out on the dance floor in their attempts to woo her. “If we attend the musicale tonight, can we be excused from the dancing tomorrow?” he asked.

Lady Sophia turned her attention on him, staring at him as though he’d grown a second nose. “No, you may not. We are not bartering, Mr. Hadley. Both you and your brother would be wise to accept your situation. You’ll attend the functions I tell you to, and you’ll behave like gentlemen the entire time you’re there.”

So she was going to force him to watch others pay court to Livi. Bloody wonderful. She’d probably do more than scold him if he were to remove said dandies’ hands for touching Livi. Behave like a gentleman. To what end?