by Wolf, Bree
When his eyes opened and found her looking at him, no doubt taking note of the pleased look on Rebecca’s face, a hint of panic sparked in his eyes as he realized that she knew.
That she knew what lived in his heart.
“I’m glad she found you,” Rebecca whispered, granting him a gentle smile after the torture she’d put him through. “More than anyone, she deserves to be loved.”
“I don’t l—”
“Don’t worry,” Rebecca rushed to assure him. “Your secret is safe with me.” She patted him on the arm reassuringly. “Despite popular opinion, I’m not a tattletale. Believe me. I’m not one to reveal a secret entrusted to me.”
“I did not entrust—”
“Now, if you care for my advice, I’d suggest—”
“I don’t!” he growled, his jaw tightening to the point of breaking.
“Oh, but you ought to. After all, there is no one better to advise a man than his beloved’s best friend.” Was she Eugenie’s best friend? After all, they hadn’t seen each other in two years. Still, Rebecca could not deny that the thought of Eugenie’s happiness warmed her heart.
“You’re mistaken. I—”
“She cares for you,” Rebecca interrupted, needing him to understand what he was risking with this distant behavior toward his wife. “You married her for a reason only you yourself know, but even a blind man could see that there is no longer only convenience between the two of you. She cares for you as you care for her.” Lifting her hands, she tried to stop him from arguing her point. “I don’t know you and I don’t know what brought you to this point in your life, but I’m urging you to listen to me.”
For a long moment, he simply looked back at her. Then he swallowed hard, his head bobbing up and down almost without movement at all.
“Do not push her away,” Rebecca ordered, knowing that, despite his strong exterior, doubt and uncertainty lived in the beast’s heart, “for I will come back here – I don’t know when as my odious uncle has other, quite unsettling plans for my future – but when I do and I see her in distress, I will hold you accountable, do you understand?” She poked a finger at his broad chest. “Do not hide from her. You’re not truly a beast, have you forgotten that? At present, you’re merely a dreadful husband. That, you can work on. Talk to her. Keep her company. Get to know her. She is as lovely and kind a woman as I’ve ever met, and you’re fortunate to have gained her hand in marriage. Treat her with respect and thoughtfulness, and you’ll see that there’s hope…even for a unicorn like you. You could make each other happy, I’m certain of it. If you stop making a mess of things!” Exhaling a deep breath, she held his gaze for another second before a pacifying smile tickled her lips. Then she turned and walked away, leaving him to ponder her words on his own.
Still, deep down, Rebecca feared that it wouldn’t be enough. What she’d glimpsed in the beast’s gaze had spoken of a deep-seated fear to open his heart to another. Whatever had happened to make him so distant still stood in the way of reaching out to his wife. And while Eugenie could be utterly daring in her own gentle way, Rebecca doubted that her friend would find the courage to confront her new husband on her own.
Perhaps she ought to meddle yet again.
Only once.
Chapter Thirteen
A Moment in Time
Three more days had passed, and nothing.
Rebecca grew increasingly frustrated with the two lovebirds who refused to see that life would be so much better – and simpler, mind you! – if they were to admit that they cared for one another. Open words! There was nothing more important than honesty!
Perhaps Rebecca ought to take her own advice and ask Lord Pembroke directly about…about whether or not he cared for her. Yes, the thought of making herself vulnerable in such a way made her hands clammy and brought a deep sense of dread to her heart. Still, would it not be preferable to not knowing?
For whenever Rebecca was not occupied, whenever her thoughts were free to wander, she found herself thinking of him day and night. There had been something in the way he’d looked at her, spoken to her that made her heart ache. She longed to see that wicked gleam in his eyes once again, to hear that daring tone in his voice as he urged her to speak her mind. Why had he come to her rescue that day they’d first met? Had he truly been able to tell that she’d longed for it? Had he been able to read her that well?
A stranger.
One woman among many.
Had it simply been gallantry? A sense of duty to offer his assistance? Rebecca doubted it. Or perhaps she simply wanted to doubt it. Indeed, fighting on behalf of another was easy whereas the thought of risking one’s own heart proved utterly paralyzing.
Well then, one step at a time.
First Eugenie and then…her.
All but dragging her friend behind her along the deserted corridor, Rebecca peeked around the corner, knowing that his lordship was not far off if indeed he kept to his schedule. She could only hope he would or all this spying and sneaking around this past fortnight would have been for nothing. On top of everything, Rebecca feared that her uncle would soon discover her whereabouts and fetch her back. Time was of the essence, and she was done waiting around for Eugenie and her beast to stumble upon one another.
It was by far simpler to make them stumble upon one another.
Wise to Rebecca’s tendency to concoct daring plans, Eugenie demanded an explanation for their admittedly odd behavior. Still, Rebecca dodged her friend’s questions as best as she could until the sound of the beast’s footfalls drew to her ears. Instantly, she shushed Eugenie, pulling her back around the corner.
“Becca, why are we here?” her friend asked in hushed tones, her gray eyes wide. “Hiding? What—?” The rest of her question died on her lips when she spotted her new husband round the corner not far from where they were hiding. Instantly, the blood drained from her face, and she looked for all intents and purposes like a woman about to faint.
Perfect! Rebecca thought, wondering what the two of them would have done if she had never come to visit. Indeed, it seemed they were utterly helpless without her. “Ah, right on time!”
At the sound of her friend’s voice, Eugenie turned frightful eyes to her. “What did you do? Did you know he would be here?”
Rebecca could not help but grin. “It’s like clockwork. You can’t blame me for taking advantage.” Eugenie’s eyes widened even further as more questions tumbled from her lips. Rebecca, however, was done talking – at least to her friend – grabbed her arm and strode out of their hiding spot, pulling Eugenie along. “My lord,” she called. “Do you have a minute?”
As the growling beast turned hard eyes toward them, Rebecca still did not miss the slight shiver that gripped him when his gaze swept over his wife. It was so obvious that he cared for her, how could it be that the two of them did not see it?
“How convenient that we should stumble upon you here,” Rebecca continued on, ignoring the deep mortification that came to Eugenie’s eyes. Her friend would thank her later! “In fact, I have a favor to ask you.”
“A favor?” the beast growled whereas Eugenie leaned closer to Rebecca and whispered in her ear, “Becca, we should go. Whatever you’ve planned—”
“Nonsense!” Patting her friend’s hand reassuringly, Rebecca turned back to the man currently glowering at her. “Would you kiss your wife?”
“Becca!” Eugenie exclaimed, shock and even more mortification darkening her cheeks.
His lordship, too, had an utterly stunned expression on his face. However, Rebecca did not miss the spark of temptation that had come to his gaze upon her request. “Certainly, you must be jesting,” he ground out as his shoulders drew back, grew taut.
“Not at all.”
He scoffed at that, pretending her words had not rattled him, before turning to stride away. How predictable! “I bid you a good day.”
“Not so fast!” Releasing her friend’s arm, Rebecca rushed after him and, quick as a mouse, stepped a
round him, blocking his path.
Forced to draw to a halt, he glared down at her. “What nonsense is this?”
Rebecca inhaled a deep breath, knowing she needed to come out the victor or her friend would forever be denied the happiness that was within her reach. “You care for her, and do not deny it for it is easy enough to see.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched, and his lips pressed into a tight line. However, he did not contradict her.
Taking that as a good sign, Rebecca forged on. “As kind words failed to inspire you to act, I’m afraid I need to resort to more drastic measures.”
His gaze narrowed. What an endearing man!
“Let me be clear,” Rebecca said, holding his eyes steadily as they willed her to back down. “If you do not grant me this small favor, I will be forced to reveal to my friend all that you told me the other day.”
His lips thinned further. “I told you nothing.”
Rebecca shrugged. “How is Eugenie to know? After all, she wasn’t there.”
“You would lie?” he demanded, a hint of incredulity in his blue eyes.
“Lie is such an ugly word, and besides I would not even call it lying for, although you indeed said very little, I was able to make some very intriguing observations. I’m sure my friend would love to hear of your reaction to the mere mention of her name.” A daring smile rested on her lips, and she could see that her words had not missed their mark.
Daggers shot from his eyes. “That’s blackmail.”
“You’re quite correct.”
“It’s immoral!”
Rebecca shrugged. “Well, what can I say? A girl does what a girl must.” She took a step closer, a clear challenge in her eyes. “And now that you’ve seen I’m not above blackmail when it suits me, pray tell what is your answer?”
His shoulders tensed, but a hint of resignation came to his face.
“Then we’re agreed!” Rebecca exclaimed loudly, returning to her friend’s side before he could change his mind. Of course, Eugenie had all kinds of objections, whispered words flying from her lips in a state of sheer panic. Still, Rebecca could see that her friend longed to be closer to her husband and only feared that he was the one who did not want her, but rather another.
As best as she could, Rebecca tried to put these fears to rest before once more turning to the approaching beast. “Well, my lord, here are the rules. The moment your lips touch hers, I’ll turn around and march off. Once you can no longer hear the echo of my steps, you’re – while not obligated – free to stop. Understood?”
Eugenie’s gaze remained downcast, her cheeks a blazing inferno, while his lordship still glared at Rebecca as though he wished to squash her beneath his boot. Neither one of them answered her – not that she had expected them to!
“Wonderful! You may proceed.” Rebecca stepped back and off to the side, giving them as much privacy as she dared. After all, she wouldn’t put it past them to simply ignore their agreement and slink off to their respective chambers. Now, that wouldn’t do at all!
Slowly, the beast moved closer to his wife, his gaze suddenly soft and almost tender as whispered words left his lips. After a while, Eugenie finally lifted her gaze and the hint of a smile touched his lips.
Rebecca sighed, feeling a touch of envy at the way he moved closer, his hands reaching for his wife, settling on her arms, urging her nearer to him. Despite the darkness that clung to him, concern rested on his features and he was almost hesitant in the way he touched her, as though afraid she would refuse him.
Slowly, his head lowered, bent down to hers and then their lips touched.
There was such aching sweetness in their kiss that Rebecca felt her heart swell and tears sting the backs of her eyes. For a moment, she all but forgot her promise to walk away when suddenly every fiber of her being screamed, This is what I want!
Of course, she didn’t want him. She didn’t want the Beast of Ravengrove. No, he was Eugenie’s. He belonged with her. But she wanted someone who would look at her the way he looked at his wife, with such utter longing, such tenderness and devotion. She wanted to feel cherished and treasured. She wanted her heart to beat with such force that she feared it would jump from her chest. She wanted desire and passion, love and trust. She wanted to wake every morning with a smile on her face, knowing she had found happiness.
That was what she wanted.
Not a marriage of convenience to a man who bored her out of her mind. Wealth and station meant nothing if they did not walk hand in hand with love and passion, and when Rebecca thought of the latter, there was only one man who appeared in her thoughts.
She hadn’t even kissed him, and yet, she knew that she wanted to.
Now more than ever.
Swallowing, Rebecca finally forced her feet to turn and walk away, taking with her the image of the gentle beast, pulling his wife deeper into his embrace, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he would indeed break their kiss once they found themselves alone.
Perhaps Eugenie would tell her later but, for now, the best she could do for her friend was to give them space.
Now, what to do about herself?
Chapter Fourteen
A Night’s Revelations
Zach cursed under his breath as Ravengrove came into view, its dark, looming towers illuminated in the silvery light of the waxing moon.
After searching two country homes – without success, mind you! – Zach wondered about the futility of these endeavors. Indeed, finding a tiny item such as a ring in a large mansion seemed impossible. The only chance he had was if whoever owned it at present kept it in a rather obvious spot, such as a jewelry box. So far, Zach had not been lucky. The jewelry boxes he’d searched had revealed nothing. Still, did that mean their owner did not possess the ring? Or merely that he or she kept it somewhere else?
Frustration had become a constant companion as of late, and Zach wished he could simply turn around and return to the life he’d had before he’d set foot in England. Unfortunately, that was not an option as thoughts of his brother urged him onward.
Silently, he drew closer to Ravengrove, wondering what this night would reveal if anything at all. After the way he’d been forced to escape at the Cavendish ball, Zach had decided that it was by far simpler to leave – perhaps even escape – to the roof and not through a door or window on the ground floor. Also, if he were to be discovered, it would make it harder for potential pursuers to follow.
Fortunately, the last two estates he’d been able to search without coming across a living soul. But neither had he found the ring.
Glancing up at the forbidding structure, Zach left his horse near a small grove where it would be hidden from sight. Then he dashed across the courtyard toward a side entrance, a rope slung around his shoulder and a dagger as well as a spare rope at his belt. That his adventurous past would one day aid him in breaking into stately mansions was nothing Zach had ever contemplated. Indeed, his life had taken a turn he had not seen coming, one that made him feel increasingly uncomfortable.
Still, a part of him could not help but laugh at the absurdity of his actions! What would Nate say if he knew what means Zach employed in order to retrieve the ring? Zach hoped that Nate would double over laughing until his sides ached and tears streamed down his face. Perhaps he ought to write him a letter!
Surprisingly, the side door proved unlocked and, for a minute, Zach was tempted to lecture the master of the house about safety measures. Still, in his current position, that might not prove to be a wise thought. Instead, he slunk inside silently, finding his way to the front hall where a winding staircase led to the upper floor. Halfway up, it split in two, one side leading to the east wing and the other to the western half of the fortress.
Approaching the west wing first, Zach frowned when he found remnants of a fire that had darkened the walls and ceiling. His eyes swept over the damage that had been done, a damage that seemed to have been inflicted years ago. Why on earth had no one restored this place? Was it a lac
k of funds? Or rather lack of interest?
Shrugging, Zach turned back and then headed down the corridor leading deeper into the eastern wing. First, he required an escape route before he would sneak into each of the rooms to see which ones were inhabited. He could only hope that either no one was home or that those who were here were deep sleepers. Choosing a chamber located halfway down the corridor as it would be easy enough to reach from either side, Zach quietly opened the door, carefully sliding it open without making a sound.
His breath lodged in his throat as he peered in, his gaze drifting over hulking shadows which revealed the chamber to be a sitting room of some kind. Perfect!
Long strides carried him to the window, which he swung open before pulling himself up onto the windowsill. Locking his knees on either side of the window frame, Zach leaned backward, glancing down at the ground far below. Then his gaze swept upward, and his eyes surveyed the roof.
As far as he could see in the dim light, his grappling hook would have no trouble finding footing up there. He pulled the rope from his shoulder and let the hook dangle beside him, feeling the rope resting gently in his hand, his fingers feeling its texture as his wrist began to move, to swing it in a rhythmic circle.
Then with one quick movement, he sent it flying upward, watching the silver hook gleam in the moon’s eerie light as it cut through the dark. A soft clunk reached his ears a moment later, and when Zach tugged on the rope, he found it secured, not giving in to his pulls. Nevertheless, holding on to it, his knees still firmly wedged against the two sides of the stone wall, Zach leaned back, putting his full weight onto the rope.
Still, it held.
Satisfied, Zach left the rope hanging in the window before he stepped back into the room. Unfortunately, he tripped over what he presumed to be a folded over edge of a carpet and his knee collided hard with a side table. In the process, his hands shot out and wiped over its surface, clearing it of the items that had quietly lain there only a moment earlier. Now, they cluttered to the floor in a deafening sound.