Trusting the Wolfe

by Lana Williams

  Soon Tessa realized Sally was walking toward the dock. What on earth could she be doing there? Tessa’s unease increased threefold.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Tessa lost sight of Sally amidst the crowded street. Where had she disappeared to? The dock swarmed with workers, from grimy men carting goods on their shoulders to clerks hurrying by with papers clutched tightly to sailors recognizable by their sunburned faces.

  But nowhere did she see Sally.

  Someone bumped into her and mumbled a quick apology, making Tessa aware she stood in the path of traffic. She moved to the side, still searching, but the number of people walking to and fro made it impossible to find anyone. Heavy wagons piled with crates and barrels rolled by. Ship chandlers, biscuit bakers, and sail maker’s shops lined the street. The briny scent of the sea filled the air along with other smells that had Tessa wrinkling her nose. In addition to shipbuilders, many factories were nearby, including tar, candle, and chemical. Their smoke mingled with the fog rolling off the Thames, making each breath a challenge.

  The area appeared even more crowded with buildings and people since her last visit here some time ago when she and Aunt Betty had come to watch one of the great iron steamships launch. Why would Sally come to the dock? The rough-looking seamen passing by only made her more determined to find the girl before she encountered trouble. Surely she’d listen to reason once Tessa explained how ridiculous it was to believe tales of easy jobs to earn money.

  She moved forward slowly, looking both ways for Sally. The masts of ships and rigging crowded the sky and were moored alongside steamships. Men moved goods back and forth along the planks connecting the ships to the dock. The scene looked like complete chaos to her, making it difficult to believe anyone knew what they were doing or where they were going.

  A well-dressed man in a black suit and top hat stepped onto the dock from a ship. He appeared out of place among the rough workers. Then he turned toward her, providing a good look at his face.

  She gasped, shivers casting over her entire body. Marcus. The gentleman from the alleyway. His chiseled features were even more arresting in the light of day. With relief, she noted he looked well, moving with ease from what she could tell. The scowl on his face indicated he was displeased with something. Or someone.

  A gray bonnet blocked her view of him. Tessa realized the simple bonnet with its red ribbon was the one for which she’d been searching.

  Sally walked directly toward Marcus. Surely he wasn’t the reason the girl had come here. Yet there was no denying she was moving toward him.

  Outrage stole through Tessa. Was he the one luring away Sally from their shop by telling lies? Why else would the two have reason to meet? She nearly wished she hadn’t bothered to help him a month ago.

  As she stepped forward to confront the pair, a man driving a loaded cart blocked her path.

  “Excuse me, miss.” The driver tipped his hat to her. “Would ye so kindly tell me where Stout Lane might be?”

  “I’m sorry but I don’t know this area.” She shook her head, hoping the man would be on his way so she could continue on hers.

  “Do ye know who might? I can’t find it fer the life of me.”

  “I don’t know that either. Sorry.” Impatient, she smiled tightly as the man gave another tip of his hat and moved his horse and cart.

  Her gaze went directly to Marcus, but Sally was nowhere to be seen. Her heart caught in her throat. Was she too late?

  ~*~

  “That was a waste of time,” Marcus told Samuel as he surveyed the dock, trying to decide what to do next as he bit back anger.

  “The captain didn’t seem to appreciate you visiting him unannounced again.”

  Captain Thomas was an older man, gruff, built like a bull with a full gray beard. His flat, dark eyes had been less than friendly when Marcus had boarded the ship and even less welcoming once Marcus had told him he wanted to inspect the cargo. Apparently few earls bothered to check on their ships.

  “You’d think it was his damned ship.” The captain had made it clear that Marcus was welcome to inspect the ship by appointment only. He insisted Marcus would not only be in the way but would put them behind schedule.

  Marcus nearly demanded to look over the ship, but as he and Samuel were outnumbered by the crew who gathered around the captain, Marcus had no choice but to agree. He’d done his best to make light of his request, not wanting the man to become suspicious and decide to hide whatever was in the hold. The question was, did Captain Thomas have something to hide? Or was he merely displeased at being questioned?

  “Now what, my lord?” Samuel asked.

  “Excellent question.” No point would be served in making an appointment for a closer inspection of the ship. That would only give them time to remove any cargo that wasn’t supposed to be on board.

  Marcus perused the area, hoping an idea would come to him, only to have his gaze catch on someone walking directly toward him. He stilled, unable to believe his eyes.

  The angel.

  No. It couldn’t be. Yet somehow it was. His heartbeat sped, thundering in his ears, muffling the sounds around him.

  “My lord?” Samuel’s voice did not pull Marcus’s attention away from her approach.

  She was taller than he’d realized, nearly reaching his chin. And her eyes were an even more vivid green in the light of day. Her creamy skin, her heart-shaped face, each more attractive than he’d remembered. He drank it all in as she marched toward him.

  “What have you done with her?” she demanded.

  Marcus could only blink at her odd question. Was that anger in her eyes?

  She raised one honey-colored brow, which was a shade darker than her hair. “Well? Have you nothing to say for yourself?”

  “Who?” was all he could manage. He was so certain it had been only his imagination that made him believe she resembled the angel. That it had been his gratitude for her assistance that had made him feel so...taken by her. But no. Meeting her again changed nothing. His physical reaction to her stunned him and certainly didn’t help him understand of what she was speaking.

  Samuel gasped. “Is this the angel?” he asked, his voice full of wonder.

  Marcus nearly groaned. Already the man had been relentless about Marcus finding her. Heaven knew what meeting her would put into his mind.

  The woman frowned as she glanced at Samuel. But the distraction was only temporary. Her gaze focused once again on Marcus. “Where is she?”

  “She looks just as I imagined,” Samuel murmured.

  Marcus ignored him. “Who are you looking for?”

  “Sally.” She looked about as though expecting to find her standing behind them.

  “Perhaps we should move to a safer location, my lord,” Samuel suggested.

  Marcus turned to see the captain and some of his crew had come to stand along the rail of the ship, glaring at them. “Indeed we should.”

  Marcus took her elbow, turned her away from his ship, and started walking. He still didn’t know who she was looking for, but he wanted distance between them and the ship’s men. He let the anger he felt at being forced from his own ship build. Anything to suppress the uncomfortable feelings the woman at his side caused.

  What had she said her name was? He could only think of her as the angel, though he vaguely remembered her correcting him when he’d called her Lady Jordan.

  “Where are we going?” she demanded.

  “Away from the ship.” Marcus was grateful for the need to move, for it gave him time to collect his thoughts. What were the odds that he’d come across her again like this?

  “I told you it was meant to be,” Samuel whispered in his ear.

  Marcus tightened his hold on the woman even while his mind rebelled at Samuel’s words. He refused to believe fate was bothering to take an interest in his life.

  “You still haven’t told me where Sally is,” she said as she ground to a halt and tugged her elbow from his grasp.

  �
��I don’t know who Sally is, nor do I know where she is.”

  “I saw her walking directly toward you only a few moments ago.” Her gaze cast past him, and her eyes went wide. “Oh. There she is.”

  Marcus turned to look only to have her place a gloved hand on his arm.

  “Hold,” she directed. “I don’t want her to see me. Not yet.”

  He remained where he was, facing her. “Why are you so interested in this person?”

  She looked up at him, those wide green eyes full of worry. “Sally works at our shop. I fear the man she is speaking with is attempting to lure her away by promising higher wages.”

  “What shop?”

  “Madame Daphne, Seamstress, a shop my aunt and I run. We have several young girls apprenticed with us.”

  “Including Sally,” he surmised. At her nod, he continued, “And Madame Daphne is your aunt?”

  “There is no Madame Daphne,” she replied, looking around his arm to watch Sally.

  He frowned, trying to understand even as he reminded himself none of the details mattered. He intended to express his thanks and escort her to safety. Then surely his conscious would be appeased, and he could bid her goodbye. “I am Lord Warenton, and I would like to thank you once more for aiding me.”

  “Of course. Miss Tessa Maycroft at your service.” She curtsied but her attention quickly returned to her young charge. “If only I knew what they were saying.”

  Marcus glanced at Samuel, who nodded and backed closer to the man and girl. With luck, his footman might hear some of their conversation.

  “Why, thank you,” she said, acting quite surprised at the gesture. Her focus shifted to Marcus, studying his body, which heated with her perusal. “I’m pleased to see you recovered so well.”

  “Thanks to you.” He told himself it was only gratitude that surged through him.

  She smiled up at him, making him catch his breath. With a peek around him once more, she asked, “What brings you to the dock?”

  “A business matter.” He knew his response was terse, but he needed to escape from her. From the madness that threatened to ruin his carefully laid plans. Plans that didn’t involve her.

  Though the story of how his grandparents had met was quite touching, it was only a story. Nothing more. Despite what Samuel believed, history was not repeating itself.

  “Oh. I’m sorry I’m keeping you from it.” Her cheeks took on a rosy hue, whether from anger or embarrassment he couldn’t tell.

  He glanced over his shoulder unobtrusively to see if Samuel had succeeded in his mission of learning what the angel’s, or rather, the woman’s apprentice was discussing with the man.

  Samuel had drawn close to the pair but faced in the opposite direction. From the focused look on his face, Marcus surmised he listened intently.

  “Please continue on your way. I will speak with the pair of them myself.” Her lips pursed as though she was firming her resolve to carry on with her task.

  “What do you intend to do?” Marcus felt compelled to ask.

  “To expose the man’s sham for what it is.”

  That seemed a terrible idea, and certainly not one the man would appreciate. Yet who was Marcus to dissuade her from her goal? He looked again at the pair. The man turned toward him.

  Marcus quickly turned away, keeping his gaze moving as though he was only glancing around. The man seemed familiar. But why? Then he remembered. He’d been on his ship when Marcus had been on board. He couldn’t imagine why the man was speaking with the girl, but he didn’t like it.

  Again Marcus took Miss Maycroft’s arm and walked away, wanting to put more distance between them and the man.

  “What are you about?” she asked as she looked over her shoulder. “I want to speak with them.”

  “I don’t think that is wise. We shall see what Samuel learns instead.”

  “This is something I must do.” Again she attempted to pull her elbow from his grasp.

  Marcus refused to release her. Instead, he found the nearest secluded doorway and stepped into it, hiding them from view in case the man watched.

  “What is wrong with you?” She turned to face him. “I will not be manhandled.”

  “I am only trying to keep you out of harm’s way,” he protested.

  “I am not in any danger. How can I learn anything if I remain here? I cannot aid Sally if I don’t know what lies that man is telling her.” She made to move around Marcus and return to the street.

  Left with no choice, Marcus took hold of her once again and drew her back to safety. “Will you listen to reason?”

  “Not to yours.” She glared up at him, those green eyes filled with passion.

  Somewhere deep inside him, a fuse lit where he hadn’t been aware it had been laid. Yet all he could wonder was if she would look like that in bed, with her eyes glittering, her cheeks flushed. His gaze dropped to her rosy lips. They still moved, but he didn’t have the faintest idea what she said. He only knew he had to taste her.

  His hands still grasping her elbows, he drew her closer, telling himself to stop. Her scent filled the small space. Lavender. Of course. Damn the legend and all the crazed notions it put in his head.

  He took her lips with his, part of him hoping he’d feel nothing. Another part hoping he might still be capable of feeling something. He’d been numb for so long.

  She stilled the instant their lips met, her body rigid with surprise. Then her head tilted ever so slightly as though she instinctively knew they’d better fit that way.

  Her lips were soft and warm beneath his, their suppleness making him long for more. With her height, she fit perfectly with him. But he realized that was not why she felt so right, nor why she tasted so good. There was something more here. An unusual reaction that he couldn’t determine the cause of. His tongue teased her lips until she opened, giving him what he wanted. He kissed her in full, his tongue seeking hers to better taste her.

  Her response surprised him. She met his kiss and gave some of her own. Yet he’d swear she was inexperienced in such matters. Could she feel the desire threatening to engulf him?

  Again she tugged her arms free from his grasp. He willingly released her this time so he could draw her closer.

  But when she reached up to place her hands on his shoulders, something inside him snapped. Guilt? Grief? He couldn’t say. He pulled back to glare at her.

  The passion in her eyes shifted to puzzlement then to anger. She jerked away as though burned. “Why are you looking at me like that? You’re the one who kissed me.”

  Why he felt such anger was beyond him. It made no sense, but it was there all the same. And he couldn’t stop it. He’d never expected to feel like this after losing Mary.

  Guilt that he could flooded him. He’d loved his wife. She’d been his best friend for as long as he could remember. They’d shared passion and fully enjoyed all the benefits of the marriage bed.

  But this was something deeper.

  And it scared the hell out of him.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Two days later, Marcus strode toward his library, throwing his damp gloves on the foyer table as he passed by. A startled footman quickly stepped out of his way.

  “Damn and blast,” he declared as he moved to the side table in the library to pour himself a drink.

  He and Samuel had spent two days searching for the man who’d been speaking with Sally since Tessa had left with her apprentice. All for nothing. The man had disappeared amidst the chaos of the dock after talking with Sally.

  Marcus was convinced he needed to discover more about the mysterious man and speak with him if possible. Why wasn’t clear to Marcus, but the man provided a lead to follow to discover what was happening on his ship. He was certain of it.

  “I’m sorry, my lord,” Samuel offered as he followed Marcus into the library.

  “Not your fault, Samuel,” Marcus said with a wave of his hand. “The man is a slippery one and far more familiar with the docks and those crooked street
s than we are. The rain pouring down today certainly didn’t help us.”

  “I only wish I could’ve heard more of what he told the girl. Perhaps that would’ve helped.”

  The man had indeed been trying to convince Sally to take a “position that required unique skills” and paid well, just as Tessa had feared. But Samuel had learned little else. That had displeased Tessa considerably. Or perhaps she’d been displeased with Marcus and his behavior. He couldn’t blame her.

  All the same, Marcus was certain the man was up to no good. Whether he’d fled as he realized Marcus and Samuel were following him or had simply lost them when he’d gone about his business, Marcus couldn’t say.

  The whole affair made him uneasy. Something was definitely amiss and grew more worrisome with each day that passed.

  “May I offer a suggestion?” Samuel asked, his bowler hat in his hands.

  Marcus braced himself, certain he wouldn’t like it, but he nodded all the same.

  “Miss Maycroft might be of assistance.”

  Marcus sighed. At least he’d stopped referring to her as the angel. “How so?”

  “She might allow us to speak with Sally and find out if she knows anything further about that man.”

  Marcus downed his drink in one burning gulp. Yet it didn’t quench his thirst or his desire. He didn’t want to see Miss Tessa Maycroft again. Not after the feelings she’d stirred in him.

  “We don’t have much time before the ship leaves,” Samuel reminded him.

  He was right. Another ship of Marcus’s wasn’t due to arrive for nearly a fortnight. Marcus had hoped to return to Rule Water Castle by then, engaged to be married and with the missing cargo problem solved. Apparently he’d overestimated the ease with which he could solve either issue. The more time he spent in London, the less he liked it. He longed to go home to the peace and solitude of Wolfe’s Lair, as the castle was fondly called. Though he worried it wouldn’t provide the same peace it previously had.