Moonlight & Mechanicals

by Cindy Spencer Pape

  “Except for a dozen or so servants, I’d have to say yes. Actually, there aren’t that many others in the house, since several of the staff have been given the evening off, including my lady’s maid.” She walked over and looped her arm through his. The sweet scent of her hair made his body come to full attention. “Well, Liam. You showed me your bedroom. Would you like to see mine?”

  “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?” He tried to cling to his honor. It would be bad form to ravish a friend’s daughter in the friend’s own home. Wouldn’t it?

  Wink tsked. “I have far better uses for you alive, Inspector. Didn’t we agree last night that our adventures were only beginning?” She came up on her toes and kissed him.

  Of course he kissed her back. He was only a man, after all. She tasted of wine and apple cobbler and cheddar cheese, but mostly of warm, sultry woman.

  “Come on.” She took his hand and tugged him toward the stairs. “Aunt Dorothy and Nell will only be gone for a few hours.”

  Liam probably ought to object further, but he found he simply didn’t want to. As he’d told her brothers, she was old enough to know her own mind. He laced his fingers through Wink’s and followed her up the stairs. She paused just a moment to order George to stay down in the parlor. Then she led him up two flights and down an ornately plastered hallway.

  “Nell and I share a bath, so be sure not to leave any evidence in there,” she said as she drew him into her chamber. “Aunt Dorothy’s room is across from mine. The boys are at the other end of the hall, while Mum and Papa’s suite is a floor below, along with the nursery.”

  Liam looked around, expecting to see machines and tools scattered about, but all he saw was a pretty room, not too frilly, but with a decidedly feminine flair in the yellow rosebud wall paper and white lace curtains. The furnishings were of polished rosewood, sturdy but elegant, with their surfaces cluttered by papers, books and feminine toiletries. Low bookshelves flanked either side of a carved mantelpiece, filled with a hodgepodge of volumes. The yellow satin counterpane had been turned down to reveal crisp white sheets. Wink paused a moment to lock the door, then returned to the center of the room beside him.

  “I keep my workshop out in the carriage house.” She placed her hands on his shoulders. “So you needn’t fear finding a spanner in the bed or a screwdriver underfoot.”

  “Good to know.” He stroked a finger down the side of her cheek. “Since your maid is away, shall I play the role?”

  She gave him a shy nod and turned her back. “This gown has hooks. It’s the only dinner dress I have with a high enough neckline to cover the bite.”

  Liam undid the first several hooks down her back and peeled away the aqua-colored silk to reveal the healing puncture marks on her shoulder from his teeth. He kissed them gently. “I should apologize again,” he said.

  “No. I told you I enjoyed it.” Her skin, even on the back of her neck, pinkened. “I’m still not sure I understand why your fangs emerged, but I love knowing I bring out your wild side.”

  He couldn’t tell her it was how a werewolf marked his mate. Instead he said, “It’s just a werewolf thing.”

  “That’s fine. In fact…” She turned to face him. “I’d like to see you change, if that’s permitted. I want to know all of you and your wolf is an important part of who you are.”

  Overwhelmed by the intimacy implied by that request, Liam fumbled the next hook. “I don’t think that’s appropriate in the bedroom.”

  Wink shrugged, causing her gown to slip off her shoulder and reveal the fine straps of her chemise—silk this time. “This might be the only place we ever have complete privacy.”

  “All right.” Unable to deny her, he finished unfastening her gown and helped lift it over her head before laying it neatly across her dressing table. Then he undid the strings of her outer petticoat and hoopskirt, which both fell to the floor, where Wink kicked them carelessly aside. Liam picked those up and folded them as well. She still wore several layers, but seeing her in her underclothes was nearly as intimate as having her nude. He nudged her toward a soft velvet chair beside the window. “Have a seat.”

  She did, reaching down to remove her shoes while she watched him disrobe. Liam folded each garment as he removed it and placed them on the chair beside her cluttered writing desk. He tucked his socks into his shoes and slid them under the chair before removing his last two garments—his trousers and smalls. When he stood naked and aroused before her, Wink licked her lips, making his erection swell even further.

  “Go ahead,” she said. “Though you have to know you’re impressive as a man.” Her hooded gaze and rosy cheeks told him she was nearly as aroused as he was. She folded her hands in her lap and gazed at him steadily.

  Liam drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Silently he reached for the other part of him, felt the wolf’s essence begin to suffuse his human form. His skin tingled with the beginning of the shift and he opened his eyes, wanting to see her expression as she watched. Hopefully this wouldn’t horrify her to the point of rejecting him. At least if it did, he wouldn’t have to worry about hurting her in the future. His joints popped as bone and muscle reshaped itself. The fleeting pain came and went while his jaw elongated and his vantage point shifted lower, even as his vision improved. Liam kept his gaze locked on Wink, now that he was fully wolf, waiting for her reaction.

  Through it all, Winifred, his amazing woman, smiled, maintaining eye contact without a flinch. When the change was complete, she said, “You’re beautiful. May I touch you?”

  He inclined his head and padded over to her, brushing his face against her knee.

  She plowed her fingers through his ruff and dropped her face to press a kiss on the top of his head, then rubbed her cheek along his. “Thank you.”

  Liam stepped a couple feet away and shifted back. Wink stood and flung herself into his arms. He held her close, his face buried in her hair. “You’re not horrified? I didn’t frighten you?”

  “Why would I ever be afraid of you?” She tipped her head back so he could see her smile. “I told you before, silly. I know you’ll never hurt me.”

  “I did last night,” he murmured between soft, drugging kisses. “Are you sore?”

  “No.” Wink brought his hands up to the front fasteners of her corset. “I didn’t bleed much—just a few drops. I’m not in any pain today.” She spoke so matter-of-factly about things proper girls weren’t even supposed to know. Was it any wonder he loved her? She’d have made a magnificent wolf.

  “I didn’t get to the chemist.” His breath was shallow and choppy as he peeled away the rest of her clothes. When she stood there in nothing but stockings and garters, he groaned.

  “In the drawer beside the bed. I stole some from the boys’ bathroom.” Her hand moved down to a garter and he growled.

  “Leave those.” He’d remember the sight of her in just her stockings for the rest of his life. Now he wondered just how experimental his little firebrand could be. “Put your hands on the bureau and face the mirror.”

  Her eyes widened, but she did as he said, leaning over the dresser with her delectable bottom pointed at him. It was all he could do not to spend then and there. With haste, he withdrew a French letter from the drawer and tied the sheepskin sheath over his penis. Then he stalked up to Wink.

  “Watch the mirror.” He lowered his mouth to the side of her throat, sucking lightly on the spot where he’d marked her the day before. She quivered under his touch, moaning when he used his hands on her breasts. He watched over her shoulder, entranced by the sight of his darker fingers trailing over her fair skin and peach nipples. “You have freckles on your shoulders.” He hadn’t noticed those in his dimly lit room the night before.

  She didn’t respond. He could see her fight to keep her eyes open as her arousal deepened.

  He ran one hand down her flat belly to her mons. “Spread your legs a little and lean on the bureau more.”

  She complied instantly, her backsid
e brushing against his erection. Liam tested her, found her wet and ready for him. He positioned himself at her entrance and pressed inside.

  “Oh.” Her eyes flew open and she met his gaze in the mirror. “That’s…nice.”

  The angle allowed for deeper penetration and Liam nodded. He kissed her neck again, and used his fingers on her clitoris as he stroked in and out. It wasn’t long before she cried out his name and convulsed around him, her tight muscles milking his erection. His own climax speared through him and he shuddered helplessly as he poured himself into her heat.

  As soon as he could catch his breath, Liam lifted her and carried her to the bed. In the messy, feminine bathroom next door, he flushed away the condom and returned to her with a damp washcloth. After cleaning her, he allowed himself a little while to just lie there, wallowing in the afterglow and the feel of her, all soft and sated in his arms.

  How had he ever thought he could live without her?

  Didn’t she deserve to know how he felt about her? Moreover, wasn’t the decision about trusting him hers to make? She wasn’t meek and helpless like his mother. Wink was a fighter, and she’d protect herself and any children they might have.

  By marking her, he’d claimed her as his mate. She ought to know what that meant.

  After a long while, Liam gathered his courage to tell her he loved her. Her brothers were right. He was done running. When he lifted his head, she gave a little purr and buried her face more deeply into the pillow.

  Damn. She was asleep.

  Liam didn’t know how much longer he had before the others returned, so he climbed out of bed, tucked the covers around her and dressed. On impulse, he pulled the pouch he often wore around his neck out of his waistcoat pocket. It contained a silvered penknife, a few pound notes and a collapsing wooden stake, along with the flash powder. Pinned to the inside was his personal talisman, a small gold brooch in the shape of a wolf. It was the only thing he had of his mother’s.

  He kissed Wink’s on the forehead and left the brooch on her bedside table, hoping she’d understand. Then he collected his coat, hat and walking stick without disturbing any of the servants and made his way home. Tonight, at least, he’d be able to sleep. With the races just two days away, it might be the last he’d get in a while.

  * * *

  Monday, Wink woke early and refreshed. She didn’t have a twinge of soreness this time, despite having lied to Liam about that the night before. The fib had been worth it, though. She stretched luxuriously, feeling the smooth linen sheets caress her bare skin in a positively decadent manner.

  Well. It was a good thing her maid didn’t come into the room to wake her. Libby had learned years ago that Wink was far less crabby in the mornings if she woke to her alarm clock rather than a human. After living in some dodgy circumstances, she simply didn’t like the idea of people walking around her when she was asleep. She glanced quickly at the empty side of the bed. Thank heavens! Liam had apparently managed to get up and leave without waking her last night. Forget wolf, the man must be light-footed as a cat. That would come in handy if they continued to sneak around like this.

  The thrill of being secretive was going to get old very quickly. She made a mental note to begin looking for a small house to lease as soon as this Ascot business was over. Between her salary from the Order and her patents, she made more than enough to support herself, even without the generous allowance her parents insisted upon.

  She tugged on a nightgown before pressing the button beside the bed to let Libby know she was awake. Other grand houses still had a bell pull system, but Wink had done away with that at the Hadrian homes years ago. Each room had a discreet button connecting it to the servants’ hall, where it would flip a simple switch. No clanging bells in this house.

  While she waited for Libby, Wink checked the room to be sure there were no traces of Liam remaining. Of course, fastidious as he was, he hadn’t left his necktie, nor a sock, nor even a handkerchief. In fact, the most obvious sign that someone other that Wink had been here was the stack of her neatly folded clothing. It was a shame to undo his efforts, but Wink tumbled the pile off the dresser and onto the floor. There. Now it looked as though she’d undressed herself. Wink sent a silent apology to her long-suffering maid. Libby earned every bit of her lucrative wages.

  She sat down on the bed to brush out her hair and a glint of something shiny caught her eye. There on the bedside table rested a tiny gold wolf. She picked it up and ran her hand across the satiny patina. At perhaps an inch and a half from head to tail, it wasn’t detailed, representing just a stylized silhouette. There were no gems, the edges were smooth and worn and a look at the pin on the back told her it was old. Liam hadn’t purchased this as a token of affection. This was something he’d kept on his person, probably for years. Wink held it in her hand and cradled it close. Another barrier had come down.

  After Libby came and helped her dress, Wink pinned the wolf to her shift and closed her shirtwaist over it. She wasn’t about to leave it behind, but she wasn’t ready to share it with the world yet, either.

  In the breakfast room, she met Tom and Piers, who were already dressed for traveling. The two were leaving today for Windsor, along with Liam. Wink and Connor would remain behind to coordinate from the Club—likely with the help of Jamie, who seemed to have volunteered for duty. Piers had been conscripted into acting as technical support at the duke’s Windsor residence for the duration. Of all the siblings, he was the only one who could work with any of Wink’s inventions. As a boy, he’d called himself her apprentice and swore he wanted to be an engineer himself—until he’d gone to school and discovered whole other worlds of study.

  “Papa and Mum called this morning,” Piers told Wink and Nell. “They’re meeting us in Windsor. Come up if you can, once we have the all-clear.”

  “They’re not bringing the children?” Nell looked up in alarm.

  “Of course not.” Piers patted Nell’s hand. “This is just a quick visit—mostly because Papa’s still a Knight, and the duke called in all hands. The royal enclosure will be packed with Knights and their families.”

  “And one Irish earl,” Wink said. “Keep an eye on Liam’s family, please. Don’t let them humiliate him in public.”

  “Already planned on it.” Tom grinned. “I wonder if the earl likes to play cards.”

  The others laughed. Tom had made his living as a card sharp in Wapping. Liam’s father wouldn’t stand a chance.

  After Tom and Piers left and Nell went off to her classes, Jamie and Wink made their way to the Camelot Club. Much of the staff had decamped for Windsor with the duke, so the place had an odd, almost haunted feel to it. Along with Connor, they spent the day poring over printouts and trying to make connections.

  “Well, it’s about bloody time.” Shortly before five o’clock, Jamie hooted and waved a sheet of newspaper over his head like a flag. “After six hours of reading Society gossip until I wanted to puke, I finally found the name of Lord Trumball’s mistress—a Mrs. Harriette Eggerston.”

  “Good,” Wink said. “Now for another property search.” She flexed her fingers and keyed the name into the analytical engine as Jamie spelled it.

  Connor sighed and picked up another stack of papers. “I know. Start hunting for that name anywhere.”

  “Exactly.”

  Jamie stood and stretched. “I’m ordering supper. I think we’re going to be here awhile.”

  * * *

  Liam looked out over the racecourse with a captain from each of the Household Cavalry regiments. “The grounds tomorrow will be sewn up right and tight,” the Life Guard captain said with a crisp nod. “No rioters will be anywhere near the royal procession. I can promise you that.”

  “Indeed.” The Blues and Royals officer nodded briskly. “We’ll have the perimeter of the royal enclosure secured. The Yeomen of the Guard will be in the procession itself, surrounding Her Majesty and then inside the enclosure with her at all times. We’ve pulled in a couple other r
egiments from the area as well, to fill in as needed.”

  Liam nodded. “And there will be a mix of plainclothes and uniformed policemen along with Home Office agents and retired military volunteers mingling among the public stands. Altogether, that should keep out any determined insurgents.” There would be as much military and civilian firepower here as there had been at some of the battles in the Crimea. The Queen and her consort had refused to disappoint the populace by not attending, but at least none of the Royal children would be present. The Prince of Wales, in particular, was safely back at Buckingham.

  The Army had scores of men watching the grounds overnight, so Liam caught a lift back to Windsor and took himself off for a walk to clear his head. He’d be bunking with Tom and Piers tonight since the Duke’s townhouse near the castle was overflowing with every Knight and Order employee not on assignment elsewhere. There was also a large number of Hadrians. Liam really wasn’t looking forward to sitting down and chatting with Merrick. While he’d come to grips with loving Wink, he wasn’t ready to ask the man for her hand.

  The idea of marriage still scared the hell out of him, but it had begun to seem more or less inevitable. If they continued as they were, sooner or later they’d get caught, either in flagrante delicto by one of her myriad relations or by a pregnancy. As he’d warned her, no method of contraception was foolproof. And yet, perhaps, with Wink, it wouldn’t be the disaster he’d feared. She was so much stronger than his mother had been. She wouldn’t let anyone, even him, hurt one of her children. Perhaps she was right. Maybe they could make a go of it. After the insanity of this week was over, he’d spend some time sorting things out. At the very least, he wanted to tell her he loved her.

  “McCullough, old boy. Didn’t think I’d see you at the races.”

  Liam looked up to see Kersleigh and Lord Eustace smiling at him from the front stoop of a pub.

  Eustace waved him over. “Well, come on in, man. Everybody’s here. Have a drink or two with us.”