Moonlight & Mechanicals

by Cindy Spencer Pape

  It was Connor who said, “Where’s Superintendent Dugan?”

  “Oh, hell,” Liam said. Wink pulled the face plate of his helmet off, allowing him a wider field of vision. “Man down. Over there by the rail.”

  Merrick and Tom had gone off to help control the crowd, so Connor limped over and helped Lord Drood push aside one of the metal soldiers.

  “Damn it.” Connor knelt and laid his head on Dugan’s chest before turning to Liam and shaking his head. “I’m sorry. His neck is broken.”

  Wink pulled the helmet from Liam’s head, yanking the wires out of his neck as she did. He felt a tear splash on his scalp. “I’m sorry, Liam.”

  “We won the day and saved the realm,” Liam said. “That’s the memorial he would have wanted.” A tear or two dripped down his own cheeks, and with his hands still armored he couldn’t wipe them away.

  Liam’s father and stepmother emerged from behind the enclosure, both mostly dressed, but barefoot. Liam nodded to them both. “Thank you for your help. Tripping the soldiers was a brilliant idea.”

  His father nodded. “Imogene thought of it. Couldn’t leave you out there to fend for yourself, could we?”

  “Even Her Majesty’s ladies-in-waiting joined the fray,” Imogene said lightly. “We could hardly do less.”

  Well, that explained everything, then. His stepmother had always been a stickler for appearances. Neither of them bothered to help tend the wounded or free Liam from his armor cage.

  Meanwhile, Wink and Merrick pulled the chest and back plates off Liam. Soon, the armor was completely gone. Liam couldn’t stand. He was weak as a kitten after all the silver in the wires that had been stabbed into his skin. Someone wrapped a blanket around him, though at least the bastards had left his smalls on inside the suit. He thought he might be shivering, but he didn’t care. He was alive and she was unhurt. The royal family had been saved and justice was served. Nothing else mattered.

  “I love you,” he whispered when Wink sat beside him and wound her arms around his chest. “I thought I’d never get the chance to say it, but I love you beyond all reason. You will marry me, won’t you? Take pity on a wounded copper and put me out of my misery.” It hadn’t escaped him that she’d failed to respond to his battlefield proposal. After all they’d been through, he couldn’t let her get away from him now.

  “Of course I will, you idiot.” She kissed him sweetly, heedless of their audience. “Nothing would make me happier than to be your wife. I love you too.”

  * * *

  Wink didn’t get to talk to Liam again until much, much later. Hugs and congratulations from her parents, siblings and friends trickled in as she and Piers oversaw the disassembly of the mechanical soldiers, with the help of several armed guards, intent on keeping out the public who demanded retribution. Much of Britain’s populace would never believe that the captives hadn’t fought willingly, so an agreement to keep the names secret was quickly formed among law enforcement circles.

  The good news was that slightly more than half of the men and women were alive when they were pulled from their suits. Looking into their eyes, though, Wink knew they’d all have a long road to recovery, Eamon Miller among them. Some of them, she suspected, would look for death in the Thames or in a bottle, but then some of them had been on that road before they were captured. Eamon would be all right. His mother wouldn’t let him be otherwise. More of the dogs survived. Nicky, the sole survivor from the circus, offered to help organize a shelter for them until their owners could be found. The footman from the brothel volunteered to help. Some showing amazing fortitude, the survivors rallied around to help one another.

  It was a tired, wounded and bedraggled crowd that made their way back to London and Hadrian House that evening. With Windsor overflowing with soldiers, all the visiting nobility had been sent elsewhere. Naturally, in light of the impromptu announcement of their engagement, her parents had invited Lord and Lady Bell to come home with them and Liam’s parents had accepted, only after they’d seen the Queen herself thank the Hadrians for their roles in saving the day. Wink was rather glad she wouldn’t be living anywhere near her future in-laws.

  Piers and Tom escorted Eamon Miller and Nicky Roman back to their families, while the wounded were tended to more carefully than they’d been on the field. Finally, after bathing and changing into blood-free clothing, the entire McCullough and Hadrian families sat down to a late supper. Wink wore Liam’s wolf brooch openly at the collar of her shirtwaist. His smile when he saw it made her blush.

  Over the meal, Nell and Dorothy demanded a detailed accounting of the day’s events. Jamie made the most of his wounded warrior status and everyone silently mourned Superintendent Dugan. Kersleigh’s parting words were discussed in hushed, thoughtful tones. Mostly, Wink kept a watch on Liam. He might deny it, but the weakness lingered. She made a mental note to give any pieces of silver jewelry she had to Nell.

  “So now that you’re to be married, you’ll be coming home to Ireland, of course,” Lord Bell said between enormous bites of cold roast beef. Wink made another note to stock large amounts of meat in a werewolf household. “We’ll find something for you to do on the estate, I imagine. You won’t want to raise cubs here in town.”

  “Absolutely not.” Liam continued eating, brushing off his father’s words without even looking at the man. “I have responsibilities here. We’ll manage.”

  Lord Bell snarled, but a sharp rap on the elbow from his wife stopped whatever he was about to say.

  While Wink was grateful to Liam’s father and his lady for helping in the battle, she recognized a bully when she saw one. It was no wonder Liam had wanted to distance himself from this man. She gave her future father-in-law a polite smile. “Actually, we’d discussed the purchase of a small property just outside London. That way, we’ll have sufficient space, but can easily commute in by train or steam car like so many others who work in the city.”

  Liam shot her a glance. They’d discussed no such thing, but he didn’t gainsay her.

  Lady Bell’s eyes widened when Wink mentioned the word we regarding work. “You intend to be…employed? Even after your marriage?” She might as well have said the word leper, she put so much horror into it.

  “Of course.” She had no intention of giving up her employment, though her duties might change in the future, when they had children.

  Liam nodded and patted her hand. “I wouldn’t expect otherwise.”

  Her own family just nodded and smiled fondly.

  “There’s already been talk of Liam taking Dugan’s position as Superintendent,” Merrick said. “And, more than likely, a knighthood.”

  “Excellent.” This time Lady Bell smiled. She, unlike her husband, was making some effort to be polite.

  “Like we need more sirs in this family,” Jamie grumbled, making everyone laugh.

  Liam’s stepmother pushed forward. “So when is the wedding? Will it be here, or at your home in the North? Autumn is a lovely time for weddings.”

  “Here.” This time Liam answered, lacing his fingers through Wink’s. The look he gave her took her breath away. “Soon.”

  Caroline laughed and turned to Liam’s parents. “Don’t worry, Lady Bell. We can put together a decent wedding on short notice. I’ve already got most of a trousseau squirreled away for Wink. I’ve been expecting this for some time, you see. Those two have had eyes for each other since they met.”

  “She was just a child when they met,” Merrick objected. “He better not have had eyes for her then.”

  “Admiration, yes.” Liam held up a hand. “I promise I had no inappropriate thoughts—not until she was significantly older.”

  Wink grinned and slanted her eyes in a gaze meant to sizzle his toes. “Sorry. I can’t say the same.”

  Lady Bell gasped in horror and her husband snorted in derision. Liam sent Wink a look apologizing for their rudeness but she shook her head. He wasn’t at fault for their bad behavior. Just the fact that he recognized it meant
he was nothing like them.

  “Not that anyone cares about the man who was shot today.” Jamie’s arm hung in a sling, but he sat at the table, eating heartily. “But if anyone should happen to remember a promise she made, before her brain turned into girlish wedding-happy mush…”

  Wink sighed. “I said I would, and I will. Don’t be a brat.” She turned to their parents. “I think you should send this scapegrace to a military academy. Preferably the day after my wedding. Maybe they can drum some sense into his thick head.”

  “Seamus, is that what you want?” Caroline bit her lip and looked to her husband. “Truly?”

  Jamie nodded, his eyes wide and hopeful. “It is. Really.”

  Merrick patted his wife’s hand. “And you’ll behave there? Not get sent down?”

  Jamie nodded again, while his brothers and sisters rolled their eyes in disbelief.

  Merrick shrugged. “Why not?”

  Jamie whooped. An aborted attempt to pump his fist in the air ended in a yelp of pain.

  Lady Bell shuddered. “I don’t know how you managed with four children,” she said to Caroline. “Even if they’re not shifters, they’re so…rambunctious.”

  “Discipline,” Lord Bell muttered. He cast Jamie a look filled with disgust and more than a little fury. “That’s what’s needed. A firm hand.” He lifted his as if to show the rest of them how it was done.

  Merrick half rose from his seat, as did Tom and even Piers. Liam shifted so his shoulders were slightly between his father and Jamie, making Wink want to kiss him. Not that he needed to bother, but the instinct was perfect.

  “Oh, but we have nine. Didn’t you know that?” Caroline’s clear voice diffused the tension. She blinked with a faux-innocent expression that made her daughters giggle and Lady Bell’s eyes widen in shock. The men subsided in their seats, but kept cold eyes on Lord Bell.

  Caroline stared at him too, her uncanny green eyes narrowed. “That’s right. I have nine children and I wouldn’t trade even one of them. Not for the world.” She didn’t bother to explain that one was fostered and others were adopted. To her, it simply didn’t matter, which was part of why Wink loved her so dearly.

  “N-nine?” Lady Bell reached for her fan.

  Caroline smiled coldly. “Quite. Oh—and by the way.” She glared daggers at Liam’s father. “Anyone—regardless of relationship, rank, or even species, who dares strike a child in my presence, or even to my knowledge, won’t live long enough to regret it. Tom, dear, can you please pass the brussels sprouts?” Her gaze never left Lord Bell.

  Bell bared his teeth at the blatant challenge. Liam leaned forward again, as if intent on protecting Caroline from his father, but then Caroline tucked her hair back to reveal the points of her ears that marked her as part Fae. She bared her teeth in an almost lupine fashion that she must have learned from watching Liam. “That will include any of my future grandchildren. Do we have an understanding?”

  Lord Bell started to speak, but his wife gripped his shoulder.

  “Of course,” she said. “Discipline is the purview of the parents, not the grandparents.” She stared at her husband until he gave a curt nod and settled back in his seat.

  Wink bit her lip to keep from laughing. Liam’s hand closed on hers and merriment sparkled in his eyes. They’d never have to worry about Liam’s father around their children. The big, bad wolf had been put in his place by a dainty little elf.

  * * *

  Liam made an attempt to return to his own house to sleep but was overruled. His parents were here, Wink was here, and if he needed further medical attention, it was here. More exhausted than he wanted anyone to see, he retired to the room next to Tom’s shortly after the meal.

  As he made his way up the stairs, Nell stopped him. “I thought you’d want to know, Liam. Your mother’s ghost is smiling.”

  “She is?” He’d nearly forgotten Nell’s mention of the ghost over his shoulder, but his throat thickened at the reminder. “She’s happy that I survived? Or that Wink and I are getting married?”

  Nell tipped her head as if listening and smiled brilliantly. “Both. She’s moving on now, Liam. She says she couldn’t leave you while you were so alone, but now she thinks you’ll be fine.”

  “I will.” He heard tears in his own voice. “Mama—thank you. I hope I’ve made you proud.”

  “You have,” Nell said.

  “Then good-bye, Mama. I love you.”

  “She loves you too.” Nell’s eyes misted. “She’s gone now, Liam. Don’t be sad about that. She was ready to go.”

  “I’m glad.” Liam leaned down and kissed his sister-in-law-to-be on the cheek. “Thank you, Nell.”

  “My pleasure.” She patted his hand, then turned back to the drawing room and the rest of her family.

  He made his way up the stairs to the guest room he’d been assigned. The first thing he did was shift. After going from human to wolf to human a couple of times, he could sense an enormous decrease in the effect of the toxins. Now he just needed sleep.

  A knock on the door put paid to that idea. He opened it to find his father.

  “Yes?” Liam truly didn’t want to cope with Lord Bell’s horseshit right about then. His patience was long since gone.

  “We’ll be leaving right after the wedding,” Bell said. “Imogene doesn’t want to miss it. Bad form and all that.”

  “That’s fine,” Liam said. “I’m not coming back to Ireland. Now or ever.”

  Bell jerked his head in a parody of a nod. “Don’t know why—pack is pack. If you don’t give a damn about your own, I can’t make you. Don’t understand why though.”

  “I’m nothing like you,” Liam said. “I don’t want to be anything like you.”

  “Fair enough,” Bell said. “You’re more like your mother than I’d have preferred. She and I never got on.”

  “An understatement, but go on.” Liam was so exhausted he barely took in what his father was saying.

  “Your mother—she wasn’t my mate and I didn’t have much patience with her.” Bell shrugged. “Imogene and I are better suited. You sure this human girl is the one for you?”

  “I’m sure.” Liam would have some thinking to do about what had just come out. His father was a brutal jackass, but he could see where being married to the wrong woman would have exacerbated the man’s violent tendencies. Still, it was no excuse.

  “Anyway, Imogene told me to say you did a good job today.” He looked as miserable as if his fangs were being pulled at having to compliment Liam. “These people you know—they’re not weak like most humans.”

  “No.” Liam shook his head. He’d reached his limit. “Thank you, Father. Good night.”

  He closed the door in Lord Bell’s face before he fell into the bed and immediately into slumber.

  He woke some hours later when someone lifted the blanket and a soft body crawled in beside him.

  “I couldn’t sleep,” Wink whispered. “I know you need to rest, but I just wanted… I mean, you almost…” Her voice cracked.

  Liam pulled her against him and cradled her in his arms. “Shh. I understand. Good lord, woman, you were in danger too. Do you think I don’t feel the same? That I don’t need to hold you and assure myself you’re all right?” His body responded instantly to her closeness, letting both of them know he was mending quite well.

  Wink snuggled tightly into him. “I love you.” She kissed him lightly. “I wanted to say it in private for once. I love you with all my heart.”

  He returned her kiss with a deeper, more sensual one. “And I love you. You are my heart, Winifred. Thank you for not giving up on me.”

  “Never.”

  They made love slowly and tenderly. Later, as they lay together in the dark, he said, “That was a good idea, buying some land outside of town. You can build us a steam car to come in to work.” He’d never force her to stop working for the Order, but he did hope she’d never be in a battle like that again. Hell, he hoped he’d never be in a battle
like that again.

  “Mmm-hmm.” She stretched against him. “Your parents aren’t going to be a problem, are they? I’m glad they’ll be in Ireland, but I’m also glad they helped. They did work to save you. That’s more than I expected.”

  “Me too,” Liam said groggily. “I mean I’m also glad they’ll be on a whole different island and I didn’t expect them to help. My father was as easy-going tonight as I’ve ever seen him.”

  “Maybe he’s mellowed with age.” Wink yawned.

  “I think it’s more than that.” Liam brushed his fingers over the mark on her shoulder. It was time to tell her the whole truth about that. “This mark is how a wolf claims his mate. We only have one in our lifetime. I don’t think my mother and father were truly mated to each other. That’s why they made each other miserable. With Imogene, I think he’s finally found some level of happiness.”

  “That’s a nice idea.” A soft kiss tickled his shoulder. Then she swatted him. “Wait, does that mean you’d marked me as your mate before you even said you love me?”

  “I’m afraid so. My instincts knew better than my brain did, I’m afraid.” He hoped she wasn’t too angry.

  “Idiot.” She kissed him again then settled down by his side. “I like the idea of mating for life, by the way. I’m going to hold you to that.”

  “Good.” Liam cuddled into her and drifted off again.

  He woke as the door opened, to find light streaming in the window. He pulled the covers up to his and Wink’s chins.

  “Well,” said a sharp, male voice.

  Wink stirred in his arms and looked up to see her father in the doorway. Liam swallowed hard. “Sir…”

  Wink put a finger over his lips. “Morning, Papa. Did you need something?”

  Merrick sighed and smiled. He couldn’t stay angry at Wink. Liam understood the feeling. “Liam’s superiors are here asking to speak with him.” He shot them a telling look before the door closed. “And the wedding will be very, very soon. Understood?”

  “Yes, Papa.” Wink giggled as Liam buried his face in the pillow.