Taming the Wicked Wulfe (The Rogue Agents)

by Tammy Jo Burns

  He and Glandingham had been ships passing in the night the last week, going out of their way to avoid one another. Wulfe had been relieved, but his luck had run out tonight. Thorn walked to the front of the gaming hell, watching men sign into the new book when Glandingham crossed the threshold. Always attempting to be larger than life, Glandingham walked in loud and boisterous. Upon spying Thorn he crossed to him.

  “Not bad having a line waiting to come in, eh, old man?”

  “Not bad at all,” Thorn agreed.

  “What happened to you?” the older man queried upon spying Wulfe’s healing black eye.

  “Pickpocket,” Thorn murmured.

  “I hope the other man looks worse.”

  “I’m going to make the rounds,” Wulfe replied, leaving his partner behind. He lost himself in the business of running the gaming house.

  The house was dark when Thorn arrived home. There were a few carriages and horses still traveling, delivering people to their residences after a night of revelry. He let himself into the house and climbed the stairs to his bedroom. He lit a lantern so that he could prepare for bed. He was exhausted. Tonight had been difficult on his nerves as he continuously searched the room and attempted to keep up with Glandingham’s every move. Thorn dropped to the edge of his bed and flopped back, hearing the crunch of paper beneath him. He resembled a contortionist as he tried to reach for it. Successful, he pulled it around and read the envelope. Wulfe. The script was simple, yet feminine. He ripped it open and pulled out the letter.

  Gertie is having a dinner party tomorrow. We have been invited. I have attempted to send our regrets but she will not hear of it. Please do not embarrass me again. We must be there by 7 o’clock. R

  She had very little faith in him. Did she always think he was going to embarrass her? He had done an excellent job on first meeting Rebekah’s cousin. Damn Aimée and her machinations. He vowed he would not embarrass her again. If she wanted him to attend a supper, he would attend and be on his best behavior.

  ***

  Thorn woke with the late afternoon sun and children’s shrieks of laughter streaming through the window of his bedroom. He stretched, easing his muscles into wakefulness and found that he enjoyed the sound. Not what one would expect of a former dedicated bachelor who had never been without a mistress to keep him occupied. He groaned as the thought of setting aside Aimée brought to mind his very cantankerous wife.

  He found himself playing their confrontation in the study over in his mind again. Somehow she had learned to defend herself, but why had she ever felt the need? What had happened to her to make her feel she had to defend herself against men? Someone had physically attacked her once. Had it occurred more often? When he found out who was responsible, he would destroy the man that had harmed her. Deciding nothing could be accomplished lazing about in bed, he stood and readied himself for an afternoon spent at home.

  Never one to conform with society, he merely pulled on his pantaloons and a shirt before slipping on stockings and tugging on his boots. He imagined he would shock his ever proper wife going beyond the door of his bedroom without a weskit, cravat, and coat. Thorn merely smirked at the idea. His stomach growled loudly and he left the house by way of the kitchen, asking Cook to fix something light for him. He exited through the kitchen door and entered the garden attached to the house. The twins were chasing one another to and fro. They always seemed to have a boundless amount of energy.

  “Uncle Thorn!” Zachary yelled and ran headfirst into Thorn. Wulfe grabbed the youngster and playfully tossed him in the air, making him giggle.

  “Don’t…” Rebekah cautioned, standing quickly.

  “I’m not going to drop him,” Wulfe attempted to reassure her.

  “Me, too!” Ivy demanded.

  “Ladies do not participate in that type of activity, Ivy,” Rebekah reprimanded the little girl.

  “I’m not a lady. I’m Ivy Rose,” she crossed her arms and looked ready to take on her headstrong aunt.

  “So you are,” Thorn growled as he put Zachary safely on the ground and picked up Ivy and tossed her as he had her brother. Ivy squealed in delight, begging him not to stop. He spent the next few minutes alternating between which sibling he sent flying through the air or spinning in a circle. When a maid arrived with his requested food, he called a halt to their game. “I beg you, no more,” he collapsed into a chair.

  “Please, Uncle Thorn,” a child stood at each side of his leg and patted a knee, jumping up and down.

  “Let your uncle eat. I think I spied a rabbit over in the garden a few moments ago.”

  “I’ll find it!” Zachary yelled.

  “Wait for me!” Ivy called after him.

  “A rabbit? In London?”

  “It could very well happen. Besides, it gave you a reprieve, did it not?”

  “Thank you,” he bowed.

  When she looked up at him, he gave her his most charming grin, the very one that made her knees weak and her stomach flip. Realizing she was staring, she turned her attention back to the children. “Be careful of the plants or Cook will be after you, and I will let her,” she called out to the twins.

  “You are good at that.”

  “What?”

  “Mothering the children.”

  “I have had some practice.”

  “I’m sorry I did not make it to Sarah’s funeral. I could not get away.”

  “Yes, you were busy running your gaming hell and destroying your family’s good name.”

  “Bekah, there are things you don’t understand. Things that I cannot share with you.”

  “I neither care nor want to know. You had just better not bring any danger to this family, do you understand?”

  “You need not worry about that,” he answered, pushing away thoughts of the carriage accident. If Rebekah suspected it had not been an accident, she would take the children back to the country as soon as possible and he would have no way of protecting them. No, he could not let her know anything. He poured her a cup of tea and pushed it in her direction. Thorn watched her add cream and sugar before stirring methodically. “What are you wearing to the dinner party this evening?”

  “I’m sure I have something appropriate in my wardrobe.”

  “Most women would be upstairs all day preparing for their first dinner party.”

  “It is only dinner with a very dear cousin and some extended family. I expect they will accept me regardless of how I arrive.”

  “I’m certain you are right,” Thorn replied knowing when to cut his losses.

  They spent the remainder of their time together in silence watching the children chase an imaginary rabbit. After finishing his light repast, Thorn left. Rebekah found herself alone. When he disappeared into the house she felt herself deflate with relief. She cursed herself for letting the man affect her as he did. “Zachary, Ivy, come with me. You have to take a nap before you can go this evening.”

  “Not tired,” Ivy yawned.

  “Me neither,” Zachary argued.

  “Do you want to meet the other children?” She waited until both children nodded. “Then you will be having a nap whether you believe you need one or not.” Rebekah escorted the children upstairs and helped them slip off their shoes and clothes until they were in their underclothes. They crawled onto their respective beds and were asleep before she could close the door. She caught a maid in the hall and asked her to make sure she awakened by a certain time, then turned to her room to take a nap as well.

  ***

  Knocking on her door awakened her. She stretched as she called, “Who is it?”

  “Mary, ma’am. You asked me to wake you.”

  She stood, padded across the room, and opened the door. “Thank you, Mary. I hate to ask this, but could you get one of the others to help you get the children ready? I’ll be up as soon as I am dressed myself.”

  “Of course, ma’am. What should we dress them in?”

  “I have already laid out their clothes.”
<
br />   “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Thank you.” She shut the door and turned to see something she had missed moments before. A beautiful aquamarine gown hung from the wardrobe. There was a matching pelisse and slippers. Rebekah quickly opened the door, “Mary.”

  “Yes, ma’am?” the maid queried from the down the hall.

  “Where did this dress come from?”

  “I don’t know, ma’am. A delivery man brought it and we were instructed to hang it up so it wouldn’t wrinkle. There is a note on your escritoire.”

  “Thank you.” She closed the door and crossed the room. If this were from Thorn she would rip it up in front of him. Her hand shook as she reached for the note.

  Welcome to London. G

  The air whooshed from her lungs. Gertie was always so thoughtful. Why did she feel disappointment that Thorn had not sent it? Pushing back the wayward thoughts, she turned once more to the dress and accessories. Upon closer inspection, there was even a pair of elegant, supple kid gloves. Feeling excited for the first time about the dinner party, she began to get ready. Used to seeing to her own needs for so many years, she easily coiled her brown tresses into a loose knot with tendrils escaping here and there. She slipped out of her old dress and into the new one. The material caressed her skin and in the fading light of day it picked up different shades of blues and greens, complimenting her eyes. Rebekah worked her feet into the slippers, pleased when they fit perfectly.

  She took a moment to look in the cheval mirror that stood in a corner of her room. She worried her bottom lip as she turned this way and that taking in her image. Did it cover her scars? Barely, but yes, she thought with relief. This was the first time in her life that she had ever dressed up like this. Was it too much? Not enough? Only one way to find out. She gathered up the pelisse and the gloves and opened the door. She entered the twin’s room a few minutes later.

  “Oh, Aunt Bekah, you’re beautiful,” Ivy said in awe.

  How sad was it that a four-year-old’s opinion mattered so much to her?

  “Oh, my lady, you look beyond beautiful,” Mary said.

  “She looks like she always does,” Zachary said, unable to understand the difference the others saw, including his sister.

  “You’ll understand one day, Your Grace,” the other maid said with a giggle.

  “That he will,” a deep voice said from the hallway. “You are breathtaking, my lady,” Thorn stepped into the room, captured her bare hand in his, and brought it to his lips.

  Rebekah’s stomach flipped at his touch and the smoldering look in his eyes. The throbbing low in her pelvis returned and her knees felt weak. No, she told herself and pulled her hand free of his. Instead of looking angry, he merely gave her a lopsided grin that almost made her think he was promising more. She turned her attention to the children, “Are you two ready?” The children nodded eagerly.

  “Shall we?” Thorn held his arm out indicating they should precede him.

  Rebekah tugged on her gloves as she descended the stairs. When she reached the bottom she struggled with her pelisse until she felt large hands join hers.

  “Allow me.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You truly are breathtaking.”

  Rebekah could not make herself meet his eyes.

  “You should have jewels adorning you.”

  “Like your mistress?” she asked tartly.

  “Some day I am going to find out what has caused you to be so bitter.”

  “Never.”

  “We’ll see,” he said.

  Then to her utter dismay he brushed a kiss across her lips, a gentle caress that had her wanting more. When did I become such a wanton? she thought worriedly. “We’re going to be late.” She led her family outside to the waiting carriage.

  The children enjoyed the journey to Gertie’s, getting to see sights of London they had not yet seen. Rebekah did not. The closer they got to their destination, the more she worried. She worried about the people that would be present. Did they know of Thorn’s reputation? What would they think? She had never been to a large dinner party. Could she do it? Would the children enjoy themselves? Would she be engulfed by memories?

  So wrapped up in her own worries, she missed most of the trip. It was not until the carriage lurched to a stop and the children jumped up that she realized they had reached Gertie’s house. Wulfe exited the carriage and turned to help the children. Then he held his hand out to her. Her hand trembled as she placed it in his. She nearly fell out of the carriage as her knees buckled. If he had not caught her to him, she would be lying in a heap on the ground.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “You don’t appear so. We can return home. Just say the word.”

  “No, I want to stay.”

  “You are to tell me, if at any time, you want to leave.”

  “Why are you being so nice to me?”

  “Believe what you will, Rebekah, I have always cared for you. Now you are my wife and it is my duty to protect you. I take my duty very seriously.”

  She looked up at him unsure as to whether she should be hurt that he considered her a duty he had to carry out, or exuberant that he cared for her. And when had it begun to matter to her? Isn’t this the man that had ruined her life? It took both of you to do that, she reminded herself. “Thank you,” she said.

  “Come, let me show you off,” he said and brushed her lips with another teasingly soft kiss. He turned and guided her into her cousin’s home before she could berate him for his actions.

  Chapter 10

  It turned out that they were only beaten by one other couple, Gertrude’s niece and her husband, Lord and Lady Southerby. Upon seeing Lady Southerby, Rebekah rushed across the room and hugged the other woman tightly.

  “Oh, Clarissa, it is so wonderful to see you.”

  Clarissa hugged her back. “It is so good to see you, Rebekah. It has been too long.”

  “Much too long.”

  “Come, you must meet my husband, Viscount Southerby,” Clarissa said, pulling Rebekah across the parlor. “Justin, I want you to meet my dear cousin, Rebekah Johnson.”

  “Wulfe now,” a deep voice corrected over her right shoulder.

  Clarissa’s head turned sharply to Rebekah. “But, Wulfe, isn’t that…”

  “It is wonderful to meet you, Lord Southerby,” Rebekah broke in. She saw the odd look that Clarissa gave her and tried to indicated nonverbally that she would explain everything later.

  “Please, you must call me Justin. I hate to stand on formality, besides you’re family. Justin Southerby,” he held out a hand to Wulfe.

  “Thorn Wulfe.”

  Rebekah did not realize she was holding her breath until after the two men finished shaking hands. If Clarissa’s husband recognized the name, he did an excellent job of hiding the fact. At that moment, Gertie entered the room with a little boy in her arms that could not be much more than two or three years of age.

  “Mama,” the little boy reached towards Clarissa fisting his hands repeatedly in a grasping motion.

  “What has Aunt Gertie been giving you?” Clarissa asked her son as Lord Southerby took out his handkerchief and cleaned up the tell-tale signs of a child having had a treat.

  “Cake,” the little boy said, clapping his hands.

  “Gertie, you will spoil him rotten.”

  “It is my prerogative, love.”

  “Rebekah, this rapscallion is our son, Jace. Jace, this is your cousin Rebekah.” The little boy waved shyly before burying his head in his mother’s neck. “Our daughter, Holly, is upstairs asleep. She will be four months old in two days.”

  “She’s boring,” Jace said.

  “Jace thought she would be born as big as he is and ready to play.”

  “All she does is sleep and cry.”

  “That’s all you did too, little man,” Clarissa said, hugging him tightly. He squirmed to get out of her arms.

  Rebekah found her
self feeling envious of this family that stood before her. She felt jealous that her cousin was getting to truly experience motherhood and every aspect of it, not just as a surrogate for two orphaned children. She loved her niece and nephew, but she could not help wanting more, craving more. Yet, she would have to be satisfied with what she had, because that was all she would have. “Hello, Jace. I have two people I would love for you to meet, as well.” She turned to look for the twins and saw them in her husb…in Wulfe’s arms. They looked equally as shy as little Jace did. Rebekah held out her arms to Ivy and the girl went willingly to her much loved aunt. “Jace, this is my niece, Ivy, and my nephew, Zachary. Ivy, Zachary, this is your cousin Jace.”

  The adults humorously watched as the children eyed each other. After a few minutes, Zachary and Jace squirmed out of the arms of the adults holding them. The boys began chattering back and forth.

  “Down,” Ivy told her aunt not wanting to be left out.

  A maid waited in the corner until Gertie gave her a nod. “She’s going to take the children to the nursery. I have two maids watching the children tonight.”

  “Two for three children?”

  “There are to be two more, another set of twins,” Clarissa said. “They are the children of Derek and Tessa Simmons, the Earl and Countess of Blackburn. Their twins are just a little older than Jace. Unfortunately, you will not get to meet Mikala and Gabe this time.”

  “Mikala and Gabe?” Wulfe questioned, a tenseness in his voice.

  “The Duke and Duchess of Hawkescliffe,” Justin interjected. “They are good friends of ours.”

  “Yes, and they just had a daughter, which is why they will not be here.” Rebekah noticed how Wulfe seemed to relax at this information. She tried to look at him before Clarissa garnered her attention once more. “Papa will be here with his wife, Lady Jocelyn. She is a wonderful woman, and she has a niece, Beverly, that is staying with them for her season. Upon Jocelyn’s insistence, I have invited Gabe’s brother. She believes they would be a wonderful match, but I’m not so sure.”