Taming the Wicked Wulfe (The Rogue Agents)

by Tammy Jo Burns

  “What is this?” He tipped her head back, bent to kiss her, but she turned her head so that his lips brushed her cheek. “What’s going on?”

  “This is not something I want to argue about in the middle of a cemetery. I want to go home.”

  “Well, you can’t go home. Not yet. I don’t want Walsh to know that I have found you.”

  “Where do you propose to take me?”

  “The Lady Luck.”

  “Of course. You know, I think you love that gaming hell. Are you sure you aren’t married to her?”

  “What happened to you being grateful that I rescued you? In fact, where is the Rebekah I’ve come to care for?” He lifted her up on the horse and climbed up behind her.

  “That woman has had her eyes opened to the reality of what you do and who you are.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing. Take me wherever you must.”

  Thorn led his horse through the streets of London. People were giving them strange looks with her sitting in the saddle in front of him.

  “People are staring,” Rebekah whispered.

  “They’re not used to seeing such a beautiful woman,” he countered.

  “I’m not playing your games any more, Thorn.”

  “I’m not playing games, Rebekah. I mean every word I say when it comes to you.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  “Did that brute giant do something to you?”

  “No,” she whispered.

  They traveled in silence the rest of the way. He led the horse into the mews behind the gaming hell. Thorn dismounted and then turned to help her down. Her hood slipped back at the same time a light from a window illuminated her face. It was extremely swollen and bruised on one side.

  “Who did this to you?” He took her chin in his fingers and tilted her head so that he could see better.

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ll see myself inside.”

  “No, you won’t. I have a few minutes to spare.”

  “That is so kind of you, husband,” she spun on her heel and let herself into the back door of the gaming hell.

  He caught up to her, grabbed her upper arm, and steered her down the hallway to his suite of rooms. Thorn and Rebekah were immediately assailed by the smell of perfume.

  “You bastard,” she turned to swing her palm at him, but was brought up short.

  “That is not my cologne,” he bent so that he could look in her face. “Come with me.” He led her to the office.

  She took a deep breath. It smelled of leather and wood, a much more pleasant odor. She began pacing the confines of the office, rubbing her arms.

  “Now, what is the matter with you?”

  Chapter 27

  Rebekah opened her mouth, but no sound came out. What was the matter with her? She had come to terms that the past was in the past, but then events had spiraled out of her control. Instead of having the upper hand and confronting her half-sister, it had been the other way around. Then the woman who had claimed to have been helping her aided in her kidnapping. Oh, and she could not forget the part where she was locked in a mausoleum for who knew how many hours with a dead body and rats as her only companions. And he wanted to know what was wrong with her?

  Her tough exterior began to crumble. She felt her lips tremble and the tightness develop in her chest. Her head pounded with every move, remnants of the blow the giant had dealt her in the carriage. She began blinking rapidly in an attempt to keep the tears at bay. Rebekah backed away as he moved towards her.

  “Let me hold you,” he said.

  “No. I can’t do this Thorn. I can’t live in this constant fear that something will happen to the twins or to me. I won’t do it.”

  “Are you giving me an ultimatum?”

  “No. I am just telling you what I can’t do. I also can’t live with a connection to this,” she flung her arms wide to encompass the gaming hell. “I know it is not real, but sometimes I think you enjoy it more than you should. Tomorrow, whether you are done with this aspect of your life or not, the twins and I are returning to Wulfecrest Manor.”

  “With or without me?”

  “That is your choice.”

  “Well, I guess that says it all. I will send someone to see that you and the twins travel safely.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Lock the door behind me. Only answer for Barkley.”

  The door closed and Rebekah crossed to lock it. She moved to sit in the chair behind the large desk. Unable to stand the scattered papers, she began working her way through them, putting them in various piles. She came to a piece of paper that had Walsh, Glandingham, Aimée scrawled across it in a masculine hand. Their names made a triangle with lines drawn connecting them, as if someone tried to determine how the three were joined.

  Someone was wiggling the doorknob. She heard muffled cursing on the other side of the door. Rebekah tucked the note in a deep pocket in her cloak and crossed the room. Long red velvet drapes covered the few windows there were. She slipped behind one just as the door opened.

  “I am so tired of his damn shady behavior,” a gruff voice said. Rebekah jumped when the door bounced off the wall.

  “Would you like to see the end of Lord Thorn Wulfe?” a smooth familiar voice queried.

  “Of course I would. If he were out of the way this could be all mine.”

  “Consider this then. An England where Prinny is no longer in control. Where we bring back the beliefs of our fathers and grandfathers.”

  “And how do you propose we do this?”

  “Oh, we are not going to do anything. We are going to have front row seats for the event. No, Lord Thorn Wulfe is going to take care of this for us. You see, I have someone that he cares for a great deal. However, what he does not know is that I will be watching from Green Park, not St. James's Park as he insisted. And who do you think will be waiting for him in St. James's Park?”

  “The authorities?”

  “Yes! Bow Street Runners, will be surrounding him on an anonymous tip that there is going to be an assassination on the Prince Regent. Wulfe will be surrounded by Runners just as his explosion goes off.”

  “What about this person you have?”

  “Oh, yes. Well, you see, I promised her to one of my guards. Afterward, I don’t care what happens to her.”

  “Why are you including me?”

  “Because, Uncle William, you have paid enough penitence and have done a bloody fine job of restoring the family coffers. I believe Mother would have wanted me to share this moment with you, her only brother.”

  “I only wish she had lived long enough to see them restored.”

  “I don’t know that her delicate constitution would have dealt well with you being part owner of a gaming hell.”

  “There is that. I did love my baby sister.”

  “I know, and she loved you. Now, what do you say? The fireworks start at Midnight.”

  “That is four hours away.”

  “Yes, but I have to make an appearance at the party.”

  “Of course. Let’s go…” the voices grew muffled after they shut the door and began moving down the hall.

  Rebekah remained behind the drapes for extra minutes in case the pair decided to return. Her mind was racing in a hundred different directions. She knew one thing. She somehow had to get out of here and warn Thorn. She might not be able to continue on as the wife of a spy and gaming hell owner, but the fact remained that she loved him and she did not want him to be killed.

  She turned, slipped open the locks on the windows, and raised the sash. Rebekah looked to make certain the way was clear then swung her legs over and dropped to the ground below.

  “What have we here?”

  Rebekah froze. “Are you going to kill me?”

  “What kind of question is that?”

  “One that you ask someone when you don’t know which side they are loyal to.”

  “Turn around.”

  Rebekah turned around and stared in
to the face of her half-sister. “Are you going to turn me over to your lover again?”

  “I didn’t mean for you to be captured. Your news about Pére threw me. I have recently lost Maman as well. I was not as aware as I should have been. I apologize for that. Don’t tell me you have been here the entire time.”

  “I have not. I can’t stand here and have a tête-à-tête,” Rebekah tried to push past her but was brought up short.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “To save the life of the man that I love. You can either get out of my way, or I will forcibly remove you. It is your choice.”

  “I will help you.”

  “I don’t need your help.”

  “Humor me.” Aimée watched Rebekah start to round the Lady Luck. “Do you not learn? Follow me.”

  “Why should I?”

  “I have yet to be kidnapped,” the other woman said.

  Rebekah made a face at her back, but followed the other woman. They came out on a street several down from the the Lady Luck. “We need a hack,” Rebekah said.

  “Where are we going?”

  “St. James's Park near Buckingham House.”

  “I know where it is. Why are we going there?”

  “I am not going to answer your questions, nor am I going to stand here and argue with you. I will do what I must with or without your assistance. Now, get out of my way,” Rebekah pushed past her and moved to hail a hack. One came to a halt, she told the driver where she wished to go and then opened the door. She climbed in and felt the hack shift as Aimée climbed in after her.

  “Do you know what you are going to do once we arrive at our destination?”

  “Find Thorn.”

  “That might not be as easy as you think.”

  “It has to be. His life is in peril.”

  “Do you even know what event is going on tonight at Buckingham House?”

  “No.”

  “The Queen is throwing a birthday celebration for her oldest son, the Prince Regent.”

  “Oh.”

  “Oui, ‘oh’,” Aimée commented. “Now, perhaps you should try trusting me and allow me to help you.” She watched Rebekah worry her lower lip and twist her cape in her hands. “Rebekah,” she reached across and put a hand on hers, “trust me.” After a few more minutes of silence, Aimée listened as Rebekah told her what she had heard Glandingham and Walsh discussing in the office of the Lady Luck. Aimée leaned back and thought about all that she knew plus this new information.

  “What do you think?” Rebekah asked when she could take the silence no more.

  “I think these little boys are going to pay far more than they are willing to when all is said and done.” Aimée looked out the window of the hack as their travel went from sluggish to nonexistent.

  “We aren’t moving,” Rebekah said, sounding panicked.

  “No. Come. We must travel by foot. The streets are too congested.” Aimée opened the door and tossed some coins up to the driver before leading Rebekah away. The women moved quickly along the walks, slipping between people that milled about. “You go to St. James’ Park, I will check Green Park.”

  “No! You will warn him.”

  “I promise you, I will not. Walsh is a danger to all mankind and must be stopped. Trust me, sister.”

  Instead of answering, Rebekah turned and ran in the opposite direction of Aimée. She stopped when she realized she had no idea if she was going in the right direction.

  “Excuse me, where is St. James’s Park?” she asked a woman selling little nosegays. The woman cocked her head to the side, and Rebekah saw the entrance about a half of a block down. She ran and entered the park wondering where she would even begin to look. She decided to run to the center and just begin yelling for Thorn. She had just reached the center when she felt a hand cover her mouth, and she was being dragged backwards into a dense area of trees.

  “What the bloody hell are you doing here?” Thorn demanded, spinning her around.

  “Saving your bloody neck!”

  “What the hell do you mean?”

  “Walsh has set this up. He is sending Runners here to take you into custody when the explosion happens. He and his men are watching from Green Park. Glandingham is his uncle.”

  “How did you find all this out?” Thorn asked suspiciously.

  “Someone locked me in an office. I hid when they came in and overheard everything. Aimée went to see if they are really set up in Green Park.”

  Thorn walked to the center of St. James’s Park and made a motion with his hands. Men came out of the trees. “Change of plans, men. They are gathering in Green Park. My guess would be on the hill. Do not let anyone escape, most especially Walsh.”

  “Yes, sir.” Men chorused all around before moving to their new location.

  “You are staying here,” he told Rebekah. “No argument,” he said when she started to open her mouth. “Here is my gun for protection. I know you know how to shoot.”

  “Not humans. That other time was a fluke.”

  “Pretend it is a rabid wolf. Pull the trigger first, ask questions later. After all this, we are going to talk.” He dropped a kiss on her lips before he disappeared into the trees.

  Rebekah stayed put for a few minutes, but then followed the men. She wanted to see Walsh get what he deserved. She found a tree that afforded her a view of the hill Thorn had talked about, but also provided ample protection. At a quarter ’til midnight, a dozen well dressed young men, Lord Glandingham, and Lord Walsh made their way to the hill. They stood, chatting and laughing as they awaited what they kept referring to as “the show”.

  It felt as if they had been waiting forever, but finally the first firework shot into the air followed quickly by another. Soon the sky was alight with fireworks in various colors.

  “What the hell is going on?” Walsh demanded.

  “Just as you wanted, my lord,” Thorn said from the base of the hill. “Did you not say you wanted to see fireworks?”

  “You know what our discussion was about. John will be lucky to get any part of your wife after I am done with her, you son of a bitch! You have made a fool out of me in front of my friends. I promised them Prinny would be dead, and the government would be ours.”

  “Is that so, Walsh?”

  “Your Majesty,” the men on the knoll bowed low.

  “Stand up, you worthless pieces of flesh. I know you all wanted me dead. Think you can do a better job of taking care of the people of England and seeing us out of this dreadful war, do you? Let’s see how you do when you are sent to one of the penal colonies in New South Wales. We’ll see just how far you and your friends here make it. A traitor’s noose is too good for you. You and your kind need to suffer.”

  “You won’t win, Prinny,” Walsh pulled a gun. Thorn knocked the Prince Regent to the ground and covered him with his body.

  Aimée stepped out from behind a tree. “Put the gun down, Ephraim.”

  “You bloody bitch,” Walsh pulled the trigger and Aimée fell to the ground. He rushed down and picked up her discarded gun and turned it on Thorn and the Prince Regent.

  The sound of a gun being discharged filled the air, and a shocked look crossed Walsh’s face. He looked down and saw the crimson stain spread across his chest, then he dropped face first onto the ground. Rebekah stood a few feet away, her arm hanging limply by her side, a gun in her hand.

  “Go check on her,” Hawkescliffe ordered, hauling Thorn up, and pushing him towards her.

  “Rebekah, it’s all right,” he gently took the gun from her fingers.

  “He was going to kill you.”

  “I know.”

  “I want that privilege,” she said.

  “Oh, God, I love you so much,” Thorn said, and pulled her into his arms.

  “You do?”

  “More than you know.”

  “Me, too.”

  “What?”

  “I love you, too!” she exclaimed wrapping her arms around him.
/>
  “Lord and Lady Wulfe.” A masculine voice interrupted.

  They quickly turned and saw the Prince Regent standing there. Behind him, commotion had erupted as soldiers appeared to take the members of the group left alive into custody. They bowed and curtsied in the presence of the heir to the throne.

  “I owe you my life.”

  “A life worth saving, Your Majesty.”

  “Many do not agree, but I thank you just the same. And the fireworks were wonderful.”

  “Happy birthday, Your Majesty.”

  “Thank you.” They watched as he turned and walked to Buckingham House surrounded by guards.

  “Aimée!” Rebekah exclaimed and rushed over to where the other woman had fallen. She went to her knees, checking for some sign of life, but it was too late. “She died a hero.”

  “Yes,” Thorn said, helping Rebekah to her feet. “We will see that she has a proper funeral and burial.

  “Thank you.”

  “Let’s go home. I know two little ones who have missed you terribly.”

  ***

  “Aunt Bekah!” the twin’s voices echoed in the halls of the house as Thorn led her inside.

  She went to her knees and threw her arms wide. The children flew into her arms squeezing her tight. “Why are you two scalawags up this late at night?”

  “They were worried about you and couldn’t sleep,” her mother said from the staircase.

  “Where have you been?” Zachary demanded.

  “Cousin Gertie and Grandmama have been taking care of us,” Ivy informed.

  “Your aunt has quite a story to tell you, but another day,” Thorn said. “She is in great need of a bath and sleep.”

  The twins tried to whine.

  “I will tuck you into bed before my bath, how is that?” The children jumped up and down in excitement. “Can you both stay a few more nights?” Rebekah asked her mother and Gertie.

  “Of course.”

  “There are things I need to talk about, but not tonight.”

  “We are here for you, my love,” Edith hugged her daughter tightly. Then she and Gertie followed the children upstairs.

  “I will have your bath water readied,” Thorn said and disappeared down the hall.