by Wendy Vella
“I quite like them. But getting back to you. If I vow nothing will happen between us again, will you return?”
Rose liked forthright speech, and yet his words had surprised her.
“Come, Miss Abernethy, surely the income is welcome?”
“There are many factors to overcome, Captain.”
“Even if it means my cousins will starve themselves and Samantha will enter society unable to dance and end up making an exhibition of herself? She will never wed, as no man will have such a woman, and my family will be bereft over the loss of their darling little sisters, as will I.”
“Now, you are just being silly.”
“Am I? My cousins would find that very hard to believe, as rarely am I silly. Please, Rose. I shall endeavor to keep out of your way, I promise.”
“Why are you not silly?” The question was personal, but surely after what they had shared she was allowed to ask it. He could refuse to answer if he wanted.
His eyes held hers.
“Because of what you went through while fighting for your country?” Rose said the words softly. “Those days have changed you.”
The flash of pain was gone in seconds, but for a brief moment she saw Captain Sinclair’s vulnerability once more.
“I’m sorry, I had no right to speak as I did.”
“I do not go back there in my head as often now,” he said slowly.
“I’m sorry you were hurt fighting for us,” Rose said feeling helpless.
“Thank you, but I am better now. There are others more worthy of your sympathy.”
His words were clipped; clearly he was uncomfortable with the discussion.
“Still, I must—”
“The duke wants to hold a benefit concert for the veterans, and wishes you to play in it. All proceeds will go toward them.”
Chapter 19
Wolf had no idea where those words had come from. He’d merely wanted to stop Rose talking. Stop her slicing deeper into the wound that was already festering inside him.
What the hell had he just promised?
“The duke wishes to help the veterans?”
“He does, yes. And as you are to perform—”
“But surely I cannot perform in such company?”
In fact, James had never mentioned a benefit concert, nor Rose performing at it, but now Wolf had, and he could not retract the words.
She stood before him clearly shocked. It was fair to say he was too, but as he was supposed to know what was going on he managed to keep his expression blank.
“I don’t see why not. You are extremely talented.”
She scrambled his usually organized thoughts, as was evidenced by the fact he had committed his family to something they likely had no wish to be involved in.
Tell her the truth.
But the words never left his mouth; instead he just stood there looking at her. She wore no bonnet, and her hair was bundled up on top of her head, the color so vibrant, his fingers itched to reach out and touch it.
“I-I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” he said, wishing he could keep his mouth closed. It was not usually a problem, except when this woman was around.
The small flowers of her dress were lavender. Worn and repaired around the cuffs, the dress was clearly old and well-washed. It caressed her lovely curves and had him wanting to step closer... close enough that he could feel her.
He wanted this woman, and that was surely enough of a warning signal to back away, and yet he hadn’t... couldn’t, hell, whatever the word. Rose Abernethy was like some kind of beacon to Wolf.
“The concert is a wonderful idea, Captain, but I cannot be seen or perform in front of such people.”
“Snobbery is not just for the wealthy and privileged, it seems.”
“I beg your pardon, I am not a snob!”
The outrage on her lovely face made him want to smile.
“It is not I who continually mention the fact that I am from a different world, Miss Abernethy. I had also not realized all pianists and performers were of noble birth?”
“Of course they are not.”
“Well then.”
“Well then nothing, I am different—”
“The difference is not so vast, surely? You appear to have two eyes, and your limbs add up to four. There is nothing noticeable to discern you from others.” He felt calm again, teasing her. His heart once again beat steadily inside his chest.
“Don’t be obtuse, Captain. My roof has a leak that will never be fixed, and I slept in my cloak last night because it was cold. I’m sure the same could not be said for you or the guests attending the concert.”
She hadn’t said the words for pity, only stating facts, and yet they disturbed Wolf a great deal. He did not want her suffering.
“I am never obtuse, and I’m sorry your roof leaks and that you were cold, but that has no bearing on you performing in the veterans’ concert. And I believe I have told you already that I have known hardship, Miss Abernethy, and I object to you continually suggesting otherwise.”
“You chose to go into the army, Captain. I, and others, did not choose this life; it was forced upon us.”
Her unusual eyes fired to life, the left now a great deal darker than the right.
“Who forced this life on you?”
“That does not matter as it is my life.” She looked away from him to exhale deeply.
“But it has not always been so?”
“Excuse me, Captain Sinclair, I had no right to speak to you as I have when you have saved my life twice, and your family has been only kind to me.”
“I would always have your honesty, Rose.”
She did not speak, so Wolf continued.
“Will you come back and teach the children, please? They are extremely upset that you did not come today, especially Samantha, who has been practicing diligently as you asked her to.”
“They are children, Captain, they will adjust if I do not.” Her eyes were on the wall several inches to his right now.
“And the concert; will you turn your back on that also, when it was you who urged me to do something for the veterans.”
“I am not turning my back on anyone.” She didn’t yell, but there was a snap to the words.
He touched her then, his fingers tilting her chin so their eyes met.
“Your bruise is almost gone.”
“Yes.”
“Please come back, Rose. I have young girls and one boy who are counting on me. Will you let me tell them you have agreed? Let me once again reaffirm my place in their lives as the best uncle?”
“I think that position is secure, Captain.”
She didn’t pull away from him, so Wolf ran his thumb over the curve.
“Please, Rose, they need you.”
If he leaned in she would not pull away, and this had Wolf releasing her. If he did, she would have yet another reason not to come back.
“You are trying to make me feel bad.”
“Is it working?”
He watched the corner of her lips twitch as she fought a smile.
“You make it hard to refuse, Captain Sinclair.”
“Then don’t.”
She looked down at her hands, and Wolf again wondered why this woman had piqued his interest. At any society event there were any number of eligible young women who would love his company, and yes, to be his wife, but it was Rose Abernethy who had caught his attention. The hell of it was, he was pushing to have her back near him again. Surely he was a fool.
I can avoid her.
Yes, he could, but would he?
“Put the concert to one side for now and tell me if I can go and make my cousins happy, Rose.”
“Rose.” They looked as one to the door, as Mrs. Putt entered. “Th-the Duke of Raven, Rose. He is on our doorstep. H-he wishes to speak with you.” Shock lined the worn face. “I have never seen a duke this close before.”
“I shall see what he wants,” Wolf said, passing
the two women to leave the room before Rose moved.
“James?” He found the duke cooling his heels on the doorstep. Hat in hand, he was slapping it idly against his thigh and looking about him, as if it was commonplace for one of the most powerful peers of the realm to be standing in such a street before such a house.
“Wolf, what a surprise to find you here. But then not really, as your brute of a horse tried to take a bite out of mine when I tethered beside him.”
“He does not like being tied to anything.”
“One would think he would be used to it by now, but then as we know he is not a normal horse.”
The look on the duke’s face was pleasant. Not by the flicker of an eyelash did he show his curiosity as to why Wolf was inside the lodging house Rose lived in. James, Wolf had come to realize, was a master at hiding his thoughts.
“I had hoped to speak with Miss Abernethy to see if she would continue Samantha’s piano lessons. My sister has told me she will be inconsolable if she does not.”
“And you believed her?”
“She is my sister, and overly dramatic, so no. But I did say I would attempt to persuade Miss Abernethy to return. Care to tell me why you are here?”
“Your sister and my cousins called upon me this morning to manipulate me into coming here to ask Rose to return. Also to beg me to take them out today for an ice or cream buns.”
“Rose?”
“That was all you picked up from that conversation? Not the fact your little sister is walking the streets alone?”
“Yes, the hundred or so yards to your house in daylight hours accompanied by a maid and Mr. Linues was fraught with danger, after all.”
“Sarcasm, your Grace? Your wife must be rubbing off on you.”
“Sink or swim, Sinclair. I chose to swim in this boisterous family, so I decided to become more like them.”
“God help us all.”
James smiled, showing all his teeth.
“Before you see Miss Abernethy, James,” Wolf said, closing the door behind him to a crack as he urged the duke back down the steps. “I would ask a favor of you.”
“Of course, anything.”
“You may change your mind when I tell you what I’ve done,” Wolf said, feeling like a fool, which did not sit comfortably on a man who rarely was.
“I’m quite sure I won’t, but how about you tell me and I’ll decide.”
“The thing is, James....”
“Yes,” the duke encouraged when he failed to complete that sentence.
“I have said something to Miss Abernethy, and it concerns you, and I should not have... in fact, I’m not entirely sure why I did.”
“How interesting for you to behave out of character in such a way, Wolf. Now if it was Cam standing before me, I would not doubt for a moment that he spoke without thought. But you, I’ve always considered more like me than your cousins. Although perhaps you and Dev are similar in some ways.”
“Ha, yes, well I’m not entirely sure how it happened.”
“I’m quite sure I am; however, that gets me no closer to understanding what you’ve said, so would you care to enlighten me?”
He needed to just say the words, but they appeared to be stuck in his throat.
“Take a deep breath and say it quickly.”
“I’ve promised Miss Abernethy you will host a musical, and any proceeds made will go toward the veterans. I’ve also stated that you requested she perform.”
Like Wolf, it took a lot to unsettle the duke, and to his credit the smile never slipped from his face. In fact it grew wider.
“How generous of me. When am I hosting this event?”
“I did not mention a date.”
“And of course those in attendance will be paying. I quite like the idea of fleecing some of the more annoying members of society, actually.”
“Forgive me, James, I had no right to speak without first consulting you. Indeed, I had no right to even suggest it—”
“It’s a good idea actually, I’m just surprised it was you who suggested it.”
“Are you insinuating I don’t have good ideas?”
James’s smile grew. “No, I’m simply stating it’s rare for you to make such a gesture without first putting a great deal of thought behind it. It’s even rarer for you to do so with a stranger. I wonder why that is?”
“Miss Abernethy is not a stranger now, surely, especially after the involvement she has had in our lives,” Wolf protested.
“Yes, I was talking to my wife about that earlier. Hard to believe she is not a Raven, considering.”
Wolf was not touching that statement.
“Still, it is not always a Raven that brings out the changes within you.”
“I have no wish to change,” Wolf lied. In fact he wanted that more than anything, to go back to the man he’d once been. Perhaps not exactly that man, but to feel again, and laugh and feel light inside. Although that was changing too. God, his head hurt! It had been a day fraught with emotions already, and it was only midmorning.
“How lucky you are then, Wolf, as most of us have something we wish to change.”
Wolf didn’t like the glint in the duke’s eyes; it matched the one Dev and Cam had when they’d discussed Rose.
“You look tired. Are you not sleeping well in your new house?”
Before he could answer James, the door opened behind them.
“Your Grace.”
Rose’s frown put a crease down her forehead as she looked from James to Wolf.
“How may I help you?”
James did not comment that it was extremely impolite not to invite him into the house. Instead he smiled again and bowed.
“My sister has sent me here today to ask if you would consider returning to give her lessons, Miss Abernethy.”
“She’ll do it!”
Rose was forced back a step and the doorframe was filled with Rupert, the insolent whelp Wolf had spoken to earlier.
“She needs the money.”
“And you are?” James inquired.
“Mr. Putt, please step back at once.” Rose’s words came from over his shoulder. “This has nothing to do with you.”
“You tell him you’ll do it, because you owe us for last week’s lodgings already. He’s a duke and has plenty of money.”
“Please adjust your tone when you speak to Rose, sir.” Wolf stepped up, and placing a hand on the man’s chest, he nudged him back in through the door. The small area was now quite full.
Mrs. Putt and Rose stood to one side, and when James arrived, there was only elbow room, and yet no one appeared to want to move.
“I have a right to speak as I wish in my house.” Rupert thrust out his jaw in a manner that had Wolf wanting to slam his fist into it. Mr. Putt was about to get a lesson in manners.
“Rupert, he’s a duke, and this is Captain Sinclair!” The words came from his mother, who had spoken in a tone Wolf doubted she used often on her son.
Rose, he noted, was mortified. Color sat high on her cheeks, and she looked ready to burst into tears.
“Sir, people usually bow when they greet me.” James came to Wolf’s side. He did not often use his title or that particular tone, but when required did so to perfection. “In fact, I expect your nose to touch your knee.”
Realization suddenly dawned on Putt, and in seconds he was bowing. It was ungainly, but his nose did indeed touch his knees.
“I meant no offence.”
“Your tone would suggest otherwise,” Wolf stated.
“Rupert, come with me at once!”
Shock at his mother’s tone had Rupert following her meekly.
“Please forgive Mr. Putt, he is—”
“An idiot?” Wolf suggested.
“The very thing.”
“Does he speak to you in such an offensive manner often?”
Her hesitation told him what he needed to know.
“Surely you do not tolerate such behavior?”
“As h
e owns the roof I currently have over my head, I tolerate a great deal, Captain.”
James cleared his throat, and Wolf realized he’d forgotten he was there.
“Your Grace, please forgive me for the shabby treatment you have received.”
“It is not you who should beg forgiveness, Miss Abernethy, so we shall leave that alone now.”
Rose nodded, eager to do so. Wolf, however, wanted to find Putt and threaten him with a sound thrashing should he raise his voice to her again.
“Miss Abernethy, I understand what you saw shocked you that day, but you have said you do not fear my family, so please come back. My sister means a great deal to me, as do my brother and sisters-in-law. Plus, there is also the matter that should I return without your agreement to continue the music lesson my life will be unbearable.”
James managed to make himself look meek.
Rose bobbed another curtsey.
“It is the least I can do after Mr. Putt’s behavior, your Grace.”
“Excellent, you will not regret it, and I am greatly relieved that what happened the day of Beth’s birth has not deterred you.”
“No indeed.” She shot Wolf a look, but he kept quiet. “As I have explained, I did not feel threatened.”
“And yet you did not come back.” James looked at Wolf after he spoke, and he knew the duke blamed him in part for Rose stopping the lessons.
“About the concert, I thought we could discuss that when you finish with Samantha, and take things from there?”
Wolf didn’t actually close his eyes, but the sentiment was there. Relief flooded through him, and he would need to thank his friend and no doubt repay him in some way.
“I shall of course help in whatever capacity I can, your Grace.”
“Excellent. Are you ready to leave, Wolf?”
“I am.” He bowed. “Could the lessons with my cousins commence on Wednesday next week, Miss Abernethy?”
“Of course, if that is your wish.” She didn’t look happy but had committed now. “Good day to you, Captain Sinclair.”
“Bloody hell, it’s been a rotten day! Sodding carriage wheel splattered me in horsesh—”
“Kitty!”
Miss Dodds stopped brushing her skirts and looked up. Her eyes grew as she took in James and Wolf.
“Your Grace, Captain Sinclair!”