Unleashed

by Abby Gordon

  Nodding, her misery showing in her expression, Amanda drank her tea. Lunch finished, he glanced out the window. Some estate matters had to be dealt with before the storm renewed.

  “I need to attend to things about the grounds,” he told her. “If you want a bit of fresh air, have Anders with you.” The horror of her brother’s body flared in her eyes and he covered her hand with his. “You’ll be as safe with him as you would be with me.”

  “Could I come with you?” she asked in a soft voice.

  “Perhaps tomorrow if the storm has passed over. The air is too cold for you to be out as long as I will be gone,” he replied. “I think we might have dinner earlier this evening as it will be just the two of us. If you’ll join me?” he asked politely.

  With a soft smile, she nodded. “I will.”

  “Good. If you’ll tell Mrs. Anders, then?” he asked, adroitly putting her into the role of mistress of the house. “If you need anything, she can get it for you.”

  “I’ll tell her,” Amanda replied as he rose. “Milord, you won’t be outside long, will you? The storm could start anew.”

  He smiled down at her, bent slightly, and took her hand. Bringing it to his lips, he kissed the knuckles.

  “I’ll be warm in my cloak and, if the storm returns, I’ll return to my accounts.”

  A smile lit up her face.

  “I see now,” she said with a teasing look. “You want to avoid dry papers and numbers.”

  “Indeed,” he drawled, enjoying this new side of her.

  He kissed her knuckles again and left the room. With a contented sigh, Amanda picked up her teacup and curled up on the couch. Several moments later, Mrs. Anders found her staring into the fire.

  “All finished then, miss?”

  “Yes. It was wonderful. Oh, his lordship said he’d like to dine earlier this evening as it will be just the two of us.”

  “Of course, miss. Anything in particular you’d like?”

  Following her master’s lead, Mrs. Anders guided Amanda into the duties of running the household. She took her to the kitchen, where the young woman delighted the normally crotchety chef with expressions of how wonderful the food had been. When Amanda asked what the chef considered his best dishes, she saw how the kitchen staff stared in awe as the man brightened and his haughty manner changed completely. He guided her to a stool near the fire, drew up two for himself and Mrs. Anders, and they began discussing meals.

  ****

  Donning his cloak and gloves, the lord of the manor smiled, wondering if he had need of them. The softness of her hands, her gentle teasing, and her warm smile had put a heat in his blood.

  Why didn’t you probe her mind? It was the perfect opportunity. She would have offered no resistance.

  He strode outside, determined to cool the fire and regain control of the beast that thrashed about in his mind. He sensed the pack nearby and smiled.

  Bane.

  His pack of wolves appeared as he walked through the garden. He wanted to inspect the storm damage to the cottages that sat half a mile beyond the manor walls just before the woods began. Going through the gate, he could see the activity around the twenty small buildings. Every able-bodied man was working, including many of the boys. Mothers kept a close eye on their youngsters as they swept at the drifts. The children tossed snowballs at each other, ran about in the snow, and fell in tumbling, laughing heaps.

  Seeing their lord out with his beasts, the women paused, calling to their children. Not wanting to frighten them further, Wulfgar ordered the pack to stay back as he moved toward the cluster of cottages. With a disgruntled bark, the leader sat down, followed by the other six.

  Wulfgar spoke with the men, making sure they had all the supplies they needed for the repairs. When one man mentioned needing more nails and shingles, Wulfgar sent two older youths to the manor for the supplies. Wulfgar turned to the nearest woman, asking her if they had sufficient foodstuffs for when the storm resumed.

  With a smile, she nodded, scooping up the toddler that started toward the nobleman. Wulfgar eyed the child in his mother’s arms. Clapping his snow covered mittens together, the boy turned to look at him. Wulfgar caught his breath. The boy had one light blue eye and one the color of topaz. His eyes. Amanda’s eyes. In one child. The mother misinterpreted the lord’s look and clutched her son to her breast. She stepped back.

  “He’s not cursed, my lord,” she insisted, looking at him with light blue eyes. “He’s a good boy. Bright and cheerful.”

  “I’m sure he is,” rumbled the deep voice. “Who is his father?”

  “I am,” the man stepped forward, putting a protective arm around his wife.

  He had eyes the color of a new fawn. Wulfgar believed in signs, and finally accepted that there were events in motion toward something he had thought would never happen. He had thought his youthful impulse had destroyed any hope of fulfilling his destiny. Fate had decided to be merciful.

  We claim her tonight?

  In a dream.

  Full moon in six days.

  I know that. Let’s not scare her off.

  The beast seemed startled at that then calmed.

  The farmers stared at the small smile that appeared on their lord’s face.

  “Your son seems quite a sturdy lad,” he commented. “Does he like animals?”

  “Very much, milord,” the mother nodded.

  Wulfgar whistled and the pack leader bounded toward him. The children scattered, fleeing for their mothers. The animal wasn’t interested in them. He halted next to his master.

  “What is your son’s name?”

  “Wilhelm, milord,” the father replied, eyeing the wolf-dog.

  “Give him to me.”

  Fear in her eyes, the woman handed over her son. She gasped when Lord Wulfgar knelt in the snow next to the beast at his side.

  “Bane. Wilhelm.”

  The muzzle twitched as the wolf-dog sniffed at the child. The boy clapped his hands and laughed.

  “Doggie!”

  Two mittened hands reached out and caught the long head. Bane never twitched a hair. Wilhelm plopped a kiss on his nose. The stunned farmers watched as a long tongue appeared and licked the boy’s face from chin to forehead. Wilhelm giggled in delight. Setting the boy on his feet, Wulfgar stood. Wilhelm threw his arms around Bane’s neck in an exuberant hug, then toddled back to his staggered mother.

  “Good doggie, Mama.”

  “If you need anything before the next storm begins, send someone to the manor.”

  The men tugged on their caps as the women dropped curtsies.

  “Come, Bane.”

  With a bark, the large animal trotted at his heels. Near the pack, Wulfgar glanced down.

  “Doggie?” he murmured.

  Bane growled softly.

  “Right,” Wulfgar nodded. “Only little boys can call you that.”

  The head bobbed once in agreement.

  “Think you could help me protect my own son should I be so fortunate?”

  The intelligent eyes, a near familiar gold, looked up. The wolf butted the man’s leg.

  “Right,” he sighed. “First I have to determine if the connection is real.”

  Finally! The beast rejoiced.

  As he returned through the garden, Wulfgar deliberately chose the path where Aaron had been killed. Bane nudged his leg and let out the closest thing to a whine the man had ever heard from him.

  “No,” he told the animal. “You did right.” The large head bobbed once, ears twitching forward. “He put her in danger.”

  Wulfgar realized his mind was clear, steady.

  See what happens when you accept what is before you?

  There is still much that could happen. Despite his words, he realized the doubts that had plagued him were gone.

  Not with her.

  Not with her. The words rang true through his mind like a bell on a cold winter day.

  Wulfgar fought the swell of hope that he’d finally found his
mate. Bane ran off with the pack as Wulfgar reached the steps. Glancing back at the door, he saw their tails turning a far corner in the hedges.

  He was surprised to hear silence as he approached the library. Finding it empty, he frowned. He had been certain she would be playing.

  “Anders, where is Maid Amanda?” he asked, finally finding the butler in the small room off the grand hall.

  “In the kitchen, milord,” the butler responded calmly, closing the drawers he’d been checking. “With Mrs. Anders and the chef. She’s been there all afternoon.”

  “In the kitchen?” Wulfgar echoed in bewilderment.

  “It seems she knows quite a bit about the culinary arts. The discussion has been rather lively.”

  “I see,” he replied with a slow nod, more than a bit concerned. His chef was temperamental. “Do you know when we’ll be eating dinner? If at all?”

  “Six-thirty, milord.”

  “Thank you, Anders.”

  ****

  Hearing her approach, Wulfgar turned from the fireplace where he waited in the library. He realized the maids had been busy sewing. Amanda wore a satin gown of deep raspberry that showed off her creamy shoulders. Watching her glide toward him, he was hard pressed to remember what he had to do.

  Under his silent gaze, she crossed the room and paused a few feet away to curtsey.

  “Good evening, my lord,” she greeted him.

  “Good evening,” he replied in a deep voice, taking her hands. Kissing her fingers, he let his gaze take her feminine form in again. Seduce her. She will surrender to you. Lust fought with discipline. Control barely won. He was a baron, a knight of the realm, a counselor to the king. And she was an innocent maid under his protection. As much as was possible, he would be a gentleman. “You look lovely.”

  She blushed as Anders appeared in the doorway.

  “Dinner, milord,” he announced.

  Wulfgar offered her his arm and escorted her to the dining room. Seating her to his left, he took his chair with satisfaction. While the day had started traumatically, he felt as if progress had been made. He had her sitting next to him.

  The first course was served.

  “I hear you spent the afternoon in deep conversation with the chef. What did you discuss?”

  “Some of the dishes I had at the capital. I tried to remember the ingredients so we could duplicate the recipes.”

  “A woman of many talents,” he murmured. “How successful were you?”

  “You’ll find out with the chicken,” she smiled, her dimple flashing at him. “How did your estate fare the storm?”

  “There was some damage to the roofs of a few cottages. The villagers had already started repairs when I reached them,” he replied. “Bane made a friend.”

  “Bane?”

  “He’s the leader of the pack. There are seven. Wilhelm, one of the village children, decided that Bane is a ‘good doggie’,” Wulfgar told her. “Bane didn’t mind the boy calling him that, but he did seem to mind my teasing him about it.” He smiled at the memory. “Pups are one thing. Men are another.”

  “Can I meet him? Bane?” she asked hesitantly. “Tomorrow?”

  He nodded slowly, unable to read the expressions that crossed her face.

  “If the weather holds,” he agreed as the chicken was served.

  The chef appeared at the door. Amanda glanced over her shoulder at him, apparently as nervous as he was. Wulfgar tried not to smile at the obvious tension in the two. He slowly cut a slice and leaned forward to examine the sauce. Amanda fidgeted in her chair.

  “Is that…”

  “Paprika,” she answered quickly.

  “Problem?” he asked blandly.

  “Not at all,” was her reply.

  He smiled then and took the bite in his mouth. He savored it, drawing the moment out, as much for the taste as to watch the two of them. The chef was wringing his hands and Amanda was doing everything but sitting in her chair.

  “Exquisite,” he finally told them. “Georg, this is perfection. Definitely put it on the list as one of my favorites.”

  The two shared triumphant glances and Georg walked off with a wide smile. Amanda sighed with relief.

  “You wouldn’t believe how nervous we were,” she told him.

  “I’ve a fair idea. You were nearly jumping out of your skin,” he teased her.

  “I was not,” she retorted, then blushed at his chuckle. “Well, a little.”

  “No need to be and you can relax now. This is excellent. What did you do at court?”

  She told him about the museums and walks along the river, visits to cathedrals and ancient battlegrounds.

  “How long were you there?” he wondered.

  “Three interminable months,” she sighed. “I really hadn’t wanted to go at all, but the exhibits made it worthwhile.”

  He stared at her in surprise. He didn’t know of any young woman who wouldn’t have been eager to spend time at the capital.

  “Three months and you didn’t attend any balls or cotillions? Dinners or operas?”

  “Only when Father and Bettina gave me no choice.” A shudder rippled through her slight frame. “There were some friends of Aaron’s that always seemed to appear. I…” she swallowed, and he imagined she was remembering the scene in the garden.

  “What did these young men say to you?” he asked quickly to get her mind off the morning.

  “It wasn’t so much what they said,” she replied, choosing her words carefully. “But more how they said it and the way they looked at me. Aaron told me I had to be nice to them, but I think his definition of nice was very different from mine. If it hadn’t been for my cousin that last day I went to the art gallery…” She fell silent and shivered.

  Lord Wulfgar was quiet a moment, noting that she made no mention of confiding in her father and the obvious lack of protection provided by her brother. Socton wondered again at the character of Amanda’s brother and the quality of his associates in the capital. Considering the value of the objects the young man had tried to steal, he realized that Aaron might have owed the men a great deal of money. Aaron had wanted his sister to be “nice” to them? How nice? Had Aaron unwittingly or even knowingly involved his sister in his own misdeeds? The look on Aaron’s face in the library came to mind. What would Aaron have done if he’d succeeded in leaving the manor? Who were his friends? Were they nearby?

  The lord leaned back in his chair as Mrs. Anders came in with the teacart.

  At their silence, the housekeeper glanced at her master then at the young woman’s troubled face.

  “Something wrong, miss?” she asked with concern.

  “I…no,” Amanda shook her head. “It’s been an emotional day.”

  “Drink your tea, love,” came the motherly advice. “Then get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow things will seem clearer.”

  Amanda nodded but didn’t pick up her cup.

  Wulfgar glanced at her as Mrs. Anders left them.

  “Not going to drink it?”

  “I’m not sure I should,” she whispered. “I’ve been having very…odd dreams.”

  “Nightmares?” He frowned.

  “No,” she replied, shaking her head. Wulfgar saw the blush even in the candlelight. “Just…I’m not sure it’s proper to discuss such things,” she finally said.

  “Well, there’s no one else here,” he shrugged, growing more convinced in his heart even if his head told him he was foolish. “So…if they weren’t nightmares, did someone attack you or hurt you in anyway? In your dreams?”

  “Oh, no,” she exclaimed. “Not at all…it’s just…” She frowned slightly. “I’m not sure how to describe it, my lord. I don’t know such things and…”

  Intrigued, he watched her blush deepen from the roots of her hair down to her neckline. He swallowed, knowing what his dreams would be of that night. More!

  “I’m not sure I understand,” he replied with a casualness he didn’t feel. “But if you have dreams that frig
hten you, then call out and I’ll hear you.”

  “Thank you, my lord,” she whispered in a barely audible voice.

  He paused a moment.

  “Amanda, I realized something while I was checking the estate,” he started. She raised her gaze from her still untouched teacup. “While to most, your father and Bettina are present, there is a chance that word will get out that most of today we were and are unchaperoned. I don’t want your reputation to be harmed, nor for anyone to even think such a thing of you.”

  He stopped at the mixed look of horror and astonishment on her face. He covered her small hand with his. “Nor is your reputation my primary reason for bringing up the subject. I just thought you would be concerned about it. We have much in common and…” He swallowed. She stared at him, mouth slightly open, as if unable to think or react. Best to plunge right into it, he decided.

  “Amanda,” he started over, voice deepening. Her mouth opened and closed soundlessly. “I realize now that you hadn’t thought about what could happen, but I would be honored to have you as my wife.” He could tell she wanted to say something. Her face went pale and her eyes dropped to their hands. He felt his confidence waver, and he floundered for the right words to say. “Today has been very difficult for you. Think on it tonight then,” he suggested. “Perhaps tell me in the morning.”

  She looked at him, a mixture of horror, shame, and longing in her eyes. With a strangled cry, she jumped up from her chair and fled the room. Astonished at her reaction, Wulfgar could only stare at her empty chair. Mrs. Anders was in the room immediately.

  “What did you say to the poor girl?” she demanded. “She was in tears.”

  “I asked her to marry me. I hardly think that would drive a girl to tears,” he replied, insulted by both female’s reactions. How had his housekeeper switched loyalties? That bode well for the relationship between the two women, but still, Amanda was not yet Lady Socton.

  “Well, something has absolutely terrified her. She looked like she’d seen a ghost. You better find out what it is. You can’t ask a girl to marry you and then not keep her safe.”

  Remembering Amanda’s comments about her brother’s friends, Wulfgar nodded.

  “I’ll find out now.”