She reached over and gave me a hug. “I can’t either, my dear. I can scarcely believe the day is almost here. I wasn’t sure it would ever come.”
There it was, the words to ruin the moment.
“I’m going to have Adam bring up my trunk so I can unpack,” I said, turning toward the door.
At my request, Adam brought my trunk up. I spent several minutes tossing dirty clothes in the hamper, pausing frequently to admire my gown, before deciding I needed to eat a bit before I could continue. I left my room for the parlor and was surprised to see Jasper and Adam still there, chatting with my mother.
“You’re still here?” I asked them.
“We wanted to speak with Harry,” Jasper said, flashing me a look. That was right. They needed to discuss his silly waste of time and effort to protect me.
“He said he’d be down in a moment,” my mother said.
“He have another girl up there?”
Adam snorted, but my mother narrowed her eyes. I cleared my throat.
“No tea?” I asked, sitting down.
“Funny thing, I can’t find Rose anywhere. She must have gone out and forgotten to tell me.”
I shrugged, though my stomach growled. A few moments later Harry came bounding down the back staircase.
“Let me go see if I can make something up in the kitchen,” my mother said, leaving us. A few moments later I could hear her conversing with Rose in the kitchen, so clearly she had been located.
“Is there somewhere private we can speak?” Jasper asked. “Your bedroom?”
Harry rubbed the back of his neck. “Um, I’d prefer not. It’s a mess.”
Adam rolled his eyes.
“We can use my bedroom,” I said. We started up the stairs before I paused. “Wait, hold on.” I rushed into my bedroom and hung the wedding gown inside the wardrobe before sticking my head out the bedroom door. “All right, all safe.”
Adam gave me a quizzical look but didn’t ask as they entered.
“Is everything all right?” Harry asked. “What’s going on?” He paused, then looked between Adam and me. “He didn’t knock you up, did he?”
“Oh for God’s sake, Harry,” I said, sinking onto my bed.
“Not quite as exciting as all that, I’m afraid,” Jasper said. He began to explain to Harry about the danger I was in.
“God, sis, who did you piss off this time?” Harry asked me.
I threw my hands up in the air. “Heaven knows, because I certainly don’t.”
“Until we get to the bottom of this, Hazel needs to be under guard,” Jasper said.
“I can keep an eye on her during the day,” said Adam.
“Or she can come to Wolf’s Peak, if she’d like,” added Jasper.
Harry nodded. “But you need someone to keep an eye out at night,” he said.
“If you wouldn’t mind,” said Jasper.
Harry looked at me. “Well, you are my sister, and I guess I do love you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, brother.”
“Of course I’ll keep an eye out,” Harry said. “Not just to keep her safe, but I don’t like that he broke into our home. I’ll be on guard.”
“We’d like the utmost discretion with all of this, you understand,” Jasper said.
“You mean you don’t want me to tell my mum and dad.”
I nodded.
“That’s fine. I don’t tell them much anyway.”
“I really appreciate it Harry,” Adam said as he took my hand. “I don’t know what I would do if something happened to Hazel.”
Harry waved his hand dismissively. “Of course. What are best friends for? I’ll be on guard and make sure nothing happens to her, I promise.”
He stayed true to his word. That night, as I prepared to sleep in my own bed for the first time in weeks, I saw him outside in his wolf form, patrolling the house. I felt a pang of guilt. He was going through all this trouble, and he wouldn’t be sleeping tonight, just because of me.
Well, not just because of me. Because of the wolf, and the men’s silly insistence that it was out to get me.
From my window I saw Rose put out a bowl of water and tray of biscuits for him. I was surprised he had even told her he would be out tonight, but I’m sure the water and biscuits were welcome considering it would be a long night.
I brushed my hair out, letting it fall around my shoulders. In less than two weeks, I would be Lady Wellington. I stood from my dressing table and crossed to my wardrobe, once again admiring my gown. Soon I would be wearing it and walking down the aisle, and no murderous werewolf was going to stand in my way.
Chapter Twenty–Eight
By the time I woke the next morning, Harry had already left for work at my father’s office. I hadn’t heard any commotion outside, so I assumed all was well, but I wouldn’t get a chance to ask him until he returned. After dinner he went up to his bedroom, and I followed behind.
“How did things go last night?” I asked, sitting at his desk chair. Rose came in with a cup of tea, gave both of us a quick nod, and set the tea down on his bedside table.
When she left, Harry turned to me and shrugged. “Not very eventful. I circled the house until sunrise and didn’t see anything.”
“Good,” I said, leaning back in his chair and sighing. “For the record, I think all of this is very silly.”
“You would.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
He brought the teacup to his lips. “Only that you didn’t know you were in trouble last time either.”
“That’s not fair,” I said. “How on earth was I supposed to know that Lillian had lost her mind?”
“Well, what if someone else you think you know has lost their mind?”
“That would be an awfully big coincidence.”
He shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.”
I crossed my arms. “So, what did I miss while I was away?”
“Nothing much. Mum was anxious, of course, but she always is. She was worried you wouldn’t be back in time for the wedding.”
“Me too,” I told him. “Now I wish I’d stayed away. We spent all day working on the wedding.”
“Big day is coming up quickly.”
I tugged on a thread from the chair cushion. “Have you found a date yet?”
He rolled his eyes. “I haven’t chosen anyone, no.”
“Why not? Plenty of girls would want to go with you.”
“I don’t want to go with them.”
My jaw dropped. “Why Harry, I think you’ve grown up.”
“Doubtful. I just don’t want a strange girl at your wedding.”
“That’s still a very grown-up decision to make.”
There was a soft knock on the door and Rose poked her head in. “Harry, Adam is here. Can he come up?”
“You people aren’t letting me get any bloody sleep,” Harry said, the words directed at me, not Rose. He turned to her. “Yeah, send him up.”
Adam appeared a few moments later. “How did everything go last night?”
“God, why can’t you two communicate better?” Harry asked, pulling a pillow over his head. Adam looked at me quizzically.
“I just asked him that,” I said.
“Well, I can’t read minds,” Adam said.
Harry still looked cranky, so I answered for him. “He said it was uneventful.”
“I see.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” I asked. “Perhaps he’s given up.”
Adam shook his head. “He’s gone through all of this trouble to get to you; he even followed us to London. I’d be very surprised if he gave up because we were out of the country for a little bit. I want you to stay vigilant.”
“I can’t stay vigilant if I don’t get sleep tonight,” Harry growled.
“He gets cranky when he doesn’t sleep,” I told Adam.
“I know. We shared a room at school, remember? Why don’t we let him get some rest.” We stepped out of the bedroo
m, letting Harry get a nap in before he had to be on guard again. As I shut the door behind us, Adam turned to me.
“Do you think I’d be able to steal you for a bit?”
“For what?”
“I wanted to show you something at my house. Our house.”
I nodded. “Let me put my shoes on.” I slipped into my bedroom and laced up my boots. On our way out the back door, I stopped Rose. “If my mum asks where I am, tell her I went for a walk, all right? Does she know Adam is here?”
“No,” Rose said, shaking her head, the blonde wisps that escaped from her bun flying around her head.
“Good. Let’s keep it that way.”
Hand-in-hand, Adam and I left the house and crossed my lawn to the woods between our properties. A heavy fog had settled in during twilight, a mist lingering just a few inches above the ground. The air was chilly, but it would be manageable if we walked fast.
“So, what do you have to show me?” I asked Adam as we entered the forest.
“It’s a surprise.”
“You know I’m terrible with surprises,” I said with a sigh.
“My proposal was a surprise, and you seemed happy with that.”
“That was different. That was a total surprise. This is a half surprise, because I know you have something but won’t tell me what. I don’t like half surprises.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said. We ventured down the well-worn path that connected our yards until we came into the clearing. In the dense fog, his ivy-covered stone house looked like something from a Bronte novel.
Adam didn’t speak as he led me into the house, through the kitchen and living room and parlor until we reached the stairs. My heart thundered with excitement as he led me upstairs and down the hall.
“Cover your eyes,” he said.
“You sound like my mother,” I sighed.
“If you don’t, I’ll tie something around your eyes so you can’t see.”
I paused. “Could I maybe get a rain check on that offer? Maybe for our wedding night?”
He chuckled. “Come on, humor me. Don’t be cheeky.”
“Fine.” I squinted my eyes shut and for good measure, put my hands over them so I couldn’t see. “Better?”
He kissed me on the top of the head. “Perfect.”
I heard the sound of a door opening, and Adam put his hands on the small of my back, leading me inside.
“All right. Open,” he instructed.
I obeyed, followed by a gasp. “Oh my God, is this the same bedroom?”
“It is.”
I turned to him, tears springing to my eyes. “Oh, Adam, it’s lovely.”
The thick carpet of the bedroom had been replaced with a dark hardwood. The walls were now papered in my favorite shade of pale green with a slightly darker damask print. Sheer curtains now hung over the window, letting in the setting sun. A king-sized bed with green and white bedding and a white upholstered headboard and footboard trimmed in gold was positioned with the head against the left wall, and on each side of it was a small white bedside table with gold handles on the drawers. On the far wall, positioned between the windows, was a matching dressing table with a tall mirror edged in gold, and along the right wall was a matching sewing table, bookshelf, and desk. At the foot of the bed sat an upholstered bench, and from the ceiling hung a golden chandelier.
“I don’t know what to say.” The words caught in my throat. “It’s perfect.”
Adam wrapped his arms around me. “Do you think that you’ll be happy here forever?”
“Oh, Adam,” I said, “I could be happy wherever if I was with you.”
He put on an exaggerated frown. “Do you mean that I spent all this money on nothing?”
I swatted him. “Not at all. I adore it.”
“I have more for you,” he said, leading me through a door. In here was a dressing room with a whole wall full of shelving, drawers, and space to hang things, the room now papered in ivory with a print of pink and green flowers. One door here led to the back balcony, while another led to the bathroom. A large claw foot tub rested on one side of the room, the feet and handles in gold, and a matching sink was on the other side of the room.
“This is all mine?” I marveled.
“Hazel, the whole house is yours now. But these rooms, they are yours and yours alone.”
I shook my head, amazed. “It’s incredible. I can’t wait to move in here.”
He paused for a moment, leaning against the door frame. “You know, now that the room is finished, you can begin to move your things in here.”
“Really?”
“I don’t see why not. That way you don’t have to do it after the wedding.”
“I don’t know that I even have enough things to fill this room,” I said, stepping back into the bedroom and looking around. “We may have to buy me more things.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “Oh, Lord.”
“I’m only teasing,” I said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “Oh my goodness, this is the softest mattress I’ve ever felt. Even softer than the ones at Wolf’s Peak and the elders’ castle.
“Glad to hear it,” Adam said with a grin. “Shall we break it in?”
I woke up early the following morning. With so much to prepare for, I didn’t have the luxury of sleeping in. Not only did I have wedding planning to get to, but I also had to begin to pack. I started by choosing the clothes I’d wear for the next week and a half, then began to pack all my other clothes into the trunk. The trunk filled quickly, and I sat on the edge of my bed, frowning, as I tried to decide how on earth I was going to get everything I needed over to Adam’s.
“Hazel, dear, where are you?” my mother called out. She stopped short when she reached my bedroom door and saw me staring into a full trunk. “Oh.”
“I thought I’d get a head start on bringing some of my things over to Adam’s house,” I said, “so I don’t have to do it all at one time.”
My mother swallowed. “Of course.”
“What’s wrong, Mum?” I didn’t really want to put up with her emotions right now.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, using it to dab at her eyes. “I just can’t believe that you’re growing up so fast.”
“Mum, I’m twenty-four. I’m perfectly old enough to get married.”
“I know, I know,” she said as she refolded her handkerchief and used a different corner for her tears. “But it feels like just yesterday you were a child running around here in only a diaper.”
I only nodded.
“I can’t believe how fast the time has flown by,” she sighed. “Too fast. Far too fast. When you have children, remember to cherish them every day.”
I squinted at her but didn’t say anything. With the backhanded compliments she always loved, I hadn’t really felt cherished. That was one of the many reasons I was looking forward to leaving the house. Still, no sense in making her feel bad about it now; there was nothing she could do. So I sighed, got up from the bed, and gave her a hug.
She sniffled into my shoulder and I took a deep breath, trying not to get too annoyed with her.
“Why don’t you finish packing later,” she said, trying to regain her composure. “We have wedding planning to do.”
Not wanting to upset her further, I nodded.
The next day I spent almost entirely at Wolf’s Peak. I’d gathered all four of my bridesmaids together to try on their gowns and make sure everything was fitting properly. Christine had lost more weight from her pregnancy and the stress of the trial, so hers still needed to be adjusted more, but nothing that couldn’t be finished by the day of the wedding. I adored the dresses, with the full sleeves, the flowy skirts, and the green sash meant to hit just below the bust. Annabelle looked particularly adorable with the fabric draped over her baby bump.
“Wonderful,” I sighed. “You all look beautiful. You can get changed now.”
“Let me help you,” Bridget said to Christine. “I
don’t want the pins to poke you.”
“Bring it down here when you’re done and I’ll take it home to make those adjustments,” I said to them.
When Annabelle returned, back in her normal gown, she took me over to the ballroom.
“All right,” she said, “what do you think? I don’t have all the decor up yet, but the tables are mostly set and ready.”
Even without all the decor, the room was stunning. Each round table was draped in a green cloth with a white lace overlay. On the left side of the room was the long head table, covered in the same linens. Gold-edged dishes were placed at each spot, the cutlery wrapped in white cloth napkins. The center of each table was bare; the centerpieces would be fresh flowers, and they wouldn’t be cut until a few days before the wedding.
I reached over and gave Annabelle a hug. “Oh, it looks amazing,” I told her. “Now we just have to set out the place cards.”
“Did you bring them?”
“I did indeed,” I said. I went to fetch them from the parlor, then set the box on the head table while we tried to figure out the best way to get everything organized.
“I could order the cards by alphabet and then we could get them on the tables?” I suggested.
“Why don’t you sit and organize them by table, and then the rest of us can put them on the proper places.”
“All right,” I said.
Jasper, Adam, and Stephen appeared at the doorway of the ballroom.
“Annabelle, this is lovely,” Adam said.
She crossed her arms, surveying the table spreads. “I’m pretty proud of it,” she said.
“You should be, darling,” Stephen told her.
“We’ll be in the library,” Jasper said. “Let us know if you need help with anything.”
We gave them a nod as the other girls entered the room. I sat down on the floor by the head table as I divided out cards into piles. It was tedious work that made my back hurt.
My mother wandered into the ballroom just as I was finishing up. “How is everything going in here?” she asked, not acknowledging the work Annabelle had already done.”
“Just getting ready to put out the place cards,” I said, handing the first stack to Annabelle. “That stack goes on that table. Here’s the chart.”
The Wolf's Betrothed (The Wolf's Peak Saga Book 5) Page 22