WolfeBlade: de Wolfe Pack Generations

by Kathryn Le Veque

  … so why couldn’t he seem to leave her alone?

  Idiot!

  Pausing unhappily, mostly with himself, he sighed again, this time with great annoyance, and opened the door. He could see her sitting there, head lowered, sobbing her eyes out. His gaze lingered on her for a few moments. He still held the opinion that he’d never seen a finer woman. That rude, beautiful, insolent, delicious-looking creature. He stepped into the chamber again and shut the door, but he made sure to stay next to it in case she did something else to inflame him so he could make a swift exit.

  “Stop weeping,” he commanded softly. “It’s not as bad as all that. I didn’t mean what I said. I was simply frustrated.”

  She didn’t seem surprised that he was there. Even when she told him to go away, he didn’t, and so far he’d proven adept at popping up in the most unexpected of places.

  She kept her head down.

  “You were right to be annoyed,” she sniffed. “Nothing you said is untrue.”

  That was a surprising answer from her. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it, but it made him feel less like a monster for scolding her. He watched her lowered head and tried to figure out why he couldn’t seem to leave her alone, thinking that it had something to do with his innate sense of chivalry.

  As a knight, he’d been taught to help the weak, but that usually involved a battlefield. He fought for the weak, the persecuted, and those he loved – family or otherwise. He’d never had a cause to fight for, like a religious cause, and he’d never had to fight simply to live. As a de Wolfe, his family’s superiority was well established. If he thought about it, he’d had a fairly easy life. He’d never had to claw his way to the top simply to survive.

  But not everyone was as fortunate as he was.

  He had a feeling he was looking at one of those less fortunate right now.

  “Then why have you been so ill-mannered?” he asked quietly. “My lady, if I had wanted to molest you, I would have done it a long time ago. I would have done it when I found you in that alcove at Gomorrah. I would not have waited until I brought you to a tavern with two dozen people in a common room, hearing everything I did to you. I would have done it in the dark, with music and laughter and dancing to cover up my actions and your screams. Surely you realize that.”

  She wiped her eyes. “I… I suppose so.”

  She didn’t say anything more, still wiping at her eyes, and he finally shook his head. “What is so terrible that you would walk into the river and try to drown yourself?”

  She stopped wiping her face. He heard her sigh faintly. “Sometimes you meet people who hide a great deal, my lord. Not everything is always… pleasant. Looks can be deceiving.”

  It was the most human, intelligent thing he’d heard her say. “That is very true,” he said. “One cannot make assumptions about someone they do not know, like beautiful women in red silk who look as if they should not have a care in the world. If I were to see you on the street, I should think you were the most revered, honored lady with the love of her family and the adoration of her husband. But that is not the case, is it?”

  For the first time, she looked up at him. “Nay,” she whispered.

  “Then you hide a great deal.”

  She simply stared at him before lowering her gaze again.

  But something in those eyes pulled at him. He was starting to forget his annoyance with her, his confusion. He wanted to know why such a beautiful woman behaved the way she did. He’d suspected earlier than it had nothing to do with him and everything to do with past experiences. With what she was hiding. If he knew, then maybe he could help.

  Or not.

  Unfortunately, Andreas wasn’t one to keep himself emotionally detached. He never had been when it came to women. He was emotional, much like his father was, so he didn’t have the ability to separate himself, which was why he was very selective when it came to women in general. His family wasn’t too far off when they connected his lack of a wife with his mother’s death those years ago.

  The truth was that, deep down, he felt comfortable with women, with grandmothers he loved and, in a sense, he was always trying to reclaim that comforting relationship he’d had with his mother. It was the horrible truth, but that was his reality. When he got too close to a woman, he ran. He was afraid of the pain that such attachments could bring. But that didn’t make him any less emotional or any less intuitive when it came to the opposite sex.

  An example was the sad woman before him.

  More and more, she intrigued him.

  “I know I am not supposed to ask you your name, but we are free of Gomorrah now,” he said. “Won’t you tell me yours? You do not have to tell me your family name, but won’t you at least tell me what your Christian name is?”

  She eyed him a moment. “My name is Gavriella.”

  “Gavriella,” he repeated, rolling it off his tongue. “That is a unique name. My name is Andreas, Lady Gavriella.”

  Gavriella cocked her head slightly, looking up at him once more. “Also a unique name.”

  He nodded. “It is a tradition in my mother’s family that the males carry a name from the ancient Greeks. My father’s name is Troy and my grandfather’s name is Paris.”

  “The Iliad,” she said softly. “Those are from The Iliad.”

  “You know of it?”

  She nodded. “My father used to read it to me. He is very keen on ancient literature.”

  “Is he a scholar, then?”

  She shook her head. “Nay,” she said. “He simply prefers his books to anything else. He used to be a knight, once. I suppose he still is in the literal sense of the word. But my mother died a few years ago and that seemed to turn him to his books for escape, I suppose. He grieves for her, still.”

  Andreas almost brought up how her father would react to the loss of a daughter who drowned herself in the river, but he kept silent on the matter. He had her talking and she was being as congenial as he’d ever seen her, so he didn’t want to disrupt it.

  “I am sorry for you,” he said. “And for him. I, too, lost my mother years ago in an accident, so I understand what it is to grieve.”

  Her focus on him was becoming more intense. “What happened?”

  “She drowned along with my two younger siblings.”

  Her eyes widened. “Then that’s why you jumped in after me at the river,” she said. “Now I understand. You did it so that I would not drown like your mother.”

  Andreas hadn’t even thought of that and her words hit him like a hammer. He was about to swiftly deny it, but the words died on his lips. Before he realized it, he was sitting on the bed next to the door, pondering what she’d said to him.

  It took him a few moments to realize that she was probably right.

  Maybe that’s why he had been so angry at her – voluntarily doing something that his mother and baby sisters had been given no control over.

  And he hadn’t been there to help them.

  “That is very possible,” he said after a moment. “It was a carriage accident. The bridge that they were traveling on collapsed and dumped the carriage into the river.”

  “And no one was there to save her?”

  He shook his head. “I was not there if that’s what you mean,” he said. “I was away, fostering at the time. She was traveling with my aunt and my young cousins when the bridge collapsed. They had an escort who tried to save them, but their efforts were futile. As a youth, I always wondered if it would have made a difference if had I been there. Every man thinks he can save the world. Or, at the very least, his mother.”

  Gavriella was looking at him seriously. “My mother died of a cancer,” she said. “I could do nothing for her except watch her die a long and lingering death. Sometimes I wonder if it would have been better if she had gone quickly and unexpectedly, like your mother. She suffered a few minutes of terror and mayhap even pain and then it was over. But my mother lasted a little over a year while something ate away at her chest. It is an
ugly way to die.”

  It was a surprising show of honesty from a woman who had been closed off and guarded since they had met. Little by little, barriers were breaking down, something that wasn’t lost on Andreas.

  Truth be told, his barriers were breaking down, too.

  “There are a thousand ways for a man or woman to die,” he said. “In my opinion, only one of them is peaceful.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Going to sleep and never waking up.”

  “That is the best we can all hope for, I suppose.”

  Andreas’ gaze lingered on her for a moment. He couldn’t help but speak what was on his mind. “You just walked into a river,” he reminded her quietly. “If you would have rather died in your sleep, why did you do such a thing?”

  Her expression seemed to tighten and she averted her gaze, looking at her hands. “Because…” she said, paused, and then continued. “Because it seemed like a good idea at the time. So much… anguish. Sometimes I simply want it to end.”

  “What anguish?” he asked. “Surely there is comfort for you with a priest or with your family?”

  Quickly, she shook her head. “Nay,” she said. “Not any of them because they do not… well, it does not matter. I have found that speaking to a stranger who doesn’t already have preformed opinions and a sensible outlook has been an odd comfort. And to be truthful… walking into the river was a spur of the moment decision. It was not a smart or reasonable one. I don’t think I was really serious, but I slipped into a hole and went in deeper. Mayhap I thought I could pull myself out; I don’t really know. I am not usually so weak, but…”

  He watched her struggle for a moment, unable to continue. “But your emotions got the better of you,” he finished quietly.

  “They did. I admit it, they did.” She lifted her head to look at him again. “And you jumped in after me. I still do not fully understand why you would risk yourself for someone you do not know, but I suppose I understand a little more now.”

  She meant because of the way his mother had died. Andreas simply lifted his big shoulders. “I did it because it was the right thing to do,” he said softly. “But… mayhap you are right… mayhap there is a part of me that wanted to save you from drowning since my mother had suffered that fate. I had not really considered that until you brought it up.”

  “I hope it did not bring back awful memories.”

  He shook his head. “The pain of my mother’s passing has long since faded, so it is nothing that cripples me these days. It is simply part of my life, as the death of a parent is part of the lives of many, including you.”

  They were wise and reasonable words, something that resonated with the both of them. “Then I thank you for speaking to me about it,” she said after a moment. “In fact… thank you for everything, Sir Andreas. You were correct. I was very ungrateful. Trust does not come easily to me and, these days, I am afraid my entire mood is generally poor.”

  They were some of the first words of gratitude out of her mouth all night. In this brief conversation, he came to understand a little about that beautiful and complicated woman. He was coming to feel glad that he hadn’t left her to her tears, after all. He felt better about the evening and he hoped she did, too.

  “I am sorry to hear that,” he said. “You were wearing a beautiful dress when we first met, indicative of a woman who enjoys pretty and lively things, so I assumed you did, too. I have seen women have a great deal of fun in London, with the exception of those at Gomorrah. I’m not entirely sure about those women.”

  He made a face and, for the first time that night, she smiled weakly. She had a big dimple in her right cheek, something Andreas found rather enchanting. After a moment, she snorted.

  “And you have never been there before?” she asked.

  He shook his head firmly. “God, no.”

  “Nor I. Someone should burn it to the ground.”

  “From the looks of the church built over it, someone has already tried.”

  She burst into soft giggles, revealing pretty, straight teeth. “They did not do a thorough enough job.”

  He liked seeing her smile. “Not to worry,” he said. “If people in that place keep sinning like that, God himself will come down from heaven and burn it to cinder. You remember what happened to Gomorrah in the bible, don’t you?”

  She nodded. “God destroyed it.”

  “Exactly. Therefore, I want to be as far away from Gomorrah as I can get since God may have to burn it down a second time.”

  Gavriella continued to chuckle, a distinct difference to her mood and manner now. A bath, some good company once she let her guard down, and she was relaxing admirably. She was relaxed enough to pick up the bread she’d set aside and take another bite.

  “I will stay as far away from it as I can for always,” she said, mouth full. “I am not entirely sure about my cousins, however. They seem to have a naughty streak in them that I was unaware of. We are supposed to be warm and cozy in our beds right now, yet here we are – I’m in a tavern with a man only just met and they are probably back in that den of debauchery doing something that will probably make God light the kindling to burn it down just a little sooner than He had planned. I just know they will want to return, but I will refuse to go with them. Never again.”

  So she had a sense of humor. Andreas found himself grinning at her comment. “As well you should,” he said. “I shall refuse to go with my cousins, also.”

  “That is who attended you this night?”

  “Aye,” he said. “My cousins, Will and Tor, and my best friend, Theodis. Dirty alley cats, all of them. Well, at least Theo is. He’s quite naughty. There are so many other far less scandalous things to experience in London.”

  “Like what?”

  He thought on that. “Like the entertainment across the river, for one.”

  Gavriella seemed to perk up. “Across the river?” she repeated. “What kind of entertainment?”

  He could see that he had her interest and, in truth, he felt a bit of a bond with her. They’d shared quite an evening together and with dawn approaching, he found that he was actually a little disappointed to think me might never see her again. He wondered if she felt the same way.

  There was only one way to find out.

  “There are performances given on the beds of wagons,” he said. “Plays with actors wearing costumes. They pretend to be Jesus or Potiphar or a filthy beggar. Have you never seen one?”

  She was intrigued. “Once,” she said. “One traveled through our village and performed a scene from the bible. It was terribly depressing. They aren’t all biblical plays, are they?”

  He lifted his enormous shoulders. “I am not certain,” he said. “But I intend to find out. Would you like to come with me?”

  Her eyes widened a little. He thought she might refuse. But a smile began to play on her lips. “When?”

  “Today, sometime. After I’ve had some sleep and after you have had some sleep.” He watched the tug of war on her features, interest versus refusal. “It will be much better entertainment than Gomorrah. I shall escort you across the river and we shall watch the entertainment, mayhap sample some of their food, and then I shall return you home safely.”

  “Well…”

  He didn’t let her finish. “Come with me, Lady Gavriella,” he said softly. “Let’s both find something better to entertain ourselves with than that pile of shite they call Gomorrah.”

  He was very persuasive and she started to laugh. “Very well,” she said. “You have made a convincing case. I believe I should like to see entertainment that doesn’t involve dark passages and women who should wear more clothing.”

  He smiled broadly. “Excellent,” he said. “It is settled. Now, I will leave you here to sleep for an hour or two and then I shall escort you home at dawn. Is that acceptable?”

  She nodded as he stood up. “But where are you going?”

  He threw a thumb in the direction of the common room. “I
’ll find a place to sleep out there,” he said. His gaze lingered on her a moment. “I am glad this evening turned out better for us both, my lady. I have to admit, I had my doubts.”

  An expression of regret rippled across her features. “I know,” she said quietly. “For pulling me out of the river when I behaved so stupidly… you have my thanks, Sir Andreas. And, for everything else, too.”

  He dipped his head politely. “It was my pleasure, my lady.”

  She smiled timidly and he smiled, nodding his head at her again, before quitting the chamber and quietly closing the door. But even then, he stood at the door, reliving the conversation with her and glad he had not left her, after all. It would have been so easy to do, but he was glad he had remained.

  He wondered if she was, too.

  With a weary sigh, he headed out into the common room, confiscating a chair next to the hearth where he would sleep until dawn.

  The day looked brighter already.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The Asher

  “Where have you been?” Aurelia hissed. “Mother has asked for you this morning!”

  Gavriella had entered the chamber she shared with Camilla, only to be faced with both Aurelia and Camilla, apparently in mid-argument. When they saw Gavriella, Camilla slammed and bolted the door behind the woman as Aurelia grabbed her by the arm.

  Gavriella yanked her arm free.

  “Where have I been?” Gavriella hissed in return. “No thanks to you, I have been wandering the streets of London trying to find my way home.”

  Aurelia was incensed. “No thanks to me? What does that mean?”

  Gavriella had quickly decided something about her cousin. She was a bully and the only way to deal with her was to bully her in return.

  She wasn’t going to let Aurelia push her around any longer.

  Having just walked home with Andreas, she was still lingering on the good conversation they’d had, one that revolved around some of the entertainments Andreas had seen in the past and how much he liked to watch plays. It had been a glorious conversation with a man she had mistrusted until he’d hauled her out of the river.