The Marquis' Mystical Witch (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (28 page)

Wulf's quiet voice held all her attention. She faced him.

"My father didn’t warn me until the day before the full moon.” He swallowed, took a breath and glanced away from her. “I have hated my life ever since and have hunted for a way to break the curse. I’ve sworn never to bring a son into this world unless the curse is stopped.”

“I am so sorry this happened to you and your family.” Her words came out in a whisper.

“Sorry?” he shouted. Birds flew off tree branches. He flinched, confusion and anger in his eyes. Her heart softened toward him. He walked further away from her.

“You knew it was me last night?”

“Yes, I began to suspect after I saw the wolf several times and found the spot in the wall, but Mrs. Sanders and I looked and there is no opening to the inside.”

“It’s a tunnel that goes to a secret underground room.” Wulf leaned his head against the trunk of a tree. “Bailey knows and I suspect Mrs. Sanders has an idea, but she has never asked Bailey or me.”

“She is very loyal to you and your family,” Thea acknowledged. “Do you hate me? Do you want Elvie and me to leave?” Nerves pulsed and her heart beat rapidly while she waited for his answer. Pain and fear filled her chest.

“Of course not. Don’t even consider leaving, unless you fear living with me.”

“The wolf had a chance to hurt me last night. He didn’t.” She met his golden gaze.

“What else did you discover at your grandmother’s?” he asked, obviously still not comfortable talking about the secret he had held close and private all these years.

Thea took out the amulet. She showed him how it opened and handed him the note hidden within.

His hand trembled, and he blinked several times, trying to read the words, just as she had the first time. When he finished reading, he glanced across at Thea.

“What does it mean?”

“Grandmamma could not or would not explain. She said it was for you and me to discover and break the curse. She is not allowed to help.”

"More riddles.” He rubbed his hands roughly across his face.

Thea moved to his side and touched his hand. “I can help and Elvie. We also have secrets. You know I am a healer. Elvie can sense things about people and events. Between the three of us, we will break the curse.”

* * * *

Her eyes beseeched him to accept her offer. He drew in his breath and the fragrance of her skin filled his lungs. Might it be dangerous to have her help him in his quest? If anything happened to her, how could he bear it? It would be better to have the curse than to lose her. He needed time to think clearly.

“We shall see,” he said. “You must stay far from me at night when the wolf takes charge,” he warned. “Lock both your doors. I will give you the keys to lock them on your side. You may have faith in me, but I have always feared what the wolf might do." He put distance between them. "I need time alone to think.”

“Take the curricle and send it back for me.” Thea saw his hesitation. “I’ll be fine for the short time it takes. I also need time alone.”

* * * *

Thea sat on the blanket and let the tears she’d been holding in run free down her face. A loud sob came up from her chest. He didn’t hate her, but could he love her? Her family caused his family’s nightmare. She couldn’t blame him if he distanced himself from her. Her head on her knees, she sat alone, frightened of the future and yet hopeful, remembering last night.

After what seemed hours, she pulled herself together and stood. Her legs quivered and she reached out to a tree limb. The hush of late afternoon brought a sense of peace. No bird calls or rustle of wind stirred the trees. The lake was smooth as glass.

She saw the curricle across the meadow. The driver sat half asleep waiting for her.

Thea sensed a man come from behind her. She whirled around. It was Hawley. She raised an eyebrow at him.

“Lord Radford ordered me to guard you,” he said.

She should have known Wulf would never leave unless he knew his man was nearby. She flushed knowing Hawley probably heard her crying. It didn’t matter. What was done was done. She needed to go forward, figure out what they had to do to break the curse, and in the meantime, find a way to make Wulf love her. She was strong. She'd do whatever she needed to help Wulf. Her family had caused his families nightmare. It was her responsibility to find the answers and end it.

* * * *

When they got to the manor, Hawley helped her down and drove off toward the stables. Brushing her skirt to smooth out the wrinkles, Thea walked up the steps to the front entrance. She looked forward to her next meeting with Wulf.

Elvie rushed out of the sitting room and gave her a hug. “I was beginning to worry. I saw Lord Radford return several hours ago. Are you all right?”

Thea held her shoulders back and forced a smile. “Yes, I stayed to enjoy the solitude. Did you have lunch?”

Her sister nodded. She studied Thea with questions in her eyes, but didn’t ask anything else.

Thea knew she had not fooled her perceptive sister. Later, when the time was right, she would tell Elvie the whole story. That is, if Wulf decided to accept their help.

Excusing herself, Thea went to her room. The air seemed chilled. Taking the tongs from beside the fireplace she stirred the embers. Suddenly, sparks flashed high. Thea jumped back as cinders flew up the chimney.

A faint sound of laughter made her turn to the window where the outline of a woman with flying hair fluttered around the curtains. Familiar green eyes, only these sparked with anger, shone from the transparent body. A thin whispery voice left chill bumps on Thea’s arms.

“I will not allow you to succeed. Give up. My magic is stronger than yours.”

“Leave this family alone. Remove the curse,” Thea demanded.

“No. If you persist, I will hurt you and your sister.”

“We are your family.”

“My revenge consumes me."

“He is a good man, not like the man you loved.”

The apparition faded, and Thea shook her head in puzzlement. She'd not really expected to see the apparition here, but now that she had she went to her drawer and got out the bag of herbs. She sprinkled them around her room and would sprinkle more around the house tomorrow when no one was around.

On her small table, she saw the two keys Wulf had mentioned earlier. She tried one on the adjoining door. It fit. She had to find a way to get around the walls Wulf placed between them both figuratively and with these keys.

Going through her things, she found the jar of special ointment for his scars. Tonight, she would work her magic.

Thea chose a gossamer white satin gown with a high neckline and long sleeves. The skirt fell in soft folds from under her breast to her matching satin slippers. She wound a red ribbon through her curls. Her only adornment her gold chain.

Elvie joined her to go to the dining room. Dressed in pale blue with matching shoes and ribbons, her sister looked like a fairy princess. Elvie took her arm and whispered, “When doing battle, it is most important to be armed appropriately.” Her impish smile comforted Thea. She was not surprised at her sister’s astuteness.

Entering the large salon, Thea saw two men talking with their heads close together. Wulf turned, and she recognized his friend, Jeffrey.

Wulf's gaze raked across Thea from head to shoes. “Join us,” he said. “Jeffrey arrived late this afternoon. He will be staying for a few days.” His words and expression gave no indication of his feelings.

“I will see Mrs. Sanders prepares a room for you, Lord Kenelm.” Thea turned to go and speak with the housekeeper.

Wulf's cool voice stopped her. “It is already taken care of.”

“Mrs. Sanders is such a fine housekeeper. She stays two steps ahead of me,” Thea said to Jeffrey and smiled.

Wulf poured her and Elvie a glass of white wine. Stepping close, his hand brushed hers when he handed her the glass. Their eyes connected. Thea chewed on the edge of her lip and stood mesmerized as a faint smile curved Wulf’s bottom lip. Heat and the fragrance of fresh air and woods aroused a familiar ache deep inside her.

“Dinner is served,” Bailey said from the doorway.

Thea almost jumped. She’d been lost in her thoughts. Wulf put out his arm.

His muscles flinched when her hand touched him. Thea raised her eyes and saw the tight clasp of his mouth and the muscle throbbing in his cheek. He was a puzzle to her.? Her cheeks flushed. She lowered her eyes to hide her dismay.

“Shall we go to dinner?” he asked.

The small dining room had been prepared. Thea sat at one end of the table with Elvie to her right and Jeffrey to her left. Turning to speak with her guest, she found Jeffrey staring at her sister.

The candlelight flickered across Elvie’s silvery hair and gave her skin a glow like milky pearls. Thea allowed herself a brief smile. At least someone was receiving warm attention. She noted a slight pink flush on Elvie’s cheeks.

Wulf called his friend’s attention back to him, and they proceeded to discuss crops, horses and races.

He did not make eye contact again with Thea. She was relieved when they finished and could leave the men to their drinks and smoking.

“We will be talking long into the night,” Wulf said, as she passed his chair. “You might want to retire early.”

Her blood boiled. “I am not tired. Elvie and I will go to the drawing room and read or perhaps play the pianoforte. You may join us or not. It is your choice.”

She enjoyed seeing the bright red color that tinged the harsh planes of his cheeks. He had been rude, and she would not tolerate being sent off to bed like a child. She would stand her ground for as long as needed.

* * * *

Jeffrey waited until the women left the room. Wulf saw the questions in his face.

“What was that all about? You sent a message saying I should come right away. It’s a good thing I was nearby at my ancestral estate.”

“I appreciate your quick response. I didn’t want to be on my own tonight.”

“I’ve never seen you be so cold to a woman. Not even immediately after Clarisse left.”

Wulf went to the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of red wine. He poured two full glasses and handed one to Jeffrey.

Jeffrey eyed the glass. “A full bottle night? A long story?”

“Long and convoluted. Shall we retire to my private room and I’ll try to explain?”

Jeffrey followed Wulf down the corridor and through the study to the concealed room. “These are good,” he said, seeing Wulf’s current work. “You continue to improve. I’d like to buy one for my youngest sister, Susan’s, birthday.” He picked up the small squirrel. “At ten, her whole life is animals. She’d love this.”

“Take whatever you like.”

“I insist on paying.”

Wulf shrugged and sat in the chair by his table. “Sit.” Wulf pointed to a nearby chair stationed by a small table with a lit candle.

“Much has happened since I saw you last.” Wulf took a long swallow of wine and enjoyed the woodsy taste as it went down and warmed his cold belly.

“Evidently, it has not helped your relationship with your wife,” Jeffrey said.

“I found out today she is the great-great granddaughter of the woman who put the curse on my family.”

“What? How?”

“We found, or rather Thea discovered, a necklace in the attic. It had an amulet hanging from the chain. Thea went to see her grandmother in the hopes she could tell her if the amulet was special in any way.”

Jeffrey shook his head. “I don’t understand. How could her grandmother know what you couldn’t comprehend?”

“I also wondered. I should have realized something wasn't right. I believe my wife comes from a family of witches, that she may be a witch.”

“Not a witch.” Thea stood in the doorway, shoulders back and determination on her face. “If you want to tell him the story, tell it right.”

“Please leave.”

“No. This pertains to me and I am staying.”

His pride in her fire and determination sent licking flames of desire raging through him. He’d ridden long and hard this afternoon and decided the only way to keep her safe was to keep her at arm’s length. He would not risk her life. He suspected trying to end the curse might bring danger with it.

Faintly, Wulf heard music from the pianoforte. “Stay if you must,” he said.

Jeffrey went to the study and brought in another chair setting it beside his.

“How chivalrous. Will I lose this wife to you, my friend?”

“Don’t be stupid,” Jeffrey snapped.

Wulf fell back in his chair and stared into his glass. Red wine, red blood. He ached to change and run into the forest, away from the complications of life. If he broke the curse, would he miss the wolf and running free to release his tensions? Did he really want to see the curse broken or was it too late anyway?

He raised his head to find Thea and Jeffrey watching him. Wulf pulled out a rumpled piece of paper and handed it to his friend. “This is the message concealed for years in the amulet.”