The Wolf’s Pursuit (London Fairy Tales #3)(33)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken

"Not all of them, Gwen." Hunter’s voice was gruff as he released her and set her to rights. "Not all of them."

He offered his arm. She took it, nearly forgetting that her maid had been following them the entire time. She motioned for her to continue behind them and allowed Hunter to lead her away from Trehmont’s discarded hat.

"How did you find out about the smuggling?"

"I read."

"Good for you." She scowled.

He chuckled. "My grandfather has been collecting evidence against our three suspects for quite some time. I was reading through his notes this afternoon and came upon the smuggling bit, wanted to have a bit of fun with Trehmont and see how he reacted."

Gwen stopped and laughed. "The grandfather who hates you?"

Hunter growled. "Yes. From hence forward, let us refer to him as the one who hates me. Makes one feel so valued."

"Sorry." Gwen nodded to another passing couple. "What else did the evidence say?"

"Apparently, Lainhart has been doing some research of his own. He’s been having Wilkins, Trehmont, Redding, and Hollins followed for the past ten years."

"But why? And why has it been recorded? And why Wilkins?"

"That, my dear, I believe I can answer. Lainhart invented many of the codes used for the ciphers."

"So?"

Hunter looked down at the ground, his shoulders slumped. "So, my dear, the only men in the world who know how to decipher the codes — the only men privy to that information — are the ones we are investigating. Surely Wilkins told you this?"

"Th-the mole." Gwen paced in front of him. "The mole is one of the three and has been leaking top secret information to the French? Locations of units, battle plans… Am I right?"

"Whoever said sheep weren’t intelligent?"

"Funny, I thought I was a nut."

"Oh, silly me. I had forgotten already." Hunter winked. "And yes, you are correct in your assumptions. It is imperative that we discover who is selling this information."

Gwen chewed her lip and nodded. It truly was up to her to discover which of the men were deciphering the codes for the French. The only way to figure it out was to either break into their homes or follow them. There was of course seduction. Many a man would tell secrets for sex, wouldn’t they? But was she truly willing to give that part of herself for the greater good?

Her thoughts troubled her as Hunter led her to his ducal carriage.

"Tonight, we shall discuss matters in earnest, where we will not be watched. I will, of course, make my return debut at the masquerade, sweep you off your feet, and take you into a darkened corner as is my custom. And you will, of course, sigh longingly into my chest, and people will assume I am trying to seduce you. It will be the perfect ploy so we may talk." He chuckled as if what he was saying wasn’t ridiculous and as if the entire world wasn’t crashing down around them. Why did everything have to be laced with sarcasm? Could he never be real? And if he lacked the ability to truly be himself, how could she ever trust him?

The carriage stopped in front of her house.

"Mary, you may go inside and see to having a pot of tea ready for when I return. It seems his grace and I have a few things to discuss." She waited for her maid to exit the carriage and turned her full attention to Hunter. "So that is all?" Gwen said. "You refuse to explain to me what will happen to Trehmont? Why you finally decided to visit your grandfather after all these years?"

Hunter’s lips parted revealing a shy smile. "Apologies, you lost me when you mentioned Trehmont. Suffice to say, all I could think about was that silly hat. It shall get rained on, no doubt about it."

"Hunter!" Gwen raised her voice. "Be serious for once in your life."

He moved so fast she didn’t have time to brace herself as he gripped her arm and pulled her against him. "You know nothing about my life."

Gwen trembled beneath his touch. "I know more than you think."

"Enlighten me." His teeth clenched. The muscles in his face tensed as if they too were holding their breath.

"You aren’t as stupid as you appear."

"Bravo. It seems you just paid me a compliment, however passive-aggressive it may have been."

He swallowed and pulled back but Gwen wasn’t ready for the conversation to be over with. "How can I trust you, really trust you, when you hide behind a mask, even with me."

"I have no idea to what you are referring." He looked away, a smirk on his lips. "Kindly exit the carriage, I have an appointment."

"Not until you tell me why."

"Why?"

"Why are you like this? What happened to you?"

Hunter cursed and looked down at his hands. "I was late."

Gwen waited for him to elaborate and when he didn’t, she was at a loss for how to respond.

"Go." Hunter’s voice trembled. "I shall see you tonight."

Confused, Gwen did as he said, but vowed to herself that she would find out what he tried so hard to hide from. Being late? The answer made no sense whatsoever. But then again, Hunter rarely made sense.

Tonight. Tonight she would use everything she’d learned as a spy to find out his secret.

Why was it that when she thought of seducing the Wolf, warmth spread through her body? Perhaps he was a risk worth taking — perhaps with him, she could give that part of herself. For regardless of how he saw himself, to her he was not only a worthy opponent, but the type of man worth fighting for.

Chapter Eighteen

Red—

Wolves are by nature very intelligent creatures. Take for example the fact that they are feared amongst humans and beasts alike! My dear, if as a wolf, I do not cause you to tremble with that same fear, perhaps you will tremble with something else entirely when our partnership is through. One can only hope, and you, my dear, give me great cause to hope.

—Wolf

After his exchange with Gwen, Hunter immediately went to Wilkins’ residence. The house looked dead as usual, dead except for the fact that Hollins was exiting in a hurry, a note clenched in his hand.

It would have seemed normal, but it was not the correct day for any sort of code to be transferred; that is, not unless it was an emergency, and they were losing horribly, and Hunter would have been the first to know that.

Leaving his carriage, he followed Hollins down the street. After a few blocks or so, Hollins took a turn and disappeared.

Fantastic.

He searched the area for a while but found nothing. With a curse, he walked back to the house and knocked.