Free The Wolfe by Kathryn Le Veque Page B

that Scot,”
he said quietly. “She was the angel. That was the woman who saved my leg
and my life.”
    Paris’ eyes widened. “What? Her ?”
    William didn’t say anymore. He
continued to stare into the fire, his mind a hundred miles away. Paris sat with
him, wanting to pepper him with questions but, for once, not following through
with his desires. It was clear that William was troubled by the situation, but
Paris could not honestly figure out why. Did William not want this woman to marry
their lord because she was Scot or because…possibly because William himself
wanted her?
    God only knew, she was beautiful. Too beautiful for their ancient lord, although the earl was a decent man. But so
was William. Paris had never known a more brave or moral man. The thought that
powerful, perfect William had possibly fallen for a woman brought a smile to
Paris’ lips. He never knew he had it in him.
    Then mayhap it would help his
captain to talk about his feelings. William was as closed-mouthed as they come,
but mayhap he would unload to Paris. He had done it before. And, besides, Paris
was damn curious. He weighed the consequences and decided it was worth the
probe even if William slugged him.
    “My lord is troubled,” he began
nicely enough. “Can I help?”
    “Nay,” William replied.
    Undaunted, Paris pressed on. “Try
me. Mayhap I can. Do you not trust me with your private thoughts?”
    William looked over at him and Paris
inwardly braced himself for a blow. But it did not come. Instead, William
merely shook his head.
    “I do not even know my private
thoughts,” he said quietly. “How can I give them to you?”
    A dead end. Paris was about to give
up when William suddenly stood up as if agitated. “Paris, have you ever known
me to be a fool for woman?” he demanded.
    Paris shook his head. “I have never
known you to be a fool.”
    William clenched and unclenched his
huge hands. “This woman affects me like no one has ever affected me. I say yea,
she says nay, and I bow to her wishes without a fight. She makes a request and
with every fiber of my being I am moving to grant it.” He was pacing. “It is
possible that the debt that I feel to her makes me weak, that I would cut off
my own arm if she wished it simply because I am indebted to her for saving my
life? Is that possible?”
    “It is possible,” Paris concurred,
shocked to see the power of emotions within his friend. “But is it not also
possible that you feel something other than being indebted to her?”
    William stopped pacing and stared at
him. “What do you mean?”
    Paris cast him a long look. “Evaluate
the situation for what it is, William,” he said softly. “She is a beautiful,
desirable woman and you are a virile, powerful man. Is it not possible that you
are attracted to her as a woman, that you may lust for her, and that thought is
making you daft?”
    “Nay,” William snapped. “Oh, hell… I
do not know. But I do know one thing - she is to be de Longley’s bride, no
matter what I feel.”
    “Mayhap not,” Paris said. “But you
had better deal with your emotions now and sort them out or you will be living
for the rest of your life in a castle with a woman who turns you to putty with
a glance.”
    “She does not,” he said indignantly.
    Paris was surprised to see that his
usually calm captain was raging like a bull. He could not remember when he had ever
seen William this passionate about anything. His captain’s nickname, The Wolf,
was bestowed upon him because he was as cool and as vicious and as cunning as
the namesake. On the battlefield, he was feared and admired for his skill and
sheer strength, and Paris in all of his travels had never seen a better
soldier. Perhaps that is why he pledged his loyalty to William; he had finally
found a man who could best him in a fight.
    To see him like this, pacing and
disturbed, amused him greatly for he truly believed nothing could upset this
man. He had not obtained his auspicious