Free The Wolf's Pursuit by Rachel van Dyken Page B

did need to find a female
companion, especially when difficult shrews who could be French
spies were making him aroused.
    The music trickled out of the ballroom. He
hated balls. What was the point of women and men dancing around
when the end was still the same? Marriage? Death? Sex?
    Why not just skip the dancing and go straight
to sex?
    Why not skip the marriage and save yourself
from impending depression.
    He took another swig of brandy and
groaned.
    Clearly, he was getting too old for this. He
wanted to go home and drown his sorrows in whiskey. He wanted to
sit by the fire and pout. Female companionship, again, he needed it
desperately.
    Laughter echoed into the night air.
    "But Viscount Redding, it isn't proper for us
to be alone! And so soon after meeting!" Gwen giggled.
    Hunter rolled his eyes. Any idiot could see
Gwen was not prone to giggling. It was blasted irritating, seeing
Redding put a hand across Gwen's arm as if she was his
possession.
    She belonged to no one.
    Not even to Hunter.
    He ignored the slight pain in his chest; must
be too much drinking out in the cold. Even though his eyes begged
him to look away as Redding caressed Gwen's face. He stayed trained
on the man, ready to pounce at any moment.
    "But my lady, you said you had something
important to discuss with me. How could I, in good nature, allow us
to have such a discussion with such impressionable people
around?"
    Hunter perked up. Something sounded wrong.
What the devil was Gwen doing? He peeked around the corner. Gwen
was grinning wildly at Redding, making Hunter want to rip the man's
throat out.
    Obviously that was the brandy speaking.
    Not his need to have her.
    Or his desire to bed her.
    His breath quickened when she lightly touched
Redding's arm. "They say you are a man of great secrets."
    Redding pulled her flush against him. "And
who are they, my dear?"
    Gwen leaned in and whispered in his ear.
Hunter strained to hear. Cursing, he listened for something —
anything.
    But soon Gwen's laughter filled the air as
Redding kissed her hand and announced his departure. "I will think
on these things, my dear, and thank you for your information. I
find it enchanting." He kissed her hand and walked away, a stupid
grin that Hunter wanted to destroy all over his face.
    Gwen's smile fell. She pulled something out
of her reticule and dropped it onto the ground and then briskly
walked toward the side of the house where Hunter was standing.
    She was up to something.
    Spy or no spy. Partner or no partner. If he
was to find the mole, he needed to snuff out the suspects. Starting
with Gwen. He only hoped she would forgive him for what he had to
do.
     
    ****
     
    Gwen had done several things in her lifetime
that she found disgusting. Flirting with a man should have been
easy, but when that particular man sneered at her all the while
leering at her breasts — she wanted to do nothing more than kick
him in the shin, or perhaps his favorite anatomical part? Yes, her
fingers itched for her knife.
    She'd only meant to lure him away from the
crowds of people in order to solidify his interest. If she was to
be done with this mission, she needed to make sure the men put
forth an effort to court her, and she would get absolutely nowhere
with Hunter constantly interfering! Goodness. It was her job to
help find the mole. But it was getting increasingly difficult as
she realized that she knew nothing. Redding seemed innocent enough,
and didn't seem the type to betray his country for money he clearly
did not need. But Trehmont seemed to lack the backbone.
    Her gaze flickered to the wall where she saw
Hunter attempting to hide. The fool, did he not trust her to do her
job? She pulled a note out of her reticule and let it fall to the
ground. It said something akin to: "Touch me again and I'll murder
you in your sleep."
    Which would truly be a nice little love note
for Hunter to read, suspicious man that he was. She had meant to
send it the following day, but now was as good a