Page 33 of Master Wolf

“Oh, anything that might be of interest. Who views the specimen, who shows interest. If any developments occur. I would be most perturbed if a private sale were to take place without my knowledge.”

“That will not happen,” Muir said confidently.

Drew shrugged. “I’m sure you’re right, but for the sake of argument,weresuch a thing to happen, I would like to know so that I would have the chance to make an offer of my own before any sale was finally settled.”

“I see.”

Muir’s scent had been shifting constantly all through their conversation but now it settled into something he recognised as greedy, avid pleasure.

Drew pressed on. “And if you became aware that an offermightbe well received—perhaps at a particular sum—that would be of considerable interest to me.”

“I am sure the other parties would say the same,” Muir said mildly.

“Possibly,” Drew agreed, “But would they be properly grateful? Which reminds me—” Drew reached into his coat pocket and drew out a small leather purse which he set on the table close to Muir.

Muir lifted it. Opened the fastening and peered inside.

“A little thank you,” Drew said. “For accommodating our visit today and for your attentiveness to my wife.” He smiled. “My friends would attest that I am a man who likes to show his gratitude.”

He stepped back from the table then. “Now, we have inconvenienced you long enough. I will collect my wife. She is in your office you said?”

“Allow me,” Muir said, stuffing the purse inside his coat pocket. “I’ll fetch her now.”

“Actually,” Drew said in a hushed tone, “if you don’t mind, I’ll do it. Given that she was feeling faint, she may have loosened some clothing or be adjusting her garters or some such thing—you know how women are!” He winked. “Best if I go.”

Muir’s flush deepened. “Oh, yes, of course. It’s the next door on your right. I’ll wait here.”

“Very good. I’ll just be a moment.”

Drew slipped out, closing the door behind him to discourage Muir from following, and softly knocked on the next door along.

“My dear,” he said in a coaxing tone. “Are you feeling quite recovered?”

“Yes, come in.”

When he opened the door, Marguerite was sitting in her chair, holding her reticule, the very picture of patient virtue.

“Are you ready to go?” Drew asked, raising a brow.

She patted her reticule with a satisfied look. “Very ready,” she said. “I have decided that skeletons are absolutelynotfor me.”

Chapter Ten

The past, part 3 – 28 years earlier

Paris,June 1792

The ponythat the farmer’s wife had arranged to take Drew to Paris was a sorry old bag of bones.

The blacksmith in the village had the beast tied up at the front of his shop, waiting for Drew. Its dark brown coat was mangy and dull, and its eyes were listless. Poor thing looked like it had been near worked to death already.

“You can do what you like with it when you get to Paris,” the smith told Drew unsentimentally. “You might get something for it, I suppose.” His tone was doubtful.

Drew would have been quicker stripping and shifting to his wolf, but he needed to arrive with clothes on his back and in full control of himself, so the pony it had to be, though the going proved to be frustratingly slow.

Finally, though, he was on the outskirts of Paris, and when he happened upon a group of Roma people, he was able, in a mixture of halting French and sign language, to make a deal with them: the pony in exchange for a guide to the Place de la Révolution. A boy of around twelve was assigned to be his guide—he listened to his elder’s instructions in silence, then, with a curt comment to Drew to follow him, set off at a swift pace.

Drew followed the boy into the city and through a maze of streets. The boy was half-running the whole way and Drew had to walk briskly to keep up with him, and so it wasn’t long before they were approaching their destination.