Page 65 of Master Wolf
Wynne guided Lindsay to the chaise longue and helped him settle into a reclining position. He fussed over him, piling cushions behind his head and shoulders and draping a heavy woollen blanket over his legs. Drew watched, inappropriate jealousy writhing in his gut.
“Better?” Wynne asked Lindsay gently once he was finished, and Drew’s wolf gave an ugly snarl to see the tender affection on Lindsay’s face as he nodded.
“Thank you, my dear.”
“Well,” Marguerite said lightly, “Now that we have Lindsay settled, shall we discuss the arrangements for tomorrow?”
“By all means, my dear,” Lindsay said. “What do you plan to do?”
“I had intended to ride out to Spylaw Tower,” Drew said, before Marguerite could take charge. “Since the invitation was only for myself, and Bainbridge won’t be expecting anyone else.”
“But as we’ve already discussed,” Marguerite interjected sweetly, “there is no question of you going alone. You do not know what you will be walking into. Bainbridge claims to be holding a werewolf captive. If that is true, he must have other humans at Spylaw Tower. I therefore intend to accompany you”
“I agree Drew should not go alone,” Wynne said. “But given the terms of the invitation, it will surely arouse suspicion if you go with him, Mim. Better that I go.”
“Iwill arouse suspicion but you will not?” Marguerite retorted, raising one fine eyebrow. “So far as Bainbridge is concerned, you and Drew barely know one another—you did not profess to be friends at the ball last week. It would appear very strange for you to accompany him, whereas Bainbridge already believes me to be a clinging sort of woman who accompanies her husband everywhere and resents his absences.”
“I had no intention of presenting myself as Drew’s friend,” Wynne said calmly. “I would simply play the role of a servant. It’s not as if I haven’t done it plenty of times before.”
“A valet?” Marguerite said scornfully.
Wynne chuckled. “No, of course not. I shall be the coachman—Icandrive, you know.”
“And how is that any better?” Marguerite demanded. “If Drew really was going alone, Bainbridge would expect him to ride. At least ifIgo, we have an excuse for taking a carriage.”
“You make an excellent point, my dear,” Lindsay said. “In which case, all three of you can go, if Wynne plays coachman. None of you know what situation you will be going into, so that is certainly the best course of action. As Wynne will be left outside with the horses, he can investigate the perimeter of the house while you two are taken inside and shown whatever it is Bainbridge has hidden there.”
“And leave you alone here?” Marguerite said disbelievingly. “Absolutely not.”
“Don’t be silly,” Lindsay said briskly. “I’ll be fine for one afternoon. And I’ll rest easier knowing that you’re all looking after one another. Besides, you won’t feel happy with only two of you going, will you?”
Marguerite scowled. “I don’t like the idea of you alone here.”
Drew agreed—and so did his wolf. What if Duncan came here while they were at Spylaw Tower?
“It’ll be a few hours at most,” Lindsay said. “And all I’ll be doing is sleeping—it feels like that’s all I ever do these days.”
Marguerite pressed her lips together, thinking.
“The thing is,” Lindsay said softly, meeting Marguerite’s gaze, “If they are holding Alys, this may be your only chance to get her back. You’ve been waiting for this chance ever since I’ve known you. This is not a time to hold back any resources, and you know it.”
At last Wynne said into the silence, “Has there been any news from Francis?”
Marguerite shook her head, but they all knew that didn’t mean much. If Francis had to move quickly to follow Duncan, no letter would get to Edinburgh any sooner than he would get here himself.
Lindsay smiled at them all, and it was a singularly sweet smile, one that made Drew want to reach out and touch his mouth, to trace the gentle curve with his fingertips.
“Listen,” Lindsay said. “I know you’re all worried about Duncan, and that you want to protect me from him, but the reason I am here in Edinburgh—the reason why I’ve stayed here all these months—is because Iwantto confront him. And it’s going to happen, whether you like it or not. Whether you’rehereor not.” He gazed at them all, his eyes moving over each of their faces and coming to rest on Marguerite’s. “I’ve been running from Duncan MacCormaic since the day you liberated me from his dungeon. Do you realise what that means?”
Marguerite shook her head.
“It means that I’ve never really been free of him. This constant flight is itself a sort of imprisonment. Until I confront him… I willneverbe free.”
Drew’s heart twisted painfully.
“Freedom?” Marguerite said hoarsely. “Is freedom worth this?” She gestured at him, lying on the chaise longue, weak and frail.
Lindsay’s gaze was kind on Marguerite, almost pitying. “Yes,” he said. “It is worth everything, I think. Worth dying for even.”