Page 2 of Nobody’s Angel (World of de Wolfe Pack #5)

T he sun shone brightly against a cloudless blue sky, but Brynne hardly noticed the beauty of the cold day as he rode Valiant, his sturdy black gelding, to Beresford Hall the following morning. He was in foul temper for so many reason and all of them having to do with Lettie.

He’d come all the way back from the Americas for Suzannah’s wedding and now he was not going to be permitted to attend.

Suzannah and her father had been too distraught to fight with their worthless relatives who’d demanded his expulsion.

Those bounders lived in fear of being disowned and Woodburne Manor left to him since few of Lord Woodburne’s assets were entailed and the old man was free to do with most of them as he pleased.

Of course, Brynne knew that Lord Woodburne would never cut out his family. He loved them even though they were a most unworthy lot, especially his nephew, Mortimer Woodburne, a mean and arrogant horse’s arse who would be the Woodburne heir.

The grand Beresford home came into view as Brynne rode up the long drive. Lettie had been born and raised here by parents and a sister who adored her. He’d always loved coming to Beresford Hall. Neither the occasion nor the season mattered, for the welcome had always been warm and inviting.

He glanced up to view the particular corner of the house where Lettie’s bedchamber was located.

Third window from the left, one level above her father’s library.

Knowing Lettie, she’d be gazing out her window, probably hanging out of it while awaiting his approach, her red hair a beacon against the white snow that still covered the ground.

Damn. Why couldn’t he stop thinking of her and how beautiful she looked last night?

She’d grown lovelier than he thought possible, her green eyes soft and sparkling.

Her dark red hair vibrant and silky. Her body…

exquisite. She had shed her skinny, girlish frame to emerge from her cocoon as a magnificent butterfly, now as beautiful on the outside as she’d always been on the inside.

He slid off his mount and handed the reins to the young groom who’d come running to his side. “I won’t be staying long, Tom.”

The lad’s eyes widened in obvious surprise. “Gor, you remember me, sir? Always nice to see ye, Master Brynne.”

Brynne laughed as he ruffled the boy’s hair. “I’m surprised you remember me. You were hardly old enough to toddle when I last saw you.”

“It’s only been two years since ye left.” The boy grinned back. “I’m almost eleven now. I’ll take good care of Valiant, never ye worry.” Horse and groom trotted off together.

Brynne watched them for a moment before turning to the house and walking in as the butler opened the door. “Good to see you, Master Brynne.”

“Are you still around, you old buzzard?” he teased Jergens, the long-time Beresford head butler. “Well, I’m glad that you are. I hope you’re faring well. I recall you had a lung congestion at the time I left home for far off places.”

“I did, sir. But Lady Beresford and her daughters took excellent care of me. I’m forever in their debt.

Thank you for asking, sir.” He led Brynne through the marble-floored entry hall into the earl’s library, a cozy room lined with dark oak shelves that were filled from top to bottom with books. “My lord, Master Brynne has arrived.”

The earl strode from behind his desk to greet him as cordially as a father could, considering the circumstances created by his wayward daughter.

“Glad you’re here, Brynne.” He turned to Jergens, asked him to summon Lettie, and then turned back to Brynne with a grimace on his face.

“Lord Woodburne sent me a note early this morning.”

“Then you know the situation.”

He sighed and motioned toward a parchment resting atop his stack of ledgers. “I’m sorry for what your family has decided to do to you. I can accompany you back to your home once we’re done with our business here. I’ll insist they reconsider.”

He wanted to tell Lord Beresford that Woodburne Manor wasn’t his home and the Woodburnes weren’t really his family, but that would be disrespectful to Suzannah and her father.

“It’s for the best. I’ll drop Lettie in Wrexham and make certain she’s properly settled with your aunt before I travel to Southampton. ”

He motioned for Brynne to make himself comfortable in one of the oversized leather chairs beside his desk while they talked. “You’ll take one of my carriages, of course.”

Brynne settled into the one closest to the desk. “Thank you, my lord. I’ll have it sent back to you as soon as Lettie is settled. I’m bringing Valiant with me and can ride him the rest of the way to Southampton.”

“As you please, but you’re welcome to the carriage for the entire length of your journey.” He glanced over Brynne’s head. “Ah, Lettie. Have a seat, child.”

Brynne’s heart skipped a beat as she brushed past him looking unbearably lovely. She wore a dove gray woolen gown and her hair was drawn back in a loose bun that looked about ready to burst from its pins and cascade gloriously down her back.

She sank into the leather chair beside Brynne’s, primly folded her hands on her lap, and blushed lightly in obvious remorse. “So you’ve decided upon my punishment?”

“Indeed, I have,” her father said. “Seems Brynne has been punished as well, thanks to you. He won’t be staying for Suzannah’s wedding. That being the situation, he’s agreed to escort you to my Aunt Frances.”

Lettie’s eyes rounded in surprise. “What? But that’s outrageous! Why would Brynne be punished for something that was entirely my fault?”

Because I’m an inconvenient nobody to them and they’ll latch onto any excuse to be rid of me.

He didn’t need to say it aloud. The earl knew why and he saw the moment Lettie realized it as well, for her soft green eyes turned anguished. “I’ll make it up to you, Brynne. I promise.”

“There’s nothing to be done. Leave it alone, Lettie.”

But her hands were now curled into fists of determination and he knew he’d have a hard time talking her out of her resolve. “I can’t leave it alone.” She began to nibble her exquisitely formed lips, no doubt plotting how to repair the unexpected damage she’d caused him.

“Their decision is made. You’ll only make matters worse.”

“But–”

“No, Lettie. They’re my family and my problem to deal with.” He gentled his voice, not wishing to hurt her, but her meddling would only lead to more hurt. “You do realize that at this moment, you’re the only person in England they dislike more than me.”

He worried that he’d aimed that teasing jab too close to her heart, but she seemed to take his words without offense and smiled at him. “Quite an accomplishment on my part, I’d say. Very well, I’ll keep silent. But I still hate the way they treat you. I really do, Brynne.”

“I know.” No one had a sweeter, kinder heart than Lettie.

He looked away, suddenly overwhelmed by the need to kiss her soft, full lips. He loved their generous shape, and loved the exotic, cat-like slant of her eyes. Hell, was there anything he didn’t love about the girl?

She leaned forward and placed her hand on his for the briefest moment to regain his attention. “Perhaps this was meant to be. I’ve just had the most wonderful idea. I know you don’t believe in Jeremiah, but–”

“Bloody hell,” her father muttered. “Not him again.”

She ignored her father and concentrated her full attention on Brynne.

“Yes, him again. He’s real and I intend to prove it to you.

Jeremiah is going to help me find out who you are, Brynne.

I know how important it is to you, and after your ill treatment at the hands of those horrid Woodburne relatives, it’s imperative that we find out.

We’ll start on the project as soon as we reach Wrexham. ”

Brynne stifled a groan. “No, Lettie. It’s a terrible idea. I’m only staying long enough to drop you off with Lady Frances and rest Valiant. No more than a few hours at most.”

She gazed at him in stunned silence for a moment, but only for a brief moment.

Lettie was never good at restraining her feelings.

“You can’t go! Not until after Christmas, at the earliest. I couldn’t bear to think of you alone over the holidays.

You must stay. Aunt Frances will insist upon it.

She’s getting on in years and not accepting as many social engagements as she used to, so she’ll be eager for your company as well as mine. ”

She took a deep, shaky breath and let it out with shattering sorrow.

“Not yet, Brynne. Not that soon. Please. It’s so important…

and you’re going to be angry with me again, but I must speak.

” She drew another deep breath. “Jeremiah promised me that all will be revealed to you. He showed me wolves in my dreams last night.”

Although Lettie could be persuasive when she wanted something from him, Brynne wasn’t about to indulge her now.

He dismissed her remark and rose to leave.

“Of course, you’ve been dreaming of wolves.

You’re about to be banished to Wrexham to reside with your grandaunt, Lady Frances Wolverton.

Wolves… Wolverton , it isn’t a stretch to connect the two. ”

She gazed upward at him. “The wolves in my dreams looked remarkably like your birthmark.”

Despite what Lettie said, he wasn’t staying for Christmas with her and Lady Frances, as much as he truly liked the old dowager.

“Jeremiah was most insistent. He said that this is your moment, your one chance to find out the truth. And if you knew anything about guardian angels, you’d know they rarely insist upon anything. This is a major breakthrough. We must pay attention.”

He ignored her pleading gaze.

He didn’t believe in her so-called angel, Jeremiah.

“Well, Brynne? What do you think?” He hated that she cared so much about him, and hated that she ached to see him happy. It wasn’t going to happen. There was only one thing that would ever make him happy and it was out of his reach.