Let the Wild Out (18 page)

“I don’t want to live my life in politics, going from one
clan to the other, from house to house, from life to life, having people count
my days with one of you and feeling slighted if they’re not even. If it was
just us, just the three of us in our own special arrangement, then…” Her voice
trailed off. Everything she was saying made logical sense, but her words were
not convincing her heart. She had to be logical and reasonable. She knew herself,
had purposefully hidden her true shifter gifts from the world. When she married,
she wanted it to be for love, pure and simple love, not her omni-shifting
abilities or politics, or to save two husbands from themselves.

“Then you would have us?” William prompted. “You would say
yes to marriage?”

“We cannot change who we are. We have responsibilities to
our people,” Douglas asserted, as if the words were for William as well, a
reminder that he had duties.

“No, we can do this. We can make our own arrangement, one
that works for us,” William insisted. “We’ll build an estate on the border and
live together so no one will be counting the days. The new address will be the
perfect excuse to reinvent our paperwork for the human records anyway.”

“I own land that would be perfect for a house,” Douglas
offered. “There is a small home there already. It’s older but will suffice
while another is being built.” He turned to Rachel. “And the politics are not
so bad. You can do a lot of good. You will have the resources to take on
whatever project you like.”

“The limelight is tolerable once you get used to it. I had a
hard time with it at first. To tell you the truth, at times it still bothers me,
but we can face it together.” William leaned up on an elbow to study her face. “You
have no reason to worry. The people will love you.”

“There are times I do not enjoy the attention,” Douglas
said. “And I will do all in my power to keep you from it, if that is your wish.
Just, don’t say no without thinking of our proposal. We will make you fine and
honest husbands.”

“Can’t we…” Rachel wanted to say yes with the very beat of
her heart, but her head was harder to convince. “Can’t we just live in sin,
together, as lovers? Do you really have to get married right away? You are here
with me, so I’m assuming you have no prospects.”

They didn’t speak.

“Unless you do have other prospects? Magda gave you that
list of potential brides you were reading before our car accident, didn’t she?
I heard her talking about Lisbetha. Well,
talking
is putting it mildly. She was actually mumbling about my apparent ineptitude
and how poorly I was suited to be in your royal presence when there were much
more suitable and aristocratic women around for you to pick from. Plus, she did
try to send me through the servants’ entrance. Then she had Lisbetha deliver my
food like she was the lady of the house or something. She was in my room all of
thirty seconds, but talk about uncomfortable.”

Again, they didn’t speak.

“If she is an example of how the people will love me, I
think you’ve lost your argument. That woman has not liked me from the
beginning. You’d think I marked her favorite tree during a shift or something.”
Rachel gave a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood, as she darkly joked, “I
wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one who hired St. Joan to come after me.
She seems to have her nose stuck into every piece of business in this place.”

The comment was meant to be more offhand than serious, but
the second she said it, she felt Douglas inhale a deep breath and hold it.

“The idea does warrant looking into. Magda has been pushing
for a Cononious bride,” Douglas reasoned. “She’s sent me a list of eligible
women as well. In fact, I think she had Lisbetha’s name starred, as well as the
ones called Charity and Ginger. I believe the exact notation read, ‘Ginger is
wild and will most likely be to the Duncanis’s liking’.”

“I have known Magda since boyhood. She would not dare to
betray me or our people.” William sat up on the bed. Rachel studied his naked
back as he presented it to them. His breathing stayed calm and even.

“What if she thought getting rid of me so you would marry a
Cononious woman was in your best interest?” Rachel asked. “I’m Duncanis. She
would have no reason to be loyal to me. It’s clear she thinks of me as your American
whore. She’s given that impression since I’ve met her.”

“No. I can’t believe it. I couldn’t accuse Magda of…”
William’s words trailed off. “If it is true, I will deal with her.”

Rachel didn’t know what to say. The men were quiet for a
long moment.

“We don’t know anything for sure.” Rachel tried to backtrack
her words, not liking the pain they clearly inflicted on William. “Our not
knowing is merely leading to speculation. We have no proof.”

“So are we to wait around for another attack?” Douglas
asked. Rachel didn’t like the idea of being bait. “I think we should question
Magda. She would have the contacts, the knowledge, and the power to hire St.
Joan.”

“She is the one who told me who St. Joan was to begin with,”
William said, reluctantly. “I don’t want to believe she would betray me, but
the circumstances are suspicious. I will question her.”

“This is a serious matter.” Douglas pushed up. “I will be
there when you question her. We will have a united front.”

Both men looked expectantly at Rachel. She gave them a weak
smile. “You two let me know how it goes.”

“You should be there. This is your life that is being
threatened,” Douglas said. “And it will show our support of you if it is her.”

“And your support of us,” William added. “Like Douglas said,
it is important that we be a united front.”

“You two really do sound like politicians,” she mumbled.
Rachel moved to crawl out of bed. In all honesty, she didn’t want to face Magda
and see the old shifter eyeing her like she was a piece of gum stuck to her
favorite table top. She lifted the cotton shirt and pulled it over her head.

“That is not an answer,” Douglas said.

“I didn’t really hear a question in the decree,” Rachel
answered. Now that her physical lust had been sated, her mind demanded a little
more control. Her words seemed to quiet them. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind
picking up your clothes on your way out the door, I would like to be alone.”

They shared a shocked look. William gave a short laugh, as
if testing to see if she was joking.

“Oh, I’m serious. You two need to go and I need time to
think.” She grabbed her pants and held them in front of her, covering her naked
bottom half from view.

“You won’t run again?” Douglas asked as both men slowly got
up from the bed.

“Not if you leave me in peace.” Rachel was no fool. She
didn’t want to risk being drugged, kidnapped, hunted or killed. This room was
the safest place at the moment. It would be even safer when the two incredibly
handsome men left it. Then she would be somewhat protected from her own wayward
emotions.

They dressed before leaving the room. Once alone, Rachel
dropped her pants onto the floor and crawled half-dressed onto the bed. The
covers smelled like them—the exotic cologne of Douglas and the wild earthiness
of William. With a heavy sigh, she looked at the ceiling, but no revelations as
to her situation came to her, and she was left feeling more confused than ever.

“My chief, the tailor is here to see to your fitting.”
Lisbetha curtseyed.

William nodded once in acknowledgement, only to stop walking
and ask, “What? Tailor?”

After Rachel’s dismissal and the others’ suspicion about Magda,
he had wanted to be alone to think. Seeing Lisbetha roaming the halls of his
private wing caused him a moment’s irritation until he reminded himself that it
was his duty to be pleasant to the guests in his home.

“For the ball. Magda asked me to see to the details since
you don’t currently have a woman to care for such needs.” Her smile was all
innocence. “It is the same tailor my father uses, but don’t worry, he does do
more modern tuxedo styles as well.”

William cleared his throat. “That was very, uh, thoughtful
of you.”

“It is nothing more than any lady would think to do.” Again
she smiled. Lisbetha was a very pretty woman, with clear eyes and immaculate
hair. He found himself absently wondering how long it took a team of maids to
get every strand into perfect place. “Ah.” She made a weak noise, patting her
hair.

William realized he stared. “Was there something else?”

“Only…” Lisbetha lowered her gaze only to peek up at him
through her lashes. “Magda mentioned that you did not have a lady to take with
you to the ball, and since I was effectively the hostess, I should make myself
available to you for the evening.”

“Oh.” He glanced around the hall, more irritated at Magda
for sending this woman to him—yet again. “I don’t think it’s necessary to
trouble yourself.”

“It is no trouble, my chief. I would be honored to sit by
your side.” Again when she smiled, the look was all innocence and purity. He
almost felt bad telling her no.

“I’m sorry, but I have already made arrangements to have a
woman by my side at the ball.” William thought of his fiery Rachel. He wanted
no other woman next to him. “Thank you for the offer, but it is not necessary.”

Lisbetha’s eyes narrowed. When he would step past her to
avoid an awkward scene, she asked, “Might I ask who, my chief?”

“Rachel Dunne.”

“The American trout?” Her words became tight.

William nodded. “Yes.”

“But she is so…” Lisbetha made a disgusted noise. William
arched a brow. The woman quickly checked her expression of distaste, and amended,
“She is surely still recovering from her ordeal. Rumors have been circulating
the castle that she was attacked by a wild dog when running alone in the
forest. I, of course, have nothing against her, but people do speak of her…”

“Her…?” William prompted with a scowl. Who was this woman to
lecture him about his choice in company?

“Her lack of propriety, that is all. I am sure it is only
that she was raised wild in America.” Lisbetha kept her expression docile.
Except for the one slip of mild distaste she had briefly shown him, she hid her
emotions well under the veiled mask of propriety. “Her nature cannot be helped.
People also say that it is good of you to protect the poor orphan.”

Orphan? Rachel wasn’t some child in need of adopting.

“I especially think that is noble of someone to help the
less fortunate. You have a good soul, my chief.” Lisbetha dared to touch his
arm. He looked down at her hand but didn’t pull away. “If you change your mind
and require a lady at your side, I will leave my evening open for you.”

William nodded once. She curtseyed again and let her fingers
trail off his arm before walking away. Her steps were small and unhurried. He
listened until they were gone from his wing.

He hated palace gossip. It was no wonder Rachel wanted
nothing to do with this life. He couldn’t blame her. But yet, he couldn’t let
her go either. He made the sacrifice and gave up his
anonymity w
hen
he became heir to Tobias’s throne. Was it too much to ask that she made the
sacrifice too? With her in his life maybe things wouldn’t seem so lonely.

There was logic to a choice like Lisbetha, but he didn’t
want a cold marriage. He already had to share his bride with Douglas. It wasn’t
too much to ask that he actually desire the woman.

Frowning, he heard footsteps approaching. The gait sounded
like Magda. In no mood to deal with the woman’s lectures, and having agreed to
confront the woman when Douglas was present, William ducked into the old king’s
game room. He had not changed it since his ascension. The red pool table,
billiards table, and air hockey tables dominated the room. The smell of old
brandy and cigars hung lightly on the air.

He didn’t move as he heard Magda walk by. She searched his
bedroom before turning back around and moving down the hall, out of his private
wing. Instead of leaving the room, he went to the bar and poured himself a
snifter of
Armagnac,
a distinct smelling brandy from Gascony. It was the same drink Tobias had on
his breath when he told William the news of his destiny as chief. William
breathed in the scent, not tasting the drink for a long time while he
remembered a time before that fated moment when his life had been much simpler.

Douglas knocked on Rachel’s bedroom door before walking
inside uninvited. He found her sitting by the long window overlooking the back
courtyard. Hours had passed since she’d asked to be alone, and he’d wanted to
talk to her without William.

“I feel like I’m on vacation,” she said wistfully, “aside
from the someone wanting me dead part. That reality kind of puts a morbid spin
on everything.”

“I wanted to speak to you alone. I’m worried about your
safety here. I think it would be best if you came with me to Scotland. There
are many from the Duncanis clan there. They will welcome you because you are
one of us. It is not like here. Those who work for me are not like Magda. You
can trust them. We Duncanis protect our own.” Douglas glanced towards the
closed door. Rachel listened past him to what sounded like a maid in the halls.
When she’d passed, he continued, “William is a good man. Tobias did right to
choose him. However, he is new to his rule. There are some things—some
instincts—that take time to develop. I have been chief for a long time and I
trust my gut to know that it is not safe for us here.”