Page 42 of Wolf's Prize

Gascon ran his hand through his graying hair. “I know I should not, but you will hound me until I do.”

“I can help you better, brother, if I know what it is I am helping you with.”

He wagged his finger at her. “You are not to tell a soul, Anne.”

“Of course not. Do you take me for a fool?”

Gascon sighed. “The goods are to go to the old farmer’s cottage by the stream.”

Anne narrowed her eyes at him. “No one has lived there for years. I hope you are going to prepare it beyond delivering food for whomever you are hiding there.”

Gascon pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yes, yes. I plan to go myself.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” She shook her head at him. “Not wise, brother. Your absence will be noted. Mine, however, I can easily explain away.” She patted his arm. “I will take care of it. I told you I would look after that boy, and I meant it.”

“Who told you it was for Seigneur Gaharet?”

She chuckled. “You just did. And I am glad. I have been so worried about him since he failed to return from Langeais Keep. Both he and his lovely mate. Why would you keep this from me? We are family.”

Gascon huffed. “We are all family of some degree here, Anne, and I am trying to protect Seigneur Gaharet. He wants his men to think he is dead. It would not do if his entire estate believed him living.” He sighed. “I should have known keeping anything from you would be impossible. Any wonder my hair is turning gray.” He pointed his finger at her. “You are the cause of it.”

“You should know better than to hide something from me, especially something this important. I will always ferret it out.”

She added a few more items to the pile of goods—a pot of Gaharet’s favorite honey, a knob of butter she had churned this morning and some chamomile flowers to make her brew. She also added a cake of soap. Not for Gaharet, but for Erin, should she be with him.

“I will take some fresh breeches and tunics with me as well.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “And a few dresses, too?”

Gascon rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Can I keep anything from you?” He sighed. “Yes, I think the dresses will be most appreciated.”

“Good. Then it is settled. In the morning, I will take the cart and head off toward the village. Once I am out of sight, I will change direction. I must say, it is a relief to know he is safe, and his mate is with him. I shall rest easier tonight. And with Aimon here, Kathryn is safe, too.”

Gascon nodded. “I am rather glad Monsieur Aimon arrived when he did, what with Kathryn being untrained as she is. Imagine if we had sent for one of the others. Imagine if we had sent for the wrong one.”

“It is a sorry business, the lot of it. We can only pray Gaharet can find out who is behind all this, and why. The poor lad. Losing his mother all but broke his heart. To learn one of his men killed her… Well, it is shocking. What is to be done about it?”

Gascon fixed her with a stern stare. “That is not our concern. We will do what we can to assist Seigneur Gaharet, but right now our responsibility is Mademoiselle Kathryn.”

Anne bustled to the door. “I can do more than one thing at a time, Gascon. If it is all the same to you, I shall worry about Gaharet as much as I do Kathryn. And nothing you can say will make me do otherwise.”

“Worry all you like, Anne,” he called after her as she mounted the stairs. “But make sure that is all you do.”

She kept trudging up the stairs. “Good night, Gascon.”

“Good night, Anne. Sleep well.”

Oh, she would. Now she knew Gaharet to be alive and soon to be safe on his own lands. And his mate with him, no less. She smiled in the darkness of the corridor. Things were changing fast in the d’Louncrais keep. For so many years, Gaharet had rattled around its halls alone and lonely. Until Erin had come along. Then overnight they were gone. Now the Beauchenes had arrived, and Anne had a new charge. Kathryn.

Anne started up the stairs to the third floor, her knees protesting. If ever a child needed her, it was Kathryn. Cresting the top, she rounded the corner and almost collided with Aimon. His fists clenched, he pressed his forehead against Kathryn’s bedchamber door.

“Well, well, young man.”

Aimon looked up, startled at the sound of her voice. To have surprised him and his werewolf senses told Anne everything she needed to know.

He pushed himself away from the door. “I was not going in, Anne, I promise you that.”

“Oh, I know. You are an honorable one, that is for certain.” She patted him on the shoulder, a smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. “When Erin first arrived here, Gaharet spent almost every night in the forest. Seemed to help him. Maybe you might need to do the same.”

Aimon looked thoughtful. “Yes. Some fresh air and a long run. That is exactly what I need.” He moved toward the stairs. “Good night, Anne,” he called over his shoulder.

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