Page 43 of The Outcast's Redemption
Wolf emerged on to Sloane Street and moved his portmanteau to the other hand, looking for a cab to hire. He must not allow thoughts of Grace Duncombe to distract him, nor could he afford to give in to the melancholia that had paralysed him for those first few years in France. He needed to find out the truth of what had happened at Arrandale Hall ten years ago. He had to right some of the wrongs that had been caused by his long absence.
A battered hackney carriage slowed in response to his signal. He gave the driver directions to his lawyers’ offices in the city and climbed in. His investigations could take months and it might all come to nought. He must forget all about Miss Grace Duncombe and her family.
* * *
Two weeks later he was back in Hans Place, pacing up and down on the expensive Aubusson carpet in Mrs Graham’s drawing room and anxiously chewing his lip. This was hard. He had sworn he would not return, but he needed help and could think of no one else.
* * *
When Jenner came to tell Grace that ‘Mr Peregrine’ was waiting downstairs in the drawing room, she could not stop the sudden, soaring elation. She had tried to put Wolf from her mind, but he was there, at her shoulder every waking moment. Even in her dreams. She had known him such a short time, but it felt like for ever. In the two weeks since she had last seen him she had gone over and over every moment they had spent together, every look, every word and now she was quite certain he had not killed his wife. Such certainty was quite unreasonable, but in her defence, Papa and Aunt Eliza were both convinced of his innocence, too, and they had known him for much longer. After ten years there was only the smallest of chances he could clear his name, so she had to reconcile herself to never seeing him again, but it was very hard.
Not that they could ever be anything other than friends. She was about to become Lady Braddenfield and as such, even if Wolf did clear his name and return to Arrandale, they would rarely meet. But for the moment, just the thought of seeing him again was enough to raise her spirits. She ran to her looking glass and patted her hair, but what she saw there gave her pause. She must not show Wolf this glowing face. He might misunderstand and think that she cared for him, that she could offer him more than friendship. Schooling her countenance to show only cautious reserve, she went slowly downstairs.
* * *
Wolf’s heart lurched when Grace entered the room. She looked more beautiful than ever in a pale-blue redingote over her cream gown. A matching bonnet swung from its ribbons held in the fingers of one hand. She did not smile at him and her dark eyes still held that wary look.
‘I am afraid my aunt is out,Mr Peregrine.’ Jenner had deliberately left the door open, but after a brief hesitation she closed it before turning to look at him. ‘You have not yet succeeded, then.’
‘No.’ He took another turn across the carpet and came back to stand before her. ‘I need help.’ Her brows rose a fraction. ‘I need the help of a lady,’ he explained. ‘A lady of unimpeachable reputation.’
She stared at him for a moment, then walked back to the door. She was going to refuse. She was going to ask him to leave. Why should he be surprised? He had no right to expect more help from her.
‘Then to preserve my unimpeachable reputation we should not remain in here alone. I was about to take my aunt’s dog for a walk. Will you join me?’
‘Of course.’
He followed her into the hall and watched her place the straw bonnet over her curls, tying the ribbons beneath one ear in a jaunty bow, quite at variance with her solemn look. The tip-tap of clawed feet on the marble floor made him turn. A wooden-faced footman was leading a small and very ugly lapdog into the hall.
‘Thank you, Robert.’ Grace took the lead from the footman. ‘Come along, Nelson, it is time for your walk.’
‘Nelson!’ Wolf could not help the exclamation.
‘Yes.’ There was a definite twinkle in her deep-blue eyes now. ‘Shall we go?’
They stepped across the road to the railed garden in the middle of the square.
‘As you can see, the gardens are very new,’ she said. ‘Once all the houses have been built I am sure it will become much busier, but presently there are very few of us who use this area. It is ideal for walking Nelson. I like to bring him out for an airing at least twice a day. My aunt indulges him dreadfully.’
He glanced down at the little pug waddling beside her.
‘So I can see,’ he muttered.
‘He was much fatter than this when I arrived and wheezed most horribly. My next task is to convince my aunt to exercise him. I think it would be beneficial to them both.’
‘You have changed.’
‘Changed, sir? I should think so. My aunt has been spoiling me, buying me I do not know how many new gowns.’
‘No, it’s not that.’ He frowned. ‘You are less...’Repressed,he wanted to say.Not so starched up. Not so prim and proper.Impossible. ‘You are more cheerful.’
‘Perhaps that is because I no longer have a wanted man under my roof.’
‘Is that it? Did you feel the weight of my presence so very much?’
She shook her head, a smile lilting on her generous mouth.
‘No, that is not the whole of it, but I could not help teasing you a little. As you teased me, did you not?’
