Page 44 of Lady Petra and the Wolf

“Of a sort,” her laughter was like music to his soul. Petra craned her head so that she could whisper in his ear. “I always secretly adored when you ruffled my feathers.” She looked up at him with an expression of tenderness and heat, that the rest of the walk home, all Wolf could remember was the taste of her lips and the feel of her body against his.

He should have been commended for remembering where he lived at all.

Epilogue

“Could one commit murder with a reticule? Perhaps with a very good whack?”

Wolf’s lips twitched as he regarded the petite blind-folded woman before him as she swung her reticule with great panache. Making note that he ought to save the blindfold for other, more lascivious activities, his heart warmed at the fantastical mind behind her lovely face. Petra had decided to try her hand at writing mysteries to help support her sanctuary, even though Wolf had already invested a significant portion of his stake in Herron Shipping into her work. Business had gone quite well since John had left and despite his previous laissez-faire attitude, Wolf wished to continue his level of participation in the business, as long as it did not take away from his time with Petra. However, she claimed she wished to bring in a sustainable source of income herself, as her inheritance would not fund the sanctuary indefinitely, hence the writing. Of course, this meant they often brainstormed together, which he adored.

“You know, if someone heard our conversation passing by, they might be concerned for my safety.”

Petra grinned, her hands out before her as she still could not see. “Too bad I’ve decided I’m rather fond of you.”

“Oh, so you’ll let me live? Are you sure? The reticule is quite the surprising weapon of choice. No one would suspect you.” He kissed the dimple that appeared on her right cheek, enjoying how she whirled around as if trying to catch him.

“I might use it if you do not tell me what this surprise is soon. You know mysteries drive me mad.”

“This one is almost solved, I promise. Just a few more steps.”

Wolf’s heart beat a tattoo against his chest. He hoped he hadn’t overstepped. This was Petra, he reminded himself. Even if she did not like it, she would be glad for what this surprise would do for everyone at the sanctuary. Now that she no longer had to hide from her father, the building had ostensibly been marked as a charity. Lord Kemberley, while still a miserable bastard in manipulating his fellow peers, had finally taken his daughter’s measure correctly. Petra and Cecile had heard no accounts of his abusing or setting up any domestic worker, so as far as they were concerned, he had kept his end of their bargain. However, Petra did attempt to keep the true purpose of their venture vague to protect the safety of those who sought it out. Many in society still viewed victims of lecherous employers through the lens of sin and guilt, no matter their innocence.

As he crossed the threshold from the hallway, now was the moment to find out whether he had overstepped.

“Do you know where you are?”

“Jules, I’ve been blindfolded since we left the townhouse.” Petra tugged at the fabric around her eyes, which he had tied with the utmost care for her comfort in this endeavor.

“Ah, ah,” he chided. “Use those analytical skills, Lady Wolf. What do your other senses tell you?”

Petra lifted her head in the air and sniffed. Wolf shook his head at the adorable sight, knowing she could not see him and would chide him for thinking her adorable.

Yet she was.

“There is some dust and grease paint, so I know where we are, but…why does it smell like a library?” Even with her blindfold, a furrow began to form between her brows.

“Because it is a library,” he said simply, willing the surprise to sink in.

“We are at the sanctuary…and a library.” Petra’s patience finally seemed to expire and she put her hands to her eyes again.

“May I take it off now?”

Wolf nodded, then remembered she could not see him and went to untie the material.

As the silk fell away the amused little smile on Petra’s face disappeared as her eyes grew saucer-like in shape and her mouth fell into a perfect ‘O’ of surprise. She stayed in that expression so long that Wolf was of half a mind to call off the entire thing.

At last, she spoke: “It looks like the library at Wolfridge House.”

“Yes,” he answered tentatively, still unsure of her state of mind. “I had it modeled after that one. You seemed to like it.”

Her expression still neutral, Petra nodded. “That was when I realized I was in love with you.”

He gave a small laugh, though mostly from tension. “Because of my library?”

“And reading the notes you left me in your books.” Her sweet smile was back, becoming increasingly radiant and glorious with each passing moment.

“How did you do this, Jules?” She settled a gentle hand upon his forearm, her mahogany eyes brimming with a tenderness so profound that the rigid tension within his frame finally began to ebb away.

“You like it?” he asked, forgetting to mask the need in his voice.