Page 54 of Ladybird

“I’m not proud of my past,” said Hunter in a humble manner. “Believe me, it wasn’t my choice. I wish my life had been different. I was a child who was reared in a dishonorable manner, and I hate it. But it is in the past now, Lady Regina. There is nothing I can do to change it.” He wanted her to understand that he was no longer the man he used to be. “I don’t kill anymore unless it is in self-defense. I rarely even use my weapons to bring in thieves. I swear it is the truth. I am doing all I can to change the darkness of my past.”

“Really.” Regina seemed to look down her nose at him now. “I find that hard to believe since you’ve given your thirteen-year-old nephew a deadly sword. Your words belie your actions.”

“My uncle always says to look at people’s actions to know what is really going on,” Luke spoke up, not making things any easier.

“Now wait a minute. That was different,” Hunter said in his defense. “The sword I gave Luke was once my father’s and the only thing I have left to remember him by. I wanted to pass it down.”

“Odd how you hold so precious a weapon that has been used to kill on command, yet you want me to believe you reject your past.” Regina was making him feel even worse. “I’m sorry, Hunter Chase, but I just can’t believe you about anything anymore.”

There was a lull in the conversation. Hunter felt Regina’s accusations as naught but a knife twisting in his heart. Mayhap she was right. Mayhap he wasn’t any different than his father before him.

You should have told Lady Regina about your past, Hunter, came that damned nagging voice of his late sister in his head once again. She’ll never want you now. Why would she? You are no better than an assassin and she is a lady. You are raising Luke the way your father raised you and you should be ashamed. What were you thinking, you fool?

“Excuse me, everyone,” said Hunter, feeling as if he wanted to retch. Last night was one of the best times of his life but today was one of the worst. He couldn’t live like this anymore. Hunter pushed his way through the crowd and made his way out the door. “I have a thief to catch, and by God the damned man better be worried. Because when I get my hands on him, he is going to be more than sorry.”

Regina stood watching as Hunter left the mews, not sure what to think anymore. She felt numb. Lightning was gone and the man she thought she loved was proving to be naught but a liar. She’d given him her virginity! She gave him her heart. She thought she was safe in his arms but now she just found out he was naught but a man who killed on command for money. Her life was falling apart around her and this time she wasn’t sure she’d be able to pick up the pieces and put it back together.

“Everyone, get back to work,” commanded Robin, clearing out the mews except for Roger and Cassian. “Sister, are you all right?” Robin put his hand on Regina’s shoulder.

“Nay, I’m not all right,” she spat. “How in heaven’s name could I be? One of my babies has been abducted and I’m not going to be happy until you find the thief and execute him. Roger, please don’t leave the birds alone for one moment,” she commanded. Not wanting to cry in front of the men, Regina turned and ran from the mews.

She didn’t stop running until she entered her chamber and slammed the door closed behind her. Wanting to be alone and think, she threw herself down on the bed and cried. A few minutes later she heard a soft knocking at her door. Thinking it was Hunter, she decided she didn’t want to talk to him. Nay, she wanted nothing to do with him at all.

“Go away! Leave me alone!” she shouted, saying the same words back to him that he’d said to her on their ride home even though she hadn’t understood why he’d been acting that way.

The door squeaked open and Sage stuck her head into the room. “Regina? Can I come in, please?”

“Oh, it’s you, Sage.” Regina sat up and used a hand cloth to wipe away her tears. “Yes, come in. I welcome your presence. Just not…his.”

“I am so sorry about Lightning being stolen.” Sage sat down to comfort her, putting her arm around her shoulder. “Don’t even think a bad thought. I am sure Hunter will find the thief as well as the bird. He is good as what he does.”

“Hmmph,” she snorted. “Mayhap a little too good because he sure had me fooled.”

“What do you mean?” asked Sage.

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

“I have a feeling you are not talking about Hunter’s profession of being a thief-taker, are you?”

“Nay, I’m not.”

“Oh. You are upset about the fact he was a mercenary at one time, aren’t you?”

“Well, yes. Mercenaries are horrible men with no morals, conscience or even souls. They will kill anyone if the pay is good enough. This is very upsetting to me, Sage. I thought Hunter was different. I mean, did you and Robin know he’d been a mercenary?”

“Nay, we didn’t. Your father hired Hunter and knew Hunter’s father, Robert. I’m sure Madoc must have known. But you heard Hunter. It was the way he was brought up, he couldn’t help it. No one can change the past.”

“Nay, I suppose not. And neither can I change my past with him either.” Thoughts of their lovemaking filled her head as well as Hunter ignoring her afterwards. She also couldn’t accept who he really was and how he’d kept it from her. It was all too much for her to handle, given the fact she’d just lost her peregrine falcon that was like a child to her. She couldn’t stop herself from bawling.

“He lied to me, Sage.”

“He didn’t lie. Unless you asked him directly if he’d been a mercenary and he denied it.”

“Nay. Of course not. How would I have known?”

“Regina, everything will be all right,” said Sage, not knowing half of her problems. “Just have faith. Trust Hunter.”

“Trust him? Hah! That is what got me in this situation in the first place. I never should have trusted him and let him into my life. Nay, I made a big mistake. I never should have let him touch me.”