The Wolf's Pursuit (London Fairy Tales #3)(41)

"I read minds," Hunter stated dryly.

"Can you read mine now?" Gwen purposefully thought of pushing Hunter into the river.

"Death." He choked and then laughed. "See, I told you I could read minds."

"Aghh!" Gwen stomped her foot and lunged for him.

He pulled her into a tight embrace and whispered in her ear, "Have a care, my dear, we are in public and we cannot look too familiar."

"Then release me."

Hunter sighed but did not relinquish his grip. "If I release you now, it will look like a lover's quarrel."

"What differences does now or five minutes make?"

Hunter whispered into her ear, his breath tickling the delicate flesh around her neck. "A lover's embrace, my dear. It must look like we are engaging in something forbidden."

"I am ruined already. The only men who are interested are ones who smuggle and apparently keep food saved in their teeth."

"Not all of them, Gwen." Hunter's voice was gruff as he released her and set her to rights. "Not all of them."

He offered his arm. She took it, nearly forgetting that her maid had been following them the entire time. She motioned for her to continue behind them and allowed Hunter to lead her away from Trehmont's discarded hat.

"How did you find out about the smuggling?"

"I read."

"Good for you." She scowled.

He chuckled. "My grandfather has been collecting evidence against our three suspects for quite some time. I was reading through his notes this afternoon and came upon the smuggling bit, wanted to have a bit of fun with Trehmont and see how he reacted."

Gwen stopped and laughed. "The grandfather who hates you?"

Hunter growled. "Yes. From hence forward, let us refer to him as the one who hates me. Makes one feel so valued."

"Sorry." Gwen nodded to another passing couple. "What else did the evidence say?"

"Apparently, Lainhart has been doing some research of his own. He's been having Wilkins, Trehmont, Redding, and Hollins followed for the past ten years."

"But why? And why has it been recorded? And why Wilkins?"

"That, my dear, I believe I can answer. Lainhart invented many of the codes used for the ciphers."

"So?"

Hunter looked down at the ground, his shoulders slumped. "So, my dear, the only men in the world who know how to decipher the codes — the only men privy to that information — are the ones we are investigating. Surely Wilkins told you this?"

"Th-the mole." Gwen paced in front of him. "The mole is one of the three and has been leaking top secret information to the French? Locations of units, battle plans… Am I right?"

"Whoever said sheep weren't intelligent?"

"Funny, I thought I was a nut."

"Oh, silly me. I had forgotten already." Hunter winked. "And yes, you are correct in your assumptions. It is imperative that we discover who is selling this information."

Gwen chewed her lip and nodded. It truly was up to her to discover which of the men were deciphering the codes for the French. The only way to figure it out was to either break into their homes or follow them. There was of course seduction. Many a man would tell secrets for sex, wouldn't they? But was she truly willing to give that part of herself for the greater good?

Her thoughts troubled her as Hunter led her to his ducal carriage.

"Tonight, we shall discuss matters in earnest, where we will not be watched. I will, of course, make my return debut at the masquerade, sweep you off your feet, and take you into a darkened corner as is my custom. And you will, of course, sigh longingly into my chest, and people will assume I am trying to seduce you. It will be the perfect ploy so we may talk." He chuckled as if what he was saying wasn't ridiculous and as if the entire world wasn't crashing down around them. Why did everything have to be laced with sarcasm? Could he never be real? And if he lacked the ability to truly be himself, how could she ever trust him?

The carriage stopped in front of her house.

"Mary, you may go inside and see to having a pot of tea ready for when I return. It seems his grace and I have a few things to discuss." She waited for her maid to exit the carriage and turned her full attention to Hunter. "So that is all?" Gwen said. "You refuse to explain to me what will happen to Trehmont? Why you finally decided to visit your grandfather after all these years?"

Hunter's lips parted revealing a shy smile. "Apologies, you lost me when you mentioned Trehmont. Suffice to say, all I could think about was that silly hat. It shall get rained on, no doubt about it."

"Hunter!" Gwen raised her voice. "Be serious for once in your life."

He moved so fast she didn't have time to brace herself as he gripped her arm and pulled her against him. "You know nothing about my life."

Gwen trembled beneath his touch. "I know more than you think."

"Enlighten me." His teeth clenched. The muscles in his face tensed as if they too were holding their breath.

"You aren't as stupid as you appear."

"Bravo. It seems you just paid me a compliment, however passive-aggressive it may have been."

He swallowed and pulled back but Gwen wasn't ready for the conversation to be over with. "How can I trust you, really trust you, when you hide behind a mask, even with me."