The Wolf's Pursuit (London Fairy Tales #3)(64)

"Not so much a maiden anymore, right, my dear?" Wilkins directed this toward Gwen.

An intense fury burned in Hunter's head, and he stepped toward the men.

Hollins raised his pistol while Wilkins sighed.

"You cannot outsmart us, Hunter. I know your every move," Wilkins answered. "Though it wasn't always that way."

"Pardon?" Hunter sidestepped and walked closer to Gwen, to shield her from the villains.

"Yes. After all, how could I have predicted you would be in the street at the exact moment I tried to murder your brother?"

"Ash?" Hunter felt his stomach drop. "Why the devil would you murder him?"

"He betrayed me. You see, I gave him the opportunity to work for me, to help me in my little smuggling campaign. I aimed to make him rich — he was a second son, after all."

"And he said no?" Hunter suddenly felt proud of his brother. Though he was still a viscount, he hadn't inherited what Hunter had, and their father had only provided for one of them.

"Not only did he say no, but he tried to expose me. It did not help matters that you had already made up your mind to quit. The War Office was at its wit's end to lose one of the best spies our country has ever seen. Their words, not mine."

"Of course," Hunter ground out, and clasped his hands behind his back, dropping a dagger out of his sleeve and revealing it only to Gwen, holding it in front of her face, so she could free herself from the gag and take it with her teeth.

"But things always work out the way they are supposed to. After all, your timing was perfect. Your lovely wife got in the way. I thought you were Ash and when I directed the carriage toward you, she crossed the street. You see, I hadn't expected you back from assignment so soon. It really was so perfect. Ash left the country in grief, never exposing me, for he felt the accident was his fault — and you, you continued to work for the War Office, allowing me to use you as a pawn for the perfect crime."

Hunter's hands shook as he listened to Wilkins talk. How had he not seen how evil this man was? Why hadn't Ash said anything? So many questions that he knew he might not live to find the answers to. Hunter felt a slight tremble through the knife behind him, a sure sign that Gwen was sawing away at her bindings.

He sighed. "Is there a reason for this speech?"

"Patience, Hunter. I am getting there." Wilkins raised a brow and continued talking. "I needed the money. After all, the War Office doesn't pay well, and my smuggling business needed a fall-back. Who, other than I, would be intelligent enough to pull it off? Well, of course, it would be you. And who does the War Office have reason not to trust? You. After all, you went off the deep end after your wife's death. Everyone thought so. And now? Now they will see what you have been up to."

"You mean, other than saving lives?" Hunter sneered.

"Smuggling weapons to the French." Wilkins smiled as Hunter frowned. "You see, you even brought the ciphers into your own house. The house that is painted with the name of traitor."

Anger slammed Hunter in the chest. "You set me up."

"And what a tragic little tale it will be! Two of England's greatest spies turned lovers, in prison, set to hang."

"No!" Hunter yelled as the cold metallic knife was dropped into his waiting hands. He took a tentative step away from Gwen. "Not her."

"I'm afraid you do not have a choice. The chess pieces have already been played."

"Implicate me. Take me." Hunter shook his head. "But not her, not Gwen. She did nothing to deserve this. Allow me to take her punishment. Allow me to go in her place. I will admit guilt outright."

Wilkins laughed, but Hollins shushed him. "You would admit all wrongdoing against the Crown?"

"From my very lips I will admit guilt. They will not even need testimony nor will they need proof."

"You will hang immediately," Hollins pointed out.

Hunter sighed as he felt the heat of tears pool in his eyes. "My place for hers." It was what should have happened all along. It should have always been he who died nine years ago. Never Lucy. Not Ash. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "The choice is yours, gentlemen. But know, if you send both of us in, I'll use everything in my power to fight it, and we all know I have powerful friends. I will not stop fighting until my last breath is taken from me. I would do anything to protect the woman I love."

"Even die for something you did not do?" Wilkins shook his head. "Well, I believe the plan has worked out to our advantage, then."

Hollins and he nodded, and then Hollins put on his hat. "Well, it seems I have a call to make to Bow Street. Wilkins will release your duchess once we have your hands tied."

Hunter nodded as Hollins went to Gwen's hands and untied them. Hunter bent down to kiss her on the forehead, shielding her body and dropping the knife into her lap in the process.

Gwen jumped from her chair and lunged for Hollins, landing a blow to his face before spitting at him. He fell to the floor with a groan.

Hunter grabbed her and pulled her against him. "We do not have much time, Gwen."

She turned around and hugged him. Her face pressed against his chest and he realized this might very well be the last time he had her in his arms.

How he loved her. How he wished he could do more, but the funny thing about pasts was they always had a tendency to repeat themselves, and for once in his life he was given a choice. And he chose her.