Whispered Music (London Fairy Tales #2)(8)

“She was in danger.”

Hunter leaned forward. “How so?”

“I don’t know.”

Hunter paused, his face a mix of confusion and calculation. “Care to explain?”

“I heard it.”

“Insanity calling your name?”

Dominique itched to punch his very smug friend but tempered his irritation. “No, the music, the same music I heard the night my mother died. It followed the girl around the ballroom, and when she looked at me, I knew.”

“That you were insane?” Hunter suggested cheerfully.

“No,” Dominique growled. “That she was in danger.”

“So you took her?”

“Bought her is more like it.”

“From?” Hunter examined his nails and waited.

“You see, this is where the part turns into some sort of gothic horror story. Her father died, or at least the man she had known as her father all her life. But, he was truthfully never her blood relation. The man who sold her to me, the valet to be exact, had an affair with her mother. So you see, it was legal.”

“I was worried you were going to say you killed him.”

Dominique gave a humorless laugh. “Yes well, too many loose ends and all that. Regardless, I saved her from a fate worse than death, and she should be thankful.”

“Yes, I’m sure she’s this very moment tracing your name with her hand and imagining what your children will look like,” Hunter said dryly.

Dominique cursed and ran his hand through his hair. “It does not matter! I have her, and she is mine!” His fist pounded the table in front of them. “Will you help me or not?”

“I’ll help you,” came Hunters swift reply.

“Truly?” Dominique jerked his head up. “How?”

“Lie, of course,” Hunter answered, examining his hand as he slowly withdrew one of his expensive gloves.

Dominique growled.

“Easy. It was a joke.” Both gloves fully removed, Hunter swiftly took off his cloak and popped his knuckles before he pulled the dagger from the sheath strapped around his waist and stabbed it into the table.

“You have more than your music to offer the world, Dominique.”

“Are you getting sentimental in your old age?”

“No.” Hunter shrugged and flashed a smile. “Just telling you the truth. You do value honesty above all things and I value being honest to a man who I would rather die for than see hurt. If the woman cannot see what value you hold, then I pity her lack of heart.”

Dominique shifted nervously on his feet not sure what to say after his friend’s bold outburst.

A soft knock came at the door. It was her!

“Yes?” He cleared his throat and tried to force his face into a smile.

The door opened, slowly at first, then burst forth so hard he thought it would come off the hinges.

Miss Ward had her hand pressed over Isabelle’s. It wasn’t difficult to deduce that Isabelle had been too slow in opening the door and Miss Ward found it irritating. The blasted woman always did treat him like a child, poking her nose in his business when he could take care of things on his own.

“I believe you asked for the lady?” Miss Ward cleared her throat and shot him one of her looks that he imagined was supposed to cause his feet to shake within his Hessians.

“That will be all, Miss Ward. If you’ll excuse us then?” He lifted an eyebrow, waiting for her to object, but instead she gave Isabelle’s arm a little pat and closed the door behind her.





Chapter Four


One cannot simply learn music. For a state of being cannot simply be taught. One must feel music, one must breathe music, and in the end, one must be willing to die for it.

—The Diary of Dominique Maksylov



Isabelle watched Dominique’s mouth twitch, but wasn’t sure if he was attempting to keep himself from growling or if that was his idea of a smile.

Either way, it was frightening. It would be so much easier to be unafraid if he would simply do something about his state of dress.

His face was now almost covered with a short beard, and his hair was falling into his eyes and down his shoulders. Yet, she could still see his piercing eyes, and for that reason alone, she remembered his handsomeness. Well, that and his blinding smile. But it wasn’t often that he chose to offer one.

“My, my, you didn’t tell me how attractive she would be,” a male voice said from behind her.

With a gasp, she turned and nearly fainted when the man set his eyes on her.

Truly, it was as if her lot in life was to be surrounded by men with eyes that seemed to pierce a person’s soul.

Liquid-golden brown eyes glowed back at her. The man’s face was undeniably handsome and strong. Thick black hair cascaded into a messy heap on his forehead; the man smiled revealing perfectly white teeth that much reminded her of a hungry wolf.

“Forgive my friend, Isabelle, he seems to have forgotten how to behave in front of a lady.”

Isabelle snorted. “Yes well, that would put you in good company, wouldn’t it, my lord?”

“Bravo!” The other man clapped. “And she packs such a bite too! Tell me, my dear, have you any interest in leaving him for me? I daresay I’d have you forgetting this beast’s name after a few minutes in my company.” He winked and folded his thick arms across his broad chest.