“Ask away.” Master Bow reached forward and tucked a piece of hair that had escaped from her topknot. “Any time you are unsure of yourself, or need some assistance, I am at your service.”
“I do appreciate that, more than you know.” She gave a slight curtsy, unsure that she should involve Master Bow in her plans. If the wolven in attendance was indeed the Wolven King, and she had a chance to carry out her plan, he would know that she had motive. “Martin and Simon made the monsters sound like a brotherhood. Have there ever been any disagreements?”
Master Bow hesitated. “Most of the monsters are familiar with each other, and have formed a fraternity, of sorts. But we have had disagreements, especially when two of our gentlemen set their sights on the same lady.”
“I’m not surprised that would be the cause.” She chuckled. “How are such disagreements settled?”
“Oh, that sort of business is of no concern to a lady.” Master Bow put his hand on her shoulder and led her further from the dining room. “Don’t let such things cloud your experience at the Ball. Have you had a chance to dance?”
“No. Not yet.”
“Many say that the dancefloor is where the magic happens at Broadstone Hall.” Master Bow gave her a devilish grin. “Do you see any monsters that you would like me to introduce you to?”
Phillipa scanned the room, hoping to catch a glance of a wolven. The creatures were fascinating, dapper, and very handsome, but none of them were wolven.
She wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or relieved.
“When we were upstairs, you’d asked about a wolven,” he answered.
Phillipa cursed herself silently. Master Bow would think he was making a grand gesture if he told the wolven she had inquired about him. She needed the element of surprise on her side if she had any chance of pulling off her plan.
“That was just excited curiosity.” She gave the room another glance and spotted Antonia on the dancefloor. “Thank you for your kind offer, but I believe I shall let the night unfold naturally, and see what happens.”
“Oh, that is an excellent choice.” Master Bow clasped his hands together. “But if you feel a match needs a nudge in the right direction, I will never hesitate to help.”
The High Tea
Dearest Reader
It wouldn’t be a Monsters Ball without our resident rakes in attendance, would it? Yes, Lord Martin, Baron of Bristol, and Lord Simon, Earl of Swindon have returned to Broadstone Hall, and are ready to feast on the delectable ladies who are not interested in taking a mate.
The minotaur and serpent duo frequently work as a team, more than happy to share the most adventurous ladies in attendance at the Ball.
At this Ball, they quickly set their sights on Miss Phillipa Willoughby. The lady from Woodhaven Manor in Southbridge did not seem interested in their bold advances.
However, she found another scandalous use for their attention. It’s not often that anyone can shock the Baron or the Earl, but I can report to you, it has been done.
This month’s Ball is off to quite the scandalous start, and this is not the first time Miss Willoughby’s name has been mentioned in The High Tea.
Sip slowly, my friends. This month’s Ball has barely begun.
Lady Grey
Chapter Eight
Wesley
A wolf running through Broadstone Hall hardly turned heads, but that didn’t stop Wesley from being disgusted with himself for running out of the party. No amount of fancy clothes or hair salve made him ready to claim Phillipa.
His mate wouldn’t wait for him to be ready. She couldn’t, not with at least a dozen monsters competing for her hand. Nor could he resign himself to spending the rest of the Ball simply watching over her while another beast claimed her.
At the very least, he had to present himself to her. Let her know what had happened to him. Try to explain that he was still the man she married under all this fur…
But he wasn’t. And he needed to come to terms with the fact the man might never return.
Could she? Their vows had been to love and obey until death did them part…it didn’t mention anything about this wretched fever, or his resulting transformation. According to the vows, she still belonged to him.
But he wouldn’t want a woman who was disgusted to look at him.
She’s here, he reminded himself. Probably enjoying the company of a monster much more hideous than you.
A flash of pink stopped him dead in his tracks.
The little fae sat with her long legs crossed in front of him on the bookcase. At first, he thought she might be made of porcelain, a statue, until she clasped her hands together, letting her wings flutter, and leaned forward to watch something that was happening on the lower floor.
Then she saw him.
He growled in confirmation.
“Stay away from me, you wretched beast.” She jumped off the bookcase and flew above him, just out of reach. “You’ve terrorized my family and my friends for too long.”
“How do you know that it was me?”
“I didn’t, until I saw the murderous glint in your eye and the way your mouth waters at the sight of me.” The fae shuddered. “Why must you follow us here?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that he was there for his beloved, but the fae would never know that Phillipa was his bride. “I was invited.”
The fae harrumphed. “I thought this Ball showcased only the finest monsters. Not the scoundrels that terrify the forests.”
“I need your magic.”
Her eyes widened and she crossed her arms. “And what are you going to do about it, wolven?”
He stalked closer to her. “You can help me, or I can take it.”
“Why on earth would ever I want to help you?”
“Because we have a common goal. We want the same person at this party to be happy.”
The fae’s lips parted. “Let me be clearer. Why would I help you charm Phillipa when you’ve caused my family and my friends so much pain?”
“Because we both want the same thing.” He was taking a chance saying that, but he wasn’t a privileged duke anymore who had opportunities handed to him on a silver platter.
He was a self-proclaimed king. A king who didn’t have to take what he wanted by force. He would make alliances, and provide a castle for his queen.
“I doubt that.” The fae scoffed.
He stepped closer. His little adversary flinched, only slightly, but she didn’t back away. “I guarantee that you are wrong, faerie. You’re here to serve your mistress.”
Her eyes widened. “What do you know about my mistress?”
He wanted to say everything, but that wasn’t true. “That her heart has been broken, and she will soon find what she’s looking for.”
Her lips parted, like she may have figured out who he was. “I won’t help you. Not after the pain you’ve caused my kin.”
“Very well.” He stood upright and smoothed out his jacket. He wouldn’t win her over tonight, or maybe ever after what he did. “But you won’t stop me, either.”
The fae flicked her fingers at him and he was surrounded by a cloud of energy. He growled, his head swimming. He heard her laugh, but she was gone.