“So we are free to be beast and wife?” Phillipa asked.
“You are. But.” The countess gave them a stern look. “I understand what untamed passion can feel like. But I do not want to wake tomorrow to more news in The High Tea about how you choose to celebrate.”
“Yes, of course, Your Excellency. We shall cause you no more alarm.” Wesley bowed to the countess.
“Very well. Enjoy your evening, and congratulations.” The countess nodded.
“Countess, may I ask what will happen to my mother for making such a claim?” Phillipa’s voice was small. She had been close with her mother before their marriage, and her change of attitude had distressed her.
“I do not meddle in such affairs. But the Queen does not take such claims lightly.”
The countess moved to another couple, and Phillipa slumped against him.
“Are you not pleased with the news, Duchess?”
“I am, for us, but it is still a sad ending for my mother and my family. With both my sisters married, and my father gone, I can’t help but think what will happen to Woodhaven?”
Wesley did not want to make promises he couldn’t keep, but he vowed to himself to save Phillipa’s childhood home. “Everything will be taken care of.”
“I still can’t believe it.” Phillipa shook her head. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive her for what she did. She was ready to have me committed. She considered me shameful. And why, because I was a possible widow?”
Wesley paused. He’d hoped he’d never have to tell her this, but she needed to know. If they were to be man and wife, duke and duchess, King and Queen, there could be no secrets.
“She had known what happened to me, and it was my wish for her not to tell you.”
Phillipa’s mouth parted. “How could she—how could you…”
“It was my hope to come back to you, as a human, like this had never happened. But as time passed, she grew impatient with my request. She didn’t want you to spend your whole life waiting for someone who wasn’t coming back.”
“That would all make sense, if she didn’t threaten to send me to the Royal Hospital. And she lied about the Queen! Now, she could be punished. I appreciate this explanation, Wesley, but you do not need to cover for her.” Phillipa looked lost, but he didn’t regret telling her.
“I’m not. I asked her to keep my secret, and in that, she was faithful. I do not approve of what she did with the information once she thought I took too long. Perhaps she believed you were better off believing I was dead than ever learning of my beastly nature.”
Phillipa let out a sigh. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive her.”
“Can you forgive me?” he asked. “I’m the one who asked her to keep such a terrible secret from you.”
She didn’t answer right away. “No more secrets, wolven.”
“I plan to tell you many things often.” He brushed his snout against her cheek. “Like how much I love you.”
“Ladies and gentlemen! May I have your attention please?” Master Bow was at his most splendid this evening in a silver suit jacket, white breeches, and a white wig. On anyone else it would have looked unfashionable, but on him, it was perfect. “Thank you so much for attending the Monsters Ball. We know that some of you didn’t come by choice, but it is our intention that you have a life-changing time at Broadstone Hall. And if you didn’t find what you were looking for, you are more than welcome to come back as often as you like until you are completely satisfied. We believe in happily ever after here, for all ladies and fine beasts.”
That earned a cheer from the crowd.
“We have received notification from Her Majesty, Queen Charlotte herself.”
Philippa’s eyes widened, and she clutched Wesley’s arm. His own heart raced as Countess Stalbridge came to the stage. She was stunning tonight in a dress of white and gold, but the finery didn’t make her any less intimidating.
“They wouldn’t tell us like this, my love. They do not want the spectacle,” he said, but he could only hope that he was right. He wondered how much the countess had known of his backstory when she stopped in front of his den that day in the woods after delivering Phillipa’s invitation. “I dare say Her Majesty wants us to be together.”
The countess opened an envelope. “We’ve had a very successful Ball. The Queen would like to congratulate Louis Lockhart, Baron of Grimwood, and Miss Antonia Santos Pereira, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Chelmsford, Wesley and Phillipa!”
Stonehenge
Wesley
“I think we should stay here, wolven.” Phillipa walked ahead of them on what had become their favorite path through town. “I find this little village to be quite delightful. It’s removed from society, but there are lovely gardens and I have noticed quite a few monsters here.”
Several of them had come to call, excited that one of their own, of such high social stature, had come to visit.
“You wouldn’t miss parties?” he asked.
“No, not at all. Well, not the boring ton parties full of humans and rules. If I long for some excitement, I shall have you take me back to the Monsters Ball. I’m sure the countess and Master Bow would be happy to see us.”
“We could.” He took her hand in his paw in twirled her, like it was part of her beloved waltz. “But I might not be a monster for much longer.”
“That is true. I suppose I need to make the most of my time with you like this.” She stopped and went up on her tiptoes to kiss his snout. “I shall miss my furry, feral beast.”
A rumble resonated low in Wesley’s throat. “I would be a fool not to take advantage of such an opportunity.”
“Depends on what that opportunity is.”
“Oh, you shall know when it presents itself.”
Phillipa started walking again. “You are so wicked! I hope you don’t abandon that when you have to be a proper duke again.”
“For you, I will always be wicked, my love.” But there were parts of his wolven self he would miss. In this form, he was in union with nature. His senses were heightened. And he would miss the feeling of his knot inside of his mate.
It was possible that Phillipa would soon announce she was with child. At any time they could have a child that had the virus, but if she were pregnant now, she would likely give birth to a wolven.
His heart swelled with pride, thinking of running through the woods with his little pup trailing behind him. Was he human or beast in the vision?
It didn’t matter, he would love his child no matter what.
“What are you thinking about, Wesley? I feel like you are a million miles away.”
“Our children. How beautiful you’ll look pregnant and how I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.” They’d come back to the manor that they were renting until the full moon. Tomorrow. Soon their guests would start arriving soon, and this would be his moments alone with Phillipa as a wolven. He would take advantage of every moment. “Let’s go for a swim.”
Her lips parted, and she looked at the pond, its water gently rippling in the breeze on this warm June day. “Our guests will be here soon.”