The Wolf's Cub (The Wolf's Peak Saga Book 3) Read online

  It seemed we were getting the worst of the worst from Weylyn. Fresh hope welled in my heart with each new candidate, only to be dashed all over again after the interview. We must have seen and dismissed at least a dozen applicants. I suspected the household staff was beginning to make wagers on when we would finally choose someone. Even Christoph’s wife, Ingrid, watched the spectacle with curiosity, and she rarely left their quarters.

  One woman came in with a tiny, skinny, bug–eyed dog. She insisted that she never left the house without it. I stretched out my hand to see if he would let me pet him. It nearly bit me.

  Another woman showed up nearly a half hour late to her interview time. The moment she walked in, I could smell that she had been drinking. I tried to be optimistic, thinking perhaps she had just gotten off a shift at a pub. No, she was loaded. She tried to sit down but missed the chair, falling down onto the floor. After she didn’t get up, we went to check on her only to discover that she had fallen asleep. We had to have Mr. Potter rouse her and escort her out.

  “I think we can safely check her off the list,” I muttered to Annabelle as I rubbed my temple.

  “I think that’s probably best,” she agreed.

  We had another woman come in that was dressed head to toe in black. She took my hand and flipped it over.

  “You will have a violent death,” she told me, gazing into my eyes with her deep black ones.

  “Pardon?”

  “Your life will end in tragedy,” she said urgently.

  I glanced at Annabelle, my eyes wide, then back to this woman.

  “I’m not sure—”

  “Shh!” the woman exclaimed, putting her hand over my mouth. “The spirits are trying to communicate.”

  “What are they saying?” Bridget asked from her seat in the corner. Even in shadow, I could see the smirk pulling at her lips. I shook my head.

  “They are telling me,” the woman said, her eyes flitting around the room, “that this home has held great sorrow.”

  “Everyone in Weylyn knows what’s gone on here,” Annabelle said, rolling her eyes.

  The woman turned on her. “The spirits do not like to be mocked!” she screeched.

  I cleared my throat. “Mr. Potter?” I called out. He appeared at the doorway.

  “I think Ms…” I glanced down at the paper on the table, “Ives is ready to leave now.”

  “You must listen to me!” she cried as Mr. Potter took her arm. “Your child, he is in great danger!”

  “Less now that you’re leaving,” Annabelle said.

  “You’ll see! All of you! You shall see!”

  We watched as Mr. Potter gently led her out of the room as she kicked and screamed. As soon as the library doors shut, the three of us breathed a sigh of relief.

  “That was traumatic,” Bridget spoke up.

  I sighed. “You didn’t have to encourage her.”

  “You weren’t curious?”

  “Not particularly!”

  Bridget shrugged. “Well, now you know she’s crazy.”

  “I’m sure I could have figured that out without your help, thank you very much.”

  “I think you’re overreacting.”

  I bristled. “You may not stay in my employment for long, Bridget, but keep in mind that for now, you still work for me.”

  Bridget pressed her mouth into a thin line, her posture deflating. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Annabelle’s jaw drop open. I took a deep breath.

  “I’m sorry,” I told Bridget. I wanted to explain myself, but even I didn’t know what I was feeling. It was a strange cocktail of emotions. Betrayal, because Bridget would be leaving me. Envy, because she had gotten the opportunity to fall in love organically. Those were mixed with anxiety from this whole interviewing ordeal. Instead, I simply added, “I’m just a bit overwhelmed.”

  Bridget only nodded, not speaking. I sunk down into the chair beside Annabelle, taking Lowell from her arms. I cuddled him, holding him close to me, letting his warm, soft body soothe away my stress. I let his little hand wrap around my finger, and smiled.

  Annabelle glanced at me. “Are you all right, Christine?”

  I looked down at Lowell and nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry. I’m fine.”

  I glanced over at Bridget, who was staring down at her hands. I bit my lip, thinking for a moment, before standing up from the table and crossing the room to where Bridget sat. I shifted Lowell in my arms and put my hand on Bridget’s shoulder.

  “I’m really, really sorry,” I repeated. She still didn’t look at me.

  “Bridget, please,” I begged. She was one of my closest friends, I couldn’t lose her. “It was a very stupid thing to say.”

  “It’s fine,” she muttered.

  “It isn’t,” I insisted.

  I put Lowell up on my shoulders and rubbed his back so I could move a little freer.

  “I’m extremely stressed,” I admitted. “That’s not an excuse; rather, an explanation. I’m stressed by this whole hiring process, and I’m stressed by the lack of sleep I’ve been getting, and I’m stressed by our upcoming trip to Sweden. I lashed out because I’m afraid of things changing even more, and I’m afraid of losing you.”

  “Nothing’s set in stone,” Bridget said, still not meeting my eyes. “Conor and I could fall apart.”

  I shook my head. “That’s not going to happen,” I promised her. “You and Conor are perfect together. I see the way you look at each other. Your chemistry is undeniable.”

  She glanced up at me, a smile ghosting on her lips. “You think so?”

  “Oh, darling, I know so.”

  “Are you and Conor courting now?” Annabelle asked from the table.

  Bridget nodded. “Officially, as of last week.”

  “Well, I feel a bit out of the loop,” commented Annabelle, and indeed, she did look a bit put out.

  There was a knock on the library door, and Mr. Potter stuck his head inside.

  “Uh, there’s another candidate here,” he said.

  “All right,” I said. “Send her in.”

  He paused. “Actually, my lady, it’s a man.”

  I glanced at Annabelle, surprised. She frowned, glancing at her notes.

  “Jess,” Mr. Potter told her.

  “Oh,” Annabelle said. “I assumed that was a nickname.”

  “It’s not a terrible idea,” I said, sitting back down next to her. “It might be good for Lowell.”

  Annabelle shrugged. “All right, then. Send him in.”

  Jess entered the room a moment later. His hair was a bright red, and his face was scattered with freckles. He nodded at all of us as he entered.

  “Hello, Jess,” Annabelle greeted him. “Go ahead and take a seat.”

  Jess sat down across from us, smiling and nodding.

  “Jess, why don’t you tell us about your experience in looking after children?” I said.

  He shifted in his seat. “Well, I have six brothers and sisters.”

  “That’s a lot. So, you looked after them?” Annabelle asked.

  “No.”

  Annabelle glanced at me. “Um, all right. If the baby was crying, what’s the first thing you would do to calm him down?”

  “Pick him up? I guess?”

  “That’s a start,” I said. “After that?”

  “I’d find you, I suppose. You’re his mom, right?”

  I cleared my throat. “Yes, but the point of hiring someone is to have someone else to care for Lowell when I can’t.”

  “Well, yes, but you’re the mom. That’s your job.”

  “All right, Jess,” Annabelle said, her voice with a tone of brightness that I knew was fake. “Thank you for coming in. We’ll be in touch.”

  “May I say something, my lady?” he asked, looking at me.

  I frowned. “I suppose,” I said, uncertainly.

  “You are one of the most exquisite creatures I have ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. Has a man yet had the pleasure of making you his?
”

  It took me a moment to find my words. “I’m sorry, Jess, but you do realize that this baby is my son?”

  “I’m aware.”

  “I’m married. To his father.”

  He shrugged. “Ah, well,” he said. He turned to Annabelle. “What about you, love?”

  Annabelle’s nostrils flared. “Mr. Potter!” she called out.

  Jess turned to Bridget, but before he could get words out, she put her hand up. “Don’t even think about it,” she said.

  “I don’t see a ring, so you must not be married,” he pressed.

  “First off, a ring didn’t stop you from asking the others,” Bridget said. “Second, I’m no one’s third choice. Third, you’re extremely creepy and need to leave now.”

  I couldn’t help but snicker. Jess glanced back at Annabelle and me.

  “But you don’t want me to leave, do you?”

  “I think that would be best,” Annabelle said.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Mr. Potter!” Annabelle called again. This time the butler heard her and came to escort Jess out the door.

  “But wait,” Jess said. “You haven’t told me when I start.”

  “What?” Annabelle asked in disbelief.

  “When do I start my employment?”

  “You don’t,” I snapped. “You’re an embarrassment. Now, Mr. Potter will show you to the door.”

  “But—”

  “Take him away, please, Harold,” I said, rubbing at my head again. I needed some tea.

  Finally, Jess left with Mr. Potter. I was ready to bash my head on the table.

  “I’ll have Daisy bring us some food for a bit of a pick–me–up,” Bridget said, climbing off her chair and following the men out of the room.

  “Why don’t I take him,” Annabelle said, gesturing to Lowell. “You look stressed.”

  “I am, but he helps,” I said. I leaned my head against the back of the chair and groaned. “I can’t believe this. How on earth can things be so difficult?”

  “We just haven’t found the right person yet,” Annabelle said. “We’ll find someone. We’ve just got to keep at it.”

  “We’ve been at it for almost a week, and all we’ve seen is the insane side of Weylyn. I’m beginning to suspect there’s nothing else!”

  “Now, that’s not fair,” Annabelle said.

  “I’m not counting you, obviously,” I said.

  She smiled. “I know it’s stressful.”

  “I honestly didn’t expect it to be this hard.”

  “I didn’t either.” She sighed. “I asked Millie if she had any friends or anyone who was looking for work, but she said she didn’t.”

  “Well, thanks for asking,” I said.

  Bridget returned to the library, Daisy behind her. Daisy had a tray full of tea and cookies. She set it down on the table and poured the warm drink into our teacups. I helped myself to a chocolate cookie, then a second one.

  “Fantastic,” I said. “I needed this.”

  “Anything else I can do for you, ma’am?”

  I shook my head. “Not unless you know of someone competent who is looking for work.”

  “I don’t, ma’am. I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, don’t apologize, dear. It was a long shot anyway.”

  Bridget sat down in the empty seat across the table and poured herself a cup of tea. “At least you have some funny stories to tell,” she said.

  I shook my head. “That doesn’t make me feel better. It doesn’t help that I’ll have to do this all over again when you get betrothed.”

  “Have another cookie,” Bridget said, handing me one.

  “How am I ever going to find someone like you?” Actually, that gave me an idea. “Bridget, do you know of any of the girls back in Ervine that would take a position here?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t really keep in contact with them since I’m so far away. I mean, I’d be happy to ride into town tomorrow to see if I could find them and ask.”

  “That could work,” I mused.

  For what felt like the hundredth time that day, there was another knock on the door.

  “I’ll grab it,” Bridget said, shoving the rest of the cookie in her mouth. She hopped up from her chair and pulled open the double doors. In stepped Ingrid, a slight blush over her pale face.

  “Hello, Ingrid,” I said. “What can I do for you?”

  “You are still looking for a nurse for the baby, yes?” she asked. She had a much thicker accent than her husband. If I remembered right, Christoph had told me that he and Ingrid met when he was visiting relatives in Switzerland.

  “Yes, we are,” Annabelle said. “Do you know someone?”

  “Actually, I thought perhaps I could help.”

  “You want to watch Lowell?” I asked. “But you’ve got your own little one.”

  “She adores him. And back home, I watched my brothers and sisters all the time. I can watch more than one at a time.”

  I looked at Annabelle in surprise.

  “I think that’s a great idea,” Annabelle said.

  “I agree,” I told Ingrid. “You’re here already anyway. And Alice always seems so happy. I know you’re a wonderful mother. But are you sure this is what you want to do?”

  “Oh, yes, my lady. I feel like a, how do you say, a freeloader.”

  “Ingrid, your husband is our doctor.”

  “Yes, I know, but he is not working all the time. I do not think he works enough for you to pay him what you do and for us to live in this beautiful house.”

  “If you’re sure,” I told her.

  “I am. Absolutely.”

  “You’ll still get the same salary as an outsider.”

  She shook her head. “That’s not necessary, my lady.”

  I smiled. “I don’t care, you’ll get it anyway,” I told her. “Would you like to hold Lowell? You’ve only held him once, I believe.”

  “I would love that,” she said, coming closer to the table and holding her arms out. I passed him over and he looked up at her, their blue eyes locking. He reached his hand up and pulled at a lock of her hair, a shade of blonde so light it was nearly white. He smiled a toothless smile up at her.

  “He likes you,” I said.

  “And we know Ingrid doesn’t have a dog, isn’t going to try to marry you, and isn’t going to try to curse you,” Bridget said.

  Ingrid turned to Bridget and frowned. “Pardon?”

  “We’ve had some interesting candidates,” I explained. “I’m so glad you came in. I don’t know what I would have done.”

  “I’m happy to be of service.”

  “Why don’t you come upstairs after breakfast tomorrow?” I suggested.

  “I shall,” she promised.

  I started to smile again, the muscles in my face tugging at the corners of my lips. I was so relieved that we had found someone trustworthy. One problem was solved. Now I had to face the rest of them.

  Chapter Seven

  Ingrid was a blessing.

  The next morning, as soon as Jasper and I had finished with breakfast, she was waiting for me at the nursery, Alice in tow.

  “Hi, sweetie,” I said, kneeling so I was at eye level with her. She stood up on her tiptoes and peered over my arms to get a better look at Lowell.

  “Baby,” she said.

  “Yes, he’s a baby,” I said with a smile.

  “Would you like me to take him so you can get some rest?” Ingrid asked me. When I had told Jasper that she had volunteered to be Lowell’s nurse, he had been ecstatic. He thought it was a great idea, and as soon as dinner was over, he wanted to talk with her. I assumed that’s when he told her that my sleep had been erratic, at best. Last night had been no exception. I had woken up in the middle of the night, a thin layer of nightmare sweat coating my body, my hands shaking, and Lowell crying next to me. A few deep breaths had helped calm me, but they did nothing for the baby. By the time he started to drift off, it was time for him to eat again. />
  I stifled a yawn. “That would be wonderful,” I said. I brought her into Lowell’s room and showed her where everything was, his diapers and his extra clothes and his rattles. Alice toddled over and pulled at the mane of the rocking horse.

  “You know what we should do,” I mused, “we should turn the bedroom next door into a playroom for the children. I’ll mention that to Jasper.”

  “I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Ingrid said.

  I brought it up to Jasper a few days later as he was packing his luggage for his upcoming trip to London. Lowell was with Ingrid, so for nearly the first time since the baby had been born, Jasper and I were alone.

  “That sounds like a great idea,” he said. “So, Ingrid is working out well?”

  “She’s a godsend,” I told him. “It’s so nice to have an extra set of hands when you’re working, and it’s going to be nice when you’re gone.”

  He glanced down at his trunk. “I’m still hesitant to leave you two.”

  I smiled as I leaned back against the post of his bed. “We’ll be fine.”

  “I know you will be, but I’m going to miss you,” he said. He shut the trunk and leaned over to kiss me. Our kiss deepened, and my hands slipped behind his neck, pulling him close to me.

  I was very, very thankful that Ingrid was watching the baby.

  Things began to fall into a routine. I still didn’t sleep well at night, but after breakfast, Ingrid would take Lowell so I could sleep for a bit. When I woke I fed him, and he went down for a nap. Around noon I would take lunch, and Ingrid would care for him. After I ate, I would spend a little bit of time playing with him before it was time again for him to eat and nap. Then I would leave him with Ingrid for dinner, and after that, he was mine for the rest of the night.

  It was wonderful to finally have a routine. It made things simple and productive, and I knew it was good for the baby as well. Everybody knew what was going to happen, and that made things easy. Even Alice seemed to appreciate the schedule.

  Alice, for her part, was the sweetest child I had ever met. She was happy like Daniel, but didn’t have the overabundance of energy that he had. Perhaps that would come with age, but right now it allowed things to go smoothly. She would sit quietly, playing with blocks or books, anytime her mother needed to give Lowell her full attention, and she never seemed to get jealous.