WolfeBlade: de Wolfe Pack Generations by Kathryn Veque (reading an ebook txt) 📕

gratitude out of her mouth all night. In this brief conversation, he came to understand a little about that beautiful and complicated woman. He was coming to feel glad that he hadn’t left her to her tears, after all. He felt better about the evening and he hoped she did, too.

“I am sorry to hear that,” he said. “You were wearing a beautiful dress when we first met, indicative of a woman who enjoys pretty and lively things, so I assumed you did, too. I have seen women have a great deal of fun in London, with the exception of those at Gomorrah. I’m not entirely sure about those women.”

He made a face and, for the first time that night, she smiled weakly. She had a big dimple in her right cheek, something Andreas found rather enchanting. After a moment, she snorted.

“And you have never been there before?” she asked.

He shook his head firmly. “God, no.”

“Nor I. Someone should burn it to the ground.”

“From the looks of the church built over it, someone has already tried.”

She burst into soft giggles, revealing pretty, straight teeth. “They did not do a thorough enough job.”

He liked seeing her smile. “Not to worry,” he said. “If people in that place keep sinning like that, God himself will come down from heaven and burn it to cinder. You remember what happened to Gomorrah in the bible, don’t you?”

She nodded. “God destroyed it.”

“Exactly. Therefore, I want to be as far away from Gomorrah as I can get since God may have to burn it down a second time.”

Gavriella continued to chuckle, a distinct difference to her mood and manner now. A bath, some good company once she let her guard down, and she was relaxing admirably. She was relaxed enough to pick up the bread she’d set aside and take another bite.

“I will stay as far away from it as I can for always,” she said, mouth full. “I am not entirely sure about my cousins, however. They seem to have a naughty streak in them that I was unaware of. We are supposed to be warm and cozy in our beds right now, yet here we are – I’m in a tavern with a man only just met and they are probably back in that den of debauchery doing something that will probably make God light the kindling to burn it down just a little sooner than He had planned. I just know they will want to return, but I will refuse to go with them. Never again.”

So she had a sense of humor. Andreas found himself grinning at her comment. “As well you should,” he said. “I shall refuse to go with my cousins, also.”

“That is who attended you this night?”

“Aye,” he said. “My cousins, Will and Tor, and my best friend, Theodis. Dirty alley cats, all of them. Well, at least Theo is. He’s quite naughty. There are so many other far less scandalous things to experience in London.”

“Like what?”

He thought on that. “Like the entertainment across the river, for one.”

Gavriella seemed to perk up. “Across the river?” she repeated. “What kind of entertainment?”

He could see that he had her interest and, in truth, he felt a bit of a bond with her. They’d shared quite an evening together and with dawn approaching, he found that he was actually a little disappointed to think me might never see her again. He wondered if she felt the same way.

There was only one way to find out.

“There are performances given on the beds of wagons,” he said. “Plays with actors wearing costumes. They pretend to be Jesus or Potiphar or a filthy beggar. Have you never seen one?”

She was intrigued. “Once,” she said. “One traveled through our village and performed a scene from the bible. It was terribly depressing. They aren’t all biblical plays, are they?”

He lifted his enormous shoulders. “I am not certain,” he said. “But I intend to find out. Would you like to come with me?”

Her eyes widened a little. He thought she might refuse. But a smile began to play on her lips. “When?”

“Today, sometime. After I’ve had some sleep and after you have had some sleep.” He watched the tug of war on her features, interest versus refusal. “It will be much better entertainment than Gomorrah. I shall escort you across the river and we shall watch the entertainment, mayhap sample some of their food, and then I shall return you home safely.”

“Well…”

He didn’t let her finish. “Come with me, Lady Gavriella,” he said softly. “Let’s both find something better to entertain ourselves with than that pile of shite they call Gomorrah.”

He was very persuasive and she started to laugh. “Very well,” she said. “You have made a convincing case. I believe I should like to see entertainment that doesn’t involve dark passages and women who should wear more clothing.”

He smiled broadly. “Excellent,” he said. “It is settled. Now, I will leave you here to sleep for an hour or two and then I shall escort you home at dawn. Is that acceptable?”

She nodded as he stood up. “But where are you going?”

He threw a thumb in the direction of the common room. “I’ll find a place to sleep out there,” he said. His gaze lingered on her a moment. “I am glad this evening turned out better for us both, my lady. I have to admit, I had my doubts.”

An expression of regret rippled across her features. “I know,” she said quietly. “For pulling me out of the river when I behaved so stupidly… you have my thanks, Sir Andreas. And, for everything else, too.”

He dipped his head politely. “It was my pleasure, my lady.”

She smiled timidly and he smiled, nodding his head at her again, before quitting the chamber and quietly closing the door. But even then, he stood at the door, reliving the conversation with her and glad he had not left her, after all. It would have been so easy to do, but he was glad he