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

Andreas turned to look at him, appreciating that he murmured words that only he could hear. Or so he thought. “I did not mean to ask uncomfortable questions,” he said. “But it just occurred to me that I have met a woman I am interested in and I have no mother to ask questions of. Women know about women, don’t they?”

“You can ask me.”

Both Andreas and Edward looked across the table to Cassiopeia. She was the baby of the de Norville family – she had two older brothers, then her sisters were born, then another brother, and then her. When her eyes met Andreas, she smiled faintly.

“Please, Dray,” she said. “I would consider it an honor. You can ask me what I think about this lady you spent the afternoon with. I think my sister would like it if you did.”

Cassiopeia was actually two years younger than Andreas. He had spent a lot of time with her in his youth because she had been a late baby for her parents, born well after their older brood were young men and women. She really was the closest thing he would ever have to his own mother so he shrugged, suddenly uncertain of what he would even ask.

He had to think a moment.

“I suppose I would ask why a woman would be so secretive about her life,” he said. “It is clear that she is attracted to me, and I am attracted to her, so why would she not tell me everything I want to know?”

Cassiopeia grinned. “Because you cannot learn everything about a woman in just a few hours,” she said. “Getting to know someone takes time. She cannot tell you everything about herself all at once. Part of the joy of coming to know someone is the time it takes to do it. It is like unwrapping a gift that keeps going and going… and you keep unwrapping and unwrapping, finding new and delightful things.”

Andreas sighed, thinking she made a great deal of sense. “But she is very secretive,” he said. “As if… as if she is hiding something from me, though she assured me that she is not married nor betrothed. In fact, she says that she is meant for the veil.”

“Then that is why she has been secretive, I am sure,” Edward said. “You have asked uncomfortable questions, ones that are not your right to know. She is meant for the church.”

“But I want to speak with her father.”

Edward scratched his head, looking at his wife to see if she had anything to say about this impetuous man who would not be denied his wants. Cassiopeia took the hint.

“Tread carefully, Dray,” she said. “If the woman is guarded and has already told you that she is meant for the veil, then you do not want to push her too much. It might scare her away. You must be gentle when dealing with a woman you do not know – or even one you do.”

That was probably very true, though Andreas didn’t want to admit it. His aunt and uncle were giving him excellent advice. It was up to him to take it.

“She agreed to meet me tomorrow and tell me what I wish to know,” he said. “All I really want to know is her family name and where she lives so that I may speak with her father. Everything else… I can learn in time, I suppose.”

“A wise attitude,” Edward said as the food began to arrive. “And whatever you do, do not listen to de Velt. Women do not like to be spanked, forced, or otherwise, no matter what he says.”

Theodis had his spoon in his hand, licking his lips at the trencher of roast bird set before him. But he heard Edward and frowned. “That is not true,” he said. “I do not spank or force women. Well, not much. Not unless they want me to. Say, when did I become such a dolt when it comes to women in your eyes? I am not, you know.”

Edward started laughing, pouring his nephews more wine. “Tay, you are a gorgeous creature and you know it,” he said. “But do not advise Dray to push this lady into giving him what he wants. If she has already been hesitant, that kind of advice will only work against him.”

Theodis shrugged and plowed into his food with gusto. In fact, everyone at the table did except for Andreas.

For once, he couldn’t eat. Thoughts of Gavriella had his stomach tied up in knots, but they were knots of excitement.

He couldn’t wait until the morrow.

Andreas sat with his uncle and cousins long into the night, long after the table was cleared and everyone else went to bed. The conversation flowed, as did the wine, and they ended up speaking more about his mother and dead aunt. Edward spoke mostly of what he remembered about them. Even though he wasn’t much older than Andreas or William, he still remembered Athena and Helene, women that he had essentially grown up with.

When Andreas finally did go to bed, it was with thoughts of his mother on his mind.

He very much wished she was there to advise him.

Sleep did not come easily, however, and when it did, it was heavy. The wine had seen to that and Andreas awoke the next morning with a throbbing head, well after dawn. In a panic, and knowing that Gavriella would be waiting for him, he ignored his aching head and dressed quickly. He flew out of his uncle’s home and rushed through the dusty streets of London until he came to the narrow alleyway where The Fox and The Wolf was located.

Only barely composed, he entered the tavern and fully expected to see Gavriella waiting patiently for him. He knew that she would be annoyed that he was late, but he knew that he could soothe her. He was just excited to see her again, that beautiful woman with the stunning blue eyes. He was excited to