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But she wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.
He’d never felt less like the man who’d won her over.
“Did your sister have a successful Season?” he asked.
“Very successful.” Phillipa swallowed. “Bernadette is to be married to a count in Cornwall.”
“Wonderful news. Will the wedding be soon?” Wesley was thankful that she was willing to indulge him in this polite conversation, like things were normal.
She nodded. “I haven’t been much involved in the plans. I must admit, it’s been hard for me to plan a wedding when…have you been in touch with your family?”
“Not recently.” Platters of food were being brought out, and it took everything Wesley had not to salivate. The succulent game, the roasted vegetables. It all smelled divine.
But as the lady next to him passed him the platter, he stared at the serving spoon. There was no way he’d be able to hold the platter and serve himself without dropping everything into his lap. The only clothes he had were the ones that Master Bow had made for him, and he’d already ripped his jacket from last night.
“Let me,” Phillipa said softly, her hand brushing against his paw as she took the platter from him.
Their gazes caught, but only for a moment before Phillipa concentrated her attention on filling Wesley’s plate.
“Thank you.”
“It must be hard, getting used to those.” She nodded toward his paws.
“Different.” He hated that it came out as a grunt. “Everything is.”
“I can imagine.” She took a delicate bite of her food. Wesley’s gaze was fixed on her lips. Oh, how he wanted to taste them. “Does your family know?”
“Yes.”
“How did they react?”
“Weren’t surprised.” Another grunt.
“I’m sorry if I’m asking about things I shouldn’t.”
He was thankful she was entertaining the possibility that he was Wesley. It could have all been an act to remain polite in front of the rest of the party. But it was more of a chance than he’d thought he’d get with her after the encounter in the library.
“Ask anything you want,” he said. “My family knew this could happen. It is a virus that afflicts some of us. I had an uncle that turned, and there are others.”
He lowered his snout to his plate, taking a bite. He felt self-conscious, all these women and monsters dressed in finery with the utmost manners…but a lizardman was having his lady feed him, and others were eating straight from their plates.
He turned to find Phillipa glaring at him. “Why am I learning of this now, wolven?”
“I always knew this could be a possibility, but I was too arrogant to believe it could happen to me.” How foolish he’d been. “The transformation began without warning. I was still in disbelief, and then it was too late.”
“Your family never told me they had spoken with you. Only that they were unsure of your whereabouts and reluctant to declare your disappearance anything but that,” Phillipa said as she refilled his plate from the next platter passed to her.
“I asked them not to tell you.”
Her mouth opened.“Why not?”
“Because there was a chance I could shift back to human and come back to you.” He lowered his gaze. “Needed magic.”
“Ah yes, you were too busy torturing the fae in the woods to let them tell me about your condition.” She scoffed. “Wolven, I almost ruined myself waiting for you to come gallantly back into my life. I held onto hope when everyone told me that it was futile. My life would’ve been much easier if I had known what had happened. Even if your family had told me you were dead.”
She stifled a sob.
“I’m so sorry, Phillipa. I never meant to cause you any pain.”
