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“I wish I had been upfront with you. It would have saved everyone a lot of heartache. And I would have never caused the fae so much suffering. For those things, I apologize, but I cannot change the past. Only the future.” Those blue eyes held so much emotion. In the library, she wouldn’t allow herself to admit how much they’d reminded her of Wesley. Maybe that was why she was so willing to believe him.
“Sometimes you speak very properly, and sometimes you bark out your words.”
He shook his head. “Not always easy for me.”
“Understandable. Many things must be different.” She thought of the utensils at dinner. His obvious frustration. “But it seems like you would understand that you were hurting the fae, and yet you didn’t stop.”
“Needed the magic,” he said softly. “To shift.”
“You thought their magic could make you human?” Her first thoughts were of Ainslee. She’d had an encounter with the wolven the night before, but she hadn’t been back to her room since the encounter with the wolven in the library. Had he tried to get more magic out of the fae when his first attempt to woo Phillipa had failed? “You didn’t dare hurt Ainslee.”
“The little fae that’s here?”
“Yes. She’s been my best friend, my confidant, the only one who’s accepted me since you—my husband—disappeared.”
“No, I did not hurt her. I think she put a spell on me.” He chuckled. “Ever since I talked to her, I feel different. Less feral.”
“Leave it to her to enchant you instead of curse you.” Phillipa shook her head. “Why would you think you could ask her to help you claim me?”
“What outcome would you prefer, Lady Phillipa?”
“I do not know.”
“Shall I ask you again after our dance?”
“Possibly.” She pressed her lips together not to give the beast the satisfaction of her smile. “The orchestra is about to start soon. Countess Stalbridge will come looking for us if our seats are empty.”
“The countess has her hands full at this Ball,” he said.
“Master Bow will look for us.”
“Ah, yes. I think he’ll be pleased with what he finds.” The wolven stepped forward and held his paw out to Phillipa. “Would you do me the honor of sitting with me during the concert?”
“In addition to the dance?”
“If I’m lucky, I hope it’s in addition to the rest of my life. But I’ll start with a concert. And a dance.”
“That’s very optimistic.”
“Even a wicked wolven like me has dreams, my lady.”
She took his hand.
On the way back to the garden, she silently cursed himself. She was still so conflicted! No matter if this beast was a reincarnation of her husband, he’d hurt her friends. How could she reconcile that? And what about Ainslee, who was surely looking on from a discreet location, cursing her very existence? It wouldn’t surprise Phillipa if she emerged during the concert and tried to bring her back to her senses.
She chuckled softly, thinking of it.
“What’s making you smile, my lady?”
“I asked Ainslee to cast a spell to bring…” she shook her head.
He took her hands in his paws. “I believe we asked the little fae for exactly the same thing.”
They were back in the garden, and most of the attendees had already been seated. Phillipa was aware of the eyes on them when they entered, late, as a couple. The monsters and human guests would have no idea that she and the wolven might have shared a very important tie to the past, but many of them were aware of her plan to confront the beast.
She would probably never see any of them again after the Ball was over, she reminded herself. And if he really was Wesley, she had to give him the benefit of the doubt.
There were two seats open in the back. The wolven motioned for her to sit, and gave her an awkward bow before he took the seat beside her.
