Read Online A Hunt By Moonlight (Werewolves and Gaslight Book 1) by Shawna Reppert - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Shawna Reppert
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certain things remind you of that.”
“I feel like such a coward,” she whispered, fighting a rush of angry tears.
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “You are the bravest, boldest woman I know.”
She laughed, though it came out half a sob. “Most men would not consider that a compliment.”
“Their loss is my fortune.”
“It was getting better,” she said. “I thought that one day I might be able to put it from my mind. But now it’s worse than ever.”
“Because of the new killer.”
She nodded. “And yet, I feel like I don’t even have a right to be upset by it. I’m safe here, as safe as anyone can be. The poor girls walking home at night through the dark streets with no one to protect them are the ones who have to live with it every day.”
He rubbed soothing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. “One fear doesn’t negate the other, love.”
“The police are no closer to an answer.” She heard things, or Mr. Foster did. The Yard was baffled. Jones, they said, was working himself into a state. Dark circles under the eyes, and he looked like he'd dropped nearly a stone.
She hoped it was just the case. She cringed with guilt every time she remembered their conversation in Foster’s office. Though even if it were just the case troubling him, could he be right that there was some way that she and Richard could help?
“We have not heard from that Inspector Jones recently,” Richard said. “Odd." He gave her a quick look. "He didn’t seem the type to give up so readily.”
“Maybe he found himself another werewolf.”
“We both know how likely that is.”
Werewolves didn’t work with the police. But then werewolves didn’t have townhouses in the best parts of London and estates in the country, nor did they marry well-born heiresses. She knew where his thoughts were heading. Selfish to put his safety and their marriage before the safety of those girls, but she couldn’t help it. She couldn’t bear to lose someone else she loved.
“The police have been over and over the crime scenes. There’s nothing more to be done."
Richard frowned. “My senses are keener, especially in wolf form. The Inspector was right. Perhaps I could find something they missed.”
“Perhaps you could not. Perhaps you would be risking everything for nothing.”
“But if there’s a chance I could help, isn’t it worth the risk? Those girls, their families, they would surely say it is.” His blue eyes were earnest.
She looked away. “It’s two weeks to the next full moon. Perhaps something will turn up before then.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“We’ll have to face that as we come to it.”
He took her hands. “I have lived with the terror of discovery for so long that I am weary of the fear. I worry more about what would happen to you were my secret to be discovered. I suppose there’s no chance that you would swear to repudiate me in those circumstances, swear that you didn’t know my nature? You might not escape the taint on your name entirely, but you might lessen it somewhat, and you would escape prosecution for intent to violate the new marriage law.”
“I care little for what people say of me, else I would be spending my time bored to tears in drawing rooms, not brewing in my alchemy lab. And as for prosecution, let them try. I have a fine solicitor— he’s worked for my family for years. I think he’d enjoy the challenge.”
Richard squeezed her hands. “Your courage is one of the many things I love about you, but sometimes it scares me. Sometimes I wish, for your sake, that you continued to refuse my suit. I was selfish to pursue you.”
“You think I would be better off a spinster?” She tightened her lips in irritation at his misguided chivalry. "For I would never give up my interests for marriage, nor play the simpering fool to feed some suitor’s ego.”
“I love you for who you are, loved you almost from the beginning. Surely I am not unique
“I feel like such a coward,” she whispered, fighting a rush of angry tears.
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “You are the bravest, boldest woman I know.”
She laughed, though it came out half a sob. “Most men would not consider that a compliment.”
“Their loss is my fortune.”
“It was getting better,” she said. “I thought that one day I might be able to put it from my mind. But now it’s worse than ever.”
“Because of the new killer.”
She nodded. “And yet, I feel like I don’t even have a right to be upset by it. I’m safe here, as safe as anyone can be. The poor girls walking home at night through the dark streets with no one to protect them are the ones who have to live with it every day.”
He rubbed soothing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. “One fear doesn’t negate the other, love.”
“The police are no closer to an answer.” She heard things, or Mr. Foster did. The Yard was baffled. Jones, they said, was working himself into a state. Dark circles under the eyes, and he looked like he'd dropped nearly a stone.
She hoped it was just the case. She cringed with guilt every time she remembered their conversation in Foster’s office. Though even if it were just the case troubling him, could he be right that there was some way that she and Richard could help?
“We have not heard from that Inspector Jones recently,” Richard said. “Odd." He gave her a quick look. "He didn’t seem the type to give up so readily.”
“Maybe he found himself another werewolf.”
“We both know how likely that is.”
Werewolves didn’t work with the police. But then werewolves didn’t have townhouses in the best parts of London and estates in the country, nor did they marry well-born heiresses. She knew where his thoughts were heading. Selfish to put his safety and their marriage before the safety of those girls, but she couldn’t help it. She couldn’t bear to lose someone else she loved.
“The police have been over and over the crime scenes. There’s nothing more to be done."
Richard frowned. “My senses are keener, especially in wolf form. The Inspector was right. Perhaps I could find something they missed.”
“Perhaps you could not. Perhaps you would be risking everything for nothing.”
“But if there’s a chance I could help, isn’t it worth the risk? Those girls, their families, they would surely say it is.” His blue eyes were earnest.
She looked away. “It’s two weeks to the next full moon. Perhaps something will turn up before then.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“We’ll have to face that as we come to it.”
He took her hands. “I have lived with the terror of discovery for so long that I am weary of the fear. I worry more about what would happen to you were my secret to be discovered. I suppose there’s no chance that you would swear to repudiate me in those circumstances, swear that you didn’t know my nature? You might not escape the taint on your name entirely, but you might lessen it somewhat, and you would escape prosecution for intent to violate the new marriage law.”
“I care little for what people say of me, else I would be spending my time bored to tears in drawing rooms, not brewing in my alchemy lab. And as for prosecution, let them try. I have a fine solicitor— he’s worked for my family for years. I think he’d enjoy the challenge.”
Richard squeezed her hands. “Your courage is one of the many things I love about you, but sometimes it scares me. Sometimes I wish, for your sake, that you continued to refuse my suit. I was selfish to pursue you.”
“You think I would be better off a spinster?” She tightened her lips in irritation at his misguided chivalry. "For I would never give up my interests for marriage, nor play the simpering fool to feed some suitor’s ego.”
“I love you for who you are, loved you almost from the beginning. Surely I am not unique
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