Page 89 of The Empire and the Wolf King

He took in a deep breath. “The director of the last movie did not appreciate that I… I had an affair with his wife.”

“As the Queen Mother, I already kent this, twas allanyonetalked about. Please note: I still invited ye tae come tae the castle last night.”

He shrugged. “Noted. I did not think about that.”

“Twas verra poor reasoning, tae hae an affair with her, yer career might never recover.”

“I know, it was not very wise. But… if you think about it, Mairead, she is the one who had an affair — I was not married.Shemaybe should have been more prudent.”

I laughed. “Ye, the handsome, sexy Wilfred Weaver, take nae responsibility?”

“Not for their marriage, no, but I did destroy my career, I… yes, I am responsible for that. I went from having everything, drawing large crowds, to nothing. People gawk, but not in the good way.”

His handsome face grew dark.

I watched him for a moment. “Tis why ye came when ye were called, ye need me tae help resurrect yer career.”

He nodded. “It cannot hurt.”

I said, “See that painting over there?”

He looked at it. “The Picasso?”

“Aye, that one is of my likeness. I was his lover and his muse for many years, but now…” I shook my head. “I used tae attend parties all the time, but I keep aging, the time travel is unwieldy, my friends mention that I seem… older. I spend a great deal of time alone now.”

He said, “We are a pair, two fabulous people with all we could want and yet we find ourselves, alone. At least we are together.” He raised his glass and added, “Age is just a state of mind.”

I chuckled. “Ye would say that, ye are considerably younger than I.”

He said, “I think you are hot, Mairead, rich as hell, powerful, and kind of frightening. You are the Queen Mother and you were the muse to one of the greatest artists in the history of?—”

“Thegreatest artist.”

“…making you one ofthegreatest women in the history of the world.”

I looked him over and said, “Ye are verra busy ingratiating yerself with me, I daena like tae be lied tae.”

He said, “I am not lying, I might be over complimenting you, Mairead, but… can I be perfectly honest?”

“Of course, I prefer it.”

“I like your money and your power, I’d like to keep you company. You have divulged some secrets and shared your bed with me, I think you would like to keep my company too. I mean, why not, with me on your arm you raise your own desirability — we can be a mutual help to each other. I will look good on your arm, and you will bring me more fame.” He grinned as he leaned nonchalantly on my desk and opened another chocolate. He aimed it at me as I opened my mouth, he tossed it in, and I chewed.

He grinned. “We will both be less friendless.”

I watched him, cocky and sure of himself.

I leaned beside him on the desk and looked down on my fine shoes. “Perhaps we ought tae marry, Wilfrey.”

He raised his brow again. “You are full of surprises, Mairead. I thought you would never marry again.”

“When did I tell ye that?”

“When we went to the movie premiere for the Shadow of Nothingness you mentioned it. You were married before, you would ‘never marry again’ is, I believe, how you put it.”

“I hae grown, perhaps.”

“That was mere months ago, what changed?”

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