Page 37 of Wolf's Keep

Anne frowned, shaking out the clothes she’d brought, folding them neatly and placing them in the chests that now lined the wall.

“Anne.” Erin swiveled around to watch the old cook. “Did you know Gaharet goes for a walk alone in the forest every night?”

“Oh yes, love.” Anne shuffled across the room with a chemise.

“That’s where I first met him, you know, in the forest.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“He was naked.”

“You have seen him naked?” Anne straightened out an under-dress before placing it in the chest on top of the chemise.

Erin studied the embroidered hem of her dress with avid interest. She’d seen him naked all right. More than seen him. A memory she wouldn’t soon forget.

“Did you like what you saw? Cannot say I would mind such a sight myself, even at my age.” Anne chuckled. “He is a fine-looking boy is our Gaharet.”

“Looks aren’t everything.”

“No, but there is more to him than being handsome, mark my words.” Anne picked up a burgundy overdress, holding it up for Erin to see. “This one would look lovely on you.”

“But don’t you think it odd him running around in the woods at night not wearing any clothes?” said Erin, barely giving the dress a second glance.

Anne raised her eyebrows at her. “Says the girl who turned up in the middle of the night in strange clothes, at the keep of a man she had never met before, with only a passing knowledge of the common tongue?”

Erin stared at Anne, eyes wide. “I did, and you never said a word. Nobody said a word. Why is that?”

“Not my place.” Anne shrugged. “And I have seen far stranger things in my years.” Erin opened her mouth to respond, but Anne continued, “It is nice having a young woman here. These halls have been quiet for far too long. Gaharet’s been so dour with all the recent trouble, and yet yesterday I heard him laugh for the first time in a long time. Somethingyousaid had him laughing. You being here is good for him.” She sent a sly look in Erin’s direction. “Maybe good for you, too.” She picked up the last dress, revealing Erin’s jeans, her T-shirt and boots. Erin stared. How did Anne get those out from under Gaharet’s nose?

“It is obvious, if you do not mind my saying, some man has hurt you, not treated you right. I do not know what he did to you. It is not my business to be poking my nose in, but Gaharet is not that man. Judge him if you must, but do it on his own merit, not by comparing him to someone else.”

Erin flushed and looked away, her gaze falling to her drawing. Was it that obvious? Even before she’d met Gaharet, she’d judged him, pegged him as arrogant and a womanizer. Had she done him a disservice? She’d always prided herself on her ability to see past the surface veneer of men. To see them for who they truly were, ignoring their charm, their good physiques, their position in society, their fancy cars and expensive suits. Had she, though? Seen the real Gaharet? Was she so blinded by her own bias, by her experience with her mother’s lovers, she’d judged himbecauseof those things?

Erin looked up at Anne, chewing on her bottom lip. Could she, dare she, get to know Gaharet? See him as Anne saw him?

Anne placed the dress in the chest and shut the lid. “Take a closer look, my dear. If you do, I believe youwillfind a man worth pinning your hopes on.”

Erin didn’t answer.

“You want to know what he gets up to at night?” Anne scooped up the jeans, T-shirt and boots, depositing them in Erin’s arms. “Go see for yourself.” She gave Erin a steady stare, turned and waddled toward the door. “And that expression on his face,” she said, turning back to Erin. “The one in your drawing. I see that when he looks at you.”

Chapter Sixteen

“I hope you know what you are doing, Anne.” Gascon scowled at Anne as she pottered about the kitchen, busy cleaning dishes, ignoring the dark looks her brother sent her way. “Seigneur Gaharet gave explicit instructions the girl could not have her shoes back, and under no circumstances could she leave.”

“I know.”

“You have given her back her shoesandher original clothes. Now you are asking me to ensure the gates are unmanned.”

“Yes.”

“You have encouraged her to follow Seigneur Gaharet into the forest. What were you thinking? You know what happens when he goes out into the forest. What if she sees him? What if she finds out what he is?”

Sighing, Anne put down the plate and turned to face her brother, her hands on her hips. “She could not sneak up behind him no matter how hard she tried, you know that. And what if she does see him in his other form? She will need to know anyway when he takes her as his mate.”

“You do not know that is his plan.”

Anne stared at Gascon. “Have you gone blind, brother? Do you not see the way he looks at her? The way she looks at him?”

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