Chapter 14

Billy stood pressed against the side of a building, across the street from a boarded-up warehouse beside the Thames, as he continued to observe the woman hiding inside that dilapidated building.

A building situated very close to where Moreland’s body had been discovered on the riverbank.

Mrs. Hodges no longer looked like the tidy and cleanly dressed woman who had worked as a cook in Wulferston House. Her hair, no longer hidden beneath a plain white mobcap, now hung about her dirt-streaked face in wispy brown-and-gray strands. Her clothes, usually a clean and pristine white, now looked creased and water stained.

The latter, Billy knew, could have occurred when Mrs. Hodges dragged Moreland’s dead body to the riverside and pushed him into the sluggishly flowing water.

He had waited until after Wulf’s departure before leaving Wulferston House in his quest to locate and ask Mrs. Hodges why she had falsely accused him of killing Moreland.

It hadn’t been as difficult as he had thought it would be. Moreland’s relatives, having had overnight to consider their recently unemployed situation, were far more talkative to Billy than they had been with the Earl of Stonyhurst the previous day.

Billy had been grateful enough for the information they provided that he had told them to go to the Earl of Rugby’s as that gentleman was now badly in need of the servants to run his household. Their wages would perhaps not be readily forthcoming, but they would have a roof over their heads and be fed three meals a day.

More importantly, Billy now knew exactly why Mrs. Hodges had decided to attack and kill Raymond Moreland.

Billy could only guess that she had chosen to implicate him because of the friction his presence in the house had created. Especially between himself and Moreland. Which in Mrs. Hodges’s eyes no doubt, made Billy a suitable scapegoat to be accused of Moreland’s murder.

He—

Billy stilled at the feel of something sharp and pointed prodding him in the back.

“Thought you was clever, din’t ya, sneaking up on me.” Mrs. Hodges’s voice rasped close to his ear. “No doubt with the intention of telling ya fancy friends me whereabouts and ’aving one of ’em finish me off afore I ’as a chance to testify agin ya in court.”

The fact the older woman had been able to creep up on him without his knowledge was indication that Billy had foolishly allowed his thoughts to distract him from continuing to watch his quarry.

“I have no intention of allowing anyone to finish you off, Mrs. Hodges. Certainly not before my innocence has been proven, in any case,” Billy added derisively.

“Ya always was a cheeky young bastard.” The ex-cook sounded almost admiring. “Seems almost a pity to put an end to such a spirited one as you.”

“I do not think that onerous task to be in your itinerary for today, Mrs. Hodges,” a voice very familiar to Billy drawled behind them.

Resulting in what Billy guessed was the knife held by Mrs. Hodges being pressed more firmly into his flesh. So much so, Billy was sure it had sliced completely through his clothing and pierced his skin.

Yes, he was sure he could now feel a trickle of hot blood dripping down his back.

“If you proceed to push that knife any further into Mr. Brown, I shall not hesitate to shoot you dead,” Wulf had obviously seen the increased pressure of that knife, and Billy’s wince as the blade sliced into him.

Billy had no idea how Wulf came to be here, how he could possibly have found him in the maze of the London slums. But he was very grateful that Wulf had done so when he felt the pressure of the knife ease before it was removed completely.

He was unprepared for the resounding echo of a pistol being fired so near to him that his ears literally rang from the reverberation.

* * *

“I have a good mind to instruct that you are never to leave this house again unless you are under my escort,” Wulf fumed as he paced his bedchamber, where his physician was currently examining and dressing the puncture wound in Billy’s back.

A cut that young man had not owned up to until the situation at the dockside had been settled and the two of them were able to return to Wulferston House together.

Something Wulf had not been sure would happen after Billy had gone out seeking Mrs. Hodges on his own.

Mrs. Hodges’s corpse had been taken away to the mortuary. Henry, having fired the pistol shot which killed her when the woman raised her knife with the intention of plunging it deep into the side of Billy’s neck, had instantly been declared innocent of any wrongdoing by both Wulf, Stonyhurst, and the constable who had attended the incident. All accepted that Henry’s actions had been in defense of an unarmed man.

Wulf felt nothing but gratitude to Henry, and he would be forever in the other man’s debt for having saved Billy’s life.

Miller had done exactly as he had said he would and sent word to his brother to meet up with Wulf and the earl at Stonyhurst House. He had also instructed his brother to take his pistol with him. It was as well that he had, because Wulf was convinced they would not have found Billy in time if not for Henry’s knowledge and acquaintances within the slum community.

It was also how an armed Henry, rather than Wulf, came to be the one to shoot Mrs. Hodges.

“It is only a flesh wound, Your Grace,” the doctor reassured him as he repacked his medical bag in preparation for taking his leave.

Wulf clenched his hands into fists, angry still at the thought of Billy being harmed in any way. “A flesh wound that would not be there at all if Mr. Brown had not behaved completely contrary to how he knew I wished him to.” If Wulf had his way, he would wrap Billy up in some of the cotton wool the doctor had used to cleanse the wound, before he then tied that young gentleman to their bed for the rest of his impetuous life.

Wulf considered Billy’s wound, no matter how slight, to be an unforgiveable mark on his smooth and perfect skin.

Which was not the fault of the doctor. “Forgive me,” he apologized to the older man. “I am afraid Mr. Brown has a habit of embroiling himself in situations that are detrimental to his continuing good health.”

The elderly doctor gave him a reassuring smile. “It is only a small cut. It should heal within a few days and without any complications. I doubt it will even leave a noticeable scar. On your instruction, I also called upon Mr. Henry Miller earlier today, and I’m pleased to tell you that he is well on his way to a recovering from the concussion he received as the result of a blow to the head several weeks ago.”

“I saw Mr. Miller myself this afternoon, and he assured me as much.” Wulf smiled and nodded politely.

Inwardly, Wulf was not feeling in the least polite. What he really wanted to do was place the uncharacteristically silent young man currently lying on top of their freshly made bed across his thighs before he administered a prolonged spanking to that young man’s arse.

Whether Billy’s bottom was still sore from their lovemaking during the previous night or otherwise!

As he had no intention of letting Billy out of his sight for the foreseeable future, he instead rang for Miller to escort the doctor downstairs.

Billy continued to lie on the bed, head back on the pillow and his eyes closed, during the time of Miller’s arrival and the doctor’s departure.

Wulf drew in several deep breaths once the doctor had gone, hoping to tamp down the irrational anger which was primarily caused by his fear for Billy’s life.

Once he was sure his temper had abated, he moved to sit on the side of the bed and take one of Billy’s hands into both his own. “I did not mean any of what I said, love,” he cajoled when Billy’s hand remained limp in his own. “I was worried and fearful for your life earlier, a fear which I readily admit has still not completely left me. When someone is as worried as I have been about you, they tend to say stupid things,” he added when Billy made no response.

The ghost of a smile did curve Billy’s still-silent lips at Wulf’s admission.

“I would never try to stop you in any way from being the joyful and outgoing young man that you are.” Wulf forged ahead with his appeal. “But damn it, you scared me half to death when I returned home and found you had gone out,” he admitted shakily. “I had an instant image of you inside my head, wearing that damned red jacket and lying in a disgusting puddle in a dirty street, your eyes wide and unseeing. Beside you lay the instrument responsible for the bloody and deathly blow to your head. Billy, speak to me, damn it, before I lose my wits completely!” he pleaded when there was still no response from the younger man.

“Mrs. Hodges was really Mrs. Moreland,” Billy finally stated evenly, his eyes remaining closed. “She killed her husband because when the servants were told to leave this house two days ago, she discovered that Moreland was involved in an affair with her own niece, Rose, and that he had invited Rose to leave with him rather than her.”

Wulf already knew all that from Stonyhurst, the earl having found the marriage of Moreland and Mrs. Hodges having taken place in one of the London boroughs twenty years ago. As most households did not employ married couples, the pair had chosen to keep their marriage a secret. It was a connection Rose must have known about, being the cook’s niece, but had obviously chosen to ignore when she began an affair with her aunt’s husband.

“If you knew about that, why did you put yourself in danger by confronting her on your own?” Wulf demanded to know.

Billy shuddered. “I underestimated her.” He shook his head. “If you, the earl, and Henry had not arrived when you did, I believe the image you had in your head might have come true. Except I believe I would have died of a knife wound rather than a blow to the head. No doubt one Mrs. Hodges would have claimed to have delivered in self-defense after saying I had attempted to kill her to stop her from giving evidence against me.”

“I would never have allowed such a defense to stand,” Wulf rasped. “Instead, I would have made it my life’s mission to watch her hang for having taken you away from me.”

Billy looked at him, at last, his eyes an intense and clear green. “I saw our future in that moment, Wulf,” he said gruffly. “Me dead, you once again alone in this big house, with no knowledge of how I feel about you. All because I had once again not listened to you when you advised caution regarding seeking out Mrs. Hodges. That situation shall not be allowed to continue.” He sat up higher in the bed before lifting his hand and cradling the side of Wulf’s pale face. “I love you, Wulf. I have loved you from the instant I first looked upon your stern and beautiful face.” He gave a shaky smile to accompany the admission.

An admission which made Wulf’s own heart soar. “I love you too, Billy, and it is my dearest wish that you will become my beloved partner and companion for the rest of our lives. Do you think you could consent to do that?”

* * *

Could Billy spend the rest of his life loving this man?

As Wulf’s beloved partner and companion?

“I can do that.” He nodded. “Would you want to marry me one day, in the same way that your two friends have married Toby and Christopher?” Billy trembled inside as he made the request.

“I would be honored to be your husband as soon as the arrangements for the private ceremony on Sheffield’s estate can be made,” Wulf accepted huskily.

“In that case…” Billy moved up onto his knees, both his hands now cradling the sides of Wulf’s face. “I would be equally as honored to be your beloved partner and companion for the rest of our lives.”

“My love,” Wulf groaned hungrily as their lips met in a celebration of that love.

It wasn’t until later, much later, when Wulf’s wits had returned to him that he remembered what else he had to tell Billy.

“Darling.” He looked down to where Billy’s tousled head was resting against his bare shoulder, their naked bodies completely entwined beneath the bedclothes.

“Changed you mind already?” Billy came back cheekily.

“I will never change my mind about wanting to be with you!” Wulf stated vehemently.

“Just teasing.”

“Well, do not do so on that particular subject.” Wulf drew in a ragged breath. “Damn it, I shall not wait for the ceremony, but instead pledge, here and now, that I shall love and remain faithful to you for the rest of our lives together.”

Billy moved to lean on his elbow, his face now on a level with Wulf’s. “I still find it difficult to believe that a man such as you could ever love someone like me.”

“A man such as I?” Wulf scoffed. “One who has been without love all his life and now abounds with its warmth? Because of you. Only because of you.”

“You know what I mean, love.”

“Yes, I do. And I wish for you to put those thoughts from your mind immediately. Before I met you, I was alone and so very lonely. Now my heart is full of love for you and our future together. I will never give that up, for any reason.”

The two of them kissed long and deeply, a sharing of love that was endless and eternal.

Except Wulf knew there was still something he had to say to Billy. “There is something I must tell you.”

Billy eyed him warily. “What might that be?”

“The Earl of Stonyhurst was not the only person I visited this morning.”

“No?”

Wulf sincerely hoped that Billy would be appreciative of his news rather than angry or disappointed in him.

There was only one way to find out. “It would seem, my darling Billy, that you were wrong in the assertion you once made to me.”

“Which one?” his lover came back.

“You were not named for your paternal grandfather after all, or your father either for that matter, but instead you bear the name of your maternal grandfather.”

“My maternal grandfather?”

Wulf nodded. “William Robbin, the Earl of Billingsley.”