The Tiger Within Read online

  “I will not leave her. Do you realize what almost happened last night? You sir did not protect her. I will not leave her again. The banns be damned! You know there will be protests from every changeling in the city. Our marriage will have to be done differently.”

  “Is an heir so important that you would have her shamed for it?

  “I will not allow her to be shamed by anyone. She is to be my wife and my mate. She will be adored.”

  “If you persist she will be seen as a doxy and nothing more.”

  “No one will know. It was done well enough last night.”

  “I can smell that you did not dishonor her, but how much more can you stand? I know the pull a mate has on a man. It was the same with my Charlotte. You will not be able to deny yourself. You must leave her in our care.”

  “NO!” Henry roared. “I will take no chance that she will be harmed. If I’d been two minutes later, my life would be over!”

  It will not take long for the banns to be read. Allow us this.”

  “No. I will take care of things. She will not be dishonored and I will refrain from taking her until we are wed, but you should make preparations. She will be my wife as soon as it can be arranged. I would prefer it be done in the safety of my lands, and I am unable to wait any longer. ”

  “We will see.” Her father said and she was sure she’d heard laughter in his voice.

  “What of the boy who attacked her?” Henry asked

  “I took care of him personally. It was rejuvenating. I haven’t hunted in ages.”

  “So he is dead then?”

  “Yes. Unfortunately he tried to use a knife on me and in her attempt to save me, Mrs. Chambers was injured,” he sighed and rubbed his temple. “I think we should postpone our discussion until tomorrow.”

  “Things will only grow worse. We should get it all out and done.”

  “She needs no more upset today,” her father insisted.

  “We shall see,” was all Henry said before he walked away.

  Her father had killed for her? Her maid was hurt? Her mind darkened again. Then she felt his presents there in her mind. He soothed her and she felt her body relax and she drifted to sleep again.

  The sun was streaming in through her balcony door when she awoke again she found a note lying on his pillow.

  “My beloved Amelia,

  I regret most grievously that I am unable to be here

  when you awaken. You will never know how I treasure our night together, even though it was only spent sleeping. I have business to attend to this morning, but I would very much like to share the afternoon with you. I will be around to collect you at three. Please know that I am thinking of you and that I do most undoubtedly love you.

  Henry”

  She held his letter to her heart and felt contentment surround her. She had finally found where her heart belonged. She loved him.

  She quickly rose and began dressing. She would spend her day with her mother. Perhaps they could go to the shops this morning. She would love a new bonnet to wear this afternoon. Perhaps she could find a gift for Henry too. She could surprise him with some thing special, but what? She sighed and struggled with her dress. She wondered where her abigail was and then remembered that she had been injured. After several exhausting attempts to dress, she finally went downstairs to find her mother.

  After her mother helped her dress properly she explained that Mrs. Chamber’s had been injured by the young man who broke into her room and she was resting for a couple of days. Amelia sighed. She was grateful to hear that the older woman would recover, but she also secretly was elated that she would not be lectured on her behavior for a while.

  After they had dressed and left word telling the men where they had gone, Amelia and her mother set out for the shops and a much desired day of carefree treasure seeking.

  Several hours later an exhausted Charlotte made her way up the front walk with her daughter. Amelia was overjoyed. She’d bought a new bonnet to go with her favorite walking dress. She’d found a simple miser purse for Henry. She had searched the whole of London for the perfect one. She’d found it just before the noon hour. She and her mother had then gone to eat the noon meal. Amelia had enjoyed the attentions of several men. She felt young and beautiful and very desirable, even if her skin burned from their attentions. She had thought little of the ordeal of early this morning. She felt safe and loved. She also wanted to see Henry. She ached for him. Her skin burned for his touch and she grew more anxious with every passing moment.

  Chapter Nine

  Laird Henry Stewart arrived at Talbot house at half past one. He was hoping to see Amelia. He had worried over her all day. He had been so concerned; in fact, that he had cut his business short and didn’t even stop at White’s before rushing to her home. He had made the necessary preparations for their journey and hope a wedding could be arranged quickly upon their arrival.

  He was immediately shown to the library where a very worried Richard paced.

  “Lord Euston, I trust that I am not intruding. I simply could not wait another moment to see Lady Amelia again.” His friendly banter disappeared though when he met Lord Euston’s tortured eyes. “What has happened?”

  “Probably nothing. Amelia and Charlotte decided to go to the shops this morning and they have yet to return.”

  “When were they expected?” Henry asked with barely restrained hostility.

  “There is really no way of knowing, but I felt sure they would be home before the noon meal.” Richard replied showing obvious fear for his family.

  “I will find them.” Henry raged as he stormed from the library. As he reached the front door it swung open and a laughing Amelia and Charlotte entered looking extremely pleased with them selves.

  Henry scented the air. Someone had touched her? Rage built in his heart until he thought he would catch fire.

  Amelia’s heart sank and she felt her joy seep away when she saw Henry’s angry face.

  “What is the matter?”

  “Much.” He took Amelia by the arm and half dragged her into the now empty library. Her father had gone as soon as the women had returned.

  “Henry, you’re hurting me! Unhand me this instant! I will not be handled by you or any one else. You have no right to treat me thusly. I have done nothing to deserve your anger!”

  He bent and stood nose to nose with her. “Don’t ‘Henry’ me. What the hell were you thinking? Did you learn nothing from what happened this morning? Did you think it was wise to entice another man to try to take you from me? How many will have to die before you understand that you are mine?”

  She slapped him, hard. “How dare you blame this on me, My Laird Stewart! From what I understand, none of this would have happened if you had simply left me alone. I spent hours walking around trying to find something nice for you! I hope you enjoy it my Laird, for it will be the last kind thing I ever do for you.” She curtsied mockingly and threw her gift at him and turned to leave.

  “Stop,” the command was vocal and mental, she was powerless to disobey. She stopped, but she was not happy about it. She turned tormented eyes on him. Her tears streamed down her face, but she stood completely still. “You will not walk away from me Amelia. I must have you. The lives of many depend on it”

  “I will not spend my life with you. You instructed me to listen to my heart? Well, it is simply too broken. All it is able to do is bleed, but I do feel it warning me that if I do not escape you now I will know little happiness for the remainder of my days. I will die before I give myself to you, my Laird.” She then concentrated and blocked him from her mind, and turned and left him standing there.

  He stared at her as she left the room. His head pounded from her expulsion of him from her mind. He realized what he had done and his world crumbled. He looked at the simple miser purse that lay on the floor in front of him. She had bought a gift for him. She had searched for something that would please him. He was a fool. He picked up her gift and examined it. It was ma
de of orange silk and beaded with black beads. He smiled to himself. It had tiger stripes. He placed it in the pocket of his trousers.

  He chased her again and caught her at her bedroom door. He lifted her in his arms and moved inside her room before he closed and locked it behind him. He walked to her bed and laid her down.

  She stared up at him with open hostility.

  “Get out!” She screamed.

  “No. It is time you understand what is expected of you Amelia.”

  “I am not interested, my Laird.” She turned her head and his blood froze. There was a slight rash on her neck.

  “Who touched you Amelia? Who touched your neck?” He smelled it again. He only now realized why he had been so angry down stairs.

  “I really do not think it is any of your business, my Laird.” She touched the area and winced.

  “That is where you are wrong, my love. I will find the bastard who touched you and I will enjoy breaking him. If you tell me his name, I might let him live.”

  “Why does it matter? Mother and I stopped for the noon meal and we visited with several gentlemen. There was nothing improper about it.”

  He leaned down and sniffed her neck. “He touched you to irritate me. It worked. He knows I will come for him. This,” he said as he ran his tongue up her neck and across her shoulder, which he had bared, “is where I will leave my mark. Remember? This is where I have placed my scent. He tried to replace it. He tried to replace ME! How do you feel? Did his touch please you? Would you prefer it to mine?” As he spoke he continued to stroke her neck with his slightly roughened tongue. “I will have your answerer.”

  “No, I did not enjoy his touch. It burned and now it hurts. I became ill and was unable to eat. I did not know what he was doing. I didn’t understand why I was feeling that way. Why would he knowingly provoke you?” She spoke before she could stop herself. She felt compelled to explain herself. “Stop controlling me! Get out of my head!” She screamed and fought against him.

  He restrained her hands above her head. “I love you Amelia, but there is much more to this than you understand. Will you allow me to explain now?”

  “No. I do not care. I want you to leave me alone,” her breath was coming fast and her voice was barely above a whisper

  “Would you rather I do something else with my mouth Amelia? How is your neck?” He asked as he ran his fingers along the now flawless area. “You see, I have a talented mouth Amelia.”

  “No, don’t touch me.” She said it, but she did not believe it herself. Her neck was completely well. She didn’t understand so she held on to her anger. She concentrated and closed her mind to him. He winced.

  “Please, do not shut me out. I need to be able to comfort you right now. This is a terrible time for you. Your emotions will heighten your discomfort. If you close me out of your mind I will not be able to calm you and your change could come with out your consent. It could be very inconvenient to change during a crush.”

  “I will not allow you to control me.” She said looking into his eyes. The pain she saw there moved her. “Does it hurt you? When I shut you out? And how can I change if you have not had me? I thought that had to happen first.”

  “Yes, it hurts me. It hurts in many ways. I have more power than most. I am much older than I seem, my love. I could command men to do anything and they do not even think to resist me, but you, my Love, have been made for me and you can resist me. I do not wish to control you. It is my natural instinct to protect you and keep you calm. That is all I seek. That is the responsibility of a mate. I am able to even take your pain upon myself. As for your change…I am not as confident in my ability to resist you as I once was. Not only that, but there are many ways in which you will change. Already your eyes alternate when you are angry or upset. It is quite distracting. Trust me. Your mother is different and I am unsure how that will effect your change.”

  “I cannot lose myself in you. I must preserve my heart at least until we are wed and safe.”

  “I can see that, perhaps I can calm you in another way this evening.” As he said it he took her mouth. He ran his hands down her body and caressed one breast. He did not try to feed her desire. He wanted to calm her. He ran his hands over her body, gently stroking her. She shuttered out her breath and as she began to give herself over to him she relaxed.

  He felt her mind open to him and his heart ached at the pain that hit his mind. He concentrated all of his thoughts to calm her and she soon fell asleep.

  Henry rose from her bed and began taking off his clothes. He folded them and placed them on a chair near the balcony doors. He stood naked in the crisp evening air and stared across the garden. His body screamed for release, but there was much he must do before she awoke. He paced back to her bed and sniffed her neck. He knew that scent. He wasn’t looking forward to destroying the young lion, he liked him, but he could not allow the cub to dishonor him in this fashion. He changed quickly and leaped from her balcony. He made his way stealthily to White’s. He knew the cub would be there for another hour. Henry crouched in the shadows and waited.

  Darkness was falling when the young Lord exited White’s and turned onto the lane to make his way home. He heard a low growl and froze.

  “You knew I would come for you.” Henry stated in a low voice.

  “I want her. I have loved her for years! You cannot know that she will not be able to mate with another. She deserves a chance to choose. Her mother is an anomaly.” He said, desperation swirled in his eyes. “Amelia would give me beautiful cubs.”

  Henry shook his head. “You know what I must do.”

  “I know you will try.”

  Henry sighed and changed quickly. He used his mind to control the Young Lord’s actions. Although his face showed horror his body could not fight the command in his mind. He walked quietly into the jaws of the beast he sought to usurp.

  Chapter Ten

  Henry leapt back up on Amelia’s balcony. She was still sleeping. He sat beside her bed on his haunches and watched her sleep. His tail twitched as he watched her.

  Amelia slowly came awake with a feeling of being watched. She opened her eyes and the connected with Henry’s, but it was not Henry who sat beside her bed. It was his tiger.

  “Hello, my Laird. May I be so bold as to inquire of your where abouts?”

  “No.” He spoke to her mind.

  “Well, It does seem that if you are so completely concerned with my safety that you would not leave me sleeping with the balcony door open and no one to protect me. Anyway, I am quite rested now. I think I will go down to supper.” It was odd talking to this creature and understanding his responses, and if she’d been less angry she would have been amazed by it. In her anger however, it seemed completely normal.

  She was right. He had been so concerned by the other man’s smell that he had not been thinking clearly. “You were safe.” He tilted his head. “Are you not curious about me? You have not seen me for many years. I fear the memories have left you. This is what you are too, you understand.”

  “I fear there are few memories left. Feelings mostly.” She smiled, “are you saying that I am to become a tiger?” She lifted a single silver-blonde eyebrow and cocked her head to the side and looked at him skeptically.

  “Yes,” he growled, “and I grow anxious to see her.”

  “Will you allow me to touch you My Laird?”

  “Yes, I would also allow you to address me as Henry again, if you please.”

  “We shall see.”

  Amelia was intrigued. She went to her knees in front of him and he placed his enormous head in her lap and lay down. She stroked his fur and explored him. She touched him everywhere she could reach and then placed his head on the floor and explored him further. She rubbed her hands down his belly and across his flanks. She even opened his mouth and touched his teeth. He couldn’t resist running his tongue along her fingers. He was grateful she found no evidence of his earlier activities or her young suitor. She laughed. She was so ent
ranced with him that she never thought of him as a man, only a magnificent beast, until he once again spoke to her mind.

  “I am only so strong, my love. Your stroking hands are searing my resolve not to have you until we are married. I want to feel your hands on my flesh.”

  Amelia blushed and abruptly stopped her exploration putting her hands behind her back.

  “Forgive my boldness, my Lord. I was lost in my explorations. I meant to cause you no discomfort.”

  He growled menacingly. “I asked you to call me Henry.”

  “And I am refusing. And stop growling at me. I am thoroughly unimpressed.” Then she actually had the nerve to smack his nose, like a common house cat.

  “Watch your fingers, my love, or you may lose them.”

  She laughed at him. Him. He had just killed a man for flirting with her. Men cowered at his feet, but the woman he would mate did not fear him.

  “I’m sure my fingers are quite safe. I fear all of the cream in the house will need to be locked away though,” she said as she looked thoughtfully at him.

  “You know how much I love sweet cream. I didn’t get nearly enough this morning.” He growled again and began to change. She screeched and ran to the door only to be caught by two incredibly strong and incredibly bare arms.

  “I am no kitten. I am a man and a predator. You cannot run from this Amelia. This is what you are. You must learn to accept it.”

  “No! I cannot! I accept the man and the animal, but I do not wish to see the transformation. It frightens me. Please, do not force me to watch you.”