Chapter 5

I showered and dressed in some jeans and an old t-shirt that I had left here.  Not a common outfit for me, but they would do until I got to my room.

I headed out and set off towards the stairs that would take me to the family’s living area of the house.

“Master Bournville might I have a word?”

I spun round to see Duncan, our head butler standing before me with his head bowed.

“Of course,” I said and followed him into his office.

I liked Duncan.  He had been with the family a long time and had earned our respect and trust.

“I’m sorry to bother you but I just wanted to confirm a few details about Saturday.”

“Ok, sure, what do you need to know?”  I had no issue with discussing Saturday’s ball with Duncan but I did think it was a little odd of him to ask me about it.  My mum and dad usually dealt with all the logistics. I merely turned up, and quite frankly they were lucky I even did that sometimes.

“I was hoping you would just take a quick look over the seating plans and make sure they look ok,” Duncan said, pulling out a huge plan and laying it down over his desk.

I looked over at Duncan wondering whether he felt ok.  What did I know about seating plans?

He kept his eyes firmly on the plans so I went round and stood next to him to take a look.

It all looked pretty standard to me so I nodded my head while I swept my gaze over the bewildering number of tables and names.

Of course, I hadn’t heard of most of the names, as the whole point of the ball was to introduce me to  female werewolves that I hadn’t met before. My eyes glanced over the plans until my gaze landed on the family table.

I squinted at the names.

No.  Surely not.

“Um, Duncan, does that say ‘Emily Hartley’ in the seat next to mine?”  I knew the answer to my question because I could see it, but somehow I didn’t trust my mind.  Surely my dad wouldn’t have invited a Hartley.

Duncan swallowed nervously but remained silent.

Suddenly his question made sense.  “Is this what you wanted to show me?  Who is she coming with?” I quickly scanned the other names on the table.

Gerald Hartley.  Uncle to Emily and Brother to Archie who was the alpha of the Hartley pack.

“Why would he invite them?” I asked Duncan.  Like I said, Duncan was a trusted member of the family and dad would often confide in him.  Duncan often knew about things before I did. Not that it bothered me. I knew that dad would go to Duncan because Duncan couldn't argue back like I would.

Duncan cleared his throat nervously.  “I think he’s trying to finally bring the packs back together.”

I let out a snort of derision.  Surely there was too much bad blood for that to happen.

It all happened just before I was born.  The Huntley pack and the Bournville pack had been close allies for years.  But that all changed when a female omega in the Bournville pack married into the Huntley pack, only to later discover her true mate back in her home pack - the son of the pack’s Beta.  She couldn’t resist the pull of her true mate and was discovered by her husband in the clutches of another wolf. Driven by jealousy he killed the Beta’s son which led to 5 long years of tit for tat fighting.  

The whole feud cost the lives of nearly 100 wolves from our pack, and I’m let to believe a similar number from Hartley’s pack too.

Of course time had passed since then, and the feud was no more, but people in the pack still remembered those times, and still grieved for the dead. Duncan included.

“I’ll talk to him,” I said, but even as the words left my lips, I knew it would be no use.

“Oh god, I hope she’s not my mate,” I said in horror, resulting in a quiet chuckle from Duncan.

I was pleased he was smiling.  This was probably hurting him more than he let on.

A sudden thought popped up in my head.  I considered it for a moment and then used the excuse of needing a change in conversation to bring it up.

“I don’t know if you’ll be able to help me at all Duncan, but about 3 weeks ago...on a Monday I think, I saw a member of staff acting inappropriately...”

“Oh goodness, I am sorry” Duncan interrupted.  He took great pride in his staff and it was rare that we ever had any trouble with them.  “Who was it Sir? I’ll make sure they are dealt with straight away.”

I coughed nervously.  “Erm, that’s the problem.  I don’t know who they are and I haven’t seen them again since, which is a bit worrying.  We’re they even staff to begin with? Should they have even been in the kitchen at the time?”

Duncan paused in thought, then said, “Monday...about 3 weeks ago…..could you describe them for me?”

I felt a slight blush threaten to creep onto my cheeks as I pictured the guy in question, but I quickly pushed it back.  I was only worried about security. There was no need for me to be worried about asking.

“He was in his late teens I would say.  Average build, a few inches shorter than me.  Thick wavy dark hair, cut short on the sides. He was wearing black trousers and a white shirt so I assumed him to be waiting staff.”  I could have added that he had stunning hazel eyes with a ring of gold around the pupils, but I shouldn’t know that.

Duncan closed his eyes for a second, and I could tell by his expression that he knew who I was talking about. And I could see he was disappointed.

“Yes, I know who you’re talking about.  What did he do?” he sighed.

The corners of my mouth twitched at his tone.  “Am I guessing this is not the first time he has been in trouble?”

“No.  He was always a bit of a problem child.”  I saw a brief look of panic flash across his face before he quickly added, “Not in a bad way.  Gosh no, he’s never been in any real trouble. What I meant to say is that he’s just a bit…..well... spirited at times.”

Hmmm, spirited.  That description seemed to suit him well.

Duncan frowned a little, seemingly puzzled by the grin that had taken over my face.

I quickly discarded the grin for a more serious expression.  “So does he work here then?”

“Yes,” Duncan replied.  “That day you saw him, he was just here for an interview.  He’s now working in the kitchens, so you shouldn’t come across him again.”  He paused for a moment before continuing. “Is the behavior you saw something I need to address Sir?”

I considered my reply for a second.  “No, not at all. We both of us didn’t give off the best impression on that day.”

Duncan smiled, looking clearly relieved.

“You mentioned knowing him as a child,” I added, “do you know him well?”

“He’s my nephew, Sir,” came the response.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise.  “Well then, I definitely don’t have anything to worry about do I?  I’m sure he’ll turn out to be just as valued as you are Duncan.”

“Thank you Sir, that means a lot to me.”

I smiled before getting up and leaving Duncan’s office.

So the boy did work here then.  So there was a chance I would bump into him again.

I jogged up the stairs taking them two at a time, a smile on my face, and Emily Hartley momentarily forgotten.