Wolf of Arundale Hall by Jennifer Leeland

grace.” There was an edge to Joshua’s tone. “I cannot bear to have her away from me.”
    “And yet I heard you’ve been gone for ten years,” the man said bluntly. “In that time—”
    Joshua stepped forward, face-to-face with the man. “In that time, I grew up. Now where is my brother?” he said harshly.
    Rather than show offense, Applegate grinned. “He’s in the cellar.”
    As the Duke strode past them, Joshua pulled Elizabeth closer to his side, out of reach. When the man was out of sight, Joshua glanced at Jaimison. “I don’t like him. He had a look I’d call knowing.”
    Jaimison nodded. “He recently inherited his title. His father was a religious man, but his mother…” Jaimison said no more.
    “Scandalous?”
    “They hushed it up, but yes, I’d say she was wild. I’m afraid the father punished the son rather than his errant wife. He was sent to India and has just returned.” Jaimison glanced around the house. “Shall we retrieve Mr. Arundale?”
    They headed toward the cellar and Elizabeth tried to keep her gaze on Joshua’s back. But she glanced at some of the other patrons of the house. What was it about a woman who took a man’s cock in her mouth that made her belly flutter?
    It was always difficult to make these little trips, but it seemed worse with Joshua’s hand on her skin, his heat soaking through. Jaimison checked the rooms and finally they found Perry.
    The Beast had chosen a different way this time. Or had he? Elizabeth rushed forward, ignoring Joshua’s attempts to restrain her. “Not again,” she murmured.
    This time Perry had chosen a much uglier way to contain his wolf. Pain. Boot marks bruised his torso and blood oozed from his nose and mouth. He was splayed flat on a dirty floor. There was no furniture in the room. Just dust and blood.
    Elizabeth whipped out her handkerchief and dabbed at Perry’s mouth. He blinked and gazed at her. Then he moaned and pressed his forehead to the floor. “Leave me to die, sister. I am a worthless being with no destiny but death.”
    Gently, she lifted his head and placed it in her lap. “I have told you before. I will not allow you to think that way. You are not worthless.”
    “There is no hope for me, Elizabeth.”
    She patted his head. “There is always hope if you look for it.”
    Jaimison and Joshua lifted Perry to his feet. Perry leaned heavily on Jaimison. “I’ll take him, my lord.”
    “You have a carriage?” Joshua asked.
    Jaimison nodded. “Mine is less noticeable.”
    “Be careful.”
    The two men strode down the corridor and Elizabeth started to follow when Joshua grabbed her arm. “No. You’re coming with me.”
    “Let me go,” she demanded.
    “There’s something I want to show you.”
    “No.” She jerked and yanked her arm, trying to get away from him, but he was implacable.
    He dragged her down the hall to a room they’d passed in their search for Perry. It was empty except for a large window. On the other side of the window, a contraption which resembled a saddle on two thick poles dominated the center of a room. A woman was bent over the saddle part, her face hidden by a mask, her dress pooled at her stocking feet. A man in gentleman’s clothes stood behind her, also masked, his hands gloved.
    “All evening as we searched this house for Perry, I smelled your need, your desire. It tormented me, Elizabeth.” His breath was hot on her neck.
    “You are mistaken,” she lied, her gaze already focused on the tableau on the other side of the wall. The man’s hand slid over the woman’s naked skin. His loving attention created jealous warmth in Elizabeth’s belly. She closed her eyes but Joshua gave her no respite. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Watch him. Watch him give her pleasure.”
    The only sound Elizabeth could hear was her own harsh breathing. The man’s hand rose and struck the woman’s behind. The woman’s face flushed and her gaze lifted to meet Elizabeth’s. Pleasure,