Wolf Shadow’s Promise by Karen Kay Page B

from the identity of that voice, it was no use pretending. She recognized Lieutenant Warrington. Unconsciously she frowned.
    He was not one of the people she wished to see. Not now. Not today.
    He took off his hat as he approached her, his steps sounding hollow and hard against the wooden slabs of the walkway. “I have come to your home to call on you several times, but so far I have only been able to have tea with your mother and Mary. You have been away. Where do you go?”
    Alys hadn’t meant to, but she felt herself go rigid, both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, she did not have a ready-made answer. If she were aiding the Wolf Shadow, and she was, then Lieutenant Warrington had to be one of her staunchest opponents…if he were ever to find out.
    Besides, there was more at stake here than her own reputation and that of her mother’s. There was Moon Wolf,his life, his purpose; also her own secrets, there within the caverns…
    She smiled faintly before she countered, “Has a young woman no privacy in this town?”
    â€œVery little.”
    â€œThen it is something we should change, don’t you think?”
    He nodded, taking hold of her white-gloved hand and placing it on the sleeve of his coat. “Perhaps we should at that,” he agreed. “A young woman must need her privacy. That is, if you are any example. Perhaps I can ensure it. Come, walk with me.”
    Alys didn’t want to go anywhere with him, itched to remove her hand, but she dare not assert herself. At least not now. Not only would it be socially unacceptable but she also did not wish to draw attention to herself, to them. She forced herself to smile at him once again.
    They had taken only a few steps, however, when the lieutenant leaned toward her and offered, “I have been wanting to talk to you about the other night.”
    â€œOh? The night of the party?”
    â€œYes, I have been thinking about what I said to you that night, and I am afraid that I gave you entirely the wrong impression of the bull trains and the merchants.”
    â€œDid you?”
    â€œYes, I think that I did. I was mistaken, you see. There is no whiskey being shipped across the border into Canada. I’m sorry if I gave you false information. It has probably caused you some concern, too. I am sorry about that.”
    â€œOh? Are you? Why, thank you, Lieutenant. How kind of you to think of me.”
    â€œNot at all, my dear. Not at all.”
    She paused suddenly, causing him to jerk back unexpectedly as she said, “You are forgetting one thing, however, aren’t you?”
    â€œAm I?” The grin he gave her appeared more anxious than pleasing.
    â€œYes. I remember what I smelled after that fight, what I saw dripping from the cargo—”
    â€œBut it is so easily explained, my dear.” He patted her hand and drew her back into step with him. “What you smelled was the tavern next door. I’m entirely certain of it. One of the soldiers had accidently shot a barrel full of the hard liquor. What you saw…well, it was dark, after all, too dark to see clearly. I’m sure you understand.”
    â€œBut I—”
    â€œThat’s all there was to it, Miss Clayton. Nothing more.”
    She slowed her steps until the lieutenant was forced to do the same. She muttered, “I see.” Although truly, she did not. Why was the lieutenant lying? Surely he must know that she was intelligent enough to figure out that he was hiding something. But who was she to draw suspicion on herself? She continued, “You could be right. I’m terribly glad that you have informed me of this. And I must say, it makes the merchants’ integrity and their intentions, ah…clearer to me.”
    Amazingly enough, he seemed satisfied. “You’re too pretty to set your mind to worrying about these things,” he said. “You should be concerning yourself with more feminine