Something Wild Read online

  "For now. If it doesn't work, come back and I will give you more.” Claudia let her skirt fall back around her ankles.

  "If I do catch his interest, is there any trick I should remember that would make him want my attention again?"

  Claudia's smile twisted sinisterly. “One in particular, if you could make happen and do it well, could have him leaping on you."

  "What?"

  She leaned forward and whispered it in her ear. Cora gasped. She'd heard of putting a man into a woman's mouth, but had never considered actually doing something like that. Her gaze darted to John who just laughed at her surprise.

  "I'm not sure I could do that,” she whispered when Claudia leaned away.

  "You shall have him if you do."

  "I will have to think about it. I shall just try what you suggested before for now.” Cora swallowed. “You shall let me borrow something to wear when I do?” Claudia nodded, then went and retrieved the item of clothing and returned.

  "You can have it. I have a newer one now.” Claudia's thin lips pulled with a soft smile. “I hope you get your wealthy gentleman, Cora. You don't belong in a place like this."

  "Thank you, Claudia.” Cora tucked the garment under her arm and rose. “And you, John. I shall be back if this doesn't work, at the end of the week if it does."

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  Chapter Four

  Baden frowned as he entered his study and found Cora there. Damn. Why did she continue to come here in the evenings? For more than a week, he'd been avoiding her. Didn't she know that he was trying to save her?

  He was about to leave when he heard her sniff softly. On closer scrutiny, he saw that she held his handkerchief to her eyes. And she had a new gown, one that suited her age but did nothing to stifle the lust in his loins.

  "What is wrong?” He neared as her shoulders shook. She held out a slipper.

  "I ripped it."

  "What?"

  "The beautiful slippers that Ursula gave to me when I arrived. I ripped it and...” She sobbed against the handkerchief.

  "Good lord.” He walked forward and took the delicate slipper from her. “It is nothing to weep over. We'll buy you a new pair tomorrow."

  "I would continue to wear it, but look.” She snatched it away and leaned down to slip the slipper onto her foot, and his gaze leapt to the bodice that fell open slightly at the top. Then she stood and lifted the skirt of the chemise, exposing her calf as she pointed her toe. The slipper flopped from her foot.

  He watched her sit down again and noticed she didn't let the skirt fall back to her ankle. Instead she bunched it in her lap so it rose higher. He almost laughed. The wench was tempting him, feigning tears over a damned shoe.

  He couldn't be sure if he should be offended at her ploy or flattered at the extent she'd decided to go to. He could see now that she had not tears in her eyes, though she did a good job pretending to weep. It was amusing, and he almost decided to play along to see what else she would do.

  "I would not think you so silly to weep over a slipper, Cora. Why, you could sew this yourself. I've seen you mending other things. Why would this upset you so?"

  He looked at the slipper again. The rip was not jagged but a clean cut. She'd probably done it herself with the shears.

  "I am not silly,” she argued.

  "Weakened by a bit of cheap material? That seems a bit silly.” He fought a grin when she jumped to her feet, forgetting her façade.

  "I am not silly and I am not weak!” She poked at him in the chest. “You think you are weak because you threw a tantrum and broke a glass? You would not even let me clean it up. Now I am weak because I have ripped a gift someone gave to me?"

  "Well, you seem to have gotten over your tears now.” He watched her frown deepen. He had to admit, with her eyes flashing like this, she looked appealing. And the garment she wore, loose around her breasts, revealing their ivory tops, but fitted at the waist, made him want to reach for her.

  "Without any help from you,” she snapped.

  "Don't do this again, Cora. While I find it amusing you would try, I do not enjoy the games women play. I've no wish to ruin you."

  "Why should I think I would be ruined?” She tossed the slipper behind her, obviously with no intentions of hiding what she'd been trying to do. “Do you avoid me because I am not fattened? Because my hair isn't darker?

  "You are a virgin, Cora..."

  "For heaven's sakes. I shall go this moment and remedy that if it is all that stands in the way of your attention. Are you indeed thickheaded?” She threw up her hands, but Baden's blood was suddenly hot.

  "You'll not do any such thing."

  "Why shouldn't I? It is the only thing I can think of that is stopping you from doing as I wish you to do. Had I lied and told you I'd lain with a man before, wouldn't it have given you less cause to send me away?"

  He turned away. She was trying to fight with him. He would not.

  "You see? What does it matter to you anyway if I am no longer a virgin? If you will not take it, someone will.” She snatched up the slipper when he looked back at her and stormed from the room.

  The next morning, he paced the length of his office. She'd left early and hadn't returned. Ursula did not know where she'd gone.

  "Baden.” Martin was suddenly at the door of his study. “There has been ... another murder."

  * * * *

  Cora halted in the street when she spotted Baden's carriage. What was he doing in this part of East End? Curiously, she walked towards Miller's Court. Several men, most were officials, were gathered just inside a doorway. Slipping forward, she peered through the window.

  Her throat dried, tightened, and her stomach convulsed. Her hand shot to her mouth as she stared at the mutilated body on the bed inside. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound pushed out. She couldn't make a sound, couldn't move, couldn't look away.

  The woman's legs were spread wide apart, her body opened so that her insides were red and exposed, some dragged from the cavity. Her face had been cut, as well as her throat. Her breasts had been cut away as well.

  "Good God.” Someone's voice found her, but it sounded far away. “Baden! Baden!” She swayed slightly.

  "Cora.” Baden's voice found her. “Don't look at her, Cora. Look at me.” She swayed again. Strong arms slipped around her, lifted her, and turned her away from the gruesome scene. Then she fainted, gratefully slipping away from the ugliness.

  * * * *

  "How is she?” Martin rose to his feet as Ursula entered the study. Baden waited then breathed out when Ursula offered a soft smile.

  "She is awake. Her stomach was uneasy, but I've given her something that settled her nerves. She wept for a long time. I left her when she began to try to regain her composure."

  "I myself have a weak stomach for it as well,” Martin offered. “I would worry about her if she did not."

  "She means to come downstairs to speak with you, sir,” Ursula told Baden. “Set upon it even though I urged her to stay in bed. There is no arguing with her once her mind is made."

  "It's all right, Ursula.” Baden nodded and watched her duck back out the doors.

  "The poor chit. She'd not needed to see that,” Martin mumbled more to himself than to Baden.

  Baden rose from the chair and began pacing. “Why the hell was she even in that area?” He didn't want to answer himself aloud. He could only pray she'd not gone there to do what she'd threatened the night before.

  "Hello there, young lady. I do hope you are feeling better now,” Martin greeted, and Baden ended his pacing and turned. Her eyes were red and puffed, her cheeks pale.

  "I am better now, thank you.” Her voice cracked hoarsely, indicating her weeping had been severe. When her gaze lifted to him, it looked as if she might weep again.

  "Forgive me, sir."

  "Forgive you?” His hands shook so he had to clasp them behind him. “What have you done that you seek my forgiveness for? If it is what I suspec
t, I don't want to hear of it. I cannot."

  She didn't seem to hear him. “I didn't know, and feel like a very naïve twit now. You said you carried that image, all their images, but I didn't truly understand. How could I? It's too horrible to imagine.” She rushed forward suddenly. “Forgive me my ignorance, Baden. Please. I cannot imagine what it must be like to carry all of them with you like this.” Her arms wrapped around him, and she wept silently against him.

  His hands found her back and stroked her hair once before he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “It's all right.” He spoke softly in her ear. “It's all right."

  "You must find who did that. You must stop him. You must!” She cried against him. “He cannot do it again. Do what you must, but stop him."

  Baden felt as if his heart would rip from his chest. He looked up to find Martin's own eyes blurred with tender tears for the young woman. At the door, Ursula's hand lifted to her trembling lips.

  "I'll get him,” he vowed softly.

  "What kind of beast could do such a thing? What kind of monster? I know of nothing with that much capability. I know of no one who would ... even an animal, something wild does not kill without reason, without necessity.” Her fingers slid down to his chest and curled in his shirt.

  "That is truth,” Martin agreed, his gaze locked with Baden's.

  "Do not. I've already said I shall get him.” Baden reached up and stroked her hair gently. “You shall stand on my behalf and lie if you must, however, when I'm charged with murder."

  "So shall I,” Cora whispered, seeming without surprise that he would be capable of murder. “He must be stopped, and I shall go to prison with you if you are sent for ending this horror."

  Baden sent Ursula a silent plea that she read easily. “Come, now, you need your rest, and he must speak with Mr. Martin of what needs to be done. He has an investigation to do.” She moved forward to take Cora's shoulders. Reluctantly, he was released, but then she rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. Then she turned and left with Ursula.

  "You will not find work for her. Even if you'd considered not keeping her on with you, she just sealed your decision to keep her on,” Martin spoke after they were gone.

  "I don't need another maid,” Baden said absently.

  "If you are that calloused, then I shall take her in myself.” Martin shook his head. “I am old but no fool. She is stronger than she looks and wiser than many at her age. She cannot be more than nineteen."

  "Ursula told me she will be twenty-two at the end of the year.” Baden waved a hand. “It's unimportant."

  "Twenty-two,” Martin repeated. “If I were younger, I would marry her. If you toss her away, I shall take her in as a daughter. Do not send her elsewhere."

  Baden looked up and found the seriousness in Martin's gaze. “She has cast a spell over you, too."

  "Not a spell. An entire cauldron was dumped upon me just now.” Martin turned and looked at the door as if he could see her through the walls. “She has a light, a strength which, even after what she saw today, shone bright as the sun. She meant to reach out to you with compassion for what she understands you feel now. It was selfless and honorable, and I believe I've fallen in love with her. I imagine I am not the first."

  His gaze slid back to Baden, all knowing and demanding the truth to be spoken aloud. Before he could admit or deny anything, the bell rang at the door. He hurried forward, thankful for the escape, without waiting for Ursula. When he opened the door, he frowned.

  "Strike at me if you wish, but I am not leaving here until I see that she is well.” John Webber removed his cap and bunched it in his hand. “I was told she saw the murdered woman today."

  Baden wanted to punch the man, but couldn't bring himself to be angry at him for his concern. “She is well."

  "I'm not leaving until I see her,” Webber repeated firmly.

  "If you mean to prey upon her...” Baden warned.

  "Don't be daft.” Webber took a step forward, closing the distance between them. “She came to me with nothing, with nobody. Some rich gentleman wants to pay for her rent. She was only my board, I had no excuse to forbid her from leaving. I meant to find out if it were you who meant to prey upon her."

  Baden blinked. “Why?"

  "Why do you think?” he hissed. “Move aside. I mean to see her well."

  Baden hesitated, then stepped aside and allowed him to enter. He turned and found Cora standing at the top of the stairs. She'd most likely heard the exchange.

  "John."

  Webber turned and looked up, then without waiting for permission, quickly climbed the stairs. “Are you well?"

  "You should not have come here."

  "Don't sass me, girl. Tell me you are well before the detective bashes my face again.” Baden saw a tear roll over her cheek.

  "I am sorry now that happened. I did not know of your heart then,” she whispered, and Baden's fist clenched. So it was true. John Webber had apparently confessed his love to her. That's why she was in the vicinity of Mary Kelly's murder.

  "Damnation, tell me of you, Cora, before I use that wall to bounce you off of,” Webber threatened, and Baden started to step forward, but James Martin's hand stopped him.

  "I am well. Oh, John, it was just horrible. She was ... was ... torn to shreds. Just shreds! Treated as if she were more dress for rags than a woman, than a living being.” Her voice shook, and Baden tried to look away when she reached for Webber's hands. “I've never seen such ... such ... disregard before."

  "I know. I know."

  And Baden felt raw fury when Webber reached forward and wrapped a beefy arm around her shoulders. “I wouldn't have let you leave if I'd known what had happened. I only found out shortly after you left and came looking for you. I was told your detective carried you away from there."

  She did not pull from his affection. “I am well, horrified, but well."

  "Is there anything I can do?"

  "More flowers and sonnets? Stop, John, it is not your style.” But she was smiling, and Webber laughed lightly.

  "Mouthy brat. I'll leave you to your detective then.” He released her and headed back downstairs. Baden didn't move until Cora disappeared from view.

  "I don't know what you think you have with her, but it ends this hour,” Baden spoke through gritted teeth.

  Webber stared at him as if he'd lost his senses. “Claudia was right. You are thickheaded as any man I've ever seen.” He shook his head. “If I meant to have her, I would have done so before she moved into your home."

  "Then how do you explain what I just saw?"

  "Baden,” Martin spoke, but Baden ignored him.

  Webber headed for the door, then stopped and turned. “I break her confidence by telling you this, but it is obvious to me now that you are not as smart as she claims you to be. She is besotted with you. So much that she has been coming to me to show her how to seduce you. Claudia has taught her all of her best tricks, the good ones that bring in more shillings than the rest."

  He started to turn then stopped again. “I warned her of your kind. That you wouldn't marry her, so she has no disillusions of what might be. And she knows she can come back, has a room waiting for her, when you are finished with her. Once you do it, don't come back. I may not throw a punch like you do, but I will have no problems blowing a hole in your head. She will be hurt enough once you're finished.” He slammed the door on the way out.

  Baden stared at the grain of the wood after he was gone for several minutes, until Martin's low chuckle brought him to stare at his friend. “That may be the most disgusting man I've ever had in my presence, but I must say he isn't as ignorant as he looks."

  "He shook her before. She said he'd struck her once.” Baden didn't know what to make of what just happened.

  "He is of a different class, a different kind of life, Baden. That doesn't make him heartless.” Martin glanced up at the empty stairs. “And she is hard not to care for."

  "I thought..."

  "
You did not hide well what you thought. Your jealousy is uglier than your beast. Like a raving youth jumping to conclusions and all common sense and reason gone.” Martin chuckled. “All that control you struggle for destroyed in an instant by a relationship that does not exist. Quite amusing and very human."

  "He must feel that affection, though.” Baden tried to defend his irrational behavior.

  "Like me, he has fallen in love with her, but not as you think. It is a need to protect her, because we see that inside of her which deserves to be cherished ... and he and those of his class cherish hope more than those who have never wanted for more in our lives do."

  Just like that, James Martin had named the very thing he'd been drawn to most in her. Hope. Hope that he might have a woman who would accept his secrets. Hope that the woman would be her. Hope for something normal when he indeed was the something wild she'd mentioned earlier. Hope for love.

  * * * *

  Baden stood in the doorway of the kitchen, sipping his bourbon as he watched Cora make her tea. It was past midnight. He'd heard her weeping earlier, but waited until her sobs had ceased.

  Now his gaze slid down the length of her blonde hair to the sleeping gown. It was the same she'd worn when she'd attempted to seduce him with her ripped slipper. Its sheer material slipped around her curves as she moved, and each time she stepped in front of the candle, he could see the outline of her body.

  He leaned against the doorframe when she began humming softly.

  "Have you enough for two?” he spoke then smiled when she started with a yelp of surprise. Her fingers splayed out against her chest as she breathed out. She turned back to her tea after a quick glance at his glass.

  "I've more than enough, if you want some.” She nodded and reached for a second cup. He just wanted to be near her. To smell her scent, to have her look at him with those clear eyes, to scold him with her quick tongue. Everything about her excited him, aroused him. He didn't want tea. He wanted her.

  "What did Webber tell you to do to seduce me?"

  Her hands stilled and her back stiffened. “You were witness to my failed attempt."

  "But you went back. Did he not give you more advice?” Baden walked slowly toward her, but she didn't turn to face him.