‘You dated her ten years or so ago.’
Alexander pulled away another inch. ‘You’ve been doing your research.’
‘That’s what you’re paying me for.’
His expression closed and she felt a twitch. What did that mean? He didn’t like Isadora? He hated the idea of approaching her again? Or did he actually think this was a relationship that could work? She pressed ahead; it was all she could do. It was why she was there. ‘Have you spoken to her recently?’
Alexander put down his glass. ‘Our paths rarely cross.’
He didn’t seem to want to talk about Isadora but Mallory plunged ahead. ‘You didn’t date for long. Why didn’t the relationship continue?’
A muscle throbbed in his jaw. ‘It was a long time ago.’ Mallory waited. Eventually he sighed. ‘We were both too busy. I was having problems with my father and she had her own stuff going on.’
‘So it was a timing issue.’ Mallory’s tone held a note of triumph that she didn’t really feel. He didn’t respond. ‘She’ll be there tonight,’ she went on. ‘You put a star next to her name to say that you’d already been in a relationship so I didn’t look into her to begin with, but Boris has highlighted her many attributes and I think he’s right.’
‘Mm.’
She persisted. ‘She’s very intelligent. Her wolf pack is strong, so she’s unlikely to rise much higher in the ranks, not because she isn’t capable but because there are too many other good candidates for positions of power. In fact, she’s supporting her cousin’s bid for beta wolf, which proves she’s more interested in helping others rather than in furthering her own cause. Isadora Jones has a genuine knack for getting on with people, and that will really help her if she marries into another pack.’
‘Yes.’
‘And the Jones’ wolves would be great pack to form a strong alliance with. You should seek her out, have a chat with her. She’s single at the moment but I doubt she will be for long. She’s dating, but she’s not settled on anyone.’
He drained his glass. ‘I’ll talk to her.’
‘On paper she’s the perfect woman for you.’
‘On paper,’ he conceded. He sighed. ‘I will make sure I talk to her.’
Mallory would have liked a touch more enthusiasm but she was prepared to accept his answer for now. ‘This is going to be a wonderful night.’
Alexander’s hand covered hers and his heat seared her skin. ‘Yes,’ he said, sounding far warmer. ‘It is.’
Chapter
Twenty
Mallory had been to many fascinating places since she’d moved to Coldstream. Some had been grand and gorgeous, some had been grubby and dilapidated, plenty had been magical – but she’d never been anywhere quite like the Grand Hotel.
The building was the size of Crackendon Square and it put her less in mind of a swanky hotel than an ancient fortress built to withstand invaders. An army of dragons could attack the place with all the powers invested in them and the walls of the Grand Hotel would suffer nothing more than a few scorch marks.
For the purposes of the Wolf Ball, the grandest affair in every werewolf’s calendar, it had been decked out. Its exterior was illuminated with witchlight, and bright colours in every shade of the rainbow were lighting every rugged crook and dramatic cranny. A long red carpet led up to the hotel’s main entrance flanked on either side by a six-metre-high wall of blue fire.
A traditional pipe band, doubtless brought in from one of the larger non-magical cities in Scotland, was standing to one side. Mallory surreptitiously checked out the kilted pipers and drummers but none of them looked as good in a kilt as Alexander. She indulged herself for one pleasurable momentand allowed him to draw ahead so she could enjoy the swaying motion of the heavy fabric as he walked.
When he realised she wasn’t by his side he paused, glanced over his shoulder then grinned at her expression. She felt a flush of embarrassment at being caught out.
‘It’s quite something, isn’t it?’ he asked.
‘Uh…’ Mallory floundered helplessly.
‘The Grand Hotel was built in the eighteenth century. I’ve been here for the Wolf Ball every year for the past twenty-odd years and it still takes my breath away.’
‘Yes.’ She nodded vigorously. ‘Yes, it’s truly amazing.’ She beamed at him, aware that her smile was overly wide, then caught up and they moved onto the red carpet behind the other guests.
The Wolf Ball was extraordinarily exclusive if you were not a werewolf or not invited by one, and also extraordinarily inclusive in that every single werewolf in Coldstream was invited regardless of their pack, standing or power. Few wolves missed it and few non-wolves attended. Mallory would have laid a decent bet that she was the first squib to be admitted. Despite the pressure of the evening, and the presence of her companion, she was genuinely awed – and they’d not even walked through the front door.
Two liveried footmen bowed as they passed beneath the arched entrance where a tall witch with a clipboard was marking off names. Security was unobtrusive, but Mallory had no doubt that it would prove impregnable if it were tested.
