Thrill of the Chase (Hunters & Heartbreakers 1)

X - Wells

^^Above: Pulteney Bridge, Bath. You might recognise it and other Bath landmarks from Bridgerton, The Duchess, and maybe that episode of Sherlock that takes place in Victorian England.^^

The Victoria House at Lansdown Road

BA1 5DX

Bath

Somerset

22-23 April.

I couldn't sleep. Writing seems to be the only way to vent my feelings anymore. I kept thinking back to that moment on the train, before the blasted conductor interrupted it, when only centimetres separated me from Wilkes. My wanting for him had risen up so strong I could have seized his face and pressed my mouth against his.

It'd been almost impossible to get anything done that day as a result. I'd forced myself to separate from him at the station, and walked the streets until I'd come across the first lodgings I could find. Then I checked myself in, shut myself in my room, and tried to make myself think about something else.

I couldn't, though, as hard as I tried. I had lunch in my room, and supper too, then sat at the window in the gathering darkness. I stared out at the street, thankful that this window was waist-height. Wouldn't want the neighbours noticing the different fit of my trousers.

After going to bed, my thoughts of him kept coming and I felt myself sweating and shaking — like withdrawal from a drug. I launched myself out of bed and peeled off my shirt and undershirt. I leaned up against the wall, pressing my forehead hard against it. This was new for me, all my repressed feelings rushing over me at once. I pushed away from the wall and splayed my hands on it, breathing hard and glaring at the floor. Why did Langdon Wilkes do this to me? Why was he the one my feelings had decided to make themselves known for? And why was I like this?

I paced the room until I could think straight. Wilkes and I were friends. Just friends. Except I didn't want to be friends anymore. I wanted to fist handfuls of his shirtfront in my fingers and kiss him senseless. And I wanted to beat off all the women who were itching to get their claws into him.

Except then I thought of my sister. Naomi had always lived in my shadow, no matter what we did. She knew how I felt about Wilkes, and she wouldn't take him from me for that reason. But anyone could see — even him — that she had fallen head-over-heels for him and there was no getting her up again. And I loved my sister more than anything in this world. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her.

I must have fallen asleep at some point, because I woke up splayed on the floor with the sunlight streaming right into my face. There was a bruise on my shoulder where I must have fallen against the dresser, although I hadn't felt it when it happened. And Wilkes was still there in my head.

I picked out a bundle of clothing from my carpetbag and then shuffled down the hallway to the tiny bathroom at the end, with just enough room for one person at a time. I shut the door and locked it, turned on the tap in the bathtub, and while it filled I took off the rest of my clothes and made myself think of anything else — like what I was going to do today.

Find something about Trenton Wilkes. That was the first order of business. Find anything that would help us catch him. Even a sighting would be enough. Then at least I'd know we were on to him.

Once I was finished cleaning myself up, I returned to my room and gave myself a good shave. Naomi had told me a couple times that a beard — or any facial hair, really — didn't suit me. I looked too boyish, according to her. Then I finished dressing, in a full suit of clothes. If I was going to be asking questions of people today, I didn't want them thinking I wasn't trustworthy. I wouldn't get any honest answers that way.