Lydia Dare - Wolf Next Door

"Quite," Will clipped out.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" the duke asked, folding his arms across his chest.

"In part, I've stayed away from her all these years because I didn't want her to end up with one of our kind," Will hedged. No reason to tell them he'd have leapt at the chance to have Prissy long before now if she'd given him any sort of encouragement.

"Understandable." Simon nodded. After all he'd gone through with Lily, he would be the last one to refute a statement such as Will's. "But how has that changed?"

Will shrugged, hoping he appeared more at ease than he actually felt. "Emory's prepared to push her in Brimsworth's direction. So if she's to marry one of our kind, it will be me."

Ben chuckled. "How selfless of you."

Simon scowled at their younger brother. "No one needs your quips just now." Then he turned his attention back to Will. "So, the pursuit begins in earnest?"

"I don't think it'll be that easy," Ben began.

"Nothing with Prissy is ever easy." Then Will faced each of the three Lycans in turn. "I'd like for you all to meet Brimsworth. Lily said in the coach we've all been invited for a night of games. I believe she and Elspeth accepted for the rest of us."

Simon's growl was menacing. If Will wasn't used to it, he would scurry from the room with his tail between his legs.

"Tell me if I'm overreacting," Will pleaded.

"Would it change your direction?"

Not now that he'd held her in his arms. And kissed those sweet lips. And seen that her one true love was… him. "No. It wouldn't." His heart skipped a beat at that confession. "I plan to win her hand no matter what."

"God love you," Simon grunted as he settled back in his seat. "Now about this Lycan—"

A wracking cough from above them stopped the conversation, and all four men glanced up at the sound. Ben sighed. "She's getting worse."

Their mother. How could Will have forgotten? "At breakfast, Elspeth said she'd heal her."

Ben snorted. "Over my dead body."

At that statement, Will gaped at his brother. Of the three of them, Ben was the mama's boy. "I beg your pardon."

His younger brother winced, and a tortured look spread across his face. "Sorry. We argued about it this morning. I can't let Ellie do it, Will. You know the last time she healed someone, it almost killed her. And now with the baby on the way…"

He didn't need to say any more. Will gave Ben's shoulder a brotherly nudge. "Mother will be all right. Not everyone has a healer in the family, and they all seem to get by just fine."

Ben nodded. "It just makes me feel like the worst sort of cad."

Will fully understood Ben's strong desire to protect Elspeth; he felt the same way about Prisca. After leaving his brothers in the study, he asked Billings for foolscap and an inkwell, and settled himself in the library. He penned a simple note to his friend Richard Wheeler, who hailed from Kent, asking for any information about the Earl of Brimsworth. That was a good place to start.

***

What had Emory been thinking? Inviting the Westfields to dinner tomorrow and for games after? It had been hard enough to see Will as much as she had over the past few days. Now she'd have to endure an entire evening?

Prisca dropped onto her bed and rubbed her temples with her fingertips. Perhaps she could cry off this evening with a headache. That wouldn't even be a lie. But Lizzie Giddings would be there, and she did plan to see if Emory had any interest in the girl.

She sighed and fell back against her pillow.

"You sound tortured," her maid, Molly, said from the corner of the room.

Prisca sat up with a start. Where had her maid come from? "My brothers drive me mad… that's all."

Molly smiled, an action that lit up her face. Prisca took a long hard look at the other girl. A plan popped in her head. If she had to see Will day in and day out, if he really had a mind to court her, shouldn't she know if he was true to his word? She couldn't imagine her maid as much of a seductress, but Will didn't seem to be particularly discriminatory. The young maid was pretty enough. Golden, silken curls, striking green eyes, slender figure. Blaine had a soft spot for Molly, she well knew. She'd have to do. Prisca knew she could trust her.

"Molly, I need your help."

The maid's eyes rounded. "I don't think I like the way you said that, Miss."

Prisca leapt from her bed and grasped her maid's hands. "Hear me out. I need you to play a role for me."

"A role?"

"Can you play a seductress?"

Molly backed away and covered her heart with her hand. "Miss, I'm a good girl."

Prisca grinned. "A good girl who casts sly glances at Blaine whenever he's about. He watches you all the time, you know."

A blush stained the maid's cheeks. "I don't know what you're talking about."

She knew exactly what Prisca was talking about. Apparently her maid was more of a seductress than she'd originally thought. Molly would be perfect. Who else could she trust to tell her the truth anyway? "It's not up for debate, Molly. I need to know if Lord William is being honest with me."

"And you want me to seduce him to find out?" Prisca doubted Molly's face could turn any redder at this point.

She nodded. "I want you to try. I want to know if he succumbs to your wiles."

A gasp escaped the maid's lips. "And if he does?" she squeaked.

Then she'd know the truth, wouldn't she? "If he does, then you'll simply tell him that he failed my test and all bets are off. That will dampen his ardor rather quickly."

A frown marred Molly's brow. "I don't know, Miss."

But Prisca paid her no attention. "You simply can't refuse, Molly. I have to know the truth, and you're the only one who can help me."

***

Dinner had been far from riveting, and Prisca slowly climbed the cantilevered steps that led to the family quarters. How had she tolerated living with those five idiots all her life? In recent years, things had been so peaceful with just Papa, Emory, and herself. No matter that she loved each brother dearly, they still were predisposed to giving one a headache.

Even now she could hear raucous laughter erupting from the dining hall where her father and brothers still entertained Lord Brimsworth. If she could just go someplace to get a little quiet, perhaps she could put two thoughts together, which she sorely needed after Will's visit.

The only quiet place she could think of was the garden. Of course, no one but a fool would go out of doors in the chilly evening air. But that also meant no one would go traipsing out there after her, either. With her mind made up, Prisca entered her room and pulled out a scarf and her warmest walking coat. She buttoned herself in tightly and then made her escape down the steps and out the garden door, successfully avoiding servants along the way.

The wintry air swirled about her feet and Prisca shivered, but she knew she'd adjust to the temperature soon enough. She tipped her head back, enchanted by the waning moon in the sky. The stars shimmered above her, reminding Prisca of a glass of celebratory champagne. Though she wasn't certain if she should celebrate or not.

Years ago, she would have swooned if Will had taken her in his arms as he had done this afternoon. But she'd been young and foolish then. Now she knew what sort of man he was, and though her heart still raced whenever she saw him, she wasn't certain swooning was the wisest course of action.

"Will, Will, Will…" She shook her head. "What to do about you?"

She stuffed her hands inside her pockets to keep them warm and retraced her steps from a few nights ago when her wolf had visited. Prisca's eyes flew to the stone bench where she'd sat that evening, stroking the regal animal, and she sighed at the memory. It was a shame he wasn't there now. She could use his council. Foolish as that sounded, she always felt better after divulging her fears and worries to the beast. Perhaps it was simply saying the words aloud that did the trick. It was worth a try.