Lydia Dare - Wolf Next Door

Simon cleared his throat. "Actually, I spotted her on the way to her room a while ago, Emory. Said she had a headache. I should have informed you, but when I stumbled upon Will, I became distracted."

Emory frowned and seemed a bit disappointed, though Will couldn't reason out why. "Headache, huh?"

Simon nodded. "She did look exhausted. Perhaps having so many guests has been a bit draining for her."

"It has been a while since we've had so many visitors at Langley Downs." Emory's voice softened. "I hadn't realized it might be too much for her."

***

Prisca flopped on her bed and covered her head with a pillow. Heavens, she was a fool. First kissing Dashiel and then Will. She winced. She'd behaved like a wanton, like all the women who threw themselves at him. She would never be able to look him in the eyes again after tonight.

A knock sounded at her door, and Prisca groaned. There wasn't anyone she wanted to see at the moment. "Go away."

Of course, the door opened. No one she was related to would do as she asked. But that didn't mean she had to talk to the interloper.

"Prissy," Emory's voice came from the doorway.

Perfect. Why couldn't it be one of the others? She could at least intimidate the others.

"Prissy," he said again, more urgent.

She sat up and tossed her pillow at her oldest brother's head. "Stop it, Emory. You know I hate it when you call me that."

He smiled and dropped onto the bed beside her, handing her back the pillow. "Glad to see you're still feeling yourself. Blackmoor had me worried about you."

Perfect! What had that puffed-up, arrogant duke said? "It's just a headache, Emory. One you're making worse."

He tucked a curl behind her ear. "Is that all it is? A headache?"

She nodded, as it wasn't wise to say anything else.

"Lily wanted me to thank you for a delightful evening. And she asked for you to visit the dowager tomorrow."

Then she'd have to see Will again, and Prisca wasn't at all ready to do that. "I've already promised Sarah Giddings that I'd help her pick out a gown for the Yule Ball, tomorrow." Thank heavens the girl

had

asked for her help this evening. She wouldn't want to lie to Lily.

Emory kissed her brow. "Just get some sleep then." He winked at her. "You'll need all the help you can get if you've got to spend time in that madhouse tomorrow."

She smacked his chest. "You were awful tonight, by the way. Lizzie had her heart set on you, and you acted like a perfect beast."

A smile twitched on his lips. "That's doing it up a bit brown, sweeting. And I don't think she had her heart really set on me. She seemed to shift her affections fairly easily to Garrick, after all."

"Only because he was so much nicer to her than you were. You actually snarled at the poor girl during dinner."

Her brother laughed. "I must confess that was Darius' suggestion. A rather good one. I'll have to thank him properly."

Prisca scowled at him. "Why was I punished with the five of you?"

Emory's dark eyes twinkled. "I'd say it's the other way around, Prissy." Then he flicked her nose. "See you in the morning."

Ten

Will scooped up a handful of pebbles from a side path leading up to Langley Downs. Then he gazed up at the Palladian home as he approached it. Prisca's room was the fourth window from the far corner on the second floor. At least it used to be. God save him if he woke one of her brothers instead.

Quiet as a stalking wolf, he made his way around the house until he found the window in question. Fortunately, a soft glow from a lamp illuminated the room, which made him hopeful she was still awake. They had a lot to discuss, especially after what had transpired between them, and he didn't want the night to pass before they did so.

Taking aim, he threw the first pebble. It bounced off her glass making a satisfying "ping." He held his breath, hoping to catch a hint of movement, but there was nothing. After a moment, he took aim again and once more hit his target perfectly.

Still nothing.

He heaved a sigh. So her hearing wasn't as sensitive as his. Will looked down at the pebbles left in his hand. Perhaps if he threw them all, he'd get her attention. Of course, he could also break the glass, which would be rather difficult to explain. Still, nothing ventured, nothing—

"It won't matter," came a deep voice from the shadows.

Brimsworth!

"She can sleep through anything."

And just how would the damned earl know that? Will clasped his pebbles tighter and imagined forcing them down the earl's throat.

His nemesis strolled from around a hedgerow, quiet as a deadly predator and with a smug look upon his face. "Should I inform the Hawthorne men that you've come to abscond with their precious sister? I doubt they'd appreciate that."

Abscond? Will growled, wishing the idea had occurred to him before now. "And I'm equally certain they wouldn't appreciate the liberties you tried to take with that very girl this evening under their own roof."

Brimsworth laughed. "You mean like the ones you stole in that cupboard?" Then he held up his arms as though he was calling a truce. "You should be a good pup and head back home, Westfield. You don't belong here. We both know you don't deserve Prisca. Haven't you done enough damage to the girl's heart already?"

Though it was bitter cold, Will grew hot beneath his greatcoat. What the devil did Brimsworth know about it anyway? "I beg your pardon?"

The earl's amber eyes narrowed to little shards. "I've been at Langley Downs long enough to learn how you crushed her tender heart all those years ago. What a vicious pup you've been. You're fortunate she even lowers herself enough to speak to you."

The words stabbed at Will's heart. It was one thing to know the truth himself, quite another to hear it from the unwelcome Lycan's lips.

"The Hawthorne brothers have a long memory," the earl continued, examining the fingernails of one hand. "So, have you come back to finish her off, then?"

Will dropped the pebbles in his hand and lunged for Brimsworth, ready to crush the man with his bare hands. However, the earl was quicker and easily slid from Will's reach. The lack of purchase when he reached for his prey caused Will to tumble to the cold ground. He rolled to his side.

"Watch yourself, Westfield," the earl crowed from above him. "Uncontrolled emotions cause one to make mistakes. Now run on home before you wake the entire household." Then the man dusted his hands on his trousers.

"Watch

yourself,

Brimsworth. Prisca Hawthorne is mine," he growled. Whether she knew it or not.

The earl grinned, his white teeth gleaming under the moonlight. "I beg to differ. As we speak, Sir Herbert is considering my offer for her hand. I can't imagine he'll refuse it."

Brimsworth was in for a surprise if he thought Prissy would accept his proposal, no matter what her father wanted. Will tossed back his head and laughed.

"Something amusing?"

Will leapt back to his feet, glaring at the other Lycan. "Do you know how many offers Prisca has refused over the years?"

Brimsworth stared blankly back at him as though he had suddenly sprouted pointy ears and a tail.

Will folded his arms across his chest. "More than you can possibly imagine. She won't settle for just anyone."

"I'm not just anyone," the earl growled, as he began to circle Will. "I'm the one who'll catch her."

Not on his life. Will shook his head. "Not if I catch her first."

Brimsworth stopped in his tracks. "May the best man win, then?"

"It won't even be a competition."

The earl's brow rose with haughty indignation. "I do suppose you're right about that."

***

Prisca bolted upright in bed, feeling as though the wind had been knocked out of her. She rubbed her eyes, surprised to realize her candle was still lit. Heaven help her if Papa learned of it. He wasn't stingy with most things, but beeswax candles could set him off like nothing else.