Lydia Dare - Wolf Next Door

She stepped away from his touch, leaving a settee between them. "In fact, I don't think it's a good idea to see you at all, in the company of others or not."

Will's mouth went dry. What was she saying? Certainly she hadn't accepted Brimsworth's offer. His heart constricted at the thought. "What changed between last night and today? When I last saw you, I thought you at least

liked

me."

For a moment, he thought her expression softened a bit, but then her jaw tightened and she looked as though she could kill him where he stood. "No, you mistook me for some lightskirt, which was completely my fault, considering my behavior. But I won't let it ever happen again."

"A lightskirt?" he whispered in astonishment. How could she think such a thing?

"Do you think I'm daft, William?"

He winced. In his experience, women didn't ever truly want an answer to that question. "Priss…"

"Do you think I don't know what you and my brothers get up to at The White Lion or that Madam Millish's or whatever bawdy house happens to be in fashion at the moment?"

He felt the blood drain from his face, and he didn't know what to say to that. "I, um…" he stumbled, "I would hope that you didn't know any of the details." That was really a poor thing to say, which he knew as soon as Prisca picked up a

La Belle Assemblée from the sid

e table and threw it at his head. He caught the periodical in the air. "You needn't try to decapitate me, love."

"Don't '

love

' me, Will."

For a moment, he stopped to think about what she'd said. He knew she meant not to use the term of endearment. But he wanted it to be more. "I don't think I can help myself," he admitted.

She looked as though she was ready to skewer him with her gaze. "Is that why you decided to spend some time in the cupboard with me, because you can't help

?" She blew the hair from her forehead, as though she was thoroughly frustrated by him. "Why am I not surprised?"

Why was she being so bloody difficult? "If you would stop being a shrew for one second and

listen…

"

"A shrew? Tell me you did

not

call me a shrew." The toe of her shoe began to thump loudly against the Aubusson rug and Will gulped.

"You always twist my words around."

"Twist them around? William, you're the one who said 'shrew,' which, by the way, I do not appreciate in the least."

If she kept talking, he'd never get back in her good graces, if he'd ever been there. "Priss, can you be quiet for just a moment?"

Her eyes narrowed to little shards. "How dare you?"

Perfect. She couldn't be reasonable. He began to circle the settee she'd put between them. "I'll take that as a 'no.' So let me be of assistance."

"Stay where you are," she warned.

But he paid her no heed. The beast inside him took over, and he leapt over the settee and caught her waist with his hands. "There's only one way I know to get you to be quiet," Will said, and then he pulled her flush against him.

***

Prisca gaped at him. Did he really think to kiss her after she just finished telling him she couldn't be alone with him, that she wouldn't play the role of lightskirt for him? She balled up her fist and landed it against his stubborn chin.

Will flinched and then released her. "What the devil…?"

She bolted from the room and darted into the corridor where she collided with Lily. "Heavens!" the duchess gasped as she toppled to the floor. "Prisca!"

Mortified, Prisca held out a hand to Lily and pulled her back to her feet. "I'm so sorry, Lily."

"Billings just informed me you were here. Are you all right?"

"Of course," she lied. She didn't think she'd ever be all right ever again. Simply being in Will's presence made her mind all a jumble.

"You don't look all right," Lily insisted. "Do come into the breakfast room. Elspeth and I were enjoying a spot of tea."

Prisca shook her head. She didn't think she could be cordial, and it would be very obvious something had happened, which was the last thing she could ever confess. If she was going to put Will out of her mind, she couldn't discuss him with anyone, most especially Lily. After all, the duchess was related to the reprobate.

She clutched the locket around her neck and gathered her strength. "I'm such a ninny, Lily. I completely forgot that I was supposed to visit the Giddings sisters today. I've been so distracted with Langley Downs nearly overflowing, I ended up here instead. Do forgive me?"

"Of course." Lily hooked her arm with Prisca's. "Are you sure I can't convince you to stay a while?"

Prisca shook her head. "I have so much to do. I started Lady Elspeth's gown yesterday, but now Sarah needs my help as well. I'm afraid I don't have time to spare today." Hopefully, Lily would never know she'd already sent a note to the Giddings' begging off for the day. She did hate lying, especially to Lily; but she couldn't very well tell her that she could not stay at Westfield Hall because it pained her too much to see Will. Lily would smile and try to push them together, and Prisca refused to have her heart broken again. She had to leave. She needed to be alone for a while and sort out her thoughts.

As her carriage was still on the drive, Prisca bounded inside and snuggled under a traveling blanket while she waited for Harris to resume his spot on the perch and drive her home.

Eleven

"I think you should ride right over there. Tell Sir Herbert you compromised her and be done with it," Ben offered, standing in Will's doorway.

He glared at his brother from where he lounged on his bed, trying to find a solution to this situation with Prissy. Ben's presence didn't help.

"Thank you for respecting my privacy in this matter, Benjamin."

His younger brother shrugged. "You didn't exactly make it easy on us. The two of you were practically bellowing at each other. It's a wonder Lily and Ellie didn't hear you. What

did

you do with her in the cupboard last night?"

"Go. To. Hell."

Ben stepped inside Will's room and shut the door behind him. "Was it bad enough to compromise her? I mean, since Simon found the two of you, Sir Herbert wouldn't have a choice in the matter."

Will glared at his irritating brother. "You should know your advice is in direct opposition to Simon's."

Ben snorted. "As if that's a surprise. Besides, I know Prissy better than he does. It may be the only way to secure her."

"She hates me, Ben." He could see it in her eyes as she'd fled from him. He didn't want to trap her, to give her no choice in the matter.

Ben sighed. "She doesn't hate you."

Will scoffed and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I have it on the highest authority that she does."

"You'll have to take my word for it, Will."

He'd never taken Ben's word for anything. His younger brother wasn't exactly known for his good judgment, even if Ben and Prisca had engaged in years' worth of exchanged letters. "If I don't want Simon's advice, I certainly don't want yours. Now turn back around and go keep an eye on your father-in-law."

"What's wrong with the major?"

"There's something going on with him and Mother."

Ben's eyes widened in surprise. "Major Forster?"

"Do you have a different father-in-law?"

Ben laughed. "I wonder if Ellie knows."

"No idea," Will said. "Why don't you go and discuss it with her?"

Someone was about to knock on his door, so both Will and Ben turned expectantly. Then the rap came and Ben pulled the door open.

Simon stood on the threshold. "Will, Emory Hawthorne is in my study."

"And?" Will asked.

Simon frowned. "He came here looking for Prisca."

But she'd left hours ago. Will brushed past both brothers and started for the stairs. He bolted down the steps and through the house until he reached Simon's study. He found Emory pacing the floor.