Lydia Dare - Wolf Next Door

Blaine shivered. "And poor Pierce is still out there."

"Someone had to stay and watch her. We couldn't just leave her," Emory complained.

"He's probably freezing to his death as we sit in relative comfort." Blaine pulled a silver case from his pocket and opened it to retrieve a cheroot. He silently offered one to the others, and Darius was only too happy to take one.

Garrick turned up his nose at both of them. "Don't think for one moment you're going to smoke that in here."

With a beleaguered sigh, Blaine returned the case to his pocket while Darius rolled his eyes.

"Do you suppose she's allowed him within one hundred yards of that cottage yet?" Ever the soldier, of course, Darius would be concerned about the logistics.

A knock sounded on the door.

It must be Will, crawling through the door with his tail between his legs. "Enter," Emory called absently.

To his surprise, it wasn't Westfield at all. Brimsworth flung the door open, frowning at the lot of them. "I'm sure this isn't a good time," the earl began.

"No, it's not," Emory said blandly. Will was due any moment, and the family didn't need an extra pair of ears listening in on the discussions. "Can we talk a bit later? We're in the middle of a family crisis."

The earl didn't look surprised at all. "Yes, I heard," he said calmly.

"The servants must already have wind of it," Garrick groaned. "This is

not

good for Prisca."

Brimsworth hurried to assure him. "No, no. No one else is aware of Westfield's treachery."

"Treachery?" Emory asked.

"Treachery. Betrayal. Cozening. Shall I continue?"

"That's quite enough," Garrick muttered. "We understand how you could think William…"

"I'd like to renew my suit," the earl announced as he smoothed the lapels of his jacket, puffing his chest out with pride.

Garrick's jaw dropped.

"You'd like to do

what

?" Emory asked, coming to his feet.

"I'd still very much like to marry your sister."

"I believe it's all been settled," Emory interjected, hoping to stop his diatribe. "She's to marry Lord William."

"Not necessarily," Garrick interrupted, looking happier than Emory had seen him since their scheming had began.

"What?" Certainly, Garrick didn't want to encourage the earl. Blaine shot Emory a dark look and shook his head the tiniest of degrees.

"All I ask is that you allow Sir Herbert, along with Miss Hawthorne, to decide who she's to marry," the earl continued.

"You're aware she spent all of last night in Westfield's bed?" Darius always had been a bit crass. But that comment was the most uncouth thing he'd ever heard, as it pertained to their baby sister. Emory glared at the soldier.

"Her chastity is yet to be determined." Brimsworth puffed out his chest again. "At the very least, I'd like to discuss it with her."

Good God! Was it too early in the morning for whisky? Emory leaned his head back against his chair and groaned.

***

"You did what?" Lily gasped, her hand flying up to land on her chest.

"I compromised her," Will murmured. "But that's not the point. I need clothes for her. And I don't want to go to Langley Downs just yet."

"Afraid her brothers will lynch you?" Simon asked, his voice much too calm and quiet.

"Actually, no. As it turns out, Emory and the others were scheming to do the very same thing. Using me as their foil. So, I'm not afraid of recrimination from the Hawthorne brothers."

"And Sir Herbert?" Simon's finger began to tap a rhythm on the top of his desk.

"Uh, that'll be a different story altogether. He's liable to have my head on a platter before nightfall." The baronet was overly protective of Prisca, and the idea of relaying the previous evening's events to the old man made Will nauseous.

"Roast pig?" Lily asked, her eyes narrowing at him. That sounded more like something Prisca would say. Wonderful. His sister-in-law was disappointed in him, too. Actually, she looked more disgusted by him.

"Lily…" Will began as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "I realize you're much taller than she is, but do you have anything Prisca can wear? I just need to take her home. She refuses to go in the wet gown from last night."

"Clothing does help a woman feel a bit less shamed after being ruined," Lily ground out as she stomped from the room.

Will glanced up at Simon, who simply sat back in his chair with his hands steepled before him. "I specifically warned you against taking this course, William."

Will sat forward in his seat and raked a hand through his hair. "The opportunity presented itself."

His brother's brow rose in question. "You think this was fair to Prisca?" Simon asked softly.

Guilt washed over Will. "She'll forgive me. In time." At least Will hoped so. She couldn't stay mad at him forever, could she?

"The only solution now is for you to marry her."

That was the plan. Will nodded.

"I'll go on to London and visit with the Archbishop before I collect Oliver from the Schofields'." Simon stood. "I'm certain under the circumstances he'll grant you a special license. I hadn't planned to leave today, but I don't have much of a choice now if I want to get the lad home in time for Christmas."

"Shall I go with you?" Will asked.

"And save yourself from the wrath of Prisca Hawthorne? And Sir Herbert?" His chuckle dripped with sarcasm. "I'd never let you get off so easily."

He left within moments, but his laughter could be heard all the way down the hall.

Will growled loudly with frustration.

"Let's go, William," Lily snapped at him from the doorway. He swung his head around. She let out an exasperated sigh, and Will jumped to his feet.

"Where are we going?"

"

You

are going to take

me

to Prisca so I can give her this set of clothes." She patted the bundle in her hands like he was a bedlamite. "And some food."

Will eyed the basket hooked around her elbow suspiciously. "You're certain that's just food?"

"What else might it be?" The toe of her shoe began to tap against the floor.

Gunpowder

and

a

ball

for

Simon's

musket,

Will couldn't help but think. But he'd be damned before he'd mention it. Lily already looked like she wanted to kill him. He'd not give her the means

and

the matter.

Will reached out to take Lily's load, but she backed away from him as her glare darkened. "I can handle it myself."

"After you," he grumbled.

Lily tossed her head back and started toward the entry hall. Will followed in her wake, feeling like more of a cad with each step he took. But what was he to do? Let that earl get his hands on Prisca? Of course not. He had had an opportunity to fix things in his favor, and he had taken it. He refused to be sorry about it now.

Why should Lily be angry with him anyway? None of this had anything to do with her. However, he opted to keep his mouth closed about that, as her back was straight and rigid, and he wasn't certain what she was capable of at the moment.

The carriage ride to the crofter's cottage was relatively short, though Will would have sworn it lasted half a lifetime. Lily's hazel eyes condemned him from across the carriage for being the worst sort of blackguard. He squirmed on the opposite bench, silently willing Jenkins to race like the wind.

"You do realize you've ruined any chance of happiness with Prisca?"

Will's mouth fell open. The situation couldn't be that dire. Besides, Prisca had enjoyed herself more than he had, up until her whisky-soaked mind caused her to fall asleep. "I wasn't the only one in the cottage last night," he clipped out, even as uneasiness gripped his heart. "I wasn't the only one swept away by passion."