Lydia Dare - Wolf Next Door

The carriage door opened, and Lily poked her head inside. "Prisca has agreed to travel to Langley Downs. Now make room." She took the spot beside Will, leaving Prisca to slide in beside Pierce.

The gown Prisca had borrowed from Lily nearly swallowed her whole and billowed about her ankles. Still she held her head high, as regal as a princess. Her eyes bore into Will's across the coach. "How is your shoulder?"

"I hardly feel a thing," he assured her.

Prisca sighed with relief and then stared at her folded hands in her lap the rest of the way. Meek and mild was a new look on her, and Will didn't like it one bit. He wanted to lean forward, to take her in his arms and soothe her worries and fears away.

Before long, the coach rumbled to a smooth stop in front of Langley Downs. Without a moment's hesitation, Will bounded from the carriage and held his hand out to Lily and then to Prisca, who winced as she stepped out of the coach.

"Your ankle still hurts?"

"It's the very least of my concerns." She heaved a defeated sigh.

Will scooped her up in his arms and started for the door. "Don't be frightened, Priss," he said softly. "It'll all turn out."

"I'm not frightened. I'm angry. I'm angry at my blasted ankle. I'm angry at you. I'm angry at myself for falling under your spell. I'm angry at my fool brothers for putting this whole thing in motion in the first place. But mostly I'm angry for not having a choice about my own future."

She said it all with quiet resignation. He'd rather she'd rant and rave. Or shout and throw things. This was far worse and made him feel like the worst sort of man for lying to her. But she'd be safer in the end. And that was what mattered.

The Hawthornes' butler opened the door wide, and the four of them filed inside. "Sir Herbert awaits you in his study, Lord William." Prisca wiggled in his arms until he set her down gently.

"You should wait in the parlor, Priss," Will said, directing her toward the closest receiving room.

She scoffed as she limped beside him. "Not on your life. Whatever my father has to say, I have as much right to hear as you do."

He was about to argue the fact, but he noticed Lily shake her head, warning him against such action. "Very well." Besides, he could let Sir Herbert send her off. Then he wouldn't be the villain in her eyes. At least not in that regard.

Will led Prisca down the corridor and around two separate corners until they reached her father's study.

Leaning against the door, his arms folded across his chest like a wolf in wait of his prey, Brimsworth's eyes trailed down her form. "Miss Hawthorne, I was so worried about you."

Prisca smiled tightly. "No need, my lord. As you can see, I am whole and hale. Mostly."

"I would like a word," the earl said, stepping forward. "I want you to know I don't hold you responsible for this situation in the least."

"It's really none of your concern." Her brow rose haughtily, though she stiffened at Will's side.

"Westfield!" Sir Herbert bellowed from within the study. "Is that you?"

Will tugged Prisca closer to him. Though he didn't want her to witness his conversation with her father, he wanted her in Brimsworth's presence even less. He opened the baronet's study door. "Yes, sir. We just arrived."

Sir Herbert's grey hair stood on end as though he'd been raking his hands through it all morning. He rose from the spot behind his desk and glared at Will, his face the same purple as an overripe plum. "Get in here!"

Will gulped.

"Sir Herbert…" Brimsworth pushed his way into the study. "I do ask that you hear me out."

The baronet shook his head. "Lord Brimsworth, I appreciate that you're willing to look past Prissy's indiscretion. Emory tells me you still want to press your suit. However, under the circumstances, I cannot allow it."

"But, sir," the earl pressed, "at least allow Prisca to consider me."

Will's heart lurched. He couldn't lose Prissy. Not now, not after everything. "She has already accepted my proposal." He growled the same lie he'd been repeating all morning. He placed his hand over Prisca's to keep her beside him.

Brimsworth turned his furious amber gaze on Will. "You, Westfield, are not a gentleman. Prisca deserves better. I thought we had an agreement between us."

"Agreement?" Prisca asked, tugging her hand from Will's grasp. "What sort of agreement?"

The earl bowed his head before her. "A gentlemen's agreement. However, that was before I realized the man didn't qualify. Marry me, Prisca. I can give you more than he ever could."

Her violet eyes grew round in surprise. "A gentlemen's agreement?"

"I'll make you a countess," Brimsworth promised. "And a marchioness one day. And I'll never take advantage of you, and—"

Despite her swollen ankle and oversized dress, Prisca rose to her full height. "Am I to understand that the two of you had some sort of agreement about

me

?"

Will shrugged. "Only that the best man would win."

Her mouth dropped open in surprise.

"And then he proved himself to be the furthest thing from a gentleman," Brimsworth added, seemingly proud of himself.

"How dare you? How dare both of you!" she fumed.

"Prissy!" her father barked. "Go to your room and wait for my summons."

She shook her head. "I have every right to be here."

Sir Herbert's face turned more purple, which Will hadn't realized was possible. "I have been overindulgent with you, but no more. This is not up for debate."

"What are you going to do, Papa?" she pressed, not budging from her spot.

The baronet looked from Will to Brimsworth and back. "I suppose I will listen to these two young men and make a decision."

That wasn't going at all the way Will had envisioned. He couldn't allow Brimsworth to steal her from him after everything he'd done to secure the situation. He'd been shot, for God's sake. "There's nothing to discuss. Prisca could very well carry my child," he blurted out. "I want her. She's marrying me."

The gasp Prisca released frightened Will to his core, but he forced himself to appear unconcerned. Sir Herbert sighed dramatically and then nodded to the earl. "Lord William does have a point. I doubt Eynsford would approve. I'm afraid I cannot consider your very generous offer, Lord Brimsworth. Now please allow me to speak with my future son-in-law in private." Then he turned his stare on his daughter. "And you will await my summons in your room."

She pursed her lips together. "In my room? You would banish me as though I'm a child? Careful, Papa, or I may never come out."

"If only you'd been there last night," her father said quietly, disappointment evident in his tone. Will's heart clenched when tears began to swim in her violet eyes. Before they could cascade down her cheeks, she stomped off. Will could hear the briefest intakes of air as she walked on her tender ankle, but she didn't give any outward signs of her injury, proud as the loftiest of princesses.

Brimsworth growled low in his throat, a threat if ever Will had heard one. Then the earl stalked from the study.

"Sit!" Sir Herbert ordered.

Will nodded, dropping into one of the high-backed chairs in front of the baronet's desk. Sir Herbert resumed his seat, his brow furrowed in anger.

Will swallowed as he faced the man. In all his years, he'd never seen the baronet so furious. "I'm sorry we're meeting under such circumstances, sir."

"So am I." Sir Herbert scowled. "I have known you all of your life, William. Your father was a dear friend of mine. Never in all my years would I have ever imagined that you'd ruin my daughter."

A fresh wave of guilt washed over Will. He tried to ignore it. "It was not my intent, sir. I have no excuse except that I lose all rational thought when I'm with Prissy. I do plan to make this right."