Lydia Dare - Wolf Next Door

Will held his breath. Elspeth, more than anyone, knew what Prisca meant to him. The two of them had engaged in several heartfelt conversations on the subject.

"Indeed?" Prisca asked skeptically.

"Benjamin has told me all about ye. And yer brothers. However did ye survive

five

older brothers? I canna even imagine it."

"It is a punishment I still suffer, especially as all are in residence at the moment." Prisca smiled, brightening the room. "It is very nice to make your acquaintance, Lady Elspeth. You and Lily will have to pay me a visit, and then you can judge that for yourself."

Prisca stepped around Will and started for the front door. His heart lurched. "You're leaving?" he asked, before he could stop himself. Foolish. It was foolish to alert her to the fact that he still cared if she came or went. He cared quite a bit. But it'd be best she not know that.

She looked back over her shoulder at him, her striking violet eyes raking across him. Despite the stiffness of her shoulders, something lurked in the depths. If only he knew what it was.

"I've just finished tea with Lily and your mother." Then she turned her attention back to Elspeth. "Until next time, and do give Ben my best."

***

Prisca barely breathed until she heard Billings close the door firmly behind her. She dared hope someday she would see William Westfield and not react as though her heart would thump right out of her chest.

Seeing a woman in his arms made her think of things best left forgotten. For as long as she could remember, she'd wanted to be the woman tucked close to his heart. At one time, she had been, until she found out what a cad he truly was.

She'd basked in his attention, drunk in his compliments, and happily welcomed him chasing after her skirts. Now he paid no attention to her skirts at all. She tried to tamp down the disappointment that the loss of his affection still caused in her heart. It was foolish to want the impossible.

Hopefully, he'd never know a huge chunk of her heart still belonged to him, despite her best efforts to move on with her life. She thought she hid her feelings well. Each moment they spent together was a series of jabs at one another. It had become a sport between them. A source of entertainment for those who watched. A source of pain for her.

Prisca shook the thoughts of Will away as she stepped through the doorway of her own home. The manor was surprisingly quiet, which was almost unheard of when all five of her brothers were in residence.

Prisca found four of her brothers sequestered in Papa's study, where Pierce reclined in an overstuffed chair with a ledger across his knee, absently making notes. He was nothing if not meticulously organized. Emory called out items for him to write.

"There's the Yule Ball, of course. And her friendship with the duchess. Not to mention the dowager and Benjamin's wife, both of whom are visiting. I believe there will be ample opportunity."

"Opportunity for what?" she asked as she breezed in the door and dropped onto the settee beside Garrick. He smiled softly at her. But he fidgeted as he glanced toward Pierce's ledger. Pierce snapped it closed and tugged it close to his body. How odd.

"Opportunity for you to spend gobs of Papa's money on clothing and other fripperies," Emory replied.

"As though I need an opportunity," Prisca scoffed. "Since when did you become interested in my fripperies?"

"He's more interested in the chit who comes to help you with your sewing, I think," Darius intoned.

Old Eunice? Hardly! What was going on here? Before she could ask, Garrick tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. The others might be up to something, but Garrick would never be a party to it.

"I've never met such self-serving individuals as our brothers, Priss," he said, but a smile threatened to erupt. "It's as though they were all raised in the wild." Prisca laid her head on Garrick's shoulder and sighed deeply. Though unruly, her brothers couldn't truly be called wild.

The clunk of boots in the corridor gained her attention. For a tiny moment, she thought she recognized Will's unhurried gait.

"Oh, it's just you," Prisca grumbled as Blaine rounded the corner.

But then Blaine stepped to the side, and a handsome golden-haired gentleman entered to stand beside him. "I don't think I've ever been greeted quite so enthusiastically," he laughed, his eyes twinkling.

Prisca leapt to her feet. "I'm terribly sorry. I thought it was just Blaine," she mumbled to Garrick, who dropped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed.

"That's what you get for thinking," Blaine teased.

Prisca shot him a look. Irritating man.

"Everyone, this is Dashiel Thorpe, the Earl of Brimsworth," Blaine continued. "He's a friend of mine from Cambridge. He didn't have any plans, so I invited him to spend the holiday season with us."

He pointed out each brother in turn, all of whom enthusiastically greeted the newcomer. Then Blaine walked up behind Prisca and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"And, this is my sister, Prissy," he said, pushing her forward like one might push a reluctant child.

"My name is actually

Prisca." She smiled at the ear

l before glaring over her shoulder at Blaine, who shrugged and smiled.

Brothers!

They all knew she hated that moniker. It made her sound like a petulant five-year-old. Then Prisca held out a hand to his lordship and nodded. "Welcome to Langley Downs, Lord Brimsworth."

"So nice to meet you, Miss Hawthorne," the handsome earl returned, taking her hand in his and squeezing it lightly. His amber gaze danced with something. Possibly mirth? Of course, he might find the antics of her brothers amusing. However, something else lingered in his brilliant amber depths. Interest, perhaps? She wasn't sure.

Prisca glanced back to find Emory and Darius with their heads tipped closely together. Those two were definitely up to something. What she wouldn't give to find out what they were saying!

"I'll do quite nicely for what?" the earl asked. Had

he

heard them? How was that possible? She hadn't been able to hear a thing. Her brothers sprang apart like children caught plotting against their governess.

Emory coughed into his hand and then said, "I was thinking of a game of piquet later. You'd do quite nicely as a fourth." He shrugged. "If you've an interest, of course."

"I am a horrid card player, but I would love to play. If Miss Hawthorne is joining us, that is."

Prisca suppressed a shiver as his warm eyes met hers. Why did she feel as though she was missing something important?

Three

Will now knew why he hadn't visited either of his brothers in a long while. Neither Simon nor Benjamin had made any attempt to quiet their amorous bedtime activities, and with his Lycan hearing, Will had been unable to block out the sounds. Each moan or gasp throughout the night left him twisting and turning, clutching his bedclothes in tortuous agony.

A man couldn't hear such sounds without wanting a woman beneath him. And this close to Langley Downs, he only wanted Prisca. Of course, he always wanted her, though he tried to ignore it. But since she'd been at Westfield Hall earlier in the day, he could still smell the sweet scent of lilacs that was uniquely hers. God, he wanted her more each time he saw her.

Damned fool! Why did he let such thoughts plague him? He was still pondering that question when Lily and Elspeth sauntered into the morning room like two well-sated women. He grumbled under his breath. Not that he begrudged his brothers their happiness, but the ladies' dreamy expressions made him remember the cries of passion that had kept him awake all night.

"Morning, Will." Lily grinned at him. "I don't recall you being such an early riser."