Lydia Dare - Wolf Next Door

She gulped, not at all looking forward to this interview, but she nodded her head just the same. "Of course, my lord."

His gaze then reached the other ladies, and he smiled the charming smile of a rogue who never failed to make women swoon in his presence. "Lily, Simon grows restless. If you make him stay awake any longer waiting for you, we'll all be miserable tomorrow. Do take pity on the rest of us."

The duchess smiled and batted her eyes bashfully. "Oh dear, I suppose it is rather late."

"I would imagine late hours are not the best idea for expectant mothers either," he continued, winking at Elspeth.

"I suppose Benjamin is restless, too?" she asked, rising from her seat.

"Honestly, how can you tell the difference?" Will grinned.

"I doona ken why ye and His Grace enjoy disparaging my husband every chance ye get," Elspeth returned.

Will chuckled. "Old habits and all that, Ellie. Besides, he was quite the pest when we were growing up."

Elspeth narrowed her emerald green eyes on him. "Well, ye are all adults now. Ye may want ta remember that."

He wiped the smile from his face and nodded, having been properly scolded. "I will try… not to tell Ben you're fighting his battles for him."

"Ye are incorrigible," she said, brushing past him into the corridor.

Lily followed Elspeth, nodding her good night. Will looked pointedly at Caitrin Macleod, and Prisca turned her attention to the blond witch as well. Certainly she knew Will wished for her to leave. "Mi—"

Miss Macleod giggled. "Are ye attempting ta send

me

off ta bed as well, Lord William?"

Prisca was certain steam must be blasting from her own ears. Was that witch actually

flirting with Will in front o

f her? She'd like to string the little fortune-teller up by her blond hair until she promised to return to Edinburgh and never step foot on English soil ever again.

Prisca leapt from her chair, glaring at her husband. "Well, don't let me stop you."

His light-blue eyes widened in surprise. "I beg your pardon."

He could beg all he wanted to. The overgrown dog hadn't put Miss Macleod in her place though, had he? Prisca squared her shoulders, reveling in all of her pent-up anger. "Run along. You best make sure Miss Macleod finds her way to her chambers."

When she saw a wicked little gleam in Caitrin Macleod's eyes, Prisca had to resist the urge to scream. How dare she smirk!

"I do believe that's my cue ta leave," the snooty witch said, sliding from her spot on the settee. "Have a good evening."

As soon as Miss Macleod exited from the room, Will crossed it and turned Prisca to face him with a hand upon her arm. "Just what was that all about?"

"Don't pretend as though you don't know."

His dark brow pinched together as he frowned. "After the day I've had, pray tell me you're not jealous."

She wrenched her arm from his grasp, wishing that his touch didn't make her belly all fluttery. "I have nothing to say to you, William. And I am very tired." To make the point, she covered a yawn with her hand. "Might we continue this in the morning?"

His frown deepened. "Will you still be here in the morning?"

She tilted her head to one side. "I've decided not to return to Langley Downs after all."

"Indeed?" His soft voice rumbled over her, and Prisca had to keep from shivering. Blast him for still making her heart beat faster. Life would be so much easier if she didn't love the beast.

"I believe I can make you suffer much more in residence than I can if I'm away." And with that, she breezed past him into the corridor toward her guest quarters.

***

Will spent a torturous night in the dower house alone. He should have made his wife trek down the path to their little oasis, but he didn't want to press her ire. She'd agreed not to take off to her father's, and he didn't want to change her mind.

First thing in the morning, he made his way back to the manor house and sat in the breakfast room until his legs were numb. But he refused to leave. She'd have to show herself sometime. She'd have to eat.

He ignored the pitying glances from his brother and even from Oliver, for God's sake. He ignored the hushed whisperings of his sisters-in-law. And he ignored Caitrin Macleod's irritating little smirk, as though she knew how all of this would turn out. If he had a bit more confidence, he'd ask her to confirm it one way or the other.

Finally, he was alone in the breakfast room and Prisca still hadn't made an appearance. The footmen seemed anxious to clean off the sideboard but were waiting for Will to take his leave first. Thoroughly frustrated, he tossed his napkin to the middle of the table and stalked up the stairs to the room his wife occupied.

He knocked once on the door but didn't wait for her to answer before barging inside.

"William!" she gasped as she tugged the edges of her wrapper together.

It was too late. Wearing only a thin chemise and with the morning light at her back, she was the most beautiful sight in the world, Will thought as he caught a glimpse. His mouth fell open, and he had to work to keep himself from panting.

"For heaven's sake, shut the door!" she hissed.

He kicked it closed and then started toward her. No matter what sins she thought he'd committed or what transgressions she attributed to him, Will had to hold her again. To taste her. To make her forgive him.

Prisca's ebony curls cascaded over her shoulders, and Will ached to run his fingers through them, to lift her hair to his nose and inhale her lilac scent. Her eyes rounded in surprise when he stopped in front of her, and he tipped her chin up with his knuckle. Dear God, he loved her, every contrary bone in her body. "Are you still angry with me?"

She swallowed. He almost lost all conscious thought, watching the movement of her neck. He pulled his gaze back to meet hers and slid one arm around her waist.

"

Angry

isn't an appropriate word," she whispered.

A grin tugged at his lips. "Do you want to tear me limb from limb? Make me pay for my sins of the past? Tie me to the bedpost and torture me with your sweet scent? That last one sounds like it might be enjoyable. I vote for that one."

She punched his shoulder with the heel of her hand. "Stop teasing. You shouldn't even be here."

"Then where should I be? Being with you is the only place I've ever wanted to be, Priss."

"Don't say such things," she said and tried to step out of his embrace.

Will held her firmly against him, not giving her an inch to escape. "Why not?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, making his heart clench. "Because I'll foolishly believe you."

Perhaps it wasn't too late then. Perhaps she did love him. He thought he saw a glimmer of it in her eyes, and he couldn't help but smile at her. "Believe it, Prisca. You're the only woman I want. The only woman I've ever wanted."

She scoffed and pushed against his chest. "Indeed? Then I suppose all those stories I heard from Ben and my brothers and the society rags were all grandiose tales of fiction."

Ben? Will leaned away from her. She did seem sincere. "Apparently my little brother owes me an explanation." After he got his hands on Ben, his younger sibling would be lucky if Elspeth even recognized him.

"Oh, Ben's versions were always edited heavily. Besides, he'd have nothing to report at all if you were a paragon of virtue, which we both know you were not." Her voice cracked a bit, and Will winced.

He had no idea she'd kept up with his exploits over the years. "I tried to forget you, Prissy," he admitted. "I tried over and over. It was easier to live my life like what was between us was of no importance than to dwell on how much you hated me."

"I never hated you…"

He arched one brow at her. "I seem to recall you vowing that you did on more than one occasion."