Dare, Lydia - Tall, Dark and Wolfish

Rhiannon explained before she left that she'd make the arrangements with the vicar, and Elspeth nodded silently. There wasn't much else she could do. Then she realized Caitrin and the others were packing up her herbs and oils.

She stood on shaky legs. "What do ye think ye're doin'?"

Caitrin rushed toward her. "Doona worry, dearest. We'll get yer stores settled right."

"Why do they need settlin'?"

Caitrin swallowed. "Well, ye're goin' ta come stay with me for a while."

Elspeth shook her head. "I'm no' goin' anywhere. This is my home, Cait."

"Ye shouldna be alone right now. Ye'll just stay with me for a little while."

"No. This was my grandfather's home. It's my home. I'm no' goin' anywhere."

Caitrin draped her arm around Elspeth's shoulders. "Be reasonable. Ye've been through so much."

"And there's the man with the mark," Sorcha added with a quiver to her voice.

Elspeth stepped out of Caitrin's hold. "I'll no' run from him. My father could knock down that door right there, and I'll no' leave with him. And I'll no' leave with ye. This is

my

home." It was filled with memories of her grandfather and she wasn't leaving. They couldn't make her.

"But Lord Benjamin," Sorcha began. "What about him?"

A hysterical laugh escaped Elspeth. "What about him, Sorcha? I ken ye doona like him, but he's a nice man. That's all. What do ye think the brother of a powerful English duke wants with me? Nothin', that's what. Now enough of this. I doona want ta hear any more."

"But what if he's the man?" Sorcha persisted. "The man with the mark?" The girl's eyes flashed to Caitrin.

Elspeth felt the last of her patience evaporate. "That's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. I bear the mark myself. Doona ye think I'd feel it if another were near?"

"Do ye feel it?" Caitrin whispered.

She felt nothing now but emptiness. "Of course no'. This is foolishness. I appreciate all of ye bein' here for me, but I doona want ta hear any more of this nonsense. When my father arrives, I will speak ta him. I'll ask him a lifetime's worth of questions, I'll find out what he wants from me. But I'll no' go with him. Now I'd very much like ta be alone."

"Promise ye won't go off with Westfield, and we'll leave."

"Out!" Elspeth yelled. "All of ye!"

Nine

Ben sat bolt upright in bed. What an awful dream. Another moonful had come and gone without his changing. He heaved a sigh and fell back against the feather pillows. He would go in search of Rosewyth Campbell in the morning, just as soon as he checked in on Elspeth.

A wasting disease. He shivered at the thought. When his time came, he hoped it was quick and easy. He didn't want to wither away before the people who loved him. The poor girl. He hadn't even been able to wish her a good night, make sure she was all right.

Ben crossed his hands beneath his head and thought about how she had looked as she ran through the woods. He had never seen anyone so passionate or uninhibited. She'd lifted her skirts and run.

Run like

a wolf.

Ever since Ben was a boy, he'd loved to run. He'd far outdistanced his friends and his brothers. Even other Lycans could not match his speed or stealth. But he'd been matched by a mere slip of a girl.

Suddenly he knew what he had to do. He had to

see her. Ben rose and dressed in the dark of night. His purpose for coming to Scotland was to find the healer. But he'd found more than that. He'd found a fieryhaired beauty who was vulnerable. And she called to the wolf in him, unlike anything else had for quite a while. He walked quietly down the stairs and reached for the door handle. But Alec's voice stopped him.

"Where you off to, Westfield?"

"Why are you up?" Ben shot back.

"Messenger woke

me

an hour ago. Now it's your turn." He raised an eyebrow at Ben.

"I was going to see Miss Campbell. To see how her grandfather is doing."

"He didn't survive the night," Alec said as he shook his head.

"How do you know?" Ben spun to face him.

"Miss Macleod sent a messenger when he died. That's what woke me. I asked her to let me know when something happened. I am surprised she sent her man so late—or early, as the case may be."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ben snapped.

"And what would you have done?" Alec narrowed his eyes. "You're nothing to the girl, Ben. You can't help her through this."

"I could try," he mumbled.

"You've never cared for anyone, aside from your brothers. You've been with more women than I can count on my fingers and toes. And never for more than a night." He advanced toward Ben. "You're not good for her."

"And who are you to decide that?" Ben felt a blinding rage. He pressed through it. During most of the time that he was tarnishing his name, Alec had been right beside him. "Who made you her guardian?"

"Not her guardian." His friend shook his head. "But I know she'll not be safe with you. You'll ruin her. Then you'll disappear, like you always do. She'll be left to pick up the pieces of her tattered reputation. Her mother had a hard life. I'd not want the same for her." He clasped Ben's shoulder. "You hear me? She's a

good

girl. Leave her be."

"She's all alone?"

"She has friends. They'll take care of her." He shot Ben a warning glance.

"Who's with her now?" he pressed. He needed to know she wasn't alone.

"I'm not sure anyone is at the moment. Miss Macleod's note said the lass kicked them all out."

Ben chuckled at the image of his fiery Elspeth doing just that.

"It's not funny," Alec reprimanded him with a scowl.

"No. It's not funny at all," he agreed. "It's sad." He turned and started back up the stairs.

"You're giving up so easily?" Alec asked.

"I'm not good for her. You said so yourself."

"Well, I never expected you to agree," Alec mumbled as he walked back toward his study. "But I'm glad you do. Rest easy, Westfield."

Ben tried to maintain a casual pace as he ascended the stairs. But as soon as he turned the corner out of sight, he sped up. He went back to his room and crossed to the window. Only two stories up. He'd jumped farther before.

Ben pushed the window up slowly, happy to hear that it made little noise. He swung one leg over the side and then the other. He hung by his fingertips until he finally dropped, landing in a crouch in some soft moss. But he immediately rose and jogged across the back lawn and into the woods. Then he let his senses lead him to her.

He didn't stop until her cottage came into view, then he stopped and shook his head. It wasn't even dawn. What madness had come over him? In the back of his mind he could hear Simon lecture him for his reckless impulsiveness.

Not that it mattered. The pull Elspeth Campbell had over him was too strong, and he couldn't turn away if he wanted to. He continued toward the door.

Before he could knock, it opened and Elspeth gasped. "

Mo

chreach!

Ye frightened me!" A pail dropped from her hands.

"My apologies, Miss Campbell." He reached out his hand to keep her from falling and grasped a handful of her skirts.

Her eyes widened and she backed away from him. "What do ye think ye're doin'?"

Ben heaved a sigh. This wasn't going at all the way he'd planned. Who was he kidding? He hadn't planned a bloody thing. "I just wanted to see you. MacQuarrie told me about your grandfather, and I wanted to make sure you were all right."

She looked into the darkened night. "No horse? Did ye walk all the way here, my lord?"

He took a step toward her, not even trying to hide the grin on his face. "I took the path you showed me. I didn't know another way."

Elspeth stared at the handsome Englishman. It would be so easy to get lost in the depths of his eyes. How could Sorcha possibly believe