Dare, Lydia - Tall, Dark and Wolfish

have ta sit here all day," the giant complained.

The girl turned an irritated gaze upon her brother. "We're here, Wallace, because El shouldna be alone. Someone has ta sit with Mr. Campbell. We'll all be takin' turns. And Caitrin specifically asked for yer assistance."

"She did?" He brightened just a bit. "Is Cait here, then?"

The girl let out an exasperated sigh. "

Mo chreach

! Does yer every thought have ta be about Cait? No, she's no' here. No' yet, anyhow."

The lummox's smile widened, completely unaffected by his sister's outrage. "But she'll be here later." He pounded on the door, nearly shaking the cottage to the ground.

Ben watched the pair enter the house, then he leaned against the wall. Poor Elspeth, if those two had been designated to keep her company. Still, they were her friends, and he was… nothing. Just a fellow passing through town. Dread washed over him.

He pushed himself off the wall and started for the door. He had hair combs to return. Then he would start his search for Rosewyth Campbell.

Ben ambled up the front step and knocked lightly. A moment later the dark-haired chit pulled the door open, and her jaw dropped. "What're… I mean, Lord Benjamin?"

As soon as his name fell from her lips, Elspeth came into view. Her green eyes sparkled in the early morning light, and Ben's heart leapt in his chest. It was ridiculous for the girl to have such an effect on him. Still, he couldn't look away from her beauty. She hadn't slept in more than a day, and yet she looked as radiant in her simple homespun as she had in her ball gown the night before. "Miss Campbell," he said softly.

A beaming smile spread across her face, making her even lovelier, which he hadn't thought was possible.

"My lord, I'm so sorry ta have sent ye on a wild goose chase last night. I wasna thinkin' clearly."

Ben stepped inside the cottage, which seemed much smaller in the light of day. Of course, the overgrown Wallace Ferguson took up a large amount of space.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the two pewter hair combs. "I told you I'd find them."

Elspeth gasped as her eyes landed on the two wolves in the palm of his hand. Before Ben could say anything else, she threw her arms around his neck, nearly throwing him off balance. He wrapped his arms around her, keeping both of them from tumbling to the ground.

"I canna believe ye found them," she gushed. Her pretty green eyes glistened, and she looked at him as though he were her own personal hero.

If the Ferguson chit hadn't suddenly suffered from a fit of coughs, Ben was certain he would have kissed the beguiling girl he still held in his arms. As it was, doing so with an audience wasn't the best idea.

He smiled at Elspeth then drew back, though he wanted nothing more than to hold her even tighter to him. Ben opened his hand once more, revealing the pair of pewter wolves. She snatched them from him and clutched them close to her heart. "I canna ever thank ye enough, my lord."

"It was my pleasure, Miss Campbell."

"Doona go anywhere," she said. Then after one more beatific smile, she escaped into a room off the side of the main one.

Ben turned around to find the Ferguson siblings glaring at him. He lost his silly grin and then frowned when he realized the girl was raking her gaze over every bit of exposed skin he had—his face, his neck, his ears—as though she was looking for something on his person. Quite disconcerting. "Hello, again, Miss Ferguson," he said, hoping to embarrass her into looking away.

She folded her arms across her chest. "Am I ta take it ye were here last night, Lord Benjamin?"

"I—"

Before he could finish, Elspeth called from her room, "Sorcha Ferguson, I will throw ye out again if ye canna keep a civil tone in yer voice."

The girl clamped her mouth shut.

Ben bit back a smile. He turned to the hulking Scot. "Mr. Ferguson, have you lived in Edinburgh your whole life?"

"Aye," the man replied gruffly.

Well, that was a bit of luck. "Perhaps you can help me. I didn't set off for Scotland merely for holiday."

"No?" Ferguson's brow furrowed.

"I'm actually looking for someone who may be a bit hard to find."

"Who?" Sorcha interrupted.

Ben graced her with a smile. At least the irritated sound was gone from her voice.

"A woman. I was sent to find Rosewyth Campbell."

Wallace Ferguson's eyes went wide, while a frown

marred his sister's pretty face. "Well, my lord, I doona think ye'll have much luck with that endeavor."

"Why not?" he asked, his mouth agape.

Sorcha opened her mouth to reply, but Elspeth quickly strode out of the room and spoke over her. "Because she's no' acceptin' visitors, my lord." She shot a look at Sorcha, who bit her lips together so hard a line of white appeared around them. "What did ye want with her, Lord Benjamin?"

"I heard she was a healer," he said quietly.

"And are ye in need of a healin'?" Maybe he was ill. Maybe he needed her help.

"No…" he hedged. His eyes refused to meet hers. He looked at every surface in the room. "I just needed some information."

"What kind of information?" She faced him and placed her hands on her hips. She

would

find out why he was searching for her mother, what reason he had to be in Scotland.

"It's a bit private," he said quietly. His face colored. The man was blushing?

"Then let's step outside and discuss it, shall we?" She smiled an easy smile at him. He seemed a bit discomfited at that moment. So she hoped a friendly face would put him at ease. And maybe loosen his tongue a bit.

He walked to the door and ushered her through it with a hand at the small of her back. Then he closed the door soundly behind them.

"What is it I can do for ye, Lord Benjamin?"

"Ben." He began to pace across the lawn.

"Beggin' yer pardon?" she asked.

"Ben," he repeated. "That's my name. I give you leave to use it. I mean. I'm asking you to use it." His eyes met hers. "Please, call me Ben."

"Ben," she repeated.

A smile finally crossed his face. "That's better."

He would not lead her astray so easily. "Rosewyth Campbell?" she prodded. "Ye needed her healin'?"

"I'm not sure, but I'd heard she could fix things."

Things? "What sorts of things?" The man would wear her out with all the pacing in mere moments.

"I really just need to talk to

Rosewyth

Campbell. Can you tell me where I can find her?"

Oh, sure she could. Six feet under the ground. "Let's take a little walk and discuss yer concerns. I've a bit of a healin' touch, too, ye ken," she said as she motioned with her hand for him to follow.

He walked leisurely down the lane by her side. He was quiet and obviously preoccupied. "Yes, I'd heard you have a way with herbs, Miss Campbell."

"Elspeth." His glance rose to meet hers, finally. "My name is Elspeth. I grant ye leave ta use it." She couldn't contain the small smile that hovered around the corners of her lips.

"Elspeth," he repeated, as though tasting the name on his tongue. It was an old family name. Of which she was quite proud. "It suits you."

She simply inclined her head.

They walked leisurely down the lane until they reached the small church. Elspeth turned down the pea-gravel drive and motioned for him to follow.

"Are ye goin' ta tell me what's ailin' ye, Ben? Or will ye make me guess?"

"Nothing is ailing me." His eyes met hers and then danced away. "I would really rather talk with Rosewyth Campbell." He glanced around. "Does she live near here? Are we close?"

"Aye, Ben. She resides here." She pointed toward the tall stone monuments in the churchyard, each marking the graves of loved ones. "My mother died five years ago. She was Rosewyth Campbell."