Dare, Lydia - Tall, Dark and Wolfish

With a pained smile, Caitrin hugged Elspeth to her. "I saw it as soon as I sent MacQuarrie ta check on ye. It was so foolish of me. If I'd just waited a minute longer, ye wouldna be in this situation."

Elspeth pulled away from her friend. "Cait, be happy for me. I like my situation just fine. Please be nice ta Ben for me. I want it more than anythin'."

Caitrin managed a tight nod. "I understand congratulations are in order, Westfield," she bit out. There wasn't an ounce of warmth in her voice, but for Caitrin it was a huge step.

"Thank you, Miss Macleod. I'm sure it means the world to my wife that you've come." His hand touched Elspeth's back, and warmth spread throughout her. "Would you care to join us inside?"

Caitrin shook her head. "I really shouldna let anyone see me. I'm supposed ta be recuperatin'. I doona want ta have ta answer any questions about my miraculous recovery."

Ben trailed his hand up Elspeth's back, to squeeze her shoulder. "I'll leave you for a minute, then. My wife thinks I'm a terrible host. I'll go practice my manners."

Elspeth's heart swelled at his generosity. She looked back at him and smiled her gratitude. "I'll be along shortly."

When he disappeared into the cottage, Caitrin let go a huge sigh. "Blast him for bein' gracious."

Elspeth couldn't help but laugh. "He's no' as bad as ye think, Cait. He's quite wonderful, really."

Caitrin walked farther into the darkness and kicked a pebble from her path, which skittered across the grass. "I suppose I'm selfish, El. I just dinna want the

Còig

ta fall apart. I hope it's all worth it."

Elspeth shook her head, following her friend. "Cait, who said the

Còig

would fall apart? So I've married Benjamin. He knows who we are. He knows what I am. He doesna mind it, except when fireballs are thrown at his head or he's held captive by vines."

Caitrin stopped walking, and in the moonlight El could see her friend's incredulous stare. "Are ye daft, Elspeth Cam—" She took a deep breath. "Ye canna believe he'll let ye stay here. He's Sassenach.

He's

no' goin' ta stay here. And ye think he'll let his bride stay without him? He'll take ye ta London, and we'll never see ye again. And that'll be it."

Elspeth didn't believe that for a moment. "I am goin' ta London, Cait, but only ta search out my father. Ben says there's a man there who can help me. Ye canna possibly ken what this means ta me."

"And then ye'll return?" Cait snorted in disbelief. "Somehow I doona think that will happen. He wants ta keep ye from us, El. I doona ken why ye canna see it."

"Ye're wrong," Elspeth whispered, though part of her wondered at that. He hadn't mentioned them returning to Edinburgh. But he hadn't mentioned them staying in London either. What were his plans?

"I suppose we'll see, then, won't we?"

Ben couldn't hide his grin from Alec. His friend crossed the floor and removed a small vine of ivy that had somehow gotten wrapped around one of the buttons on his jacket. "Did you not think I'd notice your absence?"

Ben ran a hand through his hair. "I thought you might be gentleman enough not to mention it."

Alec laughed. "You know me better than that, my friend."

Had the situation been reversed, Ben wouldn't miss the opportunity to rib Alec. He clapped his hand on MacQuarrie's back. "Do you have any suggestions on how to get rid of all these people? I'm anxious to have my wife all alone."

Alec glanced around the room at the other wellwishers. "So you haven't lost interest in her, then?" he asked, avoiding Ben's eyes.

He shook his head. "I don't see that ever happening, MacQuarrie. You can rest at ease. She's the one."

"Take care of her, Westfield. She deserves better than her lot so far." Then, without waiting for a response, Alec stepped away from him and spoke loudly to the room. "Tomorrow morning you're all welcome to join me at my home for a wedding breakfast in honor of his lordship's union."

A smattering of applause and a chorus of hurrahs broke out. Alec started toward the cottage door, herding the others out as he went. He threw a glance over his shoulder as the last of the neighbors left, smiling. "You owe me, Westfield."

Ben saluted his friend, just as Elspeth returned to the cottage. Alec dropped a kiss to her cheek. "Congratulations again, Lady Elspeth."

"Thank ye, Mr. MacQuarrie."

As Alec left, Elspeth turned her questioning gaze to Ben. "Everyone streamed out of here as if the place were on fire. I thought ye were goin' ta work on yer hostin' skills, my lord."

Ben stepped across the room and drew her back into his embrace. "I'd much rather host only you, my lady-wife."

A pretty blush stained her cheeks as she rested her hands on his chest. "Did ye ask them all ta leave?"

"Alec," he explained. "Apparently the only way to get hoards of Scots from your home is to promise them another party. I don't know how he'll get rid of them tomorrow."

Elspeth giggled and he scooped her up in his arms. "Benjamin, what are ye doin'?"

"Taking my wife to bed. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

She stared at him quizzically, which wasn't exactly the look he'd wanted. "What's tomorrow?"

"After Alec's impromptu wedding breakfast, we'll start for London."

Elspeth pushed against his hard chest. "Put me down." His hold tightened instead, and her temper began to rise. "Ben, I said put me down," she said more forcefully.

"What's wrong, Ellie?" he asked, allowing her to slide down his body until she was back on her feet.

"We canna start for London tomorrow."

He blinked at her, his hazel eyes shrouded in confusion. "Why not?"

The man seemed so intelligent most of the time. Why had he picked now to play a dolt? "Have ye not heard a word I said, Ben?"

"I hear every word you say. I like the sound of your voice."

So now he was going to try to be charming? Well, Elspeth wasn't going to let him distract her. "I want ta go ta London. I want… no, I

need

ta find my father, livin' or dead, one way or the other. But I canna leave tomorrow."

Ben frowned at her. So he had listened to her; he just didn't remember what she'd said. Well, that seemed like something a wife should know. "Benjamin Westfield, I told ye this very mornin' that I wouldna leave until ye were healed. Everythin' I need is here—"

"About that," he interrupted, and his frown darkened. "There's no need to wait, Elspeth; you won't be healing me."

If he'd sprouted wings or burst into flame she wouldn't have been more surprised. "I willna be healin' ye?"

He shook his head. "And I'd like to get a start on our journey ahead. I'm certain my mother will love you. I'm anxious for you to meet her. And…"

Elspeth stopped listening and she stumbled backward. He didn't have any faith in her. He didn't think she could do it.

A numbness washed over her and she blinked back her tears.

"Ellie," she heard him say, but she shook her head.

She hadn't thought anything through. She'd been so caught up in her feelings for him, she hadn't asked the right questions or heard the right answers. And now she was married to a man who didn't believe in her.

Ben's arm wrapped around her and kept her from falling. His concerned expression pulled at her heart, and she couldn't look in his eyes for fear that she couldn't contain her tears. "Let me go, Ben."

"You don't look well, sweetheart." He directed her to the settee. "Here, sit." Then he sat beside her, clutching her hands in his. "Are you still feeling weak?"

She shook her head, still not meeting his eyes. "I think maybe ye should go ta London without me." Her words surprised her as much as they seemed to surprise him if his gasp was any indication.