Dare, Lydia - Tall, Dark and Wolfish

Her pulse raced as her anticipation intensified. She'd never been so close to finding her sire. It had never been a possibility until now. And it gave her something to focus on instead of her broken heart. Why were the Campbell women so unlovable? What was it about them that prevented the men they loved from returning the feeling? Perhaps her father could answer that when she found him. Perhaps then she could understand why Ben was unable to love her.

After dismounting his stallion, Will helped her off her filly. "You should really wait and do this with Ben," he said.

Elspeth forced away her tears. She wouldn't be doing anything else with Ben, and she needed answers to a lifetime of questions. "Please, Will. We've come this far."

"And my brother will never forgive me," he mumbled.

Major Desmond Forster rubbed his brow, looking at the file in front of him. Poor Captain Redding. He was a good soldier and a better man. Matthew Redding had served under Desmond's command all throughout the Peninsular Wars; returned the previous year, after Waterloo; and sold his commission. Within weeks he had married his childhood sweetheart, and last night the lass had gone into labor. Neither the girl nor the babe survived the event.

Redding was nearly out of his mind and rejected all the assistance the Society had offered. It broke Desmond's heart. But he couldn't help someone who refused to let him. He closed the file and rose from his desk. He started to descend the steps from his office, but stopped midway down the stairs.

His foot nearly slid out from under him as his knees gave way.

Rose?

It couldn't be. He blinked in astonishment. At the foot of the steps, a young, red-haired lass stood quietly, fidgeting with her hands. Dear God, she was the spitting image of Rosewyth Campbell. The same compassionate green eyes, alabaster skin, fiery hair.

Just as he made up his mind to turn around and go back to his office, the girl's eyes flashed up the staircase. She smiled tentatively, and his feet dragged him the rest of the way down the stairs. "Miss, are you lost?"

She shook her head. "I've come with Lord William, he asked me ta wait here."

The girl's Scottish lilt nearly knocked Desmond to the ground. She not only looked like Rose, but she sounded like her, too. Why would Will bring a girl here? He knew the rules. Desmond scratched his head. "The thing is, lass, ladies aren't allowed here. Would you like to wait for Lord William in my office?"

She bit her lower lip. "I suppose that would be all right. Can ye get word ta his lordship?"

The lass wasn't Will's usual sort of conquest. Desmond found himself smiling at her. "Of course. My office is at the top of the stairs, first door on the right. What's your name, lass, so I can tell Will?"

"Elspeth. Lady Elspeth Westfield."

Desmond's mouth fell open. He'd known the Westfields for more than three decades. There wasn't a Scot in the mix. But

he

had sent Benjamin to Edinburgh to find Rose.

An uneasy feeling washed over him. He knew instantly that this girl was Rose's daughter. There wasn't a doubt in his mind. Rose had obviously gone on with her life while he'd mourned her loss every day.

"Top of the stairs, first door on the right," he repeated numbly. Then he stepped into the drawing room and caught sight of Will in the far corner.

Why the devil had the scoundrel brought Rose's

daughter here? Desmond stalked across the room, ready to tear into the lad, but as he approached, Will seemed to sigh with relief. "Major, I was just looking for you."

Desmond frowned at the overgrown pup. "Would you care to tell me why you've brought a woman here, William?"

"You've seen her?" Will frowned. "She's Ben's wife."

"I figured she belonged to one of you. That doesn't explain why she's

here

, William."

Will gestured to a seat in the corner and collapsed into one himself. "She's here to see you, Major. Ben told her he thought you could help her find her father."

Her father? The last person he'd want to find was Rose's husband. "How the devil would I know where to find the man?"

"He's a Lycan. One of us. She bears the mark. Ben thought you could help her figure out who he is."

The air whooshed out of Desmond, and his mouth went dry. The odds that Rose knew another Lycan were minuscule. He did the math in his head. The girl looked to be about twenty. He stumbled into the seat Will had indicated earlier.

It wasn't every day a man learned he had a grown daughter.

"She doesn't know who he is?" Desmond managed to ask. Why had Rose kept the girl in the dark? Why had she kept

him

in the dark?

Will shook his head. "Scoundrel apparently abandoned her mother before she was born."

He hadn't known Rose was with child. He never would have left if she'd told him. He would have made Rose come with him. Damn Fiona Macleod and her vision to hell. "What does she want with him?"

"Ben says she wanted to kill him, but I can't imagine that. She's really the sweetest girl. Compassionate. She actually loves Ben, for God's sake, if you can believe it—though that's a whole other matter."

Desmond's mind was awhirl. His

daughter

sat in his office, and he didn't have a clue what to say or do with her. But he had to see her again, to look at her with his eyes. His daughter.

He was rocked to his core.

Elspeth fidgeted in her seat. What was taking Will so long? He said the major was always here. Then the door opened and the gentleman she had met earlier walked into the office, a look of confusion marring his brow. "My dear, William says you are here to see me. I am Major Forster."

"Oh." She rose from her seat. "Major, it's so nice ta meet ye. My hus— Benjamin speaks so fondly of ye. Did Will tell ye why I've come?"

"I told him, Elspeth," Will replied from the door. "He thinks he can help."

She smiled at the older gentleman. He raked a hand through his dark hair, sprinkled with bits of grey. His brown eyes seemed so distant, not filled with the warmth she had noted earlier. "Oh, that's such a relief. I'm sorry ta barge in here without any notice."

The major locked eyes with hers. "It's no trouble, Lady Elspeth."

Will glanced at Forster. "You'll see her home tonight?"

The old officer agreed with a curt nod. Elspeth had no intention of returning, but neither of these men needed to know that. Once she had a name and a direction, she'd be off.

Will bent and kissed her forehead, just as he would a sister. "Good luck. I'll see you later, Elspeth." She avoided meeting his eyes as she nodded. If he looked too closely, he would see her planned subterfuge written all over her face, as she was a terrible liar.

The major motioned toward a chair and encouraged her to sit again. "May I get you some tea?" he asked politely.

Elspeth shook her head. "I really just want information about my father. Then I'll take my leave. I willna trouble ye for long."

"You're no trouble at all, my dear," he said, his gaze lingering at her hair. A flash of pain crossed his face.

"Are ye all right, Major?" She scooted forward in her chair, ready to jump up and help him if he needed it.

"I think my eyes are fooling me, Lady Elspeth. Because you look just like her. The memories are painful."

"I'm sorry, but I'm no' sure what ye speak of. Do I remind ye of someone ye once knew?"

He simply nodded and sat back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. He breathed out the words with a long sigh. "I knew your mother, lass, and you look so much like her that it nearly takes my breath away." Then he smiled softly at her.