Dare, Lydia - Tall, Dark and Wolfish

He tried not to laugh at his foolish thoughts, but failed. The pretty girl across the room was

not a Scottis

h witch. How many times had he seen

Macbeth? Scottis

h witches looked like hags with hooked noses and spent their time around open cauldrons, stirring up trouble for nobles. No doubt Rosewyth Campbell, wherever she was, couldn't hold a candle to the beguiling Elspeth.

"What's so humorous?" Alec asked.

"I think I'm tired from my journey," Ben admitted. "My mind's playing tricks on me."

"Well, don't go around laughing to yourself. People will think you're daft."

"Thank you for your concern," Ben remarked drolly. "Excuse me, will you?" The lovely redhead still owed him a dance. He started toward the five women, but was stopped by Alec's hand on his arm.

"The lass doesn't receive much attention, Westfield. You've already danced with her once. Any more and ye'll have tongues a waggin'."

"Let them wag," Ben said, shaking out of Alec's hold.

The only brightness he'd experienced in weeks was in Elspeth Campbell's presence. Besides, the lass deserved attention. Perhaps he could make all the blind Scots realize what they had been missing on a regular basis.

He crossed the room, his eyes focused on Elspeth the entire way. The four girls who flanked her all seemed to take the same collective breath as he reached them, but his red-haired beauty's eyes dropped demurely. Ben couldn't hold back a smile.

He reached his hand out to her. "Miss Campbell," he said as a waltz began.

"I doona ken how things are in London, my lord," Miss Macleod said with a frown, "but two waltzes in a night isna proper here."

"Ah, but my first one was interrupted," he replied, his hand still outstretched.

"El," one of the brunettes hissed, the single syllable an unmistakable warning.

Elspeth turned her head. "'Tis all right, Rhiannon." Then she focused her startlingly green eyes on him. "Could we take a turn about the room instead, my lord?"

Ben nodded. "If that's what you'd like."

Elspeth would

like

to be wrapped in his arms again. But her sister witches were right. It wouldn't look proper, and she still had to face all these people after Lord Benjamin returned to his life in London. She didn't need to make things more difficult on herself.

She placed her hand in his and immediately felt a warmth envelop her entire being. He towed her to his side and placed her hand on his forearm. "Smile, Miss Campbell, or your countrymen will think I'm forcing you to spend time in my company."

A giggle escaped her and she looked up into his twinkling hazel eyes. "No one would ever believe that."

He bent his head toward her and whispered, "You know it's still not too late for us to make our escape."

She couldn't hide the smile that tugged at her lips. "I think ye're a bad influence on me, Lord Benjamin."

"Ah, I do tend to have that affect on women."

"I have no doubt."

He squeezed her hand and winked at her. "Most women don't complain."

"Ahem!" someone cleared his throat beside them. Elspeth pulled her gaze from Lord Benjamin's handsome face to find Wallace Ferguson, arms crossed in front of his massive chest, glaring at the Englishman.

"Friend of yours?" Lord Benjamin asked with a cheeky grin.

Elspeth sighed and she tipped her head back haughtily. "Wallace Ferguson, what is the matter with ye?"

The overgrown Scot shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I, uh, wanted ta ask ye ta stand up with me, El." Something he'd never done in the past.

She looked over her shoulder to find Sorcha gesturing to her brother. Obviously Wallace had been put up to this by his sister.

Havers!

She was simply walking about the room with Lord Benjamin. Did her coven think she couldn't take care of herself? It wasn't terribly complimentary. "Ye can thank Sorcha for her concern, Wallace. I'm perfectly fine with his lordship."

Wallace frowned. "Have a heart, El. She said she'd help me with Caitrin if I did this for her." Then he frowned at Lord Benjamin. "Besides, he's no' even one of us."

"Something in his favor." She narrowed her eyes on Wallace. "Yer services are no' needed, Mr. Ferguson."

The big Scot hung his head. "I never thought ye were a stubborn one."

"Well, now ye ken." Then she took pity on the man. "I'm certain ye'd rather dance with Caitrin anyway."

His eyes flashed to the dance floor, where Caitrin was in Alec MacQuarrie's arms. "Aye, but I'll have ta settle for just watchin' her."

"This song willna last forever, Wallace."

He shuffled his feet and shrugged. "Thanks anyway, El."

When Wallace ambled off, Elspeth looked up into Lord Benjamin's eyes. There was a warmth in his gaze that made her heart thump faster.

"Your friends think I'm dangerous," he said as they began walking again.

"Are they wrong?"

A charming grin spread across his lips. "They're more right than you can possibly imagine."

Elspeth didn't know what to make of that, so she said nothing and watched the spinning couples nearby. After all, she couldn't very well agree with him, because as a witch, she could imagine quite a lot.

"Alec says you're a talented herbalist," he said.

He had asked his friend about her? She almost tripped on her hem. "I suppose ye could say that."

"This will probably sound strange, Miss Campbell,

but maybe you can help me. I'm looking for a… healer of sorts."

That time she did stumble. A healer. It wasn't possible he knew, was it?

His arm snaked around her waist and steadied her. "I've got you," he said, his warm breath brushing her neck.

"I warned ye I was clumsy," she whispered back.

"So you did." He laughed. "But I don't scare so easily."

"Well," Alec MacQuarrie's voice halted them, "the two of you seem to have hit it off."

"El," Caitrin began, hanging on to her companion's arm, "I'm so tired and asked Mr. MacQuarrie ta return us home. Do ye mind leavin' early?"

Elspeth frowned. Caitrin and the others were so transparent. It was becoming a bit frustrating. "Actually, Cait, I'm havin' such a wonderful time, I think I'll stay."

"I'll see you returned safely home, Miss Campbell," Lord Benjamin promised.

Caitrin's creased brow was quite satisfying. Elspeth turned her attention to the Englishman and smiled, grateful for his assistance. "That's very kind of ye, sir."

"It'll be my pleasure."

"Ben," Alec MacQuarrie's voice held a warning.

But Lord Benjamin paid it no heed. "Miss Macleod is tired, Alec. You best be on your way." Then he guided Elspeth past them with just a bit of pressure on her back.

She heaved an irritated sigh as they moved past their respective friends. "It's so nice ta ken they doona think I can make wise choices," she muttered to herself.

Lord Benjamin laughed. "I can relate, Miss Campbell. My older brothers are inclined to behave the same way."

"How do ye handle it?"

"I escaped to Scotland."

Seven

"Escape sounds heavenly," she said quietly. Ben studied the downcast sweep of her gaze and the slump of her shoulders.

He covered the hand that still held his arm with his own. Her gaze immediately rose to meet his. "I offered to take you over the wall, Miss Campbell." He nodded toward the terrace doors and waited for her to reply. He would still do it. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms, jump the wall, and run away with her.

"There's enough scandal attached ta the Campbell name, Lord Benjamin. I could never subject my friends and family ta more."

"I have never fully understood the bounds of propriety, Miss Campbell. When one should be at ease and when one should not. I prefer studying