Tall, Dark and Wolfish (11 page)

MacQuarrie's.

"My lord," the butler began with a bow, "Mr. MacQuarrie would like a word with ye."

Ben resisted the urge to groan. After their conversation last night, he wasn't looking forward to another interview. Besides he was nearly dead on his

feet. "Do tel Mr. MacQuarrie that I'l see him at dinner." If he was awake by then.

He turned his back on the dour Scot and climbed the stairs to the next floor. He made his way to his chambers and col apsed, facedown, onto the bed,

leaving his boots dangling over the edge. His feet were heavy, and he wished he had someone here who would pul them off for him.

Elspeth.

He'd love for her to pul off his boots and then his trousers. He smiled into the pil ow as an image of his lovely witch entered his mind, thankful again she

wasn't of the
Macbeth
variety.

Most men of his acquaintance would run in fear from a witch. But Ben wasn't most men, and he did need her help. He thought again about how her wild

red hair hung about her shoulders and the way she'd thrown herself in his—

Something cracked him on the back of his head. "Ow!" He rol ed over, prepared to fight, only to find Alec standing over him brandishing a rol ed-up

periodical.

"That's the thanks I get? You come to my home uninvited, and I let you stay as a guest. I ask you to leave Miss Campbel be, but the legendary Lord

Benjamin Westfield can't possibly do so. And when my man tel s you I want to speak with you, you ignore him completely and pass out across your bed?"

"I didn't ignore him," Ben complained as he rubbed the back of his head. "I told the man I'd see you at dinner. I'm a bit tired, Alec."

"Aye, from staying out al night, like I asked you not to."

Ben pushed himself to a sitting position. Now he could take off his own bloody boots. "I'm a bit tired of the sanctimonious Alec MacQuarrie, to be

honest. We both know I'm far from a saint, and we both know it, you Scottish hypocrite, because you've been with me every step of the way. And
now
you

decide to tel me which females I can and cannot spend my time with?"

Alec heaved a sigh and dropped into a chair just a few feet from the bed. "I didn't want to speak to you about Miss Campbel ."

The fight instantly evaporated from Ben. "Oh. Wel , I was just trying to catch a bit of sleep. I was up al night searching the woods for hair combs, if you

can believe it."

Alec gaped at him. Then his lips broke into a smile. He threw his head back and laughed.

"I can't imagine what you find so humorous about the situation," Ben grumbled.

Alec wiped a tear from his eye and brought his levity back under control. "And I thought I had it bad. You real y must care for the lass."

"I didn't want her to worry about them." Ben shrugged, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with his friend's al -knowing eyes focused on him.

"Ah, of course not. Heaven forbid she get herself al worked up over a pair of hair combs."

"What do you want, Alec?"

Immediately his friend sobered and sat forward in his chair. "I wanted to ask your advice about Miss Macleod."

The pretty blond harridan who hated him? Ben had some advice concerning Miss Macleod. "Run the other direction."

"I don't think I can do that." Alec frowned. "I spoke to the lass' father this morning, and I asked for her hand."

Ben nearly choked on his own tongue. He knew Alec was entranced by the girl… by the witch. Did his friend know that little detail? "How much do you

real y know about her?"

"I'd say a bit more than you know about Miss Campbel ," Alec shot back.

"Touché." But did he know the girl was a witch, a seer? Not that he could tel him. Ben needed Elspeth's help, and bringing attention to her coven wasn't

the best idea. "If you've already asked for the girl's hand, what do you want to ask me?"

Alec grimaced. "Wel , I'd hoped Mr. Macleod would accept my offer—"

"He didn't?" Ben's mouth fel open. MacQuarrie had more money than most Scots. He'd been wel sought after in London by marriage-minded mamas

and their daughters. He couldn't imagine Mr. Macleod had received a better offer for his daughter.

"He gave me his blessing but said Caitrin herself would have to accept me."

Understanding dawned on Ben. "She won't give you the time of day." She was too busy interrupting Ben's affairs.

Alec grinned, but only for a moment. "Wel , I did win a kiss from her last night, quite a nice one actual y; but she's a stubborn lass, and I'm not quite sure

how to convince her."

"Quite a nice one? Please don't tel me that you saw sparks when your lips touched hers. Because that would quite turn my stomach, old friend." Ben lay

back on the bed and put his forearm over his eyes. He raised his head when Alec groaned and swatted him again. "Seduce her, MacQuarrie," he final y

said.

"
Seduce
her?" The man looked slightly il .

"You've done it before. This time, do it with marriage in mind."

"Seduce her. I might just give that a try," Alec muttered as he stepped from the room and closed the door. Then he opened the door again. Ben didn't

bother to raise his head.

"Don't go and get similar ideas about Miss Campbel , Ben. Mark my words. Seducing that one is not in her best interest. Or yours." The door clicked

shut.

Ben turned his head in his pil ow and closed his eyes while he worked to get a girl with hair the color of fire and fury off his mind. But even in repose she

met him in his dreams.

Elspeth dropped her head in her hands and groaned. "I canna take one more day of this, Rhiannon. No' one more day. If another person comes ta the

door with wel wishes, I might just lose my temper."

"I honestly dinna ken ye had so many friends, El. It's pretty nice ta see them al comin' together for ye."

El pushed the corners of her mouth up and glared at Rhiannon. "But my face is goin' ta freeze like this if I have ta smile at one more person."

"Only one more day. The burial wil be tomorrow and then ye can start fresh."

Only one more day.
Elspeth repeated the phrase over and over in her mind.

"Uh-oh," Rhiannon said as she removed her feet from the settee where she reclined. She crossed quickly to the window. "Ye've company, El."

Elspeth rose and raised the drapes to peer out. She quickly threw open the door when she saw the man approaching. He met her with a smile.

"Lord Benjamin," she said.

His eyes twinkled. "I thought I gave you leave to use my given name, Miss Campbel ."

The door opened farther and Rhiannon spoke over her. "'Tis no' proper, and ye ken it," she whispered vehemently.

"Shush yer mouth, Rhiannon. His lordship is here to see
me
. No' ye." She very nearly stuck out her tongue. "Stay with my grandfather, wil ye?" Then she

turned and closed the door behind her. "What can I do for ye, Ben?"

"To be quite honest, I wanted to see if you have any ideas for how to heal my little…" He grimaced. "Affliction."

"I do have quite a few questions on the topic. I suppose I could take a walk with ye." She looked over her shoulder and saw Rhiannon staring daggers at

her from behind the window glass. This time she did stick out her tongue. Ben chuckled at her.

"Lead the way, and I wil fol ow." He motioned toward the lane.

"No' that way," she said, motioning over her shoulder. "The best views can be found in the other direction."

As they started down a wel -worn path, Elspeth began her line of questioning.

"How long have ye been a Lycan, Ben?"

"Since birth, Elspeth. It's a family trait, passed from one male to another. One cannot choose to be Lycan or not. It just is. I find that I miss it quite a bit,

now that I no longer have it."

"Did ye lose it because of il ness? Were ye sick? Or did ye suddenly just lose the ability ta change?"

"There was an incident," he said as he glanced at her out the corner of his eye.

"What sort of incident?"

"The sort that I can't explain to a woman of your standing." Color crept up his face.

"Beggin' yer pardon? Ye canna tel someone who's il egitimate about yer incident?"

"Oh, no, no!" He stopped walking and turned to face her. "I truly don't care if you had one parent or two. You could be born of a gypsy tribe and I wouldn't

feel differently about you."

"Just how
do
ye feel about me, Ben?"

Fourteen

How
did
he feel about her? Good question. It was one thing he needed to think about. She was more of a distraction than any woman he'd met in quite

some time. She was the only woman he stil thought about when he walked away from her. But he couldn't possibly tel her that. Because very soon he

would be on his way back to London.

"I have great trust in your ability to heal me." He hoped she didn't realize what effort it took to hedge around her question.

"Then ye have more trust than I do, Ben. Because I've no idea if I can help ye or no'. Why did ye come al the way ta Scotland ta find help? There are no

healers in London?"

"There are doctors, yes." He nodded his head as he absently plucked a piece of tal , dry grass and rol ed it between his fingertips.
No mythical healers,

however
.
No one like her.

"But no one ye could tel about yer Lycan side, I assume?" She raised her face to his. Her hair shone like fire, and he wanted nothing more than to put

his hands in it. He coughed to cover his moment of discomfort.

"It's a bit difficult to talk about," he admitted. And it was forbidden. "If any of my Lycan brethren knew I'd revealed any of this to you, they would feel terribly

betrayed."

"No' ta fear, Ben. I can keep a secret when it's needed." Her smile was al the reassurance he needed. "May I see yer mark?" she asked.

"The mark of the beast?"

"Aye, the mark of the beast. I'm simply curious." She shrugged her shoulders and suddenly looked vulnerable.

Ben looked around. The area was secluded. No one would see, and there wasn't anywhere else they could be alone. One of her coven or another was

always there, sitting watch.

He tugged his shirt from his trousers and slid the top button of his waistband through its buttonhole.

She gasped slightly, her hand fluttered to her pinkened cheek. There was no doubt in his mind she was an innocent.

Ben took her hand in his and gave it an affectionate squeeze. "I don't have to show you."

Elspeth shook her head. "I forgot ye said ye'd have ta remove yer clothes."

Ben chuckled. "Not completely." He lifted his shirt and pointed to a spot just below his waistband. "It's here."

Elspeth leaned over to get closer to the mark. He immediately felt the warm touch of her breath against the tender skin of his abdomen and stepped

away from her.

"I canna see it if ye move, Ben."

"This might not be such a good idea," he said, ful y prepared to tuck his shirt back in, just so she would step back. He was already hardening under her

gaze.

Elspeth dropped to her knees in front of him and tugged off one of her gloves. "Doona be so daft, Ben. It's a strip of skin and nothin' more."

But it was quite a bit more than a strip of skin. And if he didn't take her attention from the area, it would soon be even more.

She smoothed the pad of her thumb across his birthmark. "Heavens, ye are warm."

"It's a trait," he grumbled. And getting warmer every second.

"Hmm." Her finger caressed him. "It's no' so much, is it? Smal thing, it is."

Ben felt the tender swipe of her thumb al the way to his core. He instantly felt the beast in him rise to the surface. He turned from her to face in the

opposite direction.

Her delicate hand came to rest on his back. It was hot enough to brand his skin through his clothes.

"I have a fear greater than that of losing my ability to change with the moon. And it's that I'l hurt you, Elspeth." He wanted to drag her beneath him and

toss her skirts up. He wanted to be inside her. And he wanted it right at that moment.

"Why?" she asked. Her eyes narrowed as they searched his face.

"Regrettably," he started, trying to remove the growl from his voice, but failing miserably. "I must go." Ben turned to jog away, but her hand on his arm

stopped him. "Let me go, Elspeth," he barked.

"And if I do no'? Then what wil ye do, Ben?"

If her coven sisters could have seen her at that moment, they would have told her she was playing with fire. Yet she couldn't have walked away if she had

wanted to.

Elspeth raised her hand to Ben's cheek. He immediately turned into it and nipped the center of her palm with his teeth.

"Ye do have a bit of the beast in ye, I'd wager," she said, feeling a tickle as it crawled up her spine.

"More than a bit, lass," he growled as his hand cupped her neck and pul ed her to him. "When you touched my mark, I felt like I would shift into a wolf