Tall, Dark and Wolfish (16 page)

Mother.
He hadn't written her in weeks. She was probably worried about him, but she'd be more so if he put pen to foolscap. After al , he'd never been

able to fool her when something was wrong. Now he didn't even bother. Besides, if Elspeth could heal him, there was no reason to get his mother upset in

the first place.

Alec laughed even harder. "Please tel me you haven't."

"Of course, I don't tel my mother everything." Who would need to? She could read about it in the society rags. "I'm going to bed."

The sound of Alec's laughter fol owed him up the stairs.

Twenty

Elspeth woke to the sound of a gentle knock on her door. She pul ed a wrapper over her nightrail, lifted her hair over the lace col ar, and opened the door a

crack.

Caitrin's blue eyes flashed at her. "We ken ye're angry at us, but we're here ta support ye today, no matter what." Caitrin, Rhiannon, Blaire, and Sorcha

brushed past Elspeth into the room. "Ye bury yer grandfather today, and we'l be here with ye whether ye want us or no'." She brushed a tear back from her

cheek.

"Cait, of course I want ye," Elspeth said as she fel into the huddle of girls. "Ye're my family, and I canna do without ye."

When they final y separated, Caitrin looked down at her friend's wrapper. "Is that what ye plan ta wear today?"

"Of course, it's no'," Elspeth said. "Doona be daft."

"Then ye better hurry, because the vicar already rang the death bel in the square. People wil be arrivin' shortly." She clapped her hands together

sharply. "Let's get ye movin'."

"I overslept?" Surely she hadn't stayed in bed that long. Although it
had
been late when she'd final y fal en asleep.

Caitrin smoothed Elspeth's wild hair with her hand. "Ye deserve ta rest more than anyone I ken. Ye've been dealin' with a lot." Then she moved to the

window and raised the curtain. "The first of the mourners are walkin' this way. Unless ye plan ta greet them in yer nightrail, ye need ta dress."

Elspeth spun into action. She disappeared into her room and changed clothes after washing quickly. Then she combed through her unruly locks. They

had a mind of their own, no matter what she did. She secured the flyaway tendrils with her mother's hair combs, knowing al the while that her hair would

be down around her shoulders before the hour had passed.

She bustled around the kitchen, started a pot of water for tea, and rushed out the front door. As soon as she stepped through the opening, she ran into

the broad chest of a man.

"Whoa, there," a deep voice said as strong arms steadied her. She knew immediately who they belonged to. Elspeth stopped and inhaled deeply. He

had a scent like no other. He smel ed of shaving soap and… Ben. It was unique to him, almost a wild scent, and it set her heart to thumping.

Final y she raised her head and met his gaze. "I doona ken what made ye think ye'd be welcome here, Lord Benjamin," she whispered harshly.

His eyes narrowed as he released his hold on her and stood up to his ful height. "I came with Alec to bring chairs."

"Ye'l be leavin' when ye're done, I assume?" The words sounded harsh to her own ears, but she couldn't deal with him at the moment.

His fingers reached out to touch her chin, gently but forceful y making her meet his gaze. "No, lass. I'l not be leaving you today. You can hate me al you

want. But I'l be staying."

Elspeth couldn't contain the smal leap her heart made when he said he wouldn't be leaving.

"Suit yerself." She stepped back, moving out of his grasp. She immediately felt alone. More lonely than she'd ever been.

"Tea is ready," Caitrin cal ed to her from the doorway. Elspeth glanced up at Ben. The annoyance on his face when he looked at her friend would have

been funny any other time. She thought she heard him grumble as she turned and went in the house. The other three witches were busy preparing food for

the mourners who would visit.

"Why is
he
here?" Caitrin groused.

"He said he came with Mr. MacQuarrie ta bring the chairs, Cait." She sighed, "Just leave it be, please."

"He dinna ken yer grandfather," Cait said quietly.

"Do ye want ta cause a scene and force him ta leave?" Elspeth whispered vehemently. "I would rather have him stay than have ta listen ta al the waggin'

tongues. I doona think my grandfather would've wanted that."

"After the service, can I toss him out on his ear?"

"Ye can toss him out on his arse if ye want. I doona care," Elspeth groaned under the weight of a heavy stockpot.

"Here, let me help ye," Caitrin said as she tried to take some of the weight from Elspeth's burden. Suddenly the weight was lifted away.

"Tel me where you want it," Ben said, his hazel eyes twinkling at her. He bore her burden with ease. "I'l be at your beck and cal today. So use me as

you see fit."

"Ye doona have ta—" El started.

"Just tel me where to put it, El ie," he said quietly.

She pointed to a table across the kitchen. "Over there is fine."

Caitrin suddenly clutched her arm and spun her around. "Did he cal ye
Ellie
?"

"I dinna notice," Elspeth lied smoothly as she shrugged her shoulders.

"He's goin' ta ruin ye. I can see it now." She closed her eyes tightly.

"Wil ye stop with the theatrics, Cait. He moved a bloody pot," Elspeth said low enough for only her friend to hear. To be caught swearing by anyone else

would be terrible for the little bit of reputation she
did
have.

Ben chuckled from across the room. Of course he would have heard her curse. He was party to every nonsensical thing she'd done for the past six days.

Ben could stand in the corner al day and would be perfectly content just to watch her bustle about the kitchen. He tried to appear busy, arranging chairs

and helping carry heavy items for the other girls. But he real y just wanted to eavesdrop.

He couldn't bite back a chuckle when he'd heard her curse. She was as fiery as her hair. He wanted at that moment to touch his mark and see if she

would respond the same way she had the night before, but this wasn't the time or the place. He knew that today was important for her. And he would not

detract from her sorrow, nor would he contribute to it.

Alec cal ed from the doorway, "Come and help me, Westfield. There's food to be brought inside."

"
Food?
Where did food come from?" Elspeth asked.

Mrs. Ross lumbered into the kitchen, her girth cumbersome. "I thought ye might need some things for the feast," the woman said as she directed the

men to bring in items.

Ben saw the furrow of Elspeth's brow as she looked at the bountiful feast the men carted through the door. They went back and forth and returned time

and again.

Ben's heart ached for her when he saw Elspeth approach Mrs. Ross quietly and place her arm on her sleeve. "I'l have ta settle up with ye over al this

food. But it may take some time."

The woman squeezed Elspeth's hands before she reached one hand out to cup her face. "No need ta fret, deary. It's been taken care of."

Elspeth spun quickly toward Caitrin. "Did yer father do this?"

Caitrin shook her head. "No, El. I doona believe he did."

Elspeth's gaze searched the other three faces of her friends, and they al denied having set it up.

"Who would have…?" Elspeth's voice trailed off as her gaze final y landed on Ben, who did his best to avoid looking at her. Certainly she wouldn't

assume he was responsible for the feast, although he was.

Elspeth raised her hands to her face, and she surprised everyone in the room when sobs started to shake her shoulders. She'd put on a brave face for

days. Ben was sorry to see her so upset, but happy to help her ease her burden.

Before she could even take a breath, he was across the room. He pul ed her safely and snugly against his chest and stroked his hand over her hair. She

settled against him like she belonged there.

"There now, El ie," he said softly. "No one knows that it was me who paid for the feast. Nor shal they."

Caitrin ushered al the women out of the room, asking for their help outside. She left the door open, but he assumed that Cait would be outside the door,

barring anyone else from entering.

"I am very, very angry at ye because of what ye said ta me last night when ye so casual y referred ta someone ye had been intimate with as 'just a

whore,'" Elspeth sniffled. "I've heard my mother cal ed that horrible word my whole life." She drew in a deep, shaky breath. "Then ye had ta go and do

somethin' so kind." She pounded lightly on his chest with one fist. "So I canna be mad at ye right now."

"You can come back to it later, love. I'l expect it."

"Good." She sniffled again.

He lowered his head so that he could speak right beside her ear, wishing more than anything it would reach her heart. "I'm sorry I used a word that's so

painful for you. It was a poor choice, and I'l never even use the word again myself. In any circumstance."

He barely felt her nod against his chest, her acquiescence was so smal . But it was a start. He simply held her for a moment, enjoying the sensation of

her body pressed against him. But he knew he would have to let her go or risk ruining her. He brushed the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs and

kissed her lips softly, gratified when she kissed him back. "I hear footsteps," he whispered with a grin, before he stepped back from her and busied

himself with arranging more of the chairs.

"I'l repay the favor, Lord Benjamin," she said. To the casual observer, it sounded like she was simply thanking him for al his help.

"Perhaps I'l take it out in trade, Miss Campbel ." His eyes danced at her, and she couldn't hide the blush that stained her cheeks. "I could be in need of

healing."

Elspeth barely heard the words the vicar, Mr. Crawford, said in the church. Her mind was too occupied with reflections of her grandfather. The way he'd tel

her stories when she was a young girl, sitting on his knee. The way he'd always let her win at loo. The way he'd draped his arm around her shoulders and

tel her that great things were going to happen in her life.

Since she didn't have a father, her grandfather had fil ed that role, until now. It had been hard watching him wither away over the last year. At least now he

would have the peace that had eluded him since his il ness had set in.

Before Elspeth knew it, Mr. Crawford had finished his speech and the men from town lined up to take turns walking the coffin to the churchyard. The

women, as always, weren't al owed.

One by one the townspeople filed out of the church, but Elspeth remained in her seat. She should rush back home and make sure everything was ready

for the feast. She just couldn't muster the energy to do so.

Then she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked to see Caitrin and the others standing behind her. "Are ye ready, El?"

She nodded, though she didn't real y feel ready.

Caitrin linked arms with her on one side while Rhiannon took the other. They stepped out into the bright sunlight, and Elspeth managed a smile. "Did ye

have anythin' ta do with the weather?"

Rhiannon looked bashful y away. "Personal y, I felt like rain, but Mr. Campbel was always so cheerful. I thought he'd prefer it this way."

"And," Caitrin added, "it would be terribly inconvenient ta host an outdoor feast in a downpour."

Rhiannon giggled. "Aye, that's true as wel ."

The five of them started back toward Elspeth's cottage.

Twenty-one

Ben leaned against an old oak tree, keeping Elspeth's cottage in sight. His current position was about as far away as he could get and stil hear her voice,

though she did very little of the talking.

Sorcha Ferguson chatted nonstop, like a ninny. Ben had the feeling the chit thought if she stopped talking, Elspeth would dissolve into a puddle of tears.