Tall, Dark and Wolfish (5 page)

"Those aren't dogs," he growled.

This time it was Miss Campbel who faltered. She reached a hand to her hair to touch the rough surface of the comb. "Certainly they are."

"My dear Miss Campbel , there is no one who knows better than I. Those are
not
dogs."

"And what makes ye an expert on women's jewelry?"

"Not on jewelry," he said quietly. Her eyes rose slowly to meet his when she tipped her head back. "On beasts."

"Beasts?"

"Yes. Beasts," he snapped.

"Ye're certainly doin' a fine imitation of one now, are ye no'? So I assume ye're quite an expert."

A twinge of guilt nearly made him wince. How much more did he have to reveal before she admitted the true origin of the combs? He searched her face,

looking for even a hint of subterfuge. He found none. "You truly thought they were dogs?"

"I've never been told differently," she said quietly.

"I'm tel ing you differently now."

"I doona ken what difference it makes. Beasts?

Dogs?" She tugged the combs from her hair and held them out to him. "Just what about them offends ye?"

Her hands shook noticeably and she worked to steady them. His eyes narrowed when he noticed, but he took the combs from her and held them up to the

lantern that lit the terrace.

"You speak of them like they're average creatures," he mumbled. "Like they're inconsequential."

"No' inconsequential," she denied. "They're beautiful." She raised her index finger and ran it over the snout of the beast. "Look at the way he raises his

head. He cal s ta the moon, as though it is part of his very soul."

"It is." He sighed. "Or it usual y is." Was that sadness that entered his voice?

She took the combs from him and attempted to put her hair back to rights. Final y she gave up, al owing her shoulders to drop in defeat. She settled onto

a bench in the shadows.

"I'm sorry I overreacted," he said softly.

"It's al right," she al owed. "I'm used ta it."

"Used to men who act like children?" he asked as he sat down beside her.

"No. Used ta bein' miserable at events like this." She leaned back and looked up at the stars. "I doona ken how I do it. I offend ye and I doona even

know ye."

Lord Benjamin's finger surprised her when he touched her chin, gently forcing her to look up at him. Stil , she avoided his gaze.

"I'm very sorry," he said quietly. "I mistook what you said. It's completely my fault. Not yours."

"I almost got one dance in this time, so it's better than usual," she admitted, the heat creeping up her cheeks when she realized what she'd said. "Thank

ye for the opportunity."

"You said you normal y don't dance. Why not?"

"I'm sure ye've heard the rumors." She looked up and caught his gaze. Of course, he'd heard. He was an English lord. People who walked in his world

didn't accept people from hers.

"I heard rumors that there was a girl named Miss Elspeth Campbel who had flaming red hair and eyes that danced with laughter." His gaze lingered on

her mouth. "And I am quite happy to find out the rumors are al true." He bumped her with his shoulder. "Now, tel me why you don't dance."

She sighed and admitted, "The only reason I'm invited ta these things is because I have a few friends. They feel like they have ta bring me in, despite the

fact that I'm no' quite respectable."

"And just what about you is not respectable?" he asked, his eyebrows drawing together. "If you'l point out the people who said it, I'l go and have a

discussion with them."

No one had ever attempted to stand up for her before, aside from her grandfather and her coven sisters. She found that it warmed her heart, more than

a little.

"It's no' important," she whispered. "Do ye stil want ta flee as fast as ye can over the wal ?" she asked, pointing a thumb behind her.

"Only if I can take you with me," he said softly. He reached to cup her face, the pad of his thumb caressing the apple of her cheek. "Care to go and be

real y unrespectable with me?"

She couldn't help but laugh at him. "Ye would jump over the wal ? How would I get over?"

"In my arms. How else?"

How else, indeed? It sounded like quite a feat. Before she could say it, he replied, "I'm not an average man."

"That much is obvious, Lord Benjamin. That much is quite obvious."

He stood and held a hand out to her. "Then if you won't go over the wal with me, I'l have to take you back to the party. It's either flee or dance. What'l it

be?"

Oh, how she truly wanted to flee. She would be much more comfortable running away with him than returning to face the judgment of the party-goers.

But then al four of her coven sisters stepped out onto the terrace. Lord Benjamin's head swiveled around as they descended upon them.

Caitrin spoke first. "Are ye al right, Elspeth?" Her gaze shot to Westfield, the look scorching.

"Aye, I'm fine. Just takin' a little break from the party."

"Why did ye need a break?" Caitrin asked, her eyes never leaving Lord Benjamin. "And what happened ta yer hair?"

Westfield chuckled and said very quietly so that only she could hear. "I'l leave you to your friends so they can put you to rights. Then may I claim a dance

when you return to the bal room?"

Elspeth could only nod. She admired the swagger in his walk as he went back to the party through the terrace doors.

They al descended upon her at once. "What happened? Why is yer hair al a mess? Did he take it down?" Al their words ran together as one.

Elspeth just laughed and shook her head. She held up the pewter combs. "He was just admirin' my hair combs. I took them out so he could see. He

dinna do a thing that was improper. I promise."

The group sighed with col ective relief. But Elspeth couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if he did.

Six

"So," Alec began as he draped his arm around Ben's shoulder. "You like the lass after al ?"

He did. He liked her a lot, surprisingly. If nothing else, Elspeth Campbel kept his mind off his own problems. "She doesn't fit in here. I'm afraid she'l be

eaten alive amongst the others in your ranks."

Alec sighed. "You do have the right of it. Half the people here wouldn't speak to her under normal circumstances if it weren't for a few powerful families

she's attached to. But if they get a case of gout or a fever, you should see how fast they run to her. Hypocritical bastards, the lot of them."

Gout or a fever? Ben frowned at his friend. "What do you mean by that?"

Alec chuckled. "Superstitious Scots. When they've a need of her, they think she can cure the pox." His attention shot to the terrace doors, where five

young women reentered the bal room, Elspeth in the center of them al . "No matter how badly they treat her on the street, she never turns anyone away

who needs her help. She's a saint, if you ask me."

Cure the pox? Ben's eyes lingered on the pretty lass. "They think she's a healer of sorts?"

Alec threw back his head and laughed. "A healer? She's good with herbs, is al . She learned it at her mother's knee. Honestly, Westfield, you sound as

ridiculous as the unlearned masses that go to her for help."

Ben shook his head. It was ridiculous. He was looking for a healer, so he had jumped at the idea it could be Elspeth Campbel . It would certainly make

his search easier. She might not be the woman he sought, but he wouldn't mind spending his spare time with the lass. She was more genuine than most

people whose acquaintances he kept. Like a breath of fresh Scottish air.

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

Campbel , 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."

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

"Thank you for your concern," Ben remarked drol y. "Excuse me, wil you?" The lovely redhead stil 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'l 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 Campbel 's presence. Besides, the lass deserved attention. Perhaps he could make al

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 al seemed to take the same col ective 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 Campbel ," 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 stil outstretched.

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

Elspeth turned her head. "'Tis al 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 stil had to face al 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 Campbel , or your countrymen wil 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 stil 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 pul ed her gaze from Lord Benjamin's handsome face to find Wal ace 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. "Wal ace 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 Wal ace 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, Wal ace. I'm perfectly fine with his lordship."

Wal ace 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 Wal ace. "Yer services are no' needed, Mr. Ferguson."

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

"Wel , 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'l have ta settle for just watchin' her."

"This song wil na last forever, Wal ace."

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

When Wal ace 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 al , she couldn't very wel agree with him,

because as a witch, she could imagine quite a lot.

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