by Lydia Dare
“Don’t play the innocent with me,” Alec grumbled. “She’s enceinte. It was the one thing I asked you not to do. You’re the worst sort of blackguard, you—”
A moment later Ben had Alec pressed against the wall of the cottage, his hands wrapped around his friend’s throat. “I’ve told you before, MacQuarrie, I won’t let you or anyone else disparage her.”
Alec pulled at Ben’s hands, grasping for breath. “I’m not the one—”
“I haven’t laid a hand on her,” Ben hissed. That wasn’t entirely true, but true in the way Alec meant.
“You forget, I know you,” his friend sputtered, tugging at Ben’s hands.
“She’s not with child,” he insisted, wishing he could divulge why she’d collapsed, but revealing the truth behind her healing powers would only hurt her more. So he pushed his friend out the door instead.
On the ground at his feet, Alec rubbed his neck, where Ben had held him.
Glaring down at him, Ben growled, “She’s ruined in name only, MacQuarrie. And I’m rectifying that as soon as possible.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Ben shook his head in disgust. “What do you think I mean by that? I’m going to marry her.”
Alec choked. “You?”
“Of course, me!”
It was quite infuriating that his friend stared at him as though he’d lost his mind. Then Alec’s mouth fell open, but no sound escaped.
“What is it?” Ben demanded.
“You don’t seem the sort, Westfield. As soon as you bed a lass, you lose all interest in her. I’ve seen it time and again. I can’t imagine you married.”
He had been that way. Perhaps he still was, though he didn’t want to believe that. Elspeth was different from the others. He shared a connection with her. He couldn’t imagine ever losing interest in her. On the contrary, every minute he spent away from her made him want her more. Of course, he hadn’t bedded her yet. What if he did lose interest?
Ben balled up his fist, wanting to pummel Alec into the ground for even making the suggestion. “Well, I’ll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself, MacQuarrie. And I’ll expect you to show her the respect due my wife.”
Alec pulled himself up from the ground and dusted his hands on his pants. “I’ve always held Miss Campbell in respect. Just because she marries you, it won’t change my opinion of her. And despite our differing opinions, Benjamin, you are my best friend.”
“You’ll stand up for me then?” Ben asked. Since his family couldn’t be present, he hoped Alec would be.
Alec smiled. “I’d be honored.”
Elspeth stepped from her room to find Sorcha sitting on the settee, holding her head in her hands. Ben was nowhere to be seen. “Sorcha?”
The young witch’s head shot up, and Elspeth could see the tears in her eyes.
“Are ye all right?”
“Oh, El,” she said, rising from her seat. “I failed ye. I’m so sorry. I came along ta keep ye out of this sort of trouble.”
Only it didn’t seem like trouble. It was a bit frightening, the prospect of marrying a man she barely knew, but not trouble. There was something comforting in the fact that she’d be exploring this new role with Ben. If it had been anyone else, she’d have been terrified.
Elspeth wrapped her arms around her friend. “Doona be upset, Sorcha. It’ll work out for the best.”
“Cait’ll be furious with me.” She sniffed back tears.
That was definitely true. Elspeth brushed Sorcha’s tears away. “Doona let her bully ye. Besides, I think Ben crossin’ my path was fated. No’ even Caitrin could stop it.”
Sorcha nodded sadly. “I was thinkin’ that very thing.”
“Where is Ben?”
Her friend pointed to the front door. “Fightin’ with Alec MacQuarrie in the yard.”
“Mo chreach!” Elspeth muttered, rushing to the door. She bolted outside, but what she found were the two men huddled together, Ben’s arm draped around MacQuarrie’s shoulder as if the two were the best of friends.
Both men’s eyes flashed to hers when she stepped on the front porch.
“Sorcha said ye were fightin’.”
Ben stepped toward her, a charming smile on his lips. “Ah, MacQuarrie and I were just having a lively discussion. Nothing to worry about. Are you ready to go see your vicar?”
Without thinking, she nodded eagerly. Then the world began to spin. She would have collapsed if Ben hadn’t caught her against him.
“Ellie!” His voice sounded strangled.
She clutched his waistcoat and smiled what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “I suppose I’m still a little weak. Nothin’ ta worry about,” she echoed his earlier sentiment.
Ben tilted her chin upward until she met his eyes. His furrowed brow made it obvious he wasn’t reassured in the least. “I’ll decide what I worry about.”
Elspeth stepped away from him. “I’ll be fine.”
A few feet away she heard Alec MacQuarrie mutter something under his breath, and Ben’s eyes shot to his friend. “I warned you about that, Alec. It’s not what you think.” Then he looked back at Elspeth. “Do you feel up to seeing the vicar, love? I don’t think MacQuarrie will rest until I’m legally leg-shackled to you.”
Elspeth couldn’t hide her smile. “Aye, I’d like that.”
Behind her, Sorcha gasped. “Today? The vicar?”
Elspeth glanced over her shoulder. “Ye’re welcome ta join us.”
When her friend’s gaze fell to the ground and her shoulders slumped forward, Elspeth draped her arm around Sorcha. “I wish ye’d come with us.”
“Cait’ll kill me one way or the other. So I might as well.”
Elspeth patted her arm, then looked up to Alec MacQuarrie. “Did ye see Caitrin? How is she?”
He frowned, as though trying to sort out a puzzle. “You’d never know anything had ever happened to her. She looks perfect. Of course, Mr. Macleod won’t let her out of bed. That’s why I came to check on you. She’s worried about you.”
Elspeth moved from her spot to slide her arm around Ben’s waist. “Well, as ye can see, there’s no need ta worry.”
They found Mr. Crawford sitting at his desk at the back of the vicarage, flipping through his Bible. His balding pate was tilted down, and he hummed a hymn to himself. How the man failed to notice a hoard of people standing in his doorway, Ben would never know. To get the man’s attention, he rapped loudly on the door.
The vicar looked up and smiled at the four of them, but his eyes landed on Elspeth. “Ah, Miss Campbell, are ye here ta settle yer account?”
Before she could reply, Ben drew her close to his side with an arm around her waist. “I’ll be taking care of Miss Campbell’s accounts, Mr. Crawford.” The man’s eyes widened at the pronouncement, so Ben stepped forward. “We have another matter that needs your attention, sir.”
“Oh?” the vicar asked, rising from his seat. “How can I help you today, my lord?”
Ben smiled at Elspeth, glad she returned the gesture. “I came to visit my dear friend Alec and found something here in Scotland I can’t live without.”
The vicar inclined his head, waiting patiently.
“I’d like for you to marry—that is, Miss Campbell and I would like for you to marry us.”
“Indeed?”
Ben nodded. “Can you do so today?”
“I—um—Well, it would be an irregular marriage.”
“As long as it’s legal,” Ben shrugged, “that’s all we care about.”
The vicar looked from Ben to Elspeth and back again. “I supposed I have the time, but I’m a bit unprepared for such an endeavor. Can ye wait in the church while I gather my things?”
“We’ll be happy to.”
“Oh!” The vicar’s voice stopped them. “Sign my registry first so I have yer names.”
Ben watched as Elspeth’s hand shakily filled in the vicar’s book, then he took the quill from her and did the same. This was
one of the ways Scotland was more advanced than England; it might be the only way, now that he thought about it. No waiting three weeks for the banns to post. No spending a small fortune on a special license. Just whisk your intended down to the church, sign your names in a book, and marry her. No need for all the fuss.
As soon as they entered the church, Ben led Elspeth to a pew in the front row and they were quickly followed by Alec and Sorcha.
Thunder clapped overhead and Sorcha gasped. Elspeth turned her head to face her friend.
“Rhiannon,” she whispered. “Cait must’ve seen this.”
Elspeth glanced up to meet Ben’s gaze. “Doona worry. I’m sure she’d never hit the church.”
“Hit the church with what?” Ben asked, looking around the chapel. As if to answer his question, lightning lit up the sky, the flash filtering through the stained-glass windows. “She can make it storm?” he whispered.
“Or stop,” Elspeth replied quietly.
Good God! The faster he got her away from these harridans, the better.
Mr. Crawford entered from a door at the front of the chapel. “Havers! It looks bad out there. All right, Lord Benjamin, Miss Campbell, are ye ready?”
Ben squeezed Elspeth’s arm. “After you, lass.”
She stumbled to her feet and met the vicar at the altar, Ben right behind her the whole way. He took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. Desire raced through his body. It wouldn’t be long before she’d be his.
“Slainte mhor agus a h-uile beannachd duibh,” Mr. Crawford called over the thunder that continued to boom above them.
“It’s just a blessin’,” Elspeth whispered, loud enough for only him to hear.
“Have ye got a ring, my lord?”
Ben pulled his pinkie ring from his waistcoat pocket. “Yes, sir.”
“Then we’ll begin.” He read a bit from Galatians, then looked at Ben. “Repeat after me, my lord. I, Benjamin Farrell Jonathan Westfield, take ye, Elspeth Muriel Campbell, ta be my wife before God and these witnesses.”
Ben repeated the words, staring into Elspeth’s eyes. She was perfect in every way. He couldn’t wait to get her back inside her little cottage. They might not come out for days.
Mr. Crawford turned his attention to Elspeth, “And now it’s yer turn. I, Elspeth Muriel Campbell, take ye, Benjamin Farrell Jonathan Westfield, ta be my husband before God and these witnesses.”
Elspeth swallowed, and Ben squeezed her fingers. Thunder cracked over head, but she ignored it. “I, Elspeth Muriel Campbell, take ye, Benjamin Farrell Jonathan Westfield, ta be my husband before God and these witnesses.”
The vicar smiled. “Well, then, my lord, ye may kiss yer bride.”
Ben didn’t waste one moment doing so. He slid his arm around Elspeth, pulled her against him, and lowered his lips to hers. She giggled against his mouth, “Ye’re crushin’ me.”
“Sorry,” he whispered before releasing her.
Ben looked behind them. Alec’s mouth hung open, as though he hadn’t really thought they’d go through with it, and Sorcha blew her nose, loudly, in a handkerchief.
Twenty-eight
“If he looks at ye like that for one more minute, I’ll expect ye ta go up in a puff of smoke,” Sorcha mumbled quietly from Elspeth’s side, where they stood together in the kitchen.
Elspeth glanced at Ben, who leaned casually against the doorjamb, talking with Alec MacQuarrie. But beneath Ben’s outside veneer of calm, there was a storm brewing behind his eyes. He caught her gaze before allowing his eyes to linger slowly over her body.
“What did ye say?” Elspeth asked, fighting the flush of warmth that crept up her cheeks at his gaze.
“Yer new husband,” Sorcha said, nodding her head toward Ben. “He looks like he wants ta have ye for dinner.”
Elspeth giggled lightly. He did look like he would consume her at any moment. “I suppose it would be terribly offensive ta send everyone home?” Elspeth whispered back.
“Aye, but it would be worse if he lost control and stripped ye down before we’re all gone.” Sorcha giggled. The hair on Elspeth’s arms stood up. What a lovely thought.
She forced herself to stop looking in his direction. “How long do ye think everyone will stay?” she asked as she fought to keep from glancing back in his direction.
“Surely ye can control yerself long enough ta celebrate yer weddin’ with friends?” Sorcha gasped, slightly affronted. “We took the time ta be with ye durin’ yer nuptials.”
“Like ye would have stayed away,” Elspeth snorted. Then she bumped Sorcha’s shoulder with her own.
Rhiannon, Blaire, and a few friends from town had found their way to Elspeth’s cottage as the news had spread. El was sorry to say she wanted nothing more than for them all to leave.
She raised her teacup to her lips and glanced at Ben over the rim. He still leaned against the threshold, talking with Alec. But his regard was completely for her. His eyes narrowed as he took a deep breath, his chest expanding slowly. “You want me,” he mouthed in her direction.
Elspeth sputtered in her teacup.
“Are ye all right?” Sorcha asked, clapping her on the back.
She gasped out, “Fine, Sorcha. Ye can stop beatin’ me, now.”
Sorcha’s clapping slowed and came to a stop. Elspeth turned to take a towel from the rack behind her and found Ben blocking her path. How had he moved so fast?
“Speed,” he whispered before his lips pressed to her temple. “It’s one of our traits.”
“Do ye do everythin’ that fast?” she asked.
One eyebrow lifted. He smiled as he brushed a lock of hair from her face. “No. There are some things that should be done slowly.”
“I’ve half a mind ta throw a bucket of cold water on the both of ye,” Sorcha mumbled as she stepped away. “Pure nauseatin’ how much ye want each other.”
“She knows nothin’ of want,” Elspeth said quietly.
“And you do?” Ben asked as he rolled the lock of her hair between his fingertips. “Tell me what you know of it?”
A challenge lit her eyes. “I know I want ye, Lord Benjamin,” she said as she lifted on her tiptoes and kissed his chin. The light tickle of her lips along his jaw nearly drove him mad.
“Not nearly as much as I want you, Lady Elspeth.” He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “I’m glad no other Lycans are here. The scent of you when you are aroused is enough to drive a man to distraction.”
“What does desire smell like, Ben?”
“It smells like you, but stronger. Your body warms up and heat radiates from you. The perfume I know you apply between your breasts and behind your ears gets stronger.” He wondered how much he should tell her. She was an innocent after all. “And the other perfumes get stronger, too.”
She colored under his gaze. She did know what he meant. His heart warmed.
“I need to be alone with you.”
“We canna ask them ta leave,” she whispered back, her brow knit with concern.
“They can stay,” he chuckled as he tugged her fingers, pulling her toward the door. “Let’s sneak away.”
“But they’ll know what we’re doin’.”
Ben really didn’t care at that point. He simply wanted to get her beneath him. He could pick her up and carry her from the room. Or he could persuade her. He very lightly brushed across the mark on his lower belly.
Elspeth gasped, her gaze immediately rising to meet his. “Ye doona play fair.”
“All’s fair in love and war,” he chuckled. He tugged her fingertips again. When she didn’t follow, he reached to brush his mark. But she deflected his hand from his body and clutched it tightly in hers.
“I’ll go with ye. Ye doona have ta tease me.” Her eyes glanced around the room. Indeed, everyone was deep in conversation. He pulled her through the doorway and into the night. But they had taken only two steps when he felt her brush across her own mark.
If Ben truly thought she would be an unwary fo
e, he’d been sorely misled. His jaw clenched before he grabbed her tightly to him. He took her hand in his and pressed it against his hardness.
“I do not need any help becoming aroused by you, Ellie.”
“Yet ye thought ta torment me when we were inside,” she laughed against his lips.
“You play with fire.” His head tilted as he deepened the kiss and grabbed her bottom, pulling her against him. She gasped. Every part of him was hard, from his chest to… everything else.
“Perhaps I want ta be burned.” He began to gather her skirts in his hands, inching them up bit by bit. “Come, I ken a place ta go,” she said, tapping his chest to get his attention.
“I know where I want to go,” he said as he massaged her bottom.
“Ben,” she hissed.
He heaved a great sigh when he finally raised his head. “Lead the way, wife.” Then he swatted her bottom so hard it stung.
“Ye may regret that,” she tossed over her shoulder.
“I doubt it,” he joked in response.
His hand engulfed hers as she led the way into the forest. A slow mist began to fall.
Elspeth raised a hand to catch a drop of water. “Rhiannon is sad.” Maybe they should go back to the others.
“You are mine,” he said softly. He took her face in his hands and kissed her gently. “Your coven sisters will have to accept me. To accept us.”
She nodded briefly before she continued into the forest. They finally came to a clearing. This was one of her favorite places. No one knew of it, aside from her mother.
“I should have brought a blanket,” Ben said quietly as he watched her.
Before their eyes, the vines on the forest floor mingled with the moss, making a soft mat upon which they could lie.
Ben raised one eyebrow at her. “I suppose we can thank Sorcha for the gift?”
Elspeth couldn’t contain her grin. At least one friend wasn’t angry at her. Elspeth looked up at the night sky. The clouds moved away, a waxing moon taking their place. The temperature went from frigid to comfortable.
“And Rhiannon?” Ben asked.
“Yes. It appears as though we have their blessin’.”
“I need no blessing, lass, aside from yours,” he growled as he pulled her into his arms.
