Tall, Dark and Wolfish
Page 29
Will nodded. “You’re good for him, you know. I’m glad he has you.”
“He’s good for me, too.”
“I’d tell you that if he starts behaving foolishly to let me know. Knocking sense into him has become a bit of a habit of mine, but somehow I don’t think you’ll need my help.”
Neither did Elspeth. She and Ben were more connected than ever, and she knew in her heart that they’d turned a corner the night before. Nothing to come between them again.
“My wife is capable of bringing me to heel on her own, William,” Ben said from the bedroom doorway.
Will winked at Elspeth. “Take care of yourself, lass.” He rose from his seat, striding toward his brother. “And you, little brother, I’ll miss you. Will I see either of you in England anytime soon?”
Ben ambled into the great room and shrugged. “I suppose I’ll bring Ellie to Westfield Hall for the holidays. Mother will be dying to meet her, as will Simon, I’m sure.”
“The holidays it is, then.” Will embraced Ben, then stepped away from him. “Take care of her, Benjamin. You don’t know how lucky you are.”
“I know exactly how fortunate I am.” Ben crossed the room and slid his arm around Elspeth’s waist. “Besides, she’s stuck with me now.”
She laughed. “Travel safe, Will.”
Her brother-in-law saluted her. “I always do.”
“Ye could always stay a couple more days.”
Will shook his head. “Alas, I have my debauched lifestyle to return to.” And with that he winked at her and then left them alone.
Elspeth turned in Ben’s arms. “How are ye, my handsome wolf?”
His hazel eyes darkened seductively. “Missing my witch.”
“Are ye?” she giggled.
“Hmm,” he growled. “I don’t think the beast is completely sated, Ellie. You better climb back into bed.”
His suggestion sent a jolt of anticipation straight to her core. “But breakfast.”
“I think I’ll just have you instead.”
Ben glowed with pride as he led Elspeth into Alec MacQuarrie’s drawing room and a footman announced their entrance. “Lord Benjamin Westfield and Lady Elspeth Westfield.”
The finest families in Edinburgh were present, and the people who’d once looked down on his wife now smiled at her with acceptance. When Elspeth spotted Caitrin on the other side of the room, she squeezed Ben’s hand. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Take your time, lass,” he replied. Months ago he had hated Cait’s interference, but she’d come to grow on him. And Elspeth did love the chit like a sister.
He watched his wife walk across the room with a regal confidence she’d lacked when he first met her before the Fergusons’ ball those many months before. She had blossomed since finding the major. He never would have guessed that meeting her sire would have helped her come to terms with her past.
A hand clapped him on the back, and he turned to find Alec regarding him curiously. “If you can drag your eyes off your wife for a minute, I’d like to have your ear.”
Ben smiled. “Of course.”
He had been so caught up with Elspeth, he hadn’t noticed until now that Alec seemed different somehow. Solemn. Distressed.
Ben followed his friend to a far corner of the room. Whatever this was must be serious. “What is it, Alec?”
“I’m afraid you’ll think I’ve lost my mind.” He began, as his eyes flashed toward Elspeth and Caitrin. Then he rubbed his brow. “There’s an old Scottish lore about a group of fabled witches—”
Ben swallowed uncomfortably. “Witches?”
“Aye,” Alec breathed out slowly. “I always thought it was nonsense, but…”
“Well, of course it is. A group of fabled witches?” Ben chuckled. “You’re right, MacQuarrie. I do think you’ve lost your mind.”
Alec met his eyes. “The thing is, Westfield, Miss Macleod… well, I think she might be a witch.”
Ben laughed even louder. “Alec, that has to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. The woman is at my house every day. She’s haughty and full of herself, but a witch?”
Alec shook his head. “I’m sure you’re right.” He sighed. “I suppose I should return to London, where my mind doesna play tricks on me and women actually want my attention.”
“You’re leaving Edinburgh?”
Alec shrugged. “I’ve been chasing the lass so hard, and she hasn’t budged a bit. I suppose I was hoping maybe she was a witch, because that would explain things. I think I need a change of scenery. I’ll be off in a few days.”
That was probably for the best, at least for the time being. If Alec discovered the truth about Cait, it would only be a matter of time before Elspeth would be figured out as well. Ben tried not to feel guilty about misleading his best friend, but he’d never risk his wife’s secret. “We won’t be too far behind you. I promised we’d go to Hampshire for the holidays. You’re more than welcome to visit us there.”
Across the room, Elspeth found his eyes and she touched her belly. She wasn’t showing yet. Very few people knew she was expecting. His family, the major, and her coven. But her glow was hard for him not to bask in. “Excuse me, Alec.”
His friend laughed. “Well, I had your attention for a few minutes. Go on.”
Ben wasted no time doing so and crossed the floor, sliding his arm around Elspeth’s waist. “How are you feeling, love?”
Caitrin rolled her eyes. “Ye’re as bad as a mother hen, Westfield.”
He winked at her. “You should be thanking me. MacQuarrie was just telling me he thought you were a fabled witch.”
Her mouth fell open. “He was?”
“I talked him out of it.”
She bit her bottom lip and furrowed her brow. “I, um, should talk ta him.”
“I don’t know, Cait. He’s headed for London. You may want to leave him be.”
But she paid him no attention and started off toward their host. Ben looked down at his wife. “What was that about?”
She shrugged.
“Jonathan,” Ben suggested, his mind now back to his wife as he moved his hand to her belly. “My father’s name.”
“It’s a fine name,” she said, grinning up at him. “Though we have months ta find just the right one.”
“Or Desmond,” he offered, with less enthusiasm.
Elspeth laughed at him, her emerald eyes dancing with mirth. “I doona think my father would appreciate the way ye said that, Benjamin.”
True, the major would surely blast him if he thought Ben were serious, which he wasn’t. Any name would be fine, as long as the child was healthy. His lips twisted to a grin. “Your grandfather was Liam. Liam Westfield has a nice ring to it.”
“Ye ken,” she began, smoothing her palm across his chest, “it might be a girl.”
He rolled his eyes playfully. “Heaven help me from living in a house with more than one witch.”
Elspeth giggled. “With the size of that monstrosity
ye’re buildin’, I could have my entire coven move in with us and ye’d never notice.”
“Ha!” he snorted. “Don’t even think about it. I’d sooner send myself off to Bedlam.” But there was something glinting in her eyes, something that made him wonder. “Caitrin told you! Is it a girl?”
Elspeth’s smile brightened the room. “Ye’ll just have ta wait and see.”
About the Author
Lydia Dare is an active member of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers and sits on the board of directors. She lives in a house filled with boys and an animal or two (or ten) near Raleigh, North Carolina.
Table of Contents
Cover
Table of Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
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Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
Twenty-three
Twenty-four
Twenty-five
Twenty-six
Twenty-seven
Twenty-eight
Twenty-nine
Thirty
Thirty-one
Thirty-two
Thirty-three
Thirty-four
Thirty-five
Thirty-six
Thirty-seven
Thirty-eight
Thirty-nine
Forty
Forty-one
Forty-two
Forty-three
Forty-four
Forty-five
Forty-six
Forty-seven
Forty-eight
Forty-nine
Epilogue
About the Author