by Lydia Dare
Six
“So,” Alec began as he draped his arm around Ben’s shoulder. “You like the lass after all?”
He did. He liked her a lot, surprisingly. If nothing else, Elspeth Campbell kept his mind off his own problems. “She doesn’t fit in here. I’m afraid she’ll 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 ballroom, Elspeth in the center of them all. “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 all. 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 Campbell. 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 Scottish witch. How many times had he seen Macbeth? Scottish witches looked like hags with hooked noses and spent their time around open cauldrons, stirring up trouble for nobles. No doubt Rosewyth Campbell, 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.”
“Well, don’t go around laughing to yourself. People will think you’re daft.”
“Thank you for your concern,” Ben remarked drolly. “Excuse me, will you?” The lovely redhead still 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’ll 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 Campbell’s presence. Besides, the lass deserved attention. Perhaps he could make all 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 all seemed to take the same collective 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 Campbell,” 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 still outstretched.
“El,” one of the brunettes hissed, the single syllable an unmistakable warning.
Elspeth turned her head. “‘Tis all 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 still had to face all 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 Campbell, or your countrymen will 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 still 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 pulled her gaze from Lord Benjamin’s handsome face to find Wallace 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. “Wallace 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 Wallace 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, Wallace. I’m perfectly fine with his lordship.”
Wallace 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 Wallace. “Yer services are no’ needed, Mr. Ferguson.”
The big Scot hung his head. “I never thought ye were a stubborn one.”
“Well, 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’ll have ta settle for just watchin’ her.”
“This song willna last forever, Wallace.”
He shuffled his feet and shrugged. “Thanks anyway, El.”
When Wallace 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 all, she couldn’t very well agree with him, because as a witch, she could imagine quite a lot.
“Alec says you’re a talented herbalist,” he said.
He had asked his friend about her? She almost tripped on her hem. “I suppose ye could say that.”
“This will probably sound strange, Miss Campbell,
but maybe you can help me. I’m looking for a… healer of sorts.”
That time she did stumble. A healer. It wasn’t possible he knew, was it?
His arm snaked around her waist and steadied her. “I’ve got you,” he said, his warm breath brushing her neck.
“I warned ye I was clumsy,” she whispered back.
“So you did.” He laughed. “But I don’t scare so easily.”
“Well,” Alec MacQuarrie’s voice halted them, “the two of you seem to have hit it off.”
“El,” Caitrin began, hanging on to her companion’s arm, “I’m so tired and asked Mr. MacQuarrie ta return us home.
Do ye mind leavin’ early?”
Elspeth frowned. Caitrin and the others were so transparent. It was becoming a bit frustrating. “Actually, Cait, I’m havin’ such a wonderful time, I think I’ll stay.”
“I’ll see you returned safely home, Miss Campbell,” Lord Benjamin promised.
Caitrin’s creased brow was quite satisfying. Elspeth turned her attention to the Englishman and smiled, grateful for his assistance. “That’s very kind of ye, sir.”
“It’ll be my pleasure.”
“Ben,” Alec MacQuarrie’s voice held a warning.
But Lord Benjamin paid it no heed. “Miss Macleod is tired, Alec. You best be on your way.” Then he guided Elspeth past them with just a bit of pressure on her back.
She heaved an irritated sigh as they moved past their respective friends. “It’s so nice ta ken they doona think I can make wise choices,” she muttered to herself.
Lord Benjamin laughed. “I can relate, Miss Campbell. My older brothers are inclined to behave the same way.”
“How do ye handle it?”
“I escaped to Scotland.”
Seven
“Escape sounds heavenly,” she said quietly. Ben studied the downcast sweep of her gaze and the slump of her shoulders.
He covered the hand that still held his arm with his own. Her gaze immediately rose to meet his. “I offered to take you over the wall, Miss Campbell.” He nodded toward the terrace doors and waited for her to reply. He would still do it. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms, jump the wall, and run away with her.
“There’s enough scandal attached ta the Campbell name, Lord Benjamin. I could never subject my friends and family ta more.”
“I have never fully understood the bounds of propriety, Miss Campbell. When one should be at ease and when one should not. I prefer studying Latin to studying human nature. And I truly abhor Latin.”
Her green eyes flashed. “I would have ta disagree with ye there, Lord Benjamin.”
“You enjoy Latin?”
Her tinkling laugh was music to his ears.
“No. I enjoy studyin’ people quite a bit, though.”
“Tell me something interesting about someone here,” he said offhandedly. Perhaps she would feel more at ease if he encouraged her to talk.
“I could never share secrets that are no’ mine,” she sighed.
“As loyal as you are beautiful,” he remarked. Her face colored prettily.
Ben glanced around the room, immediately noticing the couples who’d paired off. His keen sense of hearing allowed him to pick up bits and pieces of conversation.
He nodded toward a couple leaving the dance floor. “Those two have a romantic tryst planned in just a moment.”
“That is no secret, Lord Benjamin. Everyone at the ball is privy ta that bit of information. Except her husband, of course,” Miss Campbell said as she looked over her shoulder at a brooding hulk of a man who was much too busy entertaining his friends with tales of his importance while someone else entertained his wife.
“Poor bloke,” Ben couldn’t help but mumble.
He was surprised when she narrowed her eyes at him. “How did ye ken about them?”
“Just a guess,” he lied smoothly. Truly, being a Lycan did allow him some freedom to listen to bits here and there that others missed. Of course, he couldn’t tell her about that talent.
Ben turned her smoothly around a knot of people gathered in their path. As they passed, he heard a vile remark about Miss Campbell. “So much like her mother, isn’t she?” The whisper came from a group of dowagers. Ben squelched the urge to bare his teeth and growl.
“Is somethin’ wrong?” she asked, her hand tightening on his arm.
“No, nothing.” He attempted a fake smile.
She stopped walking and pulled her hand from his. Her eyebrows drew together. There was that fiery redhead’s temper he’d expected from the start.
“Then what’s wrong with ye?” she asked.
“Why on earth would you think something is wrong with me?” Ben asked, feigning ignorance.
“Stupidity is no’ an act ye portray well, Lord Benjamin.”
“Well, I should hope not, Miss Campbell,” Ben retorted, fighting hard to bite back a grin. It wasn’t often that a woman called him stupid and made him like it. He ran through the events in his mind and wasn’t entirely sure how she’d done it.
“What did they say?” she asked quietly as she gave up and tucked her hand back into his arm. “And doona tell me nothin’. Because we both ken that’s no’ true.”
Ben debated for a moment before answering. “They were comparing you to your mother,” he finally admitted. “Which can’t possibly be a bad thing. I imagine that’s where you inherited your beauty.”
“I’m said ta resemble my mother much more than my father, aye.”
“And he was?” Ben prodded when she stopped talking.
“I’ve no idea,” she admitted.
“That’s his loss, then, isn’t it?”
“No. It was mine. Because he killed my mother.”
This time it was Ben’s turn to stumble. But before she could remark about his ability to put one foot in front of the other, they were interrupted.
“Miss Campbell,” Caitrin’s maid interrupted them and curtsied to Lord Benjamin. “Beg yer pardon, miss, but Miss Macleod sent me ta get ye.”
“What’s wrong?” Lord Benjamin barked before she could even squeak out a reply. She frowned at him. He showed no remorse.
“It’s yer grandfather,” the maid said. “He’s taken a turn for the worse.”
Elspeth quickly gauged the fastest way out of the room. Truly the quickest way to get to her grandfather was to cut through the woods. She knew the woods well and often traveled that route to visit Sorcha.
“Lord Benjamin, do ye still feel led ta climb the terrace wall?”
He blinked at her twice and nodded. “Lead the way, Miss Campbell.”
Elspeth absently gnawed her bottom lip as she skirted the room, vaguely noting Lord Benjamin’s presence beside her. She exited through the terrace doors, walked to the wall, and peered over into the darkness.
“I believe it’s farther down than ye think. I should go out the front door.” She fought the panic that threatened as she realized what valuable time she’d lost.
But before she could go back through the terrace doors, Lord Benjamin scooped her up in his arms. She lifted her face to rebuke him, but the intensity in his eyes stopped her. “Please put me down,” she choked out as tears threatened to fall. “I have ta go.”
“We’ll go together,” he said quickly. “Put your arms around my neck.” When she didn’t immediately respond, he sighed, “I’ve never had to beg a woman to put her arms around me. But I’ll start with you. Please put your arms around my neck. Else there’s a chance I could drop you.”
Elspeth reached up to wrap one arm around his shoulders and clutched the lapel of his jacket with the other.
He walked closer to the wall and lifted one leg, then the other, until he sat on the edge. “Ready?” he asked, the intensity in his gaze alarming.
“Ready.” She nodded as she closed her eyes tightly.
He slid off the wall. It seemed like hours but was only seconds before he landed solidly on his feet in the grass. He dropped her legs and allowed her to slide down his body. Thankfully, he didn’t expect her to bear her full weight immediately.
“I could stand like this with you all night, love, but I feel sure you’d be mad with me later if we did.”
Elspeth shook her head, trying to regain her senses. “How did ye do that?”
“I’ll explain it to you some other time.” He took her hand in his. “Which way?” he asked as his eyes searched the darkness.
“We’ve no light,” she groaned.
“That’s all right. We don’t need one,” he said as he tugged her fingertips. “I can see well in the dark.”
Truth be told, he
could follow the scent she’d
left on previous journeys down the path to get to her grandfather’s, he was so in tune with her at that moment. She showed him the trail that led into the woods and raised one eyebrow at him. He immediately realized she had no plans to wait for him to lead.
She picked up her skirts and dashed ahead of him, leaving him to sputter to a start behind her. He did so with very little thought, except for how beautiful she looked with her skirts hiked up about her knees, her hair escaping its knot, which her friends had just restored for her. Her flaming locks caught the moonbeams that filtered through the tree branches and shimmered like fire.
Immediately, Ben felt the call of the moon. He felt the urgency and the intensity that normally presented itself to him in the days prior to the moonful.
Never before had he ever heard of anyone like him changing unless it was at the moonful, but he felt the rush of power. He tamped it down and took his gaze from Miss Campbell. His head spun as he wondered which was calling more powerfully, the lovely creature before him or the moon. He couldn’t tell which led him. But he was forced to follow.
She broke from the forest and never slowed her pace as she crossed a meadow. He moved up to run at her side rather than behind her. He’d never met a female who could run so far or so fast, and he found a smile erupting as he realized how wonderful it was to run free with her.
Miss Campbell slowed as she approached a fence. But Ben did not. He vaulted over and then held out his arms to her. She climbed the fence and hopped into his waiting arms. He held back a laugh of sheer contentment as he caught her weight with ease.
The tiny cottage where she lived was located on the outskirts of town. She slowed only briefly as they neared her home. The MacQuarrie carriage sat in front. Alec paced outside the entrance.
Miss Campbell rushed past him and into the house, the door slamming hard behind her.
Ben bent at the waist as he worked to catch his breath. “The woman runs like a wolf. Never seen anything like it,” he said to Alec.
“Like a what?” Alec scratched his head.
“Like a deer. The woman runs like a deer.” Ben corrected himself.
“Did you just run—” He stopped and pointed toward the woods. Then his eyes opened wide as he realized the two of them must have run all the way from the Fergusons’ to the Campbells’. “I’ve seen you do a lot of things to get a woman into bed, my friend, but this one has to be the best.”