Tall, Dark and Wolfish

by Lydia Dare

  He nodded and stepped into the room, his eyes focused on Ben. “Truly, in all the years I’ve known you, Westfield, I never thought to see you actually living in a cottage on the outskirts of Edinburgh.”

  “Me neither,” Ben growled. “What do you want, Alec?”

  Elspeth ignored her irritable husband and grinned at their guest. “I was just makin’ tea, Mr. MacQuarrie. Would ye care for some?”

  The man smiled back. “That would be nice, lass.”

  She started back toward the stove. As she walked past the table, Ben reached an arm out and pulled her onto his lap. She gasped in surprise. “Benjamin!”

  He played with a lock of her hair, his hazel eyes twinkling mischievously. “In London, I have staff who will make tea for you, Elspeth. And a cook and more maids than you can count. Then you can focus all of your attention on me.”

  She scrambled off his lap and planted both hands on her hips. “Do try ta behave. Ye have a guest.”

  Ben shot an irritated look at his friend. “A guest who should know better than to disturb a newly married man.”

  MacQuarrie laughed as he took a spot opposite Ben at the table. “Aye, a friend who didn’t take it personally when you skipped his wedding celebration in your honor.”

  How could she have forgotten? Elspeth sucked in a breath. “Oh, Mr. MacQuarrie, I’m so sorry. That was my fault. I got called away.” She bustled to the stove and poured two cups of blueberry tea.

  “Called away?” MacQuarrie echoed.

  “Aye, Greer Kincaid was havin’ some difficulties.” When she sat a cup in front of them, she noticed a series of looks from one man to the other, a silent communication of some sort. She should let them have their privacy. “Anyway, I’ll leave the two of ye alone. Caitrin is expectin’ me this mornin’.”

  “You’re leaving?” Ben asked, and started to rise from his seat.

  Elspeth smiled at him. “I willna be long, Ben.”

  He watched her, his mouth agape, as she wrapped her plaid around her shoulders and stepped out into the morning light. If she healed anyone along the way, he’d… well, he didn’t know what he’d do. Though it seemed obvious he’d have to convince her to leave Scotland soon.

  “When you missed my breakfast, I just assumed you overslept.” Alec’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Or were still in bed, at the very least.”

  Ben scowled at him.

  Alec gave him a mock toast with his cup. “Blueberry tea?”

  “That’s how Elspeth makes it.”

  “It seems to me that Elspeth is the one making all the decisions. Who knew you could be a trained lap dog so easily?”

  “Go to hell, MacQuarrie,” Ben growled.

  His reaction only made his friend laugh. “Not that I’m passing judgment. If I could get Miss Macleod to accept me, I’d drink blueberry tea, and…” He sniffed the air. “You smell like a damned bouquet of flowers, Westfield.”

  That was the last straw. Ben leapt from his spot and pulled Alec out of his seat. “Go pester someone else. Go pester Miss Macleod, for God’s sake.” If he did, perhaps Elspeth would come home.

  Alec pushed himself free. “Well, I see your temper’s returned.” Then he straightened his coat and moved across the room to the threadbare settee. “Relax, Ben, I’m on your side. I may be the only one in Edinburgh.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  Alec shrugged. “Everyone in town is worried you’re going to rush her off to London and they’ll never see her again.”

  “That is the plan.” If only he could get his wife to go along with it.

  “Well, it’ll never work,” Alec said softly.

  “She’s my wife. I can take her any bloody place I want.” He dropped into a chair across from his friend.

  Alec looked at him as though he’d taken the position of court jester. “Aye, she’s your wife, but she’s one of them. And they outnumber you, my friend—” And some of them threw fireballs when he wasn’t looking. “—She’s been taking care of them since she was a child. She’s not like you and me. She hasn’t lived a privileged life. This is all she knows.”

  Ben slumped forward in his seat. “But I want to give her all of that now. I want to give her the world.”

  “Might I make a suggestion, Westfield?”

  Ben shrugged.

  “Persephone and the pomegranate seeds.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Alec grinned. “You know, Hades and Persephone, the compromise with Demeter. The seasons.”

  Greek mythology? He had always hated the stuff. “I’m afraid Will is the scholar. Just say whatever it is in plain English, Alec.”

  “Do you not know the story?”

  “Mythology is not a particular interest of mine.”

  Alec laughed. “Well, then, take a lesson. Persephone was a lovely girl, the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture. Everyone who saw Persephone fell in love with her. She was beautiful, angelic. Even Hades, from his kingdom, fell for the girl. And he decided to have her for his own.

  “One day when Persephone was collecting flowers, Hades appeared in his chariot. He scooped the lass up and drove her into a chasm leading to the underworld.

  “Demeter was heartbroken and refused to let anything grow on earth, until finally Zeus had to intervene. He demanded Hades return Persephone to her mother so that the world wouldn’t wither away and die.

  “Hades grudgingly agreed, but before he let Persephone go, he gave her a pomegranate for nourishment. Now, the lass knew better than to eat food from the underworld, but she was so hungry she ate six seeds from the fruit to tide her over. Her doing so gave Hades a claim on her, as strong as Demeter’s.

  “So Zeus, in his infinite wisdom, made them agree to a compromise. Persephone would stay with Hades one month for each seed she ate. Half of the year she is with her husband, and the other half she’s with her mother.

  “When Persephone is with Hades, Demeter is sad and the plants begin to die, until nothing is left alive. To you and me this is autumn and winter. And when she returns to her mother, spring and summer reign once again on earth.”

  Ben heaved a sigh. “So in your little scenario, I’m Hades, the devil himself. Not terribly complimentary, MacQuarrie.”

  Alec shook his head. “It figures you’d find some way to take offense.”

  “So are you suggesting I make Elspeth eat pomegranate seeds? If so, I’ll have her eat twelve and not just a measly six,” he replied with a smirk.

  “And you take offense to my Hades reference?” Alec sat forward in his seat. “It’s not the seeds, you dolt. Elspeth is your wife, but she’s part of them. All of you care for her, and none of you want to lose her. Split the time, Westfield. I know you’re anxious to have your family meet the lass, and that’s understandable. But do you truly see her being happy in London?”

  She wasn’t like the English girls he was used to, that was true. That was one of the things he loved about her.

  “Don’t rip her from her home,” Alec continued. “Live at least part of the year here.”

  Ben glanced around the tiny cottage. He couldn’t live part of the year here. The few days it had been were difficult enough. “This place is not conducive for a man my size.”

  Alec roared with laughter. “Do you take everything so literal, Benjamin? You don’t have to live in this cottage. Buy a house, or build one. William has that estate in Dumfriesshire, but I think Elspeth would prefer to stay in Edinburgh, even if it’s just a few months a year. I know everyone else would like that.”

  “Miss Macleod, for instance?” Ben asked, as everything suddenly started to make sense.

  “Aye,” Alec replied, unrepentantly. “But the others as well. Just think about it, Ben.”

  Thirty-two

  Elspeth could have kissed Alec MacQuarrie for dragging Ben from the cottage, though she wasn’t quite sure what they were up to. But now her surprise for her husband could actually be a surprise. She stared at the ne
w bed, which took up nearly the entire room. Fashioned out of willow branches, the four-poster bed looked like something fresh out of a fairy tale.

  She couldn’t wait for Ben to return. She went about the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on dinner. Meat pies, with blueberry cobbler for dessert. She scoffed as she remembered the way he had offered to hire a cook for her. And a maid. She’d never had a servant before and didn’t know if she could accept one or not. It would certainly be a change.

  Elspeth tugged the tablecloth one last time to remove the wrinkles and smiled as she felt Ben’s arm snake around her waist.

  His warm breath teased the side of her face as he leaned toward her and said, “I don’t know what smells better, my wife or dinner.” He spun her slowly in his arms.

  She would probably never tire of looking at him. His dark hair hung past his collar, and a wayward lock teased his forehead, as it usually did. She reached up to smooth it into place, and it immediately sprung back.

  “Speaking of smells,” he started. “All the men I’ve encountered today have mentioned the fact that I smell like a flower.”

  “Jealous, are they?” She giggled.

  “I don’t think ‘jealous’ is the appropriate word. ‘Flummoxed’ is more like it.”

  “They dinna ken about yer feminine side?” she joked.

  He growled in her ear and tugged her closer “I don’t have a feminine side.”

  She inhaled deeply. “Ye do now.”

  He chuckled and swatted her behind as she moved away from him.

  “Do ye want ta eat, or do ye want the surprise I have for ye?”

  “You have a surprise for me?” His gaze shot toward her as he shrugged out of his jacket. “What kind of surprise?”

  “Actually, the surprise isna from me. It’s from Sorcha, ta be truthful.” His shoulders fell dramatically. “Oh, stop,” she scolded him, reaching to take his arm. She tugged it briefly. “C’mon.”

  “The surprise is in the bedroom?” he asked as he raised one eyebrow. “If not for the witch involved, I might be excited.”

  “That witch did somethin’ very nice for ye, so ye’d better be thankin’ her in the mornin’.”

  “I can hardly wait,” he said with a pout, dragging his feet as he walked toward her, all the enthusiasm gone from his step.

  She opened the bedroom door and stepped back, unable to hide her grin as his eyes grew wide with shock. “Where did that come from?” he gasped as he took in the sight of the beautiful new bed.

  “Do ye listen to a thing I say, Ben?” she asked, her hands lifting to rest on her hips. “I told ye, Sorcha made it.”

  “I thought the little witch could only manipulate the plants,” he murmured as he walked near the bed and ran his hand lovingly across the willow branches. They’d been bent and manipulated to make a beautiful heart-shaped headboard.

  “She does. How else could she get the willow limbs ta behave this way?” Truly, it looked as though she’d told the willow where to put the branches and how to bend them for the proper effect. “Sit,” she encouraged him.

  He sat down gingerly on the edge of the mattress.

  “It’s made of stronger stuff than that, Ben,” she said. Elspeth sat down beside him and bounced up and down. “And it’s as long as ye are tall.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” he mumbled. “It’s a wonderful gift. I didn’t think any of the witches liked me enough to make anything for me.”

  She still wasn’t sure of it. “They’ll come ta love ye with time.” Maybe.

  “I’ll thank her as soon as I see her.” His eyes traveled lazily down her body.

  “Oh, no,” she said, scooting across the bed to get away from him. “I’ve meat pies and blueberry cobbler waitin’.”

  Nearly effortlessly, he hooked her around the waist and had her beneath him within seconds. “You’re going to turn me into a blueberry.”

  “I’m tryin’ ta turn ye inta a wolf. No’ a blueberry,” she giggled as he nuzzled her neck, the stubble on his cheeks abrading her skin. She sniffled loudly. “Ye do smell a bit like a flower.”

  He rested his forehead against hers in a pose of submission. But then he chuckled. “I’ll take another bath in flower essence as long as it means I get to pull you in with me.”

  “Ye’re incorrigible.”

  “Hmm,” he agreed, lightly kissing her lips. “One of my better qualities.”

  “Ben, dinner’s gettin’ cold.”

  After devouring his meat pie, Ben looked at the blueberry cobbler in front of him. Even as tired of blueberries as he was, it smelled wonderful.

  Across the table, Elspeth kept her eyes on him, making certain he ate every berry on his plate. She was more vigilant than his old governess, a whole lot prettier, too. “I promise to eat every bite, Ellie.” He brought a forkful to his mouth.

  She momentarily glanced down at her plate. “Where did ye go with Alec MacQuarrie this afternoon?”

  “I might have a surprise of my own,” he said, before shoveling in more cobbler.

  Her green eyes widened. “A surprise?”

  One he would be happy to give her when the time was right. The thoughtful gift from Sorcha went a long way toward a peace offering. Now he was even more convinced that he’d done the right thing when he’d bought the large plot of land outside of town earlier in the day. “But I’m not ready to tell you about it yet.”

  He still had a few things to work out. Still, it seemed almost preordained when he and Alec happened upon architect John Burton on Queen Street later that afternoon. If he didn’t know better, he would think his old friend had somehow set up the chance encounter. The meeting turned into lunch, which turned into Mr. Burton promising Ben a set of designs for a large Gothic Revival mansion in the Scottish baronial style. That is, if Ben decided to build.

  He could almost envision Elspeth in their new home now, standing on a veranda and looking up at the moon. They would be happy there for at least half the year.

  “Well, in that case, once ye finish dinner, I’ll need ta get ye in bed—”

  “I’m done,” he said, pushing away from the table.

  He’d never tire of her innocent blushes. “Havers, Ben! I have an ointment I need ta apply ta ye.”

  He made no attempt to hide his lascivious grin. “An ointment, you say?”

  She nodded.

  “And you’re going to apply it to my skin?”

  Elspeth picked up the dishes from the dinner table and started toward the kitchen. “It’s made of aloe and ginger and geranium—”

  “More flowers?” he asked with a frown.

  She dropped the dishes by the stove and turned to face him. “I canna help it that the healin’ properties I need are found in flowers, Ben. The aloe plant is ruled by the moon, and its healin’ uses are well known. The ginger is ta increase energy. Also ruled by the moon, the geranium will increase yer confidence.”

  “My confidence?”

  She stepped toward him. “Ye are a Lycan, Ben. That hasna changed. Ye need ta believe in yerself, in yer ability ta transform. The willow in the bed should help with that as well. Willow contains the strongest natural properties for shape-shifting.”

  So Sorcha’s gift hadn’t really been to help him get a better night’s sleep. No matter, he’d still make the best use out of the bed. “So this ointment,” he began, tracing her lip with a finger. “Will you apply it for me? Or will you leave me to my own devices?”

  Elspeth kissed his finger and wrapped her arms around his middle. “It would be best if ye had a healer rub it inta yer skin.”

  “What luck,” he replied with a wink. “I happen to know a healer.”

  “Do ye, indeed?” she giggled.

  “Hmm. The prettiest girl in all of Scotland.” He scooped her up in his arms and started for their new willow bed.

  “Ben!” She swatted at his chest. “The ointment.”

  “We’ll get to it later,” he growled.

  Thirty-thr
ee

  Arm in arm with Sorcha, Elspeth walked through the Ferguson orangery. The wonderful scents of tropical plants and flowering bushes were delightful. “So do ye think the bed worked?” Sorcha asked.

  Elspeth had to look away, knowing her blush would give her away. “Aye, the bed worked just fine.” It had worked even better than she’d planned, in fact. With all the extra space, Ben had done things to her that she’d never imagined were possible.

  Sorcha stopped in front of a bush and lovingly ran her fingers over a bud. Instantly it doubled in size then opened to reveal a breathtaking white orchid.

  “Will ye stop tryin’ ta show off?” Rhiannon said from behind them.

  Elspeth couldn’t help but laugh as Sorcha puffed herself up. “What are ye doin’ here already?”

  Rhiannon shrugged. “Cait said this was when we were ta meet.”

  They were meeting? Elspeth hadn’t gotten a summons. “Do ye ken why?” she wondered aloud. Caitrin had been fairly surly when they’d lunched the day before, and she had no desire to hear another long list of complaints about her husband.

  “She’s been so irritable lately, I dinna ask.”

  Elspeth couldn’t blame her. “Rhi, since ye’re here, I wanted ta ask ye a favor for tomorrow night.”

  “The full moon?” Rhiannon questioned, one eyebrow rose in question.

  “Aye. Can ye make it a clear night? I’d like ta keep the clouds from interferin’.”

  Rhiannon grasped her hand. “Ye doona even have to ask, El. I already had it planned. Yer wolf willna have any problems with the weather.”

  She couldn’t quite believe it. They’d all been so opposed to Ben not that long ago. “Have ye had a change in heart about my husband, then?”

  “He seems ta make ye happy.”

  More than she could have ever imagined, his moodiness notwithstanding. “Aye, he does.”

  “And he was so nice ta me yesterday,” Sorcha said with a smile. “And he’s so handsome. I’m wonderin’ if I can find a Lycan of my own. Dinna ye say he has brothers?”

  Before Elspeth could even reply to that, Caitrin called from the door. “There ye are. I should have known Sorcha would be holdin’ court in here.” She walked farther into the orangery with Blaire following in her wake and turned to Sorcha. “And, no, ye canna have a Lycan of yer very own.”