by Lydia Dare
after
seeing the hounds. That would be bad form."
Ben chuckled, and Will shot him a look that nearly quelled it.
"What you smell on me, dear brother, is another Lycan. He was at the Hawthornes'."
Simon's eyebrows drew together.
"And, no," Will continued, "I didn't dally with him, either."
"Oh, there was definitely some dallying going on," Ben murmured. "Otherwise, you'd not come home smelling like a flower shop. A randy one."
Will banged his forehead with the heel of his hand. They were insufferable.
Simon held up a finger, which immediately quelled Ben's laughter.
"Thank you," Will grunted.
"What's this about a Lycan?"
"There's one at the Hawthornes'. He's a friend of Blaine's. Visiting for the holiday."
"Someone you know from The Society?" Simon tinkered with his quill and inkwell.
"If I knew him, I wouldn't have rushed home to tell you about him, would I?"
From the doorway, someone cleared his throat. Will glanced over his shoulder to find Major Forster, Elspeth's father. The old officer stepped into Simon's study. "What's this about a strange Lycan?" he asked.
"Finally!" Will groaned, coming to his feet. "A voice of reason."
"Tell your Lycan he needs to wear sandalwood instead of lilac oil," the major said, finally allowing a smile to cross his old, weathered face. "Congratulations, by the way."
"For what?" The muscle above Will's right eye began to twitch.
"For getting her in your arms. A man doesn't wear a scent that strong unless…" He let his voice trail off.
Will sighed and stalked toward the door. "I don't know why I bother talking to any of you," he grunted.
"Oh, come back," Ben urged. "We'll stop." He motioned with his hands for Will to reclaim his seat. "With your work at The Society, you're well aware there are others of our kind. So why are you so surprised to find another one living within polite society? We only chase the moon one night per month. The rest of the time, we're quite honorable."
"No one is aware of what he is."
"Well, I would hope not." Simon frowned. "It's not something one goes around discussing."
"Of course not," Will growled. "But they don't know the danger they've put themselves in." Then he faced the major. "His name is Dashiel Thorpe. The Earl of Brimsworth, heir to the Marquess of Eynsford."
"Eynsford, you say?" the major asked as he stroked his chin and appeared deep in thought.
Major Forster headed The Lycanian Society and was privy to more information about those of their kind than the average Lycan. It was quite possible he knew something helpful about the earl's family. "You know of him?" Will asked.
But the major shook his head. "I vaguely remember some sort of scandal years back. But it has been a very long time."
"Eynsford is a powerful force in the Lords. One doesn't go up against him easily," Simon informed him. "Didn't know the man was a Lycan, though. I don't think I've ever caught his scent."
The major shook his head as though the information was new to him too. That didn't bode well.
"What about Lord Brimsworth bothers you?" Ben asked, breaking Will from his thoughts.
"He's got his eye on Prisca," he blurted out before thinking the better of it.
"Ohhhh," Simon and Ben both said at the same time, shooting loaded looks at one another.
Will wanted to shout. Actually, he wanted to strangle them both. "Don't say it like that. There's something about him. He seems a bit wild to me. And dangerous."
Benjamin leaned forward across Simon's desk, looking their oldest brother square in the eyes. "What are we going to do?" he asked quietly.
"It's not our concern," Simon replied with a frown.
Ben shook his head as his father-in-law patted him on the back. "I know you're worried about her, my boy, but—"
Ben looked over his shoulder at Major Forster. "Of course, I'm worried about her. Prissy is like a little sister to me. And Will—"
"Made his decision years ago," Simon added.
"My decision has changed," Will declared. One could have heard a pin drop, it became so quiet at the pronouncement.
Simon's shrewd silver eyes narrowed. "Are you quite certain?"
"Quite," Will clipped out.
"Why the sudden change of heart?" the duke asked, folding his arms across his chest.
"In part, I've stayed away from her all these years because I didn't want her to end up with one of our kind," Will hedged. No reason to tell them he'd have leapt at the chance to have Prissy long before now if she'd given him any sort of encouragement.
"Understandable." Simon nodded. After all he'd gone through with Lily, he would be the last one to refute a statement such as Will's. "But how has that changed?"
Will shrugged, hoping he appeared more at ease than he actually felt. "Emory's prepared to push her in Brimsworth's direction. So if she's to marry one of our kind, it will be me."
Ben chuckled. "How selfless of you."
Simon scowled at their younger brother. "No one needs your quips just now." Then he turned his attention back to Will. "So, the pursuit begins in earnest?"
"I don't think it'll be that easy," Ben began.
"Nothing with Prissy is ever easy." Then Will faced each of the three Lycans in turn. "I'd like for you all to meet Brimsworth. Lily said in the coach we've all been invited for a night of games. I believe she and Elspeth accepted for the rest of us."
Simon's growl was menacing. If Will wasn't used to it, he would scurry from the room with his tail between his legs.
"Tell me if I'm overreacting," Will pleaded.
"Would it change your direction?"
Not now that he'd held her in his arms. And kissed those sweet lips. And seen that her one true love was… him. "No. It wouldn't." His heart skipped a beat at that confession. "I plan to win her hand no matter what."
"God love you," Simon grunted as he settled back in his seat. "Now about this Lycan—"
A wracking cough from above them stopped the conversation, and all four men glanced up at the sound. Ben sighed. "She's getting worse."
Their mother. How could Will have forgotten? "At breakfast, Elspeth said she'd heal her."
Ben snorted. "Over my dead body."
At that statement, Will gaped at his brother. Of the three of them, Ben was the mama's boy. "I beg your pardon."
His younger brother winced, and a tortured look spread across his face. "Sorry. We argued about it this morning. I can't let Ellie do it, Will. You know the last time she healed someone, it almost killed her. And now with the baby on the way…"
He didn't need to say any more. Will gave Ben's shoulder a brotherly nudge. "Mother will be all right. Not everyone has a healer in the family, and they all seem to get by just fine."
Ben nodded. "It just makes me feel like the worst sort of cad."
Will fully understood Ben's strong desire to protect Elspeth; he felt the same way about Prisca. After leaving his brothers in the study, he asked Billings for foolscap and an inkwell, and settled himself in the library. He penned a simple note to his friend Richard Wheeler, who hailed from Kent, asking for any information about the Earl of Brimsworth. That was a good place to start.
***
What had Emory been thinking? Inviting the Westfields to dinner tomorrow and for games after? It had been hard enough to see Will as much as she had over the past few days. Now she'd have to endure an entire evening?
Prisca dropped onto her bed and rubbed her temples with her fingertips. Perhaps she could cry off this evening with a headache. That wouldn't even be a lie. But Lizzie Giddings would be there, and she did plan to see if Emory had any interest in the girl.
She sighed and fell back against her pillow.
"You sound tortured," her maid, Molly, said from the corner of the room.
Prisca sat up with a start. Where had her maid come from? "My brothers drive me mad… t
hat's all."
Molly smiled, an action that lit up her face. Prisca took a long hard look at the other girl. A plan popped in her head. If she had to see Will day in and day out, if he really had a mind to court her, shouldn't she know if he was true to his word? She couldn't imagine her maid as much of a seductress, but Will didn't seem to be particularly discriminatory. The young maid was pretty enough. Golden, silken curls, striking green eyes, slender figure. Blaine had a soft spot for Molly, she well knew. She'd have to do. Prisca knew she could trust her.
"Molly, I need your help."
The maid's eyes rounded. "I don't think I like the way you said that, Miss."
Prisca leapt from her bed and grasped her maid's hands. "Hear me out. I need you to play a role for me."
"A role?"
"Can you play a seductress?"
Molly backed away and covered her heart with her hand. "Miss, I'm a good girl."
Prisca grinned. "A good girl who casts sly glances at Blaine whenever he's about. He watches you all the time, you know."
A blush stained the maid's cheeks. "I don't know what you're talking about."
She knew exactly what Prisca was talking about. Apparently her maid was more of a seductress than she'd originally thought. Molly would be perfect. Who else could she trust to tell her the truth anyway? "It's not up for debate, Molly. I need to know if Lord William is being honest with me."
"And you want me to seduce him to find out?" Prisca doubted Molly's face could turn any redder at this point.
She nodded. "I want you to try. I want to know if he succumbs to your wiles."
A gasp escaped the maid's lips. "And if he does?" she squeaked.
Then she'd know the truth, wouldn't she? "If he does, then you'll simply tell him that he failed my test and all bets are off. That will dampen his ardor rather quickly."
A frown marred Molly's brow. "I don't know, Miss."
But Prisca paid her no attention. "You simply can't refuse, Molly. I have to know the truth, and you're the only one who can help me."
***
Dinner had been far from riveting, and Prisca slowly climbed the cantilevered steps that led to the family quarters. How had she tolerated living with those five idiots all her life? In recent years, things had been so peaceful with just Papa, Emory, and herself. No matter that she loved each brother dearly, they still were predisposed to giving one a headache.
Even now she could hear raucous laughter erupting from the dining hall where her father and brothers still entertained Lord Brimsworth. If she could just go someplace to get a little quiet, perhaps she could put two thoughts together, which she sorely needed after Will's visit.
The only quiet place she could think of was the garden. Of course, no one but a fool would go out of doors in the chilly evening air. But that also meant no one would go traipsing out there after her, either. With her mind made up, Prisca entered her room and pulled out a scarf and her warmest walking coat. She buttoned herself in tightly and then made her escape down the steps and out the garden door, successfully avoiding servants along the way.
The wintry air swirled about her feet and Prisca shivered, but she knew she'd adjust to the temperature soon enough. She tipped her head back, enchanted by the waning moon in the sky. The stars shimmered above her, reminding Prisca of a glass of celebratory champagne. Though she wasn't certain if she should celebrate or not.
Years ago, she would have swooned if Will had taken her in his arms as he had done this afternoon. But she'd been young and foolish then. Now she knew what sort of man he was, and though her heart still raced whenever she saw him, she wasn't certain swooning was the wisest course of action.
"Will, Will, Will…" She shook her head. "What to do about you?"
She stuffed her hands inside her pockets to keep them warm and retraced her steps from a few nights ago when her wolf had visited. Prisca's eyes flew to the stone bench where she'd sat that evening, stroking the regal animal, and she sighed at the memory. It was a shame he wasn't there now. She could use his council. Foolish as that sounded, she always felt better after divulging her fears and worries to the beast. Perhaps it was simply saying the words aloud that did the trick. It was worth a try.
Prisca flopped down on the bench and suppressed a shudder at the coolness that seeped through her coat and gown. For a brief moment, she felt as though someone was watching her, and her heart leapt with the hope her wolf had returned. She turned her head in one direction and then the other, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of him—but she was well and truly alone.
Here went nothing. "He takes my breath away, and I—"
"You're not so bad yourself," a voice came at her shoulder.
Prisca gasped and leapt from the bench, her heart pounding in her ears. Standing just a few feet away, the Earl of Brimsworth smiled wolfishly. "Where did you come from?" No one was there a moment ago. How could he possibly have moved so fast?
"Just out for a walk, Miss Hawthorne." He took a step toward her, his amber eyes glittering in the moonlight. "The better question is what are you doing out of doors?"
Wishing her heart would return to its normal pace, Prisca folded her arms across her chest. "This is my home, my lord. I can go out of doors whenever I like."
"I don't doubt, Miss Hawthorne, that you can do whatever you like, indoors or out, whenever the mood strikes you. I simply meant that it is fairly cold at the moment."
He was correct about that, not that she would let him know. "I prefer a little nip in the air. What are you doing out of doors?" Will would be very unhappy with her if he knew she was alone with the man after they made their bargain.
"I needed a bit of fresh air." He gestured to the bench between them. "Mind if I join you?"
She really shouldn't. Prisca shook her head. "I was just about to return to bed."
Lord Brimsworth laughed. "No need to look so frightened, Miss Hawthorne. I'm not the big, bad wolf, you know."
Wolf ! Prisca narrowed her eyes on him. How did he know? "What do you mean by that, sir?" she snapped.
He held up his hands as if to surrender. "It's just a turn of phrase, my dear. My, you are skittish this evening."
Was she? He'd simply scared her; that was all. Prisca shook her head. "I am sorry, my lord. It's been a long day, I suppose."
He nodded in agreement. "If you are truly headed back in, I'd love to resume our game from this afternoon."
She smiled. There was no reason to be terrified of the man. He'd been a perfect gentleman so far. She'd simply allowed Will's distrust to seep into her thoughts. "Of course."
***
Surrounded by all four brothers, crowded around their father's desk as though they were plotting the invasion of a small country, Emory glanced from one to the other. "So what do you think?" he asked quietly.
Darius grinned from ear to ear. "I think it's bloody genius." He ignored the huff from Garrick at his cursing and continued, "Did you see the look on Will's face when you said you planned to pawn her off on Brimsworth?"
That had been a welcome surprise. "He nearly turned green."
Pierce rubbed his chin. "How did none of us ever realize Will had a soft spot for her?"
"We weren't looking for it," Emory replied. "Not until now."
"But after the way she tried to ruin him," Blaine chimed in and then let his words linger in the air. What a mess that had been.
"She was still a child. Will's aware of that," Garrick sighed, rubbing his eyes.
"I'd thought it would take a lot more work on our part to bring him around."
"It will be easier than we thought," Darius agreed. "Thank God."
"Are you sure about that?" Garrick asked. "She didn't seem happy to see
him
, if you ask me."
Pierce turned a bit purple as he tried to quietly hold in his chuckle. "You truly know nothing about women, Gar."
"And you do?" the vicar hissed.
Pierce shrugged. "I obviously know more than y
ou do." When Garrick scowled, he continued. "When you were too busy glaring at Will, Prissy surreptitiously shot him glances as she batted her eyelashes."
"How much port
did
you drink?" Garrick asked. "She did nothing of the sort."
"Yes, she did," Blaine said. "Saw it myself."
"'Fraid so," Darius added.
Garrick shook his head. "What about Brimsworth? He does seem taken with Prissy. What if we honestly supported a match with him?"