Tall, Dark and Wolfish by Lydia Dare Read Free Book Online Page A

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 Campbel 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 al the way
    from the Fergusons' to the Campbel s'. "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."
    Alec didn't even finish the thought before he found himself pressed against the door, Ben's arm beneath his throat, his feet several inches off the ground.
    "I'l not al ow anyone to speak of Miss Campbel that way," Ben snarled.
    Alec grunted and pul ed against Ben's arm, but Ben ignored his struggle. "Put me down," he gasped.
    Ben fought his conscience, unsure of how to respond. The wolf in him wanted to show his dominance, to make Alec come to heel. But the friend in him
    was ready to release the poor gent. The choice
    was taken from him when the door was flung open and they both fel inside in a heap.

    Eight
    "Just what do ye think ye're doin', Lord Benjamin?" Miss Macleod asked, her hands upon her hips, standing above them.
    Alec pushed him off and shrugged to his feet. "Protecting Miss Campbel 's honor, I believe," he muttered as he held a hand out to Ben and pul ed him
    up.
    "From ye?" Miss Macleod asked. "Why in the world would he need ta do that?"
    "Why, indeed?" Alec asked, his head cocked to one side as he regarded Ben with curiosity.
    Ben dusted himself off and leveled Miss Macleod with his haughtiest look, the one only sons of dukes ever seemed to master. "What's the matter with
    Mr. Campbel ?"
    Her lip quivered and she blinked back tears. "He's dyin'. He has been for some time. El's done everythin' she can ta keep him alive."
    Elspeth couldn't possibly have the funds to hire a decent physician. Ben took in the cottage. It was tidy and clean, but quite smal . Different in every way
    from the Fergusons' mansion and the Macleods' impressive home. Paying for a physician wasn't, however, a problem for him.
    He turned to Alec. "What are you waiting for, MacQuarrie? This is your city. Find your best doctor and bring him here."
    Miss Macleod gasped. "Ye think a doctor can do better than Elspeth has?"
    Ben frowned at the girl. Was Alec right? Were they al uneducated and superstitious? "Knowing herbs is one thing, Miss Macleod, but science is
    another. The finest medical school in Britain is here in your fair city."
    She puffed herself up to her ful est height. "Thank ye for seein' her home, but I think ye should leave now, my lord."
    If she'd punched him, he wouldn't have been more shocked. Alec clapped a hand to his back. "Come along, Westfield. I'l take ye home." Then he
    smiled at Miss Macleod. "Wil you be al right here, lass?"
    She nodded. "Thank ye, Mr. MacQuarrie, for everythin'."
    Ben al owed himself to be dragged from the cottage. "There's nothing to be done, Westfield," Alec said.
    "How can you say that? Are al you Scots completely mad?"
    Alec pul ed open the door to his coach. "You can cal on her in the morning if you're of a mind."
    Against his better judgment, Ben climbed inside the coach and settled against the leather squabs. "This feels wrong, Alec."
    His friend sighed as the coach slowly rambled down the dark lane. "You know as wel as I there's nothing to be done for a wasting disease, Westfield.
    Even London's most prestigious doctor wouldn't be able to save Mr. Campbel ."
    A wasting disease? Ben cringed as he realized Alec was right. Poor Elspeth.
    Elspeth clasped her grandfather's hand. It was clammy and she noticed