the doorway leading to a parlor. "A female friend?"
The last bit of Ben's patience evaporated. "God damn it, Wil ! What are you after?" When a look of surprise flashed in his brother's eyes, a prickling of
guilt washed over Ben. "Sorry. I didn't sleep wel ."
That at least was the truth. He kept hearing Major Forster's words about witches and healers every time he closed his eyes. It was no wonder he was
jumpy this morning.
"You feeling al right?"
Ben nodded. "I, uh, got word from Alec MacQuarrie in Edinburgh. He's been bored out of his mind and asked me to visit." Thankful y he knew someone
up north to pul off this ruse, at least temporarily. He hoped MacQuarrie was stil in Scotland. It had been a month or two since he'd last heard from his old
friend, which was unusual. Something must have captured his attention.
"Oh." Wil frowned. "Wel , I suppose, considering
what happened in Brighton, it's not such a bad idea for you to change your scenery for a while."
Ben closed his eyes. He didn't want to think about the incident in Brighton, and he hated that both his brothers knew about it. He hated that everyone
seemed to know about it. "Wel , there you are. If the inquisition is over, I'd like to start my journey."
Wil pushed himself away from the door frame and smiled. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather stay here? I'm supposed to meet Simon for lunch today."
Al he needed was for both of his brothers to hover and watch his every move. The image sealed his resolve to find the fabled healer the major spoke of,
as ridiculous as it sounded. Ben shook his head. "And leave poor MacQuarrie to his own devices? I wouldn't be much of a friend to desert him in his time
of need."
Wil laughed. "Very wel . Travel safe, wil you?"
"I always do."
Three
After traveling the North Road for nearly a fortnight, Ben was relieved when the city of Edinburgh final y came into view from his coach window. He'd sent a
note to Alec, inviting himself to stay with his old Cambridge pal at his home, and he hoped his friend had received the missive. He would hate to show up
unannounced.
However, Alec had dropped in on him in London more times than he could count. So he felt that turnabout was fair play. In fact, the last time Alec had
paid him a visit, he'd left Ben in quite a mess. He could stil hear the clipped tones of Simon's voice, which spoke of his disappointment in his youngest
sibling.
Being the youngest was difficult. For Ben, it meant he was never ful y alone. His two older siblings constantly watched everything he did. Simon, the
Duke of Blackmoor, did so in a fatherly fashion. A very strict father, who lived by a certain moral code. And Wil , the middle brother, had stood back and
watched Ben make a fool of himself on more than one occasion. Then he swooped out of nowhere, laughed like he'd done when they'd both been in short
pants, and dusted him off. Then he stood back and let him do it al over again.
This time Ben was bound and determined to solve his little problem himself. It real y wasn't a little problem, though. Not being able to change with the
ful ness of the moon was a huge problem for someone like him. It threw his whole life out of kilter.
And that was exactly how he felt when he stopped at the home of his oldest and dearest friend, Alec. Out of kilter. The coach pul ed to a stop in front of
the mansion, and Ben took a deep breath before he reached for the handle. He could do this. He could be his normal happy-go-lucky self, find the fabled
witch who could heal him, and go home. Or he would do the opposite and prove the witch didn't exist. Either way, he'd had an opportunity to escape
London in the wake of his recent scandal. And that alone was worth the trip.
Ben stretched his legs when he stepped out of the coach; they had never made those things big enough for men like him. The butler met him at the door,
took his hat, and left him waiting in the parlor while he went to find Alec. Ben heard the stomp
The last bit of Ben's patience evaporated. "God damn it, Wil ! What are you after?" When a look of surprise flashed in his brother's eyes, a prickling of
guilt washed over Ben. "Sorry. I didn't sleep wel ."
That at least was the truth. He kept hearing Major Forster's words about witches and healers every time he closed his eyes. It was no wonder he was
jumpy this morning.
"You feeling al right?"
Ben nodded. "I, uh, got word from Alec MacQuarrie in Edinburgh. He's been bored out of his mind and asked me to visit." Thankful y he knew someone
up north to pul off this ruse, at least temporarily. He hoped MacQuarrie was stil in Scotland. It had been a month or two since he'd last heard from his old
friend, which was unusual. Something must have captured his attention.
"Oh." Wil frowned. "Wel , I suppose, considering
what happened in Brighton, it's not such a bad idea for you to change your scenery for a while."
Ben closed his eyes. He didn't want to think about the incident in Brighton, and he hated that both his brothers knew about it. He hated that everyone
seemed to know about it. "Wel , there you are. If the inquisition is over, I'd like to start my journey."
Wil pushed himself away from the door frame and smiled. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather stay here? I'm supposed to meet Simon for lunch today."
Al he needed was for both of his brothers to hover and watch his every move. The image sealed his resolve to find the fabled healer the major spoke of,
as ridiculous as it sounded. Ben shook his head. "And leave poor MacQuarrie to his own devices? I wouldn't be much of a friend to desert him in his time
of need."
Wil laughed. "Very wel . Travel safe, wil you?"
"I always do."
Three
After traveling the North Road for nearly a fortnight, Ben was relieved when the city of Edinburgh final y came into view from his coach window. He'd sent a
note to Alec, inviting himself to stay with his old Cambridge pal at his home, and he hoped his friend had received the missive. He would hate to show up
unannounced.
However, Alec had dropped in on him in London more times than he could count. So he felt that turnabout was fair play. In fact, the last time Alec had
paid him a visit, he'd left Ben in quite a mess. He could stil hear the clipped tones of Simon's voice, which spoke of his disappointment in his youngest
sibling.
Being the youngest was difficult. For Ben, it meant he was never ful y alone. His two older siblings constantly watched everything he did. Simon, the
Duke of Blackmoor, did so in a fatherly fashion. A very strict father, who lived by a certain moral code. And Wil , the middle brother, had stood back and
watched Ben make a fool of himself on more than one occasion. Then he swooped out of nowhere, laughed like he'd done when they'd both been in short
pants, and dusted him off. Then he stood back and let him do it al over again.
This time Ben was bound and determined to solve his little problem himself. It real y wasn't a little problem, though. Not being able to change with the
ful ness of the moon was a huge problem for someone like him. It threw his whole life out of kilter.
And that was exactly how he felt when he stopped at the home of his oldest and dearest friend, Alec. Out of kilter. The coach pul ed to a stop in front of
the mansion, and Ben took a deep breath before he reached for the handle. He could do this. He could be his normal happy-go-lucky self, find the fabled
witch who could heal him, and go home. Or he would do the opposite and prove the witch didn't exist. Either way, he'd had an opportunity to escape
London in the wake of his recent scandal. And that alone was worth the trip.
Ben stretched his legs when he stepped out of the coach; they had never made those things big enough for men like him. The butler met him at the door,
took his hat, and left him waiting in the parlor while he went to find Alec. Ben heard the stomp
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