“I dinna ken that at the time, sir. But I do ken it now. That’s why they have been removed ta the Thorne and Rose for the duration of their stay. I assured them ye’d be most happy ta pay for their lodgings.” The butler looked supremely satisfied with himself.
“I thought it would be more difficult than that,” Alec muttered, scratching at the day’s growth of beard stubble that itched his cheek. Then he narrowed his eyes at his butler. “I’d have sacked you if you hadn’t figured out how to do that.”
“I can be crafty when necessary, sir,” Gibson said, still smiling a satisfied grin. “But ye have another guest in the parlor, sir. Lord Benjamin has come ta visit.”
“You can tell Lord Benjamin to go straight to the devil,” Alec said. That overgrown dog was the last person he wanted to see. Now or ever.
Alec sniffed at the air. He could already smell the Lycan’s stench inside his home. Bloody perfect. All he needed to make the evening a complete disaster was a meeting with Ben Westfield.
A voice roared from belowstairs. “If Gibson tells me to go straight to the devil, I’ll put him in a cupboard until the morning, and then I’ll come and find you myself!”
Gibson’s jaw dropped open. There had never been any love lost between his butler and Ben Westfield.
“He would do no such thing,” Alec assured the old man, though he wasn’t so certain himself.
“Yes, I would!” Ben called from belowstairs again. “Try me and see, MacQuarrie.”
“How did he hear that, sir?” Gibson asked, lowering his voice in surprise.
Damn Ben’s Lycan hearing. He could hear a pin drop in the house next door. Of course, he could hear Alec’s and Gibson’s mutterings.
“Sound carries in this house,” Alec replied.
“No’ that well,” the butler contradicted.
“It won’t be the only thing being carried if you don’t get your arse down those stairs and come talk to me!” Ben bellowed, his voice growing louder and louder. The damn neighbors would hear him at this rate.
Alec glanced at his astounded butler. “Lord Benjamin was dropped on his head as a bairn. It obviously affected his hearing. And his common sense.”
“My common sense is fine!” the irate Lycan belowstairs bellowed again. “It’s my house that’s in a state of upheaval. An enchanting lady who normally has a green thumb is destroying every plant and flower I possess. And I am fairly certain she would be most pleased with me if I buried your lying arse somewhere on Arthur’s Seat!”
Sorcha was at Westfield’s? Alec shot out the door and down the stairs so fast that the old butler could only stand and stare. Alec’s oldest and dearest friend leaned casually in the doorway of the parlor and glared at him with a look of bemusement. “Finally got your attention, did I?”
“Sorcha’s at your home?” Alec managed to choke out.
“So nice to see you too,” Ben drawled as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“I wish I could say the same.”
Ben started down the corridor toward Alec’s study.
“Where are you going?” he called to his friend’s retreating back. Then Alec followed. Damn, who was the dog here? Him or Westfield?
“I assume you still have whisky, even though you can no longer imbibe,” Ben mumbled as he shuffled through Alec’s sideboard. He grinned broadly as he found the decanter he wanted and poured himself a tumbler full of the amber liquid. Then he dropped into a wide chair across from Alec’s desk.
“Do make yourself at home, why don’t you?” Alec groused as he dropped into his own chair behind the desk.
“I believe I will, since my own is in a state of upheaval. And it’s all your fault.” Ben took a slow swallow from his glass. Then he leaned forward and speared Alec with a glance. “I quite like sleeping with my wife.”
“I don’t need to know about your bedroom proclivities, Westfield,” Alec said as he tried to look affronted by the mere suggestion.
“I like sleeping with my wife for a lot of reasons, though the likelihood of that happening this evening diminishes each moment Ellie tries to soothe Sorcha, and all because you had the stupidity to bring your mistress into the sight of your intended. Now tell me, what kind of a fool does that?”
“You’re a fine one to talk about being foolish.” If they were to tally up each of their mistakes, Ben’s list would stretch