Free The Taming of the Wolf by Lydia Dare Page A

Elspeth’s recipe for a sleepin’ draught.” One she’d enhance with chamomile and lavender and a few magic words. When Lord Brimsworth came to take her to dinner, she’d invite him to tea and then make sure the man slept long enough to let her get away. By the time he awoke, he’d be ready to give up this foolish chase.
    Jeannie’s brow scrunched together. “Sleepin’ draught?”
    “I think his lordship is in need of a good night’s sleep. Make sure Lamont is prepared ta depart this evenin’.”
    Jeannie’s eyes lit up as she seemed to understand Cait’s plan. “Aye, Miss.”
    “I doona want ta waste any time gettin’ home, Jeannie.”
    “I’ll see ta whatever ye need.”
    ***
     
    Caitrin fought not to roll her eyes as her maid wrung her hands and paced back and forth across the room.
    “Ye’ll never be able ta fool him, Miss. He isna daft. He will ken exactly what ye’re up ta as soon as he walks inta the room,” Jeannie said, her voice quaking with worry.
    “Shh!” Caitrin frowned. “Whisper.” How many times did she need to remind the woman? If they kept their voices to a whisper, all Dashiel would hear was a low hiss. Something she’d learned in dealing with Benjamin Westfield. She’d never known until now how handy that little bit of knowledge would turn out to be.
    “He’ll no’ taste a thing, Jeannie. Everythin’ will be just fine,” she assured her maid, barely making a sound.
    “Ye’re underestimatin’ him, I think.” Jeannie’s voice dropped to the level of Cait’s. “But I’ve kent ye long enough ta be aware that once ye get an idea inta yer head, ye’ll no’ leave it ’til it’s done.” Jeannie sighed and sank down on the edge of the bed.
    “Lamont is ready?” Caitrin glanced over her shoulder at her maid, who still looked worried.
    Jeannie nodded. “Aye. He and Boyd said they’d be ready ta go when ye are.”
    Caitrin tried to hide the grin that crossed her face. Overconfidence had caused more than one good potion to fail, and this was too important.
    “Ye’ll be meetin’ his lordship for dinner, I assume?” Jeannie asked, a frown marring her brow.
    “No, I’ll no’ be leavin’ this room. He’ll be wantin’ ta sleep within moments of drinkin’ the draught. If I gave it ta him downstairs, someone would want ta know why he slept so heavily.”
    “Ye hope,” Jeannie snorted.
    “Aye, I do.” She had to stop him. To escape while she had the chance and the means to do so. “I’ll invite him in for tea when he comes ta escort me ta dinner.”
    Jeannie just sighed heavily.
    “Just make sure the coach is ready ta leave. We’ll need ta be off as soon as he sleeps.”
    “The trunks are already in the coach, Miss. But I’ll go and check with Lamont and Boyd again.”
    Perfect. She needed Jeannie to leave the room so she could add the magic to her potion. Once the maid stepped out the door, Caitrin hurried to enchant the tea leaves.
    Ordinarily, lavender and chamomile tea would simply help to relax a person. She drank it herself when she found it difficult to rest. But she needed it to do more than simply relax his lordship.
    He was arrogant. He was obnoxious. He was annoyingly persistent. She let those thoughts build her ire as she rubbed dry chamomile leaves and lavender flowers between her hands until they warmed from the friction of her movement. Her fingers began to warm even more as she let her anger and irritation infuse the flowers.
    He made her feel things she had never felt before, dangerous things. Behind her eyelids, she could see the dried plants as they turned red like embers. Showers of sparks fell from her hands into the bowl as she released the ingredients and let them fall.
    “ Cadail, madadh-allaidh, cadail. ”
    Caitrin opened her eyes and smiled. She’d never had the impetus for such a strong potion in the past. But his lordship inspired her. She held back a giggle as she imagined her anger-infused potion doing its work by sending