It Happened One Bite by Lydia Dare Page B

his head.
    Blaire pursed her lips. What was he hiding? Why the look of confusion on his face? “Who are ye?”
    Finally, his black eyes sparkled. He dipped his head. “Kettering,” he answered proudly. “ Baron Kettering of Derbyshire.”
    Whatever else he was, Lord Kettering of Derbyshire was full of English pride. She would be surprised if his ego fit through the door. Blaire winced. Heaven help her when Aiden learned their guest was a peer of the realm. “Well, my lord, why doona ye tell me exactly what ye did that made the other witches so angry with ye.”
    A roguish smile lit his lips, and, despite his state of dishabille, Blaire almost gasped at how handsome he was when he smiled. Almost. A warrior never allowed an enemy to see a weakness. Her discomfiture when he smiled was most certainly a weakness.
    “You have me at a disadvantage, lass,” he replied, his voice dripping with seduction.
    “Disadvantage?” she echoed. Blast! Did her voice crack on that word?
    Kettering stepped closer to her. His eyes darkened, though she didn’t know how that was possible. “You know my name, but I’ve yet to learn yours.”
    Blaire wanted to step away from him. In truth, she wanted to run and never look back. Yet she merely straightened her stance and planted her feet. Something about Kettering was most definitely not right, up to and including the fact that he appeared to have stepped out of the pages of a book written two or three decades earlier. However, she would not retreat. She would not let him know he had any effect on her whatsoever. “Blaire Lindsay.” She forced her voice to sound smooth and unconcerned.
    The baron’s gaze flashed to the stone stairwell. Then his eyes narrowed and twinkled, almost as though he held a secret. “Not Captain Lindsay’s wife. Most definitely not.”
    She couldn’t have kept the snort from escaping her if she’d tried. “I pity the woman who ends up with him.”
    Kettering smiled again, and Blaire felt her knees weaken. What was the matter with her? Weakening knees. No wonder her mother didn’t tell her about Briarcraig. She was the most undeserving warrior witch who had ever lived. She’d known the man for five minutes and was nearly ready to surrender at his feet in exchange for his smile.
    “A brother, then?” he asked.
    Blaire nodded, unable to speak coherently when he stared at her so…hungrily? Was that the look he had? His attention swung from her lips to the base of her throat and back. Chills raced up her spine.
    “Blaire?” Brannock bellowed from the top of the steps.
    She’d never been so glad to hear Brannock yell at the top of his lungs. Normally, she would have chastised his behavior, but not this time. This time she thought she might kiss the lad. “Aye, Bran?”
    “Aiden says ta bring yer Sassenach up ta the family wing.”
    Kettering offered her his arm. “Shall we, Miss Lindsay?”

Seven
    James followed Miss Lindsay and her impish little brother up the darkened stairwell and then down one corridor after another. Briarcraig Castle was one big tangle of corridors and stairs, yet he tried to pay attention to his surroundings so he could find his way out, if the need arose. It was difficult with the lovely Miss Lindsay walking beside him. Her heart beat like a soldier’s drum within her chest, and he could very nearly hear the wash of blood as it moved through her veins, as though it called to him.
    The boy chattered like a magpie and tugged on his sister’s arm. Though James tried to keep up with the conversation, the heavy brogue back and forth didn’t make it easy. The real problem, however, was trying to sort out where and, perhaps more importantly, when he was.
    Blaire Lindsay’s words still echoed in his mind. His clothes were sadly out of fashion. He should have noticed the differences between what he was accustomed to and Captain Lindsay’s attire, but he’d missed it, focusing on the lovely witch before him instead. However, there was