Scottish Devil (Brethren of Stone 1)

Her father entered the breakfast room. “Good morning.”

Her fist clenched under the table as she turned to greet him. “Papa.”

He stopped, his gaze searching hers. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she answered too quickly. He always knew when she was upset. It was an irritating quality when she wanted to keep her thoughts private.

She heard him let out a slow breath. “Out with it.” Then he took a seat across from her.

“There is nothing to get out.” She glared across the table. “But we are in the devil’s house and I will be glad to return to our home.”

His voice was sharp. “Eliza McLaren, I told ye, ye are not to say that ever.”

There was something in his voice that made her sit straighter. He was forever telling her not to say things, that didn’t bother her. But the edge to his voice spoke of something else. “What is it?”

“He isn’t the devil. Ye’ve allowed yer imagination to run away with ye.” Then he stopped, his eyes growing wary. “We’re not going home.”

“What dae ye mean we’re not going home?” Eliza leaned forward, not wanting to miss a gesture. “Not tomorrow or the next day? Not next week or not next month?”

“We’re staying as long as it take to sort out Lord Alban’s affairs.” Her father gave her a hard glare. “Perhaps longer.”

“Stop.” She cut off his words as she stood. “We can’t stay here. We need to go back to the house. To our life. To her.”

“She isn’t there, Eliza. What life is there without her? I am haunted by her memories. Don’t you think it would be better if we spent some time away?”

“No, I don’t.” She didn’t want to talk anymore and so, pushing her chair back, she made to leave but her father stopped her.

“Eliza,” He bit out. “I need you to know that Stone is a man of integrity. Please consider that the next time you are with him.”

“Why? Why do ye care if I like or dislike him?” A knot of fear twisted in her stomach. Something else was happening.

He stared at her for several seconds. “I’m going to propose a match between ye.and Stone.”

“What?” she gasped. Had her father not heard her that she didn’t like him? By all accounts he was everything she detested from the upper class.

“Don’t test me on this one, Eliza. It’s important fer yer future.” He straightened, crossing his arms.

The second he let go, she made a break for the door. She’d not, under any circumstances, be the wife of the devil.

Stone sat at the near-silent table and assessed the sad faces of his siblings.

He had to admit, that Eliza had shown a great deal of tact in leaving his family to have this breakfast in peace. He appreciated her considerate gesture, which helped dispel the sting of her ongoing disapproving glares. Why he cared, he couldn’t say. He’d long been ignoring such glances. But unlike so many others, he was attracted to her. It had been so long, he had nearly forgotten what it was like. And she understood, on some level, what he was going through. Her pain echoed his own.

“Stone,” Blair called down the table. At two and twenty, he was a man to be reckoned with. Though less muscled and more handsome, like all Allister men, Blair had a hardness that many found frightening. Their dark skin and hair likely didn’t help.

He looked at Blair. His eyebrows were pulled down tight to his eyes giving him a menacing look, which was so like Stone’s. No wonder people feared him. “Yes?”

“It feels wrong to just be sitting here eating. We should be…” Blair stopped.

Everyone else stopped too. They hadn’t been talking but the sound of their silverware clanking ceased all at once. “I know how you feel.” Stone swallowed hard. “But there isn’t much to be done besides continue.”

William slapped the table. “Let’s go out to the grave. Have our own ceremony. The one yesterday was a farce.”

Stone agreed. They needed time as a family to mourn without being a public spectacle. “I’ll get the bell. Delia, do you think you can ring it?”

His little sister gave a soft clap. “Oh yes, I’d like that.”

Feeling some purpose, they rose from the table. As they made their way up the path, Stone had the sense that this was right. This was what they should be doing. He held Delia’s hand as they walked, his siblings silent behind him. It was such a marked change from the usual clatter that surrounded this clan that it punctuated the gesture they were making.