Instead of stripping it off, however he wrapped himself in a blanket and then turned back to her. “May I join ye?” he asked as he came to sit next to her.
It should have been strange. Sitting next to him in nothing but a blanket, but instead, it warmed her more. She had the urge to snuggle against him. Quite honestly, she wanted to run her hand along his muscles, feel each delicious edge. “Of course,” she murmured as he sat down. “It’s yer home.”
She did close her eyes then. Her body was betraying her mind, responding to him in this way. She didn’t want Stone, not in any way. He was fire and brimstone not hearth and home.
He gave her another smile. She caught her breath at how handsome he looked when he smiled. The change was amazing. “Actually, it’s yers. Well, at least, I offered it tae yer father to use fer as long as ye stay.”
Her breath caught. “Here?” she said glancing around. The cottage was cozy and bright. A peak out the windows on either side of the fireplace revealed views of the ocean. Wrapping the blankets tighter around herself, she got up and looked out the window to better appreciate the view. It took her breath away soothing her soul.
“Do ye not like it?”
She heard him moving toward her. A shiver of something akin to excitement raced down her spine. Stop, she told her offending limbs. “I love it,” she said. “But every memory is back at home.” A lump clogged her throat. And the longer I am here, the less likely I am to avoid marriage to you.
She couldn’t be tied to one of the lords who abused his people for his own gain. While she hadn’t seen that in Stone yet, nearly everyone said it was true. Her mother had been ill with consumption. That was no one’s fault. But the local lord hadn’t seen fit to provide his people with schools or infirmaries. The single doctor in their area could barely keep up with the sick and she’d watched her mother die while waiting to be attended. She had to remember that Stone was cut from that same cloth. Hadn’t everyone in the village said as much? He didn’t care for his people. Wouldn’t provide for the sick and dying.
The lairds grew rich off the land, on the backs of their people. Why couldn’t they see that they needed to provide for them?
“I understand.” He placed his large warm hand on her back. Despite her bitter memories she was desperately aware of the touch. “I’m not sure how I would feel if I had to leave here, leave my parents behind.”
His voice was soft. He was behind her, so she couldn’t see his face and she had to wonder if this was the same man. Her body told her it was, but her mind had difficulty believing it.
“But try to understand. My family, the village, all the people in this province are countin’ on me to provide fer them,” he said. “I can’t let them suffer and I need yer father’s help to do my job.”
She tried not to cough in her indignation and she straightened away from his touch. Didn’t he mean that he needed her father’s help to get richer? “How will ye help them? By denying the farmers their fair pay?”
She heard him make a low noise deep in his throat, almost like a growl. “What do ye ken of it?”
She turned back to him then. Never one to mince words, she wouldn’t now. “I ken—” But she was abruptly cut off as the door banged open.
“Eliza.” Her father stopped in the doorway, his breath coming quickly. “Are ye all right?”
“I’m fine.” She swallowed again, pushing down a lump of guilt. Her temper had gotten the better of her when she’d stormed out. Though his announcement had been shocking, she should have stayed to plead her case rather than leaving. “I didnae mean to worry ye. I’m sorry.”
“I’m just glad yer safe.” Her father crossed the room and pulled her into a quick embrace. “I ken how much ye miss yer mother. I should have been kinder in the way I told ye.”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I doesn’t seem I have a say no matter how ye deliver the news.”
“Eliza,” her father’s said harshly. “If ye’d stop being so angry, ye’d see that I am trying to accomplish yer heart’s desire.”
She blinked up at him. There were two wishes deep in her heart, one was the wish of a grown woman while the other was her connection to her childhood. She wanted a better life for Scotland that supported the people rather than used them to make the rich richer. But deep in her heart was a childish need to touch all the things her mother had held dear. Staying here had nothing to do with either of those. “It’s like ye don’t ken me at all.”
A throat cleared behind her. She stopped talking to see Stone approach them. “Forgive my interruption. But did ye bring me clothes? The miners’ funeral is happenin’ in an hour’s time give or take, and I can’t miss it. They deserve my support even if they likely don’t want it.”
Now what did that mean? Why wouldn’t they want his support and what exactly was he giving them? Did he think his very attendance was a gift? But her curiosity was piqued.
“Of course,” her father murmured. “Thank ye fer saving my daughter. William told me what you did. I’d ask ye to keep yer time in the cottage with Eliza discreet. I ken ye were only trying to warm her, but it doesn’t look good.”
Stone straightened. “You know that I will but regardless, I’d not allow her to be ruined.”
Eliza swallowed. The noose was tightening. “Please stop. None of this is necessary. Stone was only saving me.”
Her father gave her a long hard look. “William will bring your clothing in just a moment. I’ve prepared all the envelopes fer ye too. Though I’d like to advise you once again not to give them out.”
She watched Stone straighten, his shoulders expand. It made her breath catch. What was in those envelopes? It occurred to her, that if she knew, she’d have a much better idea of the man she was dealing with and, more importantly, how to avoid marrying him. If she could prove to her father Stone wasn’t the upstanding lord he thought, perhaps she could change her father’s mind.
“I’ll deal with any consequences.” His voice had that menacing quality that she was beginning to recognize. Did anyone tell this man no? “I’ll not let other’s ill behavior keep me from doing what is right.”
Right? She wanted to ask him what he would do. But he was striding out the door in his blanket and then he reappeared a moment later with a bundle of clothes.