The girl thrust her baby forward. “My little Rose is sick. I tried to call the doctor but he don’t come to my neighborhood and the healer that’s there can’t help her. I’ve already tried. I didn’t know where else to turn.”
Eliza winced even as she wrapped her arm around the other woman. “I’m Eliza and you’ve come to the right place. What’s your name?”
“Becky,” the woman sniffled.
“Becky, let’s fetch the doctor.” She began leading the woman into a nearby salon when Stone appeared before her. She hadn’t seen him since last night and her breath caught at the sight. He was so amazingly perfect. What if she lost him now? “Her baby is sick. I’m sending for the doctor.”
Stone gave a nod. “Of course.” He turned and barked an order for the doctor and another for food to be brought up. Within minutes the house scurried with activity.
Eliza grimaced to herself. How could she have ever thought this man to be bad? He was everything a provider was supposed to be and more. She leaned in to softly whisper in Becky’s ear. “Don’t you worry. Lord Alban will do everything he can for your child.”
Becky gave a tremulous nod.
The doctor arrived in hardly any time at all and Eliza spent the next day tending the sick child with her mother. It was an infection of the lung and only time would tell if the baby would survive. Eliza was hopeful though. The doctor had also been able to decipher that Becky’s milk had dried up, likely due to everything that had happened. But with the child getting nourished from a wet nurse, it was far more likely that little Rose would make a recovery.
Because of the widow and the baby, she and her father had delayed their move to the cottage once again. Though she was excited to live there, she was also happy to stay near Stone. For three days, Eliza cared for the child until her fever finally broke.
Eliza dragged herself back to her room, certain she could sleep for a week. She thought of her night snuggled against Stone and wished she be snuggled against him again. Eliza hoped that her father and Stone had discussed the details of the engagement. She wanted to be near him now. Her worry had receded. He’d never know that she’d thought him the devil at first and besides, she’d been completely wrong.
Entering her room, she found a candle burning on her dressing table. A small box sat next to it. She flipped the lid open, and an emerald ring sparkled up at her as it nestled in silky fabric. No note accompanied it, but she knew it was from Stone. A soft smile lit her face as she looked at it.
“Do ye like it, lass?” Stone’s voice filled her ears and she whirled about to see him reclining on her bed.
The last three days had numbed her fears and it was without any reservation that she launched herself toward him.
He easily caught her in his arms and before she could do a thing, he’d turned them both so that she was under his weight, pressed into the mattress. His lips covered hers and his breath filled her lungs. It was more than she had hoped for and yet not nearly enough. She wanted more of him.
She didn’t say this out loud but he seemed to understand—or he felt the same way—because his hands were on the buttons of her dress. As the fabric peeled away he tugged at her overskirts as her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt.
Somehow, they managed to strip off their clothing, all the while kissing. Only in her chemise, Stone ran his hands up and down her body. She arched into him, wanting his touch.
She ran her hands over his bare chest, loving the feel of his muscles rippling under her touch. When her fingers reached his hip, she brushed them across his skin to his pulsing member.
He lifted her chemise until it was pooled about her waist, then he mirrored her touch, brushing her delicate folds. She moaned as he slipped a finger inside, then another. Pushing her chemise higher still, he broke their kiss to take one of her nipples in his mouth.
Her insides threatened to explode as need ricocheted through her. She ground against him, searching for more, for release, when he removed his fingers.
A protest filled her mouth, she wanted that lovely pressure back but then something much larger pressed against her opening. Before she could worry, he was inside her, stretching her beyond what she’d thought possible. The pain was sharp and intense, but he swallowed her cry with a kiss.
Wrapping her arms tighter about his neck, she held him against her as she slowly adjusted. He held still but she could feel the tension in every muscle.
“Stone, are you all right?” she whispered against his lips.
She heard his intake of breath. “Yer asking me? I should be asking you.” He gave her a long, slow kiss as he withdrew from her body. Despite the pain, she missed the feeling of him inside of her. But as he slid back in, she heard his deep groan.
It didn’t necessarily feel good but it didn’t hurt so much either and by the third time he filled her, it had started to feel…pleasant.
And then it was so much more than pleasant. Moving together, a tension built between them until it exploded.
Eliza slowly floated down, her limbs tangled with Stone’s. Her head now cradled on his chest. She decided as her eyes drifted closed that she never wanted to sleep any other way again.
Chapter Thirteen
Stone woke the next morning with Eliza curled firmly into his side. Blast, the woman was glorious. He wanted to wake with her tucked against him every day. It filled him with a warmth he hadn?
?t dreamed possible.
He slipped from the bed and retrieved the box sitting on the table. Then he settled himself next to her again. Cracking open the lid, he took the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. Amazingly, she didn’t stir. The green stone sparkled against her ivory skin and pulled at the strings of his heart. He liked seeing her wearing his ring. Eliza was going to be his wife. She was his to care for and to love.