Leaving the cottage he wandered about, trying to sort out his feelings, numb the pain and the loss. Because that was how it felt. As though he had just lost his future.
At some point it began to rain, the sky growing dark, but he paid it no mind.
He’d circled back to the cliffs. Not that he noticed the view or the point at which the sky was dark, not from the rain, but from the night.
He hadn’t eaten since breakfast, but he felt no hunger. Only an ache of loneliness. He should have known a woman would never love him. He was too hard. Perhaps it would be best to let her go before she well and truly broke his heart.
He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn’t hear the footsteps behind him until someone was next to him. He looked over to see Blair’s profile in the moonlight.
“Brother,” Blair grunted.
Stone drew in a long breath. “What are you doing here?”
“Honestly, I drew the short straw.” Blair answered, staring down to the river. “Though I am fairly certain William rigged the draw.”
Stone gave him his best glare, not that Blair noticed. “There is no need for any of you to be out here.”
Blair cocked an eyebrow. “The only time I saw Eliza today, her face was as splotchy red as a woman’s could be.” Blair turned toward him. “And you’ve disappeared.”
“It’s none of your business.” Stone turned to his brother so they now stood face to face.
“Which is it? There is no need or it isn’t my business? Because those are two different circumstances entirely.”
Anger bubbled up inside Stone. “It isn’t your business.”
“So something did happen. What?” Blair stepped closer.
Stone gave him a small push backward. “I just told ye, it’s not yer concern.”
“Everything you do now is my concern. And your marriage most certainly is. You’re the earl now. What you do matters.” Blair had leaned in so his face was only inches from Stone’s. “You’re not to ruin your marriage with Eliza. We need her and you made a promise. An oath to all of us.”
It was too much. All that had been bubbling inside him from the death of his parents, to the responsibility he’d taken on, to the thought of the women he loved thinking him nothing but a beast bubbled inside of him. He gave Blair a good hard shove.
Blair fell back a few steps but pivoted and came at Stone with all his body’s weight. They both went hurtling backward. His back hit the ground with a large thump as Blair’s shoulder heaved into his chest. All the air left his lungs.
But that didn’t stop him from swinging his fist up straight into Blair’s jaw.
He heard a crunch as Blair’s head snapped back and for a second he was afraid he’d done real damage, but before he could ask, Blair’s fist landed in the softer flesh of his eye.
Pain radiated from the spot even as he rolled Blair over and hit him again.
He wasn’t sure how long it went on but by the time they’d finished, he didn’t have an ounce of energy left. He was in agony and yet blissfully numb.
“Better,” Blair gasped, holding his side.
“Aye,” Stone rubbed his battered face.
“Good,” Blair gingerly rose to his feet and offered Stone his hand. “What happened?”
Stone grimaced. “She called me the devil.”
He heard Blair suck in his breath. “What the hell for?”
“I dunnae ken.” Stone shrugged. “I think it was a while back.”
“Before she ken ye?” Blair asked.
Well, Stone supposed that was a bloody good point. “I think, maybe.”