Scottish Devil (Brethren of Stone 1)

She gave a terse nod. As he rose, she closed her eyes. She’d been tired and dizzy. Being a countess would be more difficult than she’d thought. A new appreciation for Stone made her chest tighten. He worked from sun up until sundown.

How did he do it?

A sudden pounding on the door made her eyes snap back open. Her head lifted even as Mrs. West crossed the room holding Delia’s hand.

Eliza winced when she saw Delia clutching her two little pebbles in her free hand. Her fainting spell had worried the child.

Mrs. West opened the door and Stone charged in. In a second he had Delia in his arms, as he crossed the room to where she lay on the couch. “What happened?” he gritted out.

She winced. Not because of his tone. She was used to that. But because she’d taken him away from his duties and likely made his job more difficult rather than easier. “I’m sorry, Stone.” Slowly, this time, she pushed herself up a little straighter. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

He sat on the couch near her hip, his fingers grazing the skin next to her cut. “That’s quite the gash.”

“Do I look like I’ve been fighting pirates?” She gave him a small smile. “I’ve been trying to help, but I may have overdone it. Now I’ve ruined all my good intentions by dragging you here.”

His hand slid down to her collarbone. For once, his eyes did not look hard and cold as he assessed her. “Ye’ve been doing a fine job of helping and it’s no trouble to be here.”

A throat cleared. Dr. West stepped up next to Stone. “Your lordship, may I tend the cut?”

Stone gave a terse nod and then rose. The doctor cleaned her gash and then, packing up his supplies, turned to Stone. “May I speak with you in my study?”

“Of course.” Stone set Delia down next to Eliza. Reaching for her hand, he gave it a squeeze. Then he followed the doctor out of the room.

Eliza frowned. What was going on?

Chapter Sixteen

Stone followed the doctor down the hall. Seeing Eliza bleeding on the doctor’s couch had been jarring to say the least. In fact, it had knocked a great deal of his anger and resentment away. She, like him, had had her own axe to grind. But she’d come to understand who he really was.

Sitting across for the doctor, the other man cleared his throat. “Forgive my poor manner, but what I am about to tell you could be rather delicate.”

“I beg yer pardon?” Stone sat up straighter. What the bloody hell was this man talking about?

Taking a deep breath, the doctor rubbed his brow with his hand. “Yer bride-to-be is most likely with child.”

Cold sweat broke out on Stone. He stared at the doctor but no words came out.

“I can’t be certain, if she is, she’s only a few weeks along but—”

A few weeks? His hands tightened on the arms of his chair. It was his child. Of course it was his child. But did a woman really become pregnant after just one night?

“She is displaying many of the symptoms of early pregnancy.” The doctor cleared his throat again. “When is the wedding planned for?”

Stone forced his hands to relax. “We’d planned on the fall, but obviously, we’ll have to be wed sooner…”

The doctor visibly relaxed. “Indeed. A woman as slight as her will not hide a pregnancy for long.”

Stone gave a terse nod. He was going to be a father?

A wonder he hadn’t felt in years filled his chest. Eliza was going to give him a child. He stood shaking the man’s hand. “We were going to wait to wed to include the public but under the circumstances we’ll have tae do it sooner.” He ran his hand through his over-long hair. “I suppose my reputation can’t get any worse.”

The doctor’s brow crinkled with amusement. “Why not couple the ceremony with Beltane’s Day? Then you can host the bonfires and the festival while holding the wedding.”

It was a good idea.

Leaving the office, he returned to the sitting room to find Eliza still partially lying down. “Is everything all right?” She sounded worried.

“Just fine, love,” he murmured. Then he bent down and scooped her up into his arms. “But let’s get you back to the castle for a rest.”