Scottish Devil (Brethren of Stone 1)

“Aye, it’s me.” He stepped in and let the door swing shut behind him. “I ken yer tired, but ye have to eat too.”

She gave a tentative nod and slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes. “How long was I asleep?”

“Three hours at least,” he said as he crossed the room and set the tray across her lap. “I had the kitchen make ye some tea too. Thought it might be good fer ye.”

“Thank you,” she answered as she picked up the cup and took a sip. Then another. “It’s

divine.”

“The doctor said ye might be tired like this fer a while so ye should probably plan on sleeping most days, at least for a short while.”

She sighed long and deep. “Naps every day? I’m useless enough.” Eliza lifted the tray and slid out of the bed.

“Ye have to protect the baby and take care of yerself.” Stone’s chest contracted, almost painfully, as he watched her cross to the window, her arms about her body.

Eliza spun back around to face him. “If ye only want the baby and not me, I—” she paused her eyes so big they filled her face. “I would understand. My father will care for me no matter what.” Angry as she had been at her father, she knew it was true.

“Ye’ve lost yer mind.” Stone stood too. “Yer to be my wife.”

Her chin snapped up. “I know you don’t feel the same about me. I understand. And I’ve been trying to be useful, to be a partner of sorts, but I failed at even that.” Her words caught in her throat. “I don’t deserve to be your wife.”

For several seconds Stone just stared at her then. Crossing the room, he wrapped her in his hug. It was time to start telling her how he really felt. “Ye do.” Softly taking her lips, one of his hands cupped her cheek. “It’s my fault ye think I don’t care or that ye aren’t useful. The truth is, I need ye, Eliza. My whole family needs ye. I can’t be the earl without ye and I don’t want to try. We would have married even without the baby. I pushed the wedding to the fall because I felt betrayed, but I knew I couldn’t be without ye.”

“Really?” Her arms slid around his neck. “You still care for me?”

He opened his mouth to answer when another knock came at the door. “Lord Alban,” the butler called. “Delia hasn’t been down to dinner. No one can find her.”

Stone’s chest tightened as he looked at Eliza. “Delia?” A buzzing in his mind made it hard to react.

“We’re coming,” Eliza called as she pulled at his hand. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Eighteen

The wind whipped at Eliza’s skirts as she made her way atop the cliff. Stone was on the beach below, while Blair searched north. The twins had headed into the village and several others searched the barns, the farmer’s homes, and beyond.

One thought repeated in her mind. Please let the child be all right. Eliza had grown to love Delia and her brothers could not suffer another loss.

She called again, “Delia.” Her voice disappearing into the wind.

A sob rose in her chest but she pushed it back down. Now was the time for action.

“Eliza,” a small voice replied.

“Delia,” she screamed.

“Here. I’m over here.”

Then Eliza saw it. Another of the cliff caves. The blasted things were a menace. Racing to the edge, she peeked down. There was just enough light from the darkening sky for her to see inside. This cave had a large opening toward the river but it was a sheer cliff down to the water below. At least the cave was dry because the tide was low.

“Are you all right?” Eliza called to the girl.

“I’m fine,” the little girl’s voice trembled.

“What happened?” Eliza gauged the distance down; it was a ten-foot drop to the bottom of the cave from the ground above.

“I lost my stone,” Delia began to cry. “It rolled out of my hand and into the hole. I wanted to retrieve it, but when I came down to get it, I couldn’t get back up.”

Eliza closed her eyes. One of her stones had fallen and she’d gone after it. “Delia,” she tried not to yell. “You should have come for help.”