The Duke's Scottish Lass (Brethren of Stone 0.50)

“What happened next?” His arms had been around her, but now they gave her an extra squeeze.

“I remember landing on the shelf but then my head slammed into the rock and the world went dark. There are only snips of memory but when I dream, I see a flash of white in falling rocks.”

* * *

Roderick closed his eyes. Should he tell her? He had been there, he’d seen it too. Hurt radiated from her body, every muscle of hers tense against his making him ache for her and himself. He gathered her tighter. “Delia, I have to—”

“Delia, please.” Stone’s voice was hoarse.

Roderick turned to look at the man. Stone might be the strongest man he knew, but not at this moment. His face was twisted in agony while his shoulders sagged. The man’s burden had also been a heavy one. He understood it, at least he thought he did. Reginald hadn’t been his brother, but the loss had almost been more than he could bear.

“I can’t remember, Stone,” she answered softly.

He must have heard her because he answered, “Perhaps it is better that way.”

“I’m not so sure.” Roderick replied before Delia could. She needed to heal and it hadn’t happened in the years since Reginald’s death. It likely wouldn’t until she faced the memories. This was one way that he hoped he could help her.

“I have given you a great deal of leave. Do not test my patience,” Stone barked. His shoulders stiffened and his face hardened, returning to the man to which Roderick had become accustomed.

Still holding Delia, Roderick bent down. “There is more I need to share with you. By your leave, we will meet in the kitchen tomorrow morning.”

She gave a nod. Stone’s horse pranced and Roderick looked back to see an impatient Stone, extending his hand. Delia grasped it, and Stone pulled her up onto his horse. The hoops of her skirt, stuck out awkwardly, but she was beautiful sitting sideways on that steed. Roderick had the intense urge to pull her back into his arms and carry her back to the house himself.

Matthew trotted his horse over to Roderick and reached his hand down. Pausing for a moment, Roderick assessed the other man. He couldn’t remember the last time he had ridden a horse with someone else and Matthew unsettled him. Being Reginald’s twin, the resemblance made him feel as though he were looking at a ghost.

Finally, he accepted the hand and climbed onto Matthew’s giant steed. Falling in line behind Stone, they began the short trek back to the castle. Matthew was silent, and Roderick watched Delia’s skirts sway to the movement of the horse.

“I’ve never thanked you for saving Delia.” Matthew spoke out of nowhere, startling Roderick.

“You didn’t have to,” he replied.

“I know you were very close with my brother. I’m sure you miss him—“

“Not as much as you. But yes, I’ll never have a friend like him as long as I live.” He wanted to add that Reginald had made him a better man but it was strange to share so much with Matthew, wasn’t it?

“I’ve near reached out to you, though I thought about it many times, but even my family struggles with our resemblance.” He sighed. “I suppose I worried you would too.”

Roderick grimaced behind him. It seemed the entire family struggled with Reginald’s loss. A pang of regret tightened his chest. He should visited over the years. It had just been so painful. “I have done the same. I meant to come here, I just—“

“You’ve missed him. We all have. And I would like to think that we have consoled each other but sometimes, I think we have each retreated to a corner of our own grief. May I ask you what Delia has said? I don’t mean to put you in an awkward position but more than any of us, she has closed herself off. I worry she blames herself.”

“Matthew, I don’t want to betray her trust, but I might recommend you ask her.” At that moment, he saw Delia peeking over Stone’s shoulder to look at him. They were nearly through the castle gates and Roderick was already plotting how he might get her alone again if for no other reason than to hold her close and learn more about her. He wanted her, more than any woman in his life, but more than that, he wanted to heal her and to help. It was a strange feeling for a former rogue.

The emotion surprised even him. Upon saving her, and losing his best friend, he’d sworn to change his life. To be the man Reginald would want for his sister to marry. And her eyes haunted him in his sleep. They’d also pushed him forward when he wanted to retreat back into his old ways.

He had successfully remade himself, though his reputation from his early days continued to follow him. It didn’t bother him what others thought, he’d been dedicated to changing himself and being the man she would need. What he had not expected was to feel so much for Delia beyond commitment.

His body tightened at the sight of her. He would have to keep his desire firmly in check if he wanted to accomplish his other goal, making her whole again. No one knew better than him that a second chance was possible.

She slipped off Stone’s horse with such grace, even in her hooped dress and pelisse. Simply walking around her family, she headed straight for the kitchen entrance to the castle. Her head was high and, while man

y of her family gave her long looks, no one asked. As the door closed behind her the dam broke and her family began to pepper Stone with questions.

“Where did she go?”

“What is wrong?”

“Why did she run?”