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

Roderick’s large body filled the door. He gave Lord Sunderland a simple nod.

Sunderland stood, giving a bow.

“Sunderland,” Roderick mumbled.

Sunderland stared at his competition with open curiosity. It was the first time he had been silent since he had entered the room

Roderick raised his eyebrows. “If you will excuse us.”

“Of course.” Sunderland made for the door. Finally when he reached the threshold, he turned back to Delia. “My lady.”

She gave a nod, sighing with relief as he went. Stone followed Sunderland out the door and then Eliza settled herself inconspicuously back in the corner.

The door closed softly and Roderick crossed the room, and took her hand into his. For a half a second, she made to protest but the second he touched her, a thrill ran through her and she sighed instead. How could one touch be so comforting and yet amazingly exciting, all in one breath?

“How do you fare?” he whispered in her ear.

Inexplicably, tears sprang to her eyes. She had just entertained another suitor and yet he was asking after her well-being. Either his roguish ways had taught him exactly what to say or he was more concerned with her than with himself. “Do not attend me so, if you are not sincere.”

His lips curled into a smile, and the hair upon the back of her neck raised up. “Delia, only you can take a question of concern and turn it against the asker.”

She looked to the side but a one corner of her lips turned up. The exchange pulled her out of her sadness. While she was happy to spar verbally with him, especially after the exchange she had just had with Sunderland, she wanted her body pressed closed to his. She was drifting closer to him and she wanted to touch him again, like she had in the kitchen. “I am not turning it against you, simply making sure. How do you fare?”

One of his hands came up and cupped her cheek. He glanced quickly at Eliza and Delia followed his gaze but her sister-in-law stared determinedly at her embroidery. “I am fine, but I will be better when Sunderland has left and you have agreed to our marriage.”

Her eyebrows cocked. “Marriage? I haven’t even agreed to courtship yet.”

His dimples appeared again. “Fair enough.” His look grew more serious. “It is better that you don’t make your decision yet. I have something else to share first,” he whispered in her ear.

A flutter of nervousness made her breath quicken. What could it be that he was glad she hadn’t agreed to marriage? Surely it was terrible. “What is it?”

“In the kitchen tomorrow, I’ll tell you. I promise.” His lips whispered over her ear.

Delia took a deep breath. He’d been working so hard to convince her to the marriage, she tried and failed to think of what he might have to tell her that would change her mind. Especially when she was just beginning to warm to the idea of marriage. “Tell me more about yourself. What is your home like? What do you have for family?”

“It will be just you and I. I was an only child and my parents passed some time ago. My mother when I was a teen and my father shortly before—“

“I understand. I am sorry for your loss. Here I am going on about my suffering when you have experienced so much of your own.” She bit her lip. In her attempt to honor Reginald, she had neglected to think of Roderick’s loss.

“Don’t be sorry. I understand why Reginald’s loss has been so difficult. Stone blames himself too, you know. He thinks he should have taken better care of both of you.”

“That is absurd. Stone cannot control the actions of other people all of the time. It is no more his fault then it is—”

“Yours?” Roderick asked.

The weight of his words bore down on her. Was he correct that she had little to do with his death? Her knees weakened and he wrapped his arms tighter around her, supporting her weight. Eliza remained blessedly silent despite the intimacy of their embrace.

“My home sits upon a cliff, looking down at the water, much like yours. You can see the clouds roll in before a storm. It is in desperate need of redecoration but I will leave that up to you. The main hall is…” his voice whispered in her ear, its melodious baritone soothing the jangled edges of her nerves. She began to picture the place he’d described and, she knew, she was picturing herself living there.

Her head fell against his chest as she spoke. “I will miss my family.” She hadn’t meant to say those words. She’d hardly admitted to herself that she’d made the decision but there it was. She’d chosen Roderick after all. Amazingly, a weight lifted off of her shoulders. Somewhere deep inside, she knew that Reginald would be pleased. It near brought tears to her eyes and she clutched at his arm.

“I will bring you here often, your brother has already agreed to let Matthew travel with us. I could use a second in command, an opportunity he does not have here.”

“Matthew and Bridget will come with us?” To have them and her nephews would mean so much.

“Of course, love. I want you to be happy. I will do whatever—”

“Am I really your love?” Her eyes held his. She needed to know the truth.