Eliza came in and Elle just behind her. He’d grown accustomed to Elle’s simple blouse and skirt. Now she wore one of Eliza’s gowns, which only made her more attractive. Pale green in color, it made her large green eyes look even bigger which in turn made her cheekbones more pronounced. Her strawberry blonde tresses had been twisted into a lovely, soft design about her head.
As his gaze travelled down her length, the dress hugged every curve that he’d felt. The desire to trace each lovely line with his hand welled up in chest.
She gave him a shy grin as she looked down at herself and he rose from his chair, taking the two steps to stand at her side. “Ye look lovely, lass.”
“Thank ye,” she whispered. “Eliza was very kind.”
He placed her hand in the crook of his arm and led her to the chair next to his. He was struck by how right it felt to have her next to him. To touch her like this.
He shook his head. He was being a fool.
Then again, Elle was nothing like Cordelia. She was sweet and kind. She worked hard. Looking back, Cordelia had wanted the most successful man she could find and she’d manipulated him in order to play on his sympathies. He’d been fresh off the loss of his parents and hoping to rescue her in a way no one could him.
Elle? She had been fighting his help from the first. She wasn’t trying to get anything out of him.
They all sat down to dinner and Blair noted that Ailean sat with his youngest brother and sister. He laughed and smiled, clearly enjoying himself.
Leaning down to Elle, he whispered. “You and Ailean could stay here when I return to the Highlands.”
Elle jerked her head toward him. Fear gleamed in her eyes. “And leave you to face Malcolm alone?”
His brother and sister-in-law put their silverware down, and glanced at him, the silent question hanging in the thick air. “I won’t be alone. Will is coming with me and my brother is sending men as well.”
She nibbled at her lip for a moment before straightening her shoulders. “I learned a long time ago not to run from my troubles. I’ll face him along with ye, whatever that means.”
Blair’s heart swelled. “I appreciate what yer saying, but I’d rest better knowing ye were safe.”
“She’s got her demons to face too,” Stone called from the head of the table. “But I agree the boy should remain here. We’ll start him in woodworking and shipbuilding. He can finish in the Highlands with you once this business is all settled, but for now, he can stay.”
Blair turned to his brother, irritation bubbling at the intrusion. He should have discussed it with Elle later, with a more private conversation. Stone did not have authority in this matter to make judgments and cast rulings. “This isn’t fer ye to decide.”
“Is it fer Elle?” Stone gave him a knowing smirk. “Elle, what did ye want tae do?”
Elle looked at him, her eyebrows going up. “I can tell ye what I don’t want tae do. Get between brothers.”
Everyone at the table laughed. “We’ll discuss it later,” Blair added.
“Eliza can chaperone,” Stone said.
“Chaperone what?” Blair nearly growled. His brother was, as usual, meddling in others’ affairs. He and Stone were about to have a problem.
“Yer discussion with Elle. I can’t control what ye do up there in that wild country but here… Ye’ll act civilized.”
Blair’s fist came down on the table. He needed to talk with Elle privately. “Elle is my employee for fe—“
“No cursing,” Stone interrupted, smiling, his eyes dancing with merriment. He was normally as stony as his name so he must really have been enjoying giving Blair a hard time.
Blair glowered. “I will make you pay for this.”
“I’ve no doubt.” Stone tossed in. “But I remember when I was courting Eliza. You took it upon yerself to deliver a few hard lessons.”
Blair remembered. Stone had refused to see that Eliza was the perfect woman for him. He’d knocked some sense into Stone when his brother was being hard-headed. Stone had refused to see that Eliza was the perfect woman for him. But Blair wasn’t. Nor was he courting. “It’s a completely different situation.”
Stone raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth to speak but never got the words out.
“Enough, Stone,” Eliza called. “We’ve guests so this dinner will not come to blows.”
“Do they sometimes?” Ailean asked from the other end of the table.