Scottish Devil (Brethren of Stone Book 1) Page 3

  Everyone gave a nod of understanding and in moments the search began. Will was nineteen and a strapping young man, but Stone moved much faster. In minutes he’d left Will behind as he made his way toward the sea cottage, along the cliffs of the river. What frightened him was that there were several holes in the ground where the earth had eroded away.

  He knew each one and as he approached, looked for signs of someone slipping. Some dropped into caves while others simply opened a slide into the water below. That frightened him more; the water was deep and this close to the ocean, the current was strong. Even the best swimmers would struggle in the water. If Eliza had fallen, he feared for her life.

  Just up ahead he saw a lone figure walking. Her black skirts billowed behind her as she made her way along the cliff.

  Stone breathed a sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging. It was her. “Eliza,” he called out.

  She didn’t hear him or ignored him as she continued on. He doubled his efforts. “Eliza,” he called again. Miss McLaren would have likely been more appropriate but he couldn’t think about that now. At this moment, he just wanted to return her to the manor.

  He tried one more time as he moved closer. “Eliza,” his voice boomed across the landscape and she finally turned, her eyes meeting his for a moment before, with sudden and startling speed, she disappeared from view.

  Chapter Four

  Eliza found walking eased whatever ache she held in her heart. The fresh air, the call of the birds, the time with her own thoughts provided her with the frame of mind she needed to think through most problems in life.

  She walked often and as a result, found she outstripped most. The river was beautiful if not a little menacing and she could see open sea just ahead. It was the very water she’d seen glimpses of from the manor.

  Her walk had confirmed what she’d known in her heart. She didn’t want to be here. She wanted to go home. And she didn’t want to marry Stone Alban. It wasn’t that he’d done anything yet. But her past experience and the rumors that swirled about him warned her not to trust him. She didn’t know how she’d avoid the match, however, if her father was truly intent upon it. There was little she could do.

  The helplessness of it made her fists curl in anger. Why didn’t she even have a say in her own future?

  A faint voice caught the wind and she slowed for a moment. It was deep and full. Had she imagined it? But as she turned, she heard it again.

  Stone was moving toward her with a speed that was almost shocking. His massive body hurtled toward her and she took a tiny step back. It was an instinctual reaction to such a large man charging toward her. But her foot, which should have met solid land, met nothing but air. For a moment her arms flailed and then she was falling.

  Icy cold water hit her skin. It was so dark and her eyes flew open to see but the darkness did not recede. Looking around she was met by black, ominous walls. Only when she looked above her could she see any light.

  She floundered in the water, her skirts heavy, but blessedly her feet landed on rock. She stood, and looked about again. She appeared to be in a cave, the water about her waist. The opening was at least three feet above her head.

  “Eliza,” Stone’s voice echoed around her and his head appeared above her.

  “Down here,” she called, her voice breathy from the cold. She could barely force it to work at all.

  “Are ye all right, lass?”

  “Fine, b-but I don’t know h-how I’ll get out.” She had never been so happy to hear a person’s voice. And, she had to confess, his in particular. He was large and strong and somehow, she was certain if anyone could save her, he could.

  “Move to the side,” he bellowed and the sound echoed around her again. In this moment, he appeared more like Zeus and far less the Aries she’d originally thought. .

  She did as he bid without question and in a moment he was next to her with considerably more grace than she had displayed. “Ye…ye…ye’re he…he…here.” Her teeth chattered together in a way that made it more and more difficult to talk.

  “I am.” Without saying another word he pulled her into his arms lifting so that only her calves and feet dangled in the water.

  She’d been about to protest but the second her body came into contact with his, she could feel heat radiate through her clothes. “Ye…ye’re so wa…warm.”

  “I was runnin’.” Even in the dark, she could hear his amusement. “Now let’s git ye out of here, shall we?”

  “H…how?” she asked. But before she could stutter it out, he lifted her up and higher until her head poked out of the hole. But she kept going until most of her torso had cleared the earth and she was able to climb onto the grass.

  The wind, which she’d barely noticed before, bit into her skin as she crawled away from the hole and then turned back to see how she might help Stone. But his hands appeared on the ground and she watched, blinking in awe, as he pulled himself up and out.

  “Are you all right, Stone?” One of Lord Alban’s brothers raced toward them. She thought he was William, but she couldn’t be certain.

  “Fine. Go tell them I’ve found Eliza and to meet us with dry clothes at the cottage.” Without another word, he scooped her into his arms and stood, turning away from where the manor was and moving in the opposite direction. “Wha…what—“

  “Don’t try to talk. The cottage is just ahead. I keep it stocked and I can build ye a fire and warm you.” He held her closer and picked up his pace. “I can’t have ye catch yer death.”

  She said no more, as she wrapped her arms about his thick, muscular neck. She might have argued that he’d keep her plenty warm on the trip back to the manor but within moments, a cottage came into view. It looked out toward the sea and, even as cold as she was, she gasped at the beauty before her. The splendor of the green grass against the crystal blue of the ocean might have taken her breath away if she weren’t already gasping.

  But she only had a moment to appreciate it before Stone had swept her inside. “Take off yer clothes while I start a fire,” he said as he set her down in the middle of the room.

  “What?” She cocked her head to the side completely confused. He couldn’t be suggesting she undress? “You want me to what?”

  “Damnation,” he roared.

  She blinked slowly, wondering if she should be afraid. It was then that she realized her mind was not working properly.

  Before she could puzzle out what to do, he was next to her again and undoing every button on her dress, yanking the material off her body. It occurred to her that she should be afraid. This hulking fierce man was stripping off her clothes rather insistently. But that same feeling she’d had earlier returned. Rather than fear, she felt safe with him. “Th…thank y..y…you.”

  Her petticoat came off in a soggy heap and then her corset. Only her soaking chemise remained. He disappeared for a moment and then returned with an armload of blankets. “Don’t thank me yet.”

  In a single movement, her chemise sailed over her head and she stood in only her stockings in front of him before he wrapped one blanket and then another about her. He sat her on the couch, stripped off her stockings, then tucked her feet under her, then tossed a third blanket over her legs. “This room heats quick. Let me get a fire going.”

  Had a man just seen her without her clothing? If she weren’t so cold, she might be embarrassed but she was already warming and all she could feel was grateful.

  He walked back in, still soaked, and began lighting a fire as though nothing were amiss. His muscles didn’t seem the least affected. “Aren’t you co…cold?”

  “I’ll be all right.” As a blaze began, he turned back to her, giving her a small smile. It lightened everything in his face. She’d known he was handsome in a fierce way but like this, he was devastating. His eyes danced and his teeth stood in perfect white rows. “Now close yer eyes, I’ve got to take off my wet clothes too.”

  He didn’t wait for her response as he turned back to the fire and st
ripped off his shirt. She clamped her lips together to keep from sucking in her breath because her eyes were supposed to be shut.

  But she couldn’t look away, even if she’d wanted to. Muscles rippled under dark skin down his broad back, tapering to a narrow waist. Her frozen body heated instantly, blood pulsing through her veins.

  He kicked off his boots and pulled off his stockings. She held her breath, hoping that his kilt was next. She wanted to see his legs. Somehow, she knew they would be as powerful as the rest of him. She nearly gasped at the thought of seeing his backside. It made her ache between her legs.

  Instead of stripping it off, however he wrapped himself in a blanket and then turned back to her. “May I join ye?” he asked as he came to sit next to her.

  It should have been strange. Sitting next to him in nothing but a blanket, but instead, it warmed her more. She had the urge to snuggle against him. Quite honestly, she wanted to run her hand along his muscles, feel each delicious edge. “Of course,” she murmured as he sat down. “It’s yer home.”

  She did close her eyes then. Her body was betraying her mind, responding to him in this way. She didn’t want Stone, not in any way. He was fire and brimstone not hearth and home.

  He gave her another smile. She caught her breath at how handsome he looked when he smiled. The change was amazing. “Actually, it’s yers. Well, at least, I offered it tae yer father to use fer as long as ye stay.”

  Her breath caught. “Here?” she said glancing around. The cottage was cozy and bright. A peak out the windows on either side of the fireplace revealed views of the ocean. Wrapping the blankets tighter around herself, she got up and looked out the window to better appreciate the view. It took her breath away soothing her soul.

  “Do ye not like it?”

  She heard him moving toward her. A shiver of something akin to excitement raced down her spine. Stop, she told her offending limbs. “I love it,” she said. “But every memory is back at home.” A lump clogged her throat. And the longer I am here, the less likely I am to avoid marriage to you.

  She couldn’t be tied to one of the lords who abused his people for his own gain. While she hadn’t seen that in Stone yet, nearly everyone said it was true. Her mother had been ill with consumption. That was no one’s fault. But the local lord hadn’t seen fit to provide his people with schools or infirmaries. The single doctor in their area could barely keep up with the sick and she’d watched her mother die while waiting to be attended. She had to remember that Stone was cut from that same cloth. Hadn’t everyone in the village said as much? He didn’t care for his people. Wouldn’t provide for the sick and dying.

  The lairds grew rich off the land, on the backs of their people. Why couldn’t they see that they needed to provide for them?

  “I understand.” He placed his large warm hand on her back. Despite her bitter memories she was desperately aware of the touch. “I’m not sure how I would feel if I had to leave here, leave my parents behind.”

  His voice was soft. He was behind her, so she couldn’t see his face and she had to wonder if this was the same man. Her body told her it was, but her mind had difficulty believing it.

  “But try to understand. My family, the village, all the people in this province are countin’ on me to provide fer them,” he said. “I can’t let them suffer and I need yer father’s help to do my job.”

  She tried not to cough in her indignation and she straightened away from his touch. Didn’t he mean that he needed her father’s help to get richer? “How will ye help them? By denying the farmers their fair pay?”

  She heard him make a low noise deep in his throat, almost like a growl. “What do ye ken of it?”

  She turned back to him then. Never one to mince words, she wouldn’t now. “I ken—” But she was abruptly cut off as the door banged open.

  “Eliza.” Her father stopped in the doorway, his breath coming quickly. “Are ye all right?”

  “I’m fine.” She swallowed again, pushing down a lump of guilt. Her temper had gotten the better of her when she’d stormed out. Though his announcement had been shocking, she should have stayed to plead her case rather than leaving. “I didnae mean to worry ye. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m just glad yer safe.” Her father crossed the room and pulled her into a quick embrace. “I ken how much ye miss yer mother. I should have been kinder in the way I told ye.”

  She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I doesn’t seem I have a say no matter how ye deliver the news.”

  “Eliza,” her father’s said harshly. “If ye’d stop being so angry, ye’d see that I am trying to accomplish yer heart’s desire.”

  She blinked up at him. There were two wishes deep in her heart, one was the wish of a grown woman while the other was her connection to her childhood. She wanted a better life for Scotland that supported the people rather than used them to make the rich richer. But deep in her heart was a childish need to touch all the things her mother had held dear. Staying here had nothing to do with either of those. “It’s like ye don’t ken me at all.”

  A throat cleared behind her. She stopped talking to see Stone approach them. “Forgive my interruption. But did ye bring me clothes? The miners’ funeral is happenin’ in an hour’s time give or take, and I can’t miss it. They deserve my support even if they likely don’t want it.”

  Now what did that mean? Why wouldn’t they want his support and what exactly was he giving them? Did he think his very attendance was a gift? But her curiosity was piqued.

  “Of course,” her father murmured. “Thank ye fer saving my daughter. William told me what you did. I’d ask ye to keep yer time in the cottage with Eliza discreet. I ken ye were only trying to warm her, but it doesn’t look good.”

  Stone straightened. “You know that I will but regardless, I’d not allow her to be ruined.”

  Eliza swallowed. The noose was tightening. “Please stop. None of this is necessary. Stone was only saving me.”

  Her father gave her a long hard look. “William will bring your clothing in just a moment. I’ve prepared all the envelopes fer ye too. Though I’d like to advise you once again not to give them out.”

  She watched Stone straighten, his shoulders expand. It made her breath catch. What was in those envelopes? It occurred to her, that if she knew, she’d have a much better idea of the man she was dealing with and, more importantly, how to avoid marrying him. If she could prove to her father Stone wasn’t the upstanding lord he thought, perhaps she could change her father’s mind.

  “I’ll deal with any consequences.” His voice had that menacing quality that she was beginning to recognize. Did anyone tell this man no? “I’ll not let other’s ill behavior keep me from doing what is right.”

  Right? She wanted to ask him what he would do. But he was striding out the door in his blanket and then he reappeared a moment later with a bundle of clothes.

  “Lord Alban,” she called as he was about to disappear into another room. She needed to ask him now before she lost her nerve or it was too late. “May I…may I come with you to the funeral?”

  He stopped, his deep eyes assessing her before he gave a single jerk of his head. “If you wish.”

  Then he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. Had she really just asked to spend the afternoon with the devil?

  Chapter Five

  He’d gone daft. That was the only explanation for why he’d allowed her to come. Blair and William filled the seat across from him. The rest of his siblings had stayed home. Burying their parents was enough for one week.

  Eliza sat next to him, her hands clasped in her lap. She was careful not to touch him, which was quite the accomplishment when one considered how much of a single seat he occupied with his sheer size.

  But he’d become aware of her. Her every breath…every tiny twitch. He felt her as though she were touching him.

  She was a prickly one. Not that it bothered him in the least. He wasn’t exactly known for warmth. Yesterday,
he’d thought perhaps she was like so many others. Afraid because he appeared menacing. But today, he’d gotten the impression she wasn’t the least bit frightened. But she was angry. Try as he might, he couldn’t figure out why she might be angry at him. The very thought baffled him.

  If he were honest, puzzling over it was a far sight better than thinking about the funeral he was about to attend.

  She shifted again and this time, her arm brushed his. The touch made every muscle tighten and he gripped the envelopes in his hand. He tried to remember when a woman had affected him so. Holding her against him today had been a sweet torture. And stripping her clothes off?

  He’d done his very best not to see anything at all. But a few glimpses had left him aching. Not that he’d allowed her to see that. He prided himself on control.

  They arrived at the Kirkyard outside of the village where the crowd assembled. His insides clenched for a different reason. He’d have to hear their whispers. Couldn’t they just allow him to grieve without having to stand against their onslaught?

  Likely not.

  “I’ll go first.” Blair leaned over and patted his shoulder. “They’ll come to see in time, just like they did with father.”

  Stone wasn’t so sure.

  “What will they see?” Eliza asked.

  Blair gave her a slight frown but didn’t respond as he stepped out of the carriage, followed by William. He should have just gone because it was customary that he lead and even that would spark their tongues. He couldn’t change their reactions as he stepped out too. He kept his eyes above the crowd as he turned back to help Eliza out.

  Her hand fit into his, as she lifted her skirt to step down. He tried not to think of what it had been like to have those delicate curves pressed against him. He’d like the comfort of them, this very moment, as he tucked her hand into his elbow.

  As he turned back to the crowd, he braced himself for their whispers, looks of fear. But most stared silently back at him. Surprise made his eyes widen and then, as he caught the eye of one of the women close to him in the crowd, she smiled. What the feck was happening?