“It’s rather obvious. He can’t take his eyes off you.” Then Blair offered his elbow. “And I was hoping to give you some advice. So if you would please allow me to escort you to your room, we could talk along the way.”
She nodded her consent. “What did you want to tell me?”
Blair cleared his throat. “Stone hasn’t spent much of his time focused on women.”
She held back a squeak of surprise. Not that she didn’t know that but she hadn’t expected to discuss it with his brother. Were siblings always so involved in each other’s affairs? “I’m aware of that. What about it?”
“You’re aware?” he stared at her, his mouth slightly ajar.
She nodded. “He told me he’s never courted before.”
Blair gave her a wicked grin. “That is true, but its more than that. He hasn’t spent time with women at all.”
Confusion made her furrow her brow. “Not even your mother?”
Bair choked a little then answered. “I meant women of a certain age. Ones most men might be interested in.”
Her cheeks heated in the most embarrassing way. Was he discussing ladies of the evening? “Oh,” she uttered, unable to form another sentence.
He winked. “I was worried you might have had more experience but it’s clear to me you haven’t. I see you’ll do just fine.”
That confused her even more and she looked up at him for a moment before she could ask the question. “Why would you think that I was more experienced?”
“I suppose the way you cornered him in the carriage.” The wicked smile had returned.
The heat in her cheeks turned into a blaze. Blair had been aware all along of what they’d been doing? “I didn’t corner him. I—I just wanted to tell him how wonderful what he’d done for those widows was.”
Blair quirked a single brow. “Of course you did. But if it makes you feel any better, I’ve known for a while that some woman was going to have to shake him. I hope it’s you.” He stopped and turned more fully toward her. “He’s hurting now. We all are. But he’s a good man. Just like our father was. People have always feared us, we look fierce. But when you really look around, you’ll see the evidence of our bond and our care for those around us.”
Her mouth went dry and she looked up at him, unable to say anything. They reached her room and he lifted one side of his lip and then, with a single nod, turned and disappeared. How had he known that was what she’d been thinking? Was he right? She thought of the village. Unlike many she’d been in, the homes had looked lovely with fresh paint and flowers in the windows. And new buildings being erected too. Her father had been working such long hours, she hadn’t asked him any of her questions, but it was time to start getting some answers.
Chapter Eight
Stone stood at the helm of his ship, Stone’s Throw, and glanced over at Eliza. Warmth spread through him to have her there next to him. He wanted to wrap his arm about her waist and pull her close.
He hadn’t planned to propose yesterday. But like many decisions in his life, once made, he rarely changed his mind. And for him, each time he looked at her, he only grew more confident that he’d made the right one.
He was attracted to her. He’d seen beautiful women before. But she had a strength and grace he admired. She could be a real partner in life. It had been a long time since he’d acknowledged attraction to any woman. She softened some of his sharper edges, which made being earl difficult. And she’d help him with Delia. That he was certain o
f.
“It’s so beautiful,” Eliza gushed next to him, her hands grasping at the rail as she leaned out over the side watching the waves gently lap at the boat. The gulls circled above and the wind blew with crisp sea air. They were tacking out of the harbor still.
“Wait until we reach the open ocean, lass.” He clenched his fist at his side to keep from brushing back the hair being teased by the breeze.
She turned to him, her smile lighting up her face. “I’m so excited.”
Unable to resist any longer, he lifted his fingers and allowed a lock of her silky blonde hair to slip through his fingers. It only made him want to bury his fingers deeper in the strands. “Me too.”
She wrinkled her nose as she glanced at him again. “You can’t mean that. How many times have you done this very thing?”
He ran the pad of thumb down her cheek. Sailing wasn’t something he did often—among other things. “But you haven’t and I’ll get to watch you experience it for the first time.”
Her cheeks turned bright pink as she gazed back out over the water. “I want to tell you something.”
“What is it, lass?” he couldn’t resist. He reached for another bit of hair that had blown into her face.
She gave him a quick glance. “I’m glad we stayed. I’ve been hurting less since we’ve arrived.” She took a deep breath. “It’s been good for me.”