“I am,” she replied. But not because of the beautiful stone that sparkled on her finger. She was fortunate to marry a man who truly cared about people. “Do you have a home to return to?”
Becky gave a nod. “I’ve a cottage. And thanks to Lord Alban, the rent is paid.” The girl paused, looking up to Eliza. “I won’t be a nuisance. If I could have a few days to have the provisions restocked, it would mean the world.”
“Of course,” Eliza gently touched the baby’s head. “I’ll help you.”
“You’re a saint.” Becky grabbed at her hand.
Eliza nearly laughed aloud. She highly doubted that. Stone on the other hand, might be worthy of such praise. He was better than any man she’d ever met.
It was that thought that repeated over and over as she made her way to breakfast. Her father was already there and his eye, unlike Becky’s, was immediately drawn to the ring.
“Good morning, Eliza,” he called down the table. “When did you receive such a gift?”
Eliza tried to keep from biting her lip. She couldn’t very well say, when Stone spent the night in my room. But she could tell part of the truth. “I found it sitting on my dressing table when I returned to my room last night. Who do you think it’s from?”
Her father chuckled. “Congratulations.” He stood and began walking round the table. “I’m very happy for you.”
“Thank you, Papa.” She met him and gave him a hug. “I’m sorry I was so difficult when we first arrived. I was still grieving and honestly angry about mother’s death. I didn’t realize Stone was different.”
Her father nodded in sympathy. “I understand and I’m glad you came to realize that Stone is not the devil.”
“I’m not.” Stone’s deep voice rumbled from the doorway. “And I am honestly disappointed to even hear the word fall from your lips, Allister.”
A sick dread settled in the pit of Eliza’s stomach.
Her father turned toward Stone. “You know I don’t think that of you, I never have. You’re a man of the deepest integrity.”
“Then why say it all? Who thinks that I am the devil?” And then Stone’s gaze swung to her.
His body was as hard as the stone he was named after. Its angles more defined by the tension that oozed from them. But his eyes. They revealed a deep hurt that made the wind whoosh from her lungs.
“Stone.” It came out as a plea.
His lips curled. “Don’t say it like that. Like you deserve to be forgiven.”
She reached for the back of the chair. Somehow his words were worse than his eyes had been. He wouldn’t forgive her. “You know I didn’t mean it like that. I didn’t even know you. I was angry and hurt.”
“I am angry and hurt,” his voice bellowed over hers and she winced. Straightening her spine, she tried to walk toward him. Somehow, she believed if they touched, it would all be better. Their connection would be renewed. But before she had a chance, he turned on his heel and left.
Eliza watched him go and tried to decide if she should chase him or let him go. If he had time, surely he’d see reason.
But his story about the other woman who’d called him the devil filtered back into her thoughts. He had hardly known her and it had taken him years to be intimate again. Dear lord, she’d ruined everything.
Chapter Fourteen
Ston
e stormed through the castle, wanting to break something. How could Eliza think that of him? After all they’d been through and all they had done?
Did he call off the engagement? But that made his insides storm all the more. As much as he detested that she’d called him the devil, to never see her again…well that sounded like punishment for both of them. But could he forgive her?
He didn’t know.
Though a mountain of work waited for him, he bypassed his office and went outside. Walking along the cliffs he didn’t stop until he reached the spot where Eliza fell. It made his heart twist to think of her down in that hole, in the cold water.
Walking on, he arrived at the cottage. Opening the door, he stepped inside. He thought of undressing her, of warming her. The woman was under his skin.
But he couldn’t just pretend he hadn’t heard her words. Because since he was a child that was the one name that had cut him to the bone. No one who loved him would ever use it.