“Noah?”
He nodded. “Aye. My cousin. We were taught together with a private tutor. The man was half as mean as my father, but bad enough on his own. He was a loyal servant to Einin, and told him every detail of my activities, along with the progress I made in my studies.”
Tielle hugged him and rubbed his back. “Your childhood sounds horrible. I’m so sorry.”
He wrapped an arm around her trembling shoulders. “It wasn’t all bad. Don’t go feeling sorry for me. I’m sure I had a better upbringing than many. Being well-behaved for the most part meant I had few beatings.”
Tielle thought that was little compensation for the obvious lack of love. He’d told her before that his mother died years ago. Stone didn’t like talking about her, but she hoped he’d experienced some love from her to make up for his cold-hearted father. Still, what woman could have been married to Einin? Tielle couldn’t imagine. She hadn’t even seen him face-to-face, and Tielle wanted to punch his lights out.
By the time they got back to the house, Tielle was really shaking. She couldn’t believe a little dip in cold water was having this kind of affect on her. Assuring Stone that she’d be okay after she’d had a warm bath and had changed her clothes, she kissed him and ran upstairs to her room. As if she’d sensed Tielle’s needs, Betsy soon arrived in her room to run a bath for her.
“Oh, miss, you shouldn’t go in the water this time of year. The sun shining can be deceiving. One minute it’s warm, and then the sun runs to hide. All the time, the bloody water is freezing. And you not used to Irish weather.” She tsked, shaking her head as she laid thick white towels on the bed. “Betsy’ll have you right as rain though.”
“Thanks, Betsy,” Tielle told her. “I appreciate it. I’m usually sturdier than this. No worries.”
The younger woman looked her up and down with a doubtful expression. Betsy had reddened rough hands from hard work all her life. Tielle guessed even if she wasn’t rich, her life had been easier than Betsy’s if she had been employed by Einin for any length of time.
“Come, let’s get you out of those clothes and in the bath,” her maid told her.
Tielle had gotten used to Betsy’s brisk way of doing things. At first she’d told her she wasn’t taking her clothes off in front of a woman. She didn’t give a crap who gave the order for her to be taken care of, but when Betsy looked scared to leave the room without doing something to help, Tielle’d given in and let Betsy get her down to her underwear. That was as far as she went, but now she was spoiled. Having someone run her bath, wash her clothes, make her bed, was wonderful. She would miss it all when she went home.
Betsy moved like the wind around the room, straightening while Tielle stepped into the bathtub. “We mustn’t keep Mister Stone waiting,” the maid called when Tielle lingered.
“Why?”
Betsy clucked her tongue. “Mister Stone is taking you into town, miss. He says you want to get out of the house, so he’s called ahead to one of the local pubs.”
Tielle frowned. “A pub? You mean a bar? I don’t really drink that much.”
Betsy laid Tielle’s dress over her arm and scooped up Tielle’s discarded underwear and bra. “Don’t you be worrying none. The place he’s taking you to is right fine. You will love the food.” She blushed. “My auntie is there. She cooks better than Ma, I think.”
Tielle cheered up. “Now you’re talking, girlfriend. Your mother can cook her butt off. I can’t wait, and I’m starving.”
Betsy stopped in the bathroom doorway and appeared confused about why her mother’s cooking had anything to do with her butt, but then she seemed to consider it a compliment. “I will tell Ma you love her food and you’re happy to go to Auntie’s place. She will be glad. Okay, miss, I will come back after I drop these things with Sally, and I’ll help you dress.”
She disappeared before Tielle could tell her that wasn’t necessary, but knew it was pointless to fight against it. From the top to the bottom, those of the Hughes household ran things their way. Tielle chuckled and sank lower into the bubbles. Spending more time with Stone would be great. She didn’t know when he’d leave to return to the U.S. or some other country far away. She’d soak up all the moments in his presence she could before this fairytale came to an end.
Chapter Eighteen
Stone watched Tielle across the table. The restaurant he’d brought her to was quaint, one of the best in the small town not far from the castle, but that was precisely why he’d chosen it. Time and again, Tielle had seemed to be smothered by the luxury he took for granted. In this humble place where the food was as good as most of the fancier places he’d gone to America or even Paris, he believed Tielle would enjoy herself.
He didn’t want to admit it to himself, but Stone had missed her. He’d not called her on purpose while he was away and didn’t tell her when he would return. It was his way of putting emotional distance between them, even testing to see his reaction to her not being there. To his disgust, he’d been close to picking up the phone too many times, and his mind had wandered to what she might be doing when he was in a business meeting.
He could not be falling in love. That was preposterous. Stone was of the firm belief that love was a myth. He’d never seen evidence of it between his parents, nor any other couple in his family. His uncle had slept with so many women, his aunt had lost her mind and been under a psychiatrist’s care for years before she passed away. No one had ever caught Einin being unfaithful to Stone’s mother when she was alive, but Einin had advised him when he turned twenty-one to keep his private affairs just that—private. Even after he married, Einin had told him. That was proof enough to Stone that love didn’t exist. Lust, aye, but love? Never.
Still, what was this he felt for Tielle? His world lit brighter when she smiled, and when he would have flown every night in his dragon form, he’d not been able to leave Tielle’s side since he’d been home.
“What do you suggest I order?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts.
Her brow furrowed as she studied the menu. Stone took exception to anything obstructing his view of her, so he reached across the table to pluck it from her hands. He folded the menu and set it aside.
“How about something simple. Fish and chips?” he suggested. “The proprietor makes a homemade tartar sauce I’m sure you’ll like. And if I know you at all, I know you will want a small salad.”
She grinned, the pleasure in her expression pleasing him. “Perfect,” she said.
“Hey, Mr. Hughes. How are you, sir,” a red-faced waiter said, stopping at the table. Stone recognized the man as being named Jack, but he didn’t know him well. He recalled seeing him work hard alongside a few others on a community project the year before. Jack pumped his hand with too much enthusiasm. Rather than allow Stone to answer or take their order, Jack seemed ready to shoot the breeze. Stone was used to the friendly manner of the locals and didn’t mind it. So long as Tielle was fine. He glanced over at her, relieved to find the smile hadn’t left her beautiful face.
“Hi, I’m Tielle.” She held out her hand, and Jack pumped it too. He let go quickly when Stone made a small sound. “How do you know Stone?” Tielle asked.
Stone would have steered the conversation away from that question, except Jack was too happy to blurt his personal business. “Oh, Mr. Hughes here? Everyone in town knows the Hughes family, especially Stone Hughes.” He hooked a thumb in Stone’s direction but didn’t take his eyes off Tielle. The idiot had the audacity to lean down on an elbow while chitchatting with her. “Mr. Stone Hughes was the one to bail out several of our families when one of the largest companies went belly.”
Tielle’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Stone grumbled. “That’s old news. Tielle’s not interested in hearing the details.”
The two ignored him, and Jack went on. “Aye, he paid off the mortgages on a few of the poorer family homes, and he footed the bill for doing repairs on others. He dragged a few of us guys together to do the
rebuilding.” Jack scrubbed his neck with the cloth in his hand and tapped Tielle’s arm, lowering his voice. “If you don’t mind me saying none, a few of these fellows are as useful as a lighthouse on a bog. But we got her done after a bit, hey, Mr. Hughes?”
Stone gave a tight smile and narrowed his eyes. “Right, Jack. Now if you could put in our order, I’m sure Tielle is hungry.”
“Of course!” Jack straightened and became all business—or as business-like as the sociable man could become. “Right, right, sir. I apologize. I just wanted to thank you again, from me and the fellows for pulling us out of that pinch a while back. We appreciate it, sir. And I’m sure Ellie will agree, anything you want is on the house.”
“Oh, thank you so much, Jack,” Tielle said. “You’re a sweetheart.”
Stone made no comment beyond bowing his head in acknowledgement of the kindness. He was embarrassed enough about the man going on and on. With any luck, Tielle would let the matter drop as well. He gave Jack their food order along with a request for a beer for him and a pop for Tielle.
When Jack ambled away, Stone sat back in his chair watching Tielle. Her eyes shown. He tried as long as he could but after a while said, “What?”
“I knew it,” she cooed.
He grumbled.
She laughed. “I knew you had a good heart under all that steel, somewhere deep. You’re not like Einin at all. I don’t know why you would think something like that.”
“Sweetheart, a person of means has an obligation to help those less fortunate. It is the right thing to do, and it allows for those working beneath him or her to have a better attitude when on the job. In the end, it’s for the good of the company and for progress.”
“Uh-huh.” The skepticism in her eyes was plain. “I don’t believe it. In fact.” She tapped her lips. “Let me guess. Your father told you, you were an idiot for doing what you did. He probably told you to let them all starve or go homeless, that it was meant to be or whatever BS helps him sleep at night. Am I right?”
Stone decided not to confirm that she was right. He changed the subject instead. “What have you been doing while I was away?”
Tielle didn’t push it. They fell into conversation about what she could do to keep herself occupied. The one time she asked about his progress finding the kidnapper’s boss, he gave her a vague answer and switched topics again. Noting the frustration on her face, he offered a distraction. “How about I teach you to ride a horse?”
“I don’t think black people ride horses,” she said.
Shocked at that response, Stone burst out laughing. Several heads turned, no doubt in surprise at hearing him laugh so freely and so loud in public. Stone tended toward twenty-four seven control. Einin had drilled it into his head. The single emotion allowable was anger. He’d followed Einin’s dictates until he came into his own adult mind. Much of it was hard to break from. Yet, here he was having the time of his life with Tielle.
“You’re not serious, are you?” he asked her.
She played with her napkin and then didn’t answer while Jack stopped by with their food. For several minutes, they ate in silence, all the while Stone watching Tielle. He could enjoy seeing that face each day for a long time.
At last, she looked up. “This food is incredible. Fish and chips doesn’t taste this good at home.”
“There’s a couple places that make it almost as well. I will take you when we return.”
“About riding…” She hesitated.
“Hm?”
She crinkled her nose, making him want to kiss it. He shook himself from the sentimental thoughts, but they wouldn’t let him go.
“I’m terrified of horses. I mean it sounds cool, and I want to do everything I never dreamed of trying while I’m here, but that…I’m scared.”
“Is that all?”
She frowned at him.
“Tielle, there are more dangerous beasts in the world than horses.” He didn’t know why he would tell her that.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” He tapped his knuckles on the table. “Come, finish your food, before it gets cold.”
Tielle eyed him for a long time, and he thought she was going to ask him for more details, but she lowered her gaze to her food. Stone was not fooled. Tielle had commented before about his ability to control her when he used the dragon’s song. The odd thing about that was, when used the recipient was not aware of being charmed. Tielle had known, but Stone had continued to tell himself he was mistaken. He couldn’t test the theory to see if it was true, so he’d elected to let it drop. Other matters were more important, like how to keep her safe—especially when there were no leads to who this “boss” was the that kidnapper had contacted. Out there somewhere was some coward who wished to use Tielle to get to Stone. Stone had to find him and do it soon.
* * * *
Several days later, Tielle came downstairs at lunch time to Monica’s delighted shout. “Noah! You’re home.”
Tielle paused at the last bend in the stairs to peer over the side of the banister. The man standing just inside the door could have passed for Stone had he been more in the shadows. However, Tielle noted the differences right away, like the fact that Noah was a few inches shorter than her lover and not as broad of shoulder. She couldn’t resist a smirk. Her baby was way sexier, although Noah was nothing to sneeze at either. The man was hard, and even at the distance where she stood from him, he had that same air of danger about him like Stone. Maybe it was a Hughes trait.
Monica threw herself into his arms much like she’d done with Stone. A feeling of disgust came over Tielle seeing the woman hang about his neck and offer her cheek to kiss like she was royalty. At least she wasn’t acting as if they should strip and do it right there the way she’d behaved with Stone. Tielle sighed and continued down the stairs. She could only wish that Monica would transfer her desire to Noah instead of Stone, but even that bimbo knew the better man when she saw him.
“Who is this?” Noah asked when he spotted her. The interest that lighted his eyes made Tielle uncomfortable. His dark gaze swept her from head to foot. He detangled himself from Monica and stepped up to her. “Noah Hughes, beautiful lady, and you are?”
“Mine,” Stone barked behind her.
Tielle almost laughed when Stone’s possessive arm came around her, and he dragged her back to his hard form. Caveman anyone? Tielle tried to get some space between them, but Stone wasn’t having it.
“This is Tielle,” Stone told his cousin, the threat plain in his voice. Tielle glanced between the two men who seemed to be waging a silent war. History there, she thought, but didn’t appreciate being treated like property.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “If you two are finished staring each other down, I’d like to go have lunch. Riding this morning took it out of me big time.”
Monica, who looked green with envy seeing the two men almost fighting over Tielle, hooked her arm through Noah’s. “Well, don’t put too much effort into it, honey. It was clear to everyone that you’re not ever going to be good at it.”
Tielle dug her nails into her hands. She would have come back with a snappy reply, but the fact is she hadn’t gotten over her fear, and no matter how patient Stone was, she agreed with Monica. Riding wasn’t her thing and would never be.
Noah’s eyebrows rose, and he focused on her. “Oh, are you learning to ride for the first time, Tielle?” He raised a hand toward her cheek like he would touch her, but she figured it was just to antagonize Stone. “Perhaps it’s your teacher.” His amused glance shifted to Stone.
Tielle opened her mouth to respond, but Stone whipped her around toward the dining room. Without another word, he marched them to breakfast, and Tielle had no choice but to go along with his rude actions. The man’s jealousy knew no bounds, but she’d had little chance to see it in action since they were always cocooned with each other. She’d have to set his ass straight later that she wasn’t one of his possessions. For now, she followed
along because she was starving.
When they entered the dining room, Stone seated her and asked a servant if his father would be joining them. Tielle was surprised he was back, but then she remembered Stone mentioning he was away on business with Noah. If Noah was here, so was Einin. Her stomach knotted. She didn’t feel up to seeing the old man today, not with Noah here. Since they’d been seated, he hadn’t taken his eyes off Tielle, and she didn’t appreciate it a bit.
“No, sir, Mr. Stone,” the servant said. “Mr. Einin will dine in his office. He asks that you join him there after lunch.”
“That’s because he knows you’ll disrespect him as usual,” Noah announced. “You won’t skip lunch to report to him. You’re not a very dutiful son, you know, Stone. I tell Einin that all the time.”
Stone’s expression darkened. “I’m sure you do.”
Suddenly, Noah’s mood seemed to change from being a bastard to being charming. He clapped and grinned. Tielle stared in surprise until Stone rested a hand on her thigh.
“Come, cousin, I’m just teasing,” Noah said. “I love my family, even you.”
Monica slapped his hand. “Oh stop it, Noah. Everyone knows you’re the dosser in the family. I can’t believe you went with Father on a business trip.”
All of a sudden, their accents thickened even more, and they were tossing around slang like nobody’s business. Tielle couldn’t follow a word they were saying. She was pretty sure she remembered Betsy explaining that a dosser was a lazy person because she’d called her brother that last week. But all the rest, Tielle’s head spun just trying to pick out the words and make sense of them.
She ate her cobb salad, special ordered from the cook. At least Stone and Noah seemed to be carrying on a decent conversation that didn’t appear to be all insults and threats. She thought maybe they discussed business, and when the three of them laughed, maybe a family joke.
When the meal ended, Tielle stood up ignoring Stone and excused herself from everyone else. She flounced into the hall determined to find something to do that would have him looking all over the place for her. If he didn’t appreciate her, then he could kiss her ass. Tielle was about to order Jimmy to follow her into the garden, but an arm came around her waist for the second time. Stone hauled her off her feet and headed in the opposite direction from the courtyard.
Dragon Song Page 14