PART FIFTEEN

Eliza…

Eliza, still mulling over Alistair's story from the previous evening, distractedly began to make them breakfast.

Poor Alistair and William. How will I tell Will all of this? He'll be heartbroken.

She poured the egg and some vegetables into a sizzling cast iron pan and began to absently stir.

When should I give Will the letters? They're so romantic, he takes after his parents so much. That same intensity…

Eliza began to smile as she thought of William, moments when she would catch him just staring at her fondly, or touching her hair. She smiled, feeling tingly inside at the thought…

"Oi! ELIZA! The food!" Alistair cried out trying to rush over to the stove. Eliza gasped as she began to smell it burning and quickly removed the pan from the heat. "I meant to do that!" She said with a grin at Alistair. He looked into the pan, "I think it's just right. Good timing!" They both laughed and Alistair sat down at the table as she began to serve them both.

Alistair chewed thoughtfully, "Not bad… needs a bit more salt…" Then he grimaced, "I spoke too soon, Eliza, you do know that you're not supposed to put the eggshells in here, right?" She flushed, "Sorry! I was distracted." Alistair chuckled, "Thinking of Willie, eh?" She turned red. "I could tell, your face was all glow-y." He teased her.

"Alis, thank you for telling me everything last night. I think William deserves to know the truth, I'll give William the letters, but I think the two of you still need to talk." She had thought he would protest, instead he nodded, "Aye, yer right lass, I will talk to him, and we'll take it from there."

They ate in silence, each of them carefully picking through the eggs, Alistair relieved at finding no more shells. When they finished, Eliza went to clear the table but Alistair put a hand out to stop her, "I have one more thing for you, well, for Willie, but you should be the one to give this to him."

Alistair pulled something small out of his pocket and held it out in his palm. Eliza gasped as she realized what it was she was seeing glinting in his hand. "Is this…?" She asked as she picked it up. "Aye, Mary had it made for Walter, while he was away over that extended time, but he had never had a chance to wear it, it hadn't been ready till after the…" Alistair said, swallowing over the word 'accident'.

Eliza studied the ring in her hand. Other than not sporting a diamond at its center, it was identical to her engagement ring, two shades of gold intertwined. She looked up at Alistair, "William will truly appreciate this." She said, carefully putting the ring in her pocket for safekeeping.

Alistair nodded, "Aye, I agree, it definitely belongs with him." He paused then asked, "Eliza, is there anything else to eat? I'm still hungry." Eliza laughed, "There are some rolls, ach, Alis, don't worry, I had bought them at the market, I didn't bake them myself!" She said upon seeing his face.

"Grand! Then I'll have some. Thanks." He said leaning back in his chair. Eliza, shaking her head, but smiling, went to fetch him some more food.

William…

William woke and stretched in the bed. He looked down at himself and laughed, he had fallen asleep in his clothes. He rose and took his shirt off and pulled out a clean one from his bag and changed. Then he made his way to the dining room.

Catriona and the Kerr's were already at the table, about to eat breakfast. "Ah, William, won't you join us?" Mr. Kerr asked. "Thank you sir, my apologies for being late." William said. "Quite alright, we knew you had a long journey and needed the rest." Mr. Kerr said.

William took a seat next to Andy, Cat was on Andy's other side, trying to get him to eat. When William sat down, Andy turned to him, "Hi!" "Hi!" Will replied, "Are ye not eating your breakfast?" He asked him. Andy scowled and made a face, Cat sighed. "You won't grow to be big and strong if ye don't eat!" Will told him. The little boy sighed, as if eating was an onerous chore. But, he turned back to his mother to take the spoon from her.

"Good lad!" William said, patting him on the head. Andy grinned and began to eat more. "William, sir, you play with us today?" Torence asked hopefully. William smiled at him, "Aye, I can for a bit, but I'd best leave by this afternoon."

"Awww!" Both boys said. William chuckled. Little did he know he was going to switch between being the 'horsey' and 'choo-choo' for most of the morning. By the time he mounted Angus that afternoon, he had a new appreciation for the horse.

He leaned forward to pat Angus on the neck, "I promise you boy, first stop, I'm buying you a bag of carrots!" The horse whinnied as if he understood, and then William set him to trot.

It had been a fun morning, playing with the lads, and he had promised Catriona they would catch up once she returned a day or so after him. He hoped Eliza would be amendable to staying a few more days.

The Kerr's were happy for Catriona, for the opportunity for her making amends with her father, but sad that there was a distinct possibility she might not return. William was hoping everything would work out in the end.

The ride home was an enjoyable one, William had spent the majority of it daydreaming of Eliza, and her body, longing for nothing more than to hold her in his embrace. Angus was being uncharacteristically cooperative, the carrots and apples William had stopped to pick up put him in the horse's good graces, so much so, that rather than stop at an inn for the night, they camped out under some trees, William using the horse's body as a pillow.

It had worked out splendidly, until he had realized that Angus had drooled all over his shoulder again. So William was overcome with happiness when he saw the estate in the distance, and to his joy, he spotted Eliza, shading her eyes with her hands, then waving exuberantly when she realized it was him.