Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)(101)

Eveline stared at her husband in shock. “Not know of it? Graeme, he was there, in the dungeon when Ian struck me. I saw him and he backed into the shadows as if he didn’t want me to see, but he was there. He knew of it all.”

Graeme went rigid and he stared at the others in the room, his features locked in fury. She touched his cheek so he’d look at her once more.

“He acted afraid of his son. It made no sense to me. Ian was so much smaller than I remembered him to be. Much smaller than even his father. When I was younger, he seemed so huge, like a monster of myth. When I saw him again, I could scarcely believe that this was a man who’d fueled my nightmares for so long.”

“He dies,” Graeme said, his expression ice cold.

Eveline glanced worriedly at the others who wore similar expressions of fury. Her father’s cheeks were red with rage.

Bowen stepped forward. “I know you are angry, Graeme. No one blames you. But Eveline needs you right now. You should not leave her side even to avenge her. You exacted punishment on the one who was most responsible for her torment. Let me take our men and ride to McHugh Keep to take care of the matter.”

Graeme started to shake his head, but Eveline’s father held up his hand. “Your brother is right, Graeme. ’Tis not a matter for you to take up. Your place is with your wife. I will lend troops. ’Tis likely they’ll give up without a fight. They know they cannot win.”

“I’ll go with him,” Aiden said, a scowl on his face.

“And I,” Teague said.

Eveline’s head swam from moving from face to face in order to see all that was said.

Tavis smiled as Brodie also took up the cause. Then he glanced at Graeme. “What say you, Graeme? Can two chieftains stand aside and allow their most loyal men to rid the highlands of a viper?”

“I lay claim to the holding,” Graeme said. “It will be granted to Eveline and our daughter, no matter when she is born, be it first or last in line. Any son she bears me will eventually take over the role of chieftain to our clan. But I would have our daughter provided for so she never feels as Eveline did when she sought to escape marriage to a brutal monster.”

Eveline’s eyes filled with tears and she threw her arms around her husband’s neck, holding him tightly as hot trails tracked down her cheeks.

When she finally pulled away, she kissed him full on the lips, uncaring of who witnessed the intimacy. He cradled her once more against him and she glanced at the assembled group of men who were steadily making plans for the Montgomerys and Armstrongs to go forth in their first joint task as newly formed allies.

Her brothers and Graeme’s were already arguing over who was granted the task of executing Patrick McHugh for his lies and treachery. She forced her glance away, not wanting to dwell on death.

Graeme tipped her chin in his direction and stroked his hand over her cheek.

“Your mother wants to have some time with you. I’ll go below stairs with the others while they discuss the planning. I’ll come back up to check on you later.”

He gently set her aside so she sat on the bed, and then he rose, gesturing to the others to exit the chamber.

When they were gone, Eveline turned her gaze to her mother, suddenly nervous now that they were alone.

Robina sat on the bed facing Eveline and took her hands in hers.

“You love him,” her mother said, her expression soft.

“Oh aye,” Eveline breathed. “So very much. He has been so wonderful to me.”

Her mother smiled and squeezed her hands. She leaned forward and kissed Eveline’s cheek and then pulled away, joy still shining on her face.

“ ’Tis obvious he loves you.”

Eveline didn’t immediately respond, but then she looked directly at her mother, her heart pounding all the while. “Aye, I believe he does. He has not said so, but I believe it to be with all my heart.”

Her mother nodded. “Aye, I believe it too. He’s so protective and tender with you, Eveline. ’Tis a glorious sight to behold.”

Eveline sighed. “ ’Tis the one time I truly resent my inability to hear.”

Her mother frowned. “Why so?”

“Because more than anything, I wish I could hear him say the words. ’Tis all I would ever ask again.”

Graeme stood quietly outside the door, listening as the wistful tone came through in Eveline’s words. It hurt him that she longed for the impossible, that she needed to hear those words so badly.

He considered the situation for a long moment as she and her mother continued to converse inside the chamber. Nay, she could not hear him through normal means. But somehow, he would find a way to make her hear him. He wanted there to be no doubt in her mind that he loved her more than it was possible to love any other.

He placed his hand on the closed chamber door and whispered softly, “I love you, Eveline. I’ll make you hear me if ’tis the last thing I do.”

CHAPTER 48

“I’d like this to be a new beginning between our clans,” Tavis Armstrong said as goblets of ale were placed in front of Graeme, Bowen, and Teague as well as Brodie, Aiden, and Tavis.

“I’m listening,” Graeme said.

His brothers exchanged glances, and then they both looked to Graeme. Graeme recognized the enormity of this moment. The unthinkable was occurring thanks to a blue-eyed, golden-haired lass who’d stormed into his life and made him think of other things than revenge and hatred.