Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)(33)

Rorie frowned a moment as she studied Eveline. Eveline repeated the motion this time, including Rorie so she’d understand what Eveline was asking.

“You want to learn to read and write as well?” Rorie looked astounded by the thought.

Eveline nodded vigorously.

Rorie’s eyes narrowed suspiciously and she rose, planting her palms down on the aged wood. She leaned forward, her features drawn into a near scowl. Her eyes met Eveline’s.

“Just how daft are you, Eveline Armstrong?”

CHAPTER 16

Eveline’s lips tightened into a firm line. She wanted to look away, pretend she didn’t understand, but if she did that, she risked Rorie seeing more than she already had.

And hadn’t she decided that there was no more need for deception? Perhaps she could ease her way into this new life. Take a step at a time.

Eveline swallowed and then slowly shook her head.

“What? No, you aren’t daft? No, you aren’t normal? What are you shaking your head for?” Rorie demanded.

Eveline squared her shoulders, thrust her chin upward, and then stared boldly back at Rorie. She folded her arms over her chest and then firmly shook her head once more.

“You aren’t daft.”

Eveline shook her head again.

“Do you even know what I’m asking?”

Eveline nodded.

Rorie blew out her breath and then sank back into the chair, staring at Eveline with clear incredulity.

“Then why on God’s green earth do you go around allowing people to think you’re touched?”

Eveline held her hands wide apart and then spread them even farther.

Rorie arched up her eyebrows. “Long story?”

Eveline nodded vigorously.

“It’s certainly one I’d like to hear.”

Eveline frowned unhappily and folded her hands over her arms, leaving them crossed protectively over her chest.

“You’re scared,” Rorie said.

Eveline hesitated a moment and then gave one quick nod. She hated to admit to such a weakness, but how could she not be frightened? Everyone hated her here.

Rorie still studied her intently as if trying to reach into Eveline’s mind and pluck out her thoughts, or at least see how sound it was.

“Not just here, though. At your home as well. You were afraid.”

For a long moment Eveline stood there, not wanting to admit that yes, she’d been afraid in the one place she should have felt safest in.

“Eveline?” Rorie prompted.

Her gaze dropped momentarily, but she nodded one more time.

“Tell me this much,” Rorie said as she leaned forward. “Have you pretended all this time? Ever since your accident? Wasn’t it some years ago?”

Eveline shrugged. Who was to say. In those early days, she truly may have been mad. She didn’t remember much. Her world had been in chaos as she’d tried to come to terms with all that had happened. She could understand why her clan had reached the assumption they had. She’d certainly acted like someone not in her right mind.

Rorie’s eyes widened as if something had just occurred to her. “Can you speak?”

Eveline shook her head. It wasn’t a lie. She had no way of knowing if she could any longer. She had no way to judge the sounds. No way to monitor how loud or soft she spoke. Her lips twitched in memory of how to form the words but she didn’t give in to the urge.

“So you pretended to be daft because something frightened you and it was your way of hiding.” Rorie rubbed her chin in a thoughtful manner and then cocked her head sideways at Eveline. “I don’t know whether that makes you as daft as you’re accused of being or if it makes you bloody brilliant. Whatever it was, must have really frightened you to make you go to such lengths.”

Eveline’s mouth trembled and she gripped her arms until her fingertips went white.

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” Rorie said. “I can see that whatever it was still frightens the very devil from you. Graeme should know of this, Eveline. He would protect you. He’s an honorable man.”

Eveline swallowed and then shook her head. She put her hand over her chest and then made a patting motion. Then she put her fingers to her mouth and back again to her chest.

“And how, pray tell, will you tell him?” Rorie asked.

Eveline held out her hand, palm up in Rorie’s direction and stared pointedly.

“I’ll concede that point. You did manage to tell me, although let me say this is the most one-sided conversation I’ve ever had in my life. I’m quite worn out now.”

Eveline smiled.

“I was prepared to dislike you.”

Eveline flinched. Dislike was nothing new to her and yet it still managed to make her feel inferior.

“But I find that for whatever reason I’m unable to. You have a certain charm, I suppose. And now since I like you, it means I’m going to have to protect you from the rest of the clan, which also means they aren’t going to be happy with me.”

Rorie shrugged as she made the statement.

“They don’t much like me either, just so you know. The women think I’m hopeless and the men think I’m too focused on matters that shouldn’t concern a lass my age. They mostly ignore me, but if my brother weren’t the laird, I would be treated with higher disdain.”