Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)(35)

Surprisingly, Teague was the first one to flinch. He glanced away and then quickly back at Graeme as if expecting a reprimand. The reprimand was in the look Graeme sent his brother. Teague’s cheeks colored slightly, but he didn’t glance Eveline’s way again.

“Now, if we may all eat,” Graeme said calmly.

The table was uncharacteristically silent as they dipped into the lamb stew. Usually an accounting of the day’s events would be brought forth and the brothers would discuss training strategies or what the next day’s plans would bring.

Instead, Bowen turned to their most senior men-at-arms, men who dined at Graeme’s table each day, and conversed about the day’s training sessions. After a time, they turned the conversation to the amusing tale of the boys whom Bowen had instructed on the use of bows and arrows and how many Montgomery soldiers were still digging arrows from their arses after the practice session.

Determined not to let the meal grow overly awkward, Graeme turned to Eveline.

“What think you of the keep?”

She ignored him, concentrating on her stew. She chewed a piece of bread she’d torn from the round and then reached for her goblet of ale. It was then she glanced at him and blinked.

Her face grew flush and pink tinged her cheeks. She cocked her head to the side and viewed him in obvious question.

“I asked you what you thought of the keep.”

Eveline nodded and then held up her arms and outstretched them so she nearly smacked Rorie’s nose.

“ ’Tis no larger than your own family’s holding,” he said.

She shook her head in disagreement and then pursed her lips together. After glancing around the room, she then pointed, making a wide sweeping motion and then punched her finger into the table. Then once more she spaced her hands apart to indicate size.

Graeme nodded. “Aye, our hall is larger than yours, but then we house more people, I believe.”

Eveline nodded her agreement.

He was about to pose another question when Eveline went tense. Her entire body language was wary and she paused, setting her spoon back into her stew.

’Twas nothing but the serving woman, Kierstan. She carried a tankard of ale and went to Teague first to refill his goblet. Next she came to Graeme, but she went on his other side so that she was between him and Eveline.

“Would you like more, Eveline?” Graeme asked, fully intending to have Kierstan serve her before himself.

But then Kierstan turned and stumbled, emptying the tankard in Eveline’s lap. The ale splattered over her chest and arms, soaking her dress. It dripped off her chin and ruined the bowl of stew Eveline had been eating.

Graeme was so stunned that at first he simply stared, aghast at the woman’s error. Eveline’s eyes flashed with hurt, but then she seemed to steel herself and quietly rose.

“I’m so sorry,” Kierstan babbled out. “ ’Twas an accident, Laird.”

“ ’Tis your lady you should be apologizing to,” Graeme bit out.

But Kierstan didn’t turn to Eveline. She hastily began pushing the liquid that pooled on the table away from Graeme, but sent it in Eveline’s direction.

Eveline was still standing, humiliation tight on her face, her eyes dull.

“Go fetch something to help clean her up,” Graeme snapped at Kierstan. “ ’Tis not me you should be tending.”

Then he rose to reach for Eveline’s hand. But she brushed by him, ale still dripping from her clothing. She never even looked his way as she walked quietly from the hall.

Rorie was on her feet, spitting like an angry kitten. “Bitch!”

“Rorie!” Bowen said, shock evident in his voice. “ ’Tis no way for you to speak, even to a serving woman.”

“She did it apurpose,” Rorie snapped. “She’s tormented Eveline all day and she well knows it. She’s wasted no opportunity to call Eveline a bitch. I’m merely returning the favor.”

“Is this true?” Graeme demanded, turning to Kierstan.

“Nay! ’Twas an accident. I swear it.”

“And the other accusations? Did you call your lady a bitch? Did you malign her in any way?”

Kierstan’s expression turned sullen and defiance sparked in her eyes. “ ’Tis not my lady I maligned. She isn’t my lady.”

“Leave my presence,” Graeme thundered. “And keep from my sight. You’ll not serve in the great hall again.”

Kierstan paled. She started to speak again, but Graeme silenced her with a single look.

“Begone,” he ordered.

She turned and fled.

Rorie was still furious, her face red and her fists clenched tight at her sides. “Her punishment is too light, Graeme.”

“ ’Tis over, Rorie. You’ll not pursue it further. The clan must be given time to adjust to Eveline’s presence.”

“And so you’ll allow such disrespect until such time as they’ve adjusted?” she asked incredulously.

His eyes narrowed. “Do you question me? Kierstan won’t go unpunished. But neither will I tear down the walls of the keep and raise the ire of the clan when emotions are running high already. You take my desire to mediate as a sign that I’m allowing Eveline to be abused. You should know me better than that.”

He turned and strode from the table. Rorie called after him, “Where do you go?”