Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)(36)

Only at the doorway did he pause and turn back. “I’m going to see to my wife.”

Rorie looked strangely pleased as she retook her seat.

CHAPTER 17

Graeme realized he was completely uncertain of himself halfway up the stairs. He even paused some distance from his chamber, because he wasn’t sure what to do with Eveline when he found her.

If Rorie was right and Kierstan had spilled ale on Eveline apurpose, then Kierstan would have to be banned from the keep and sent into the grain fields to work.

He was caught in a difficult position because he didn’t want it to appear to his clan that he sided with an Armstrong against them, but neither did he want to abandon his wife—no matter who she was—to the ill treatment of others.

When he finally reached the chamber door, he pushed it open and went inside, only to be greeted by the sight of Eveline standing in the nude, her back to him.

For a moment he was transfixed. Her hair was unbraided and lay in waves down her bare back, just reaching the top of her rounded bottom. There it hung enticingly, brushing the tops of her cheeks.

She was a well-formed lass. Luscious, curvy bottom, slim waist, hips that flared appealingly.

Then he felt immediate guilt for standing here lusting over her—a woman who likely had no idea of such matters or understanding of them.

He turned away, determined to give her privacy to complete her dress. No matter how tempted he was not only to look, but to wait for her to turn so he could gain a full view.

He heard water from the washbasin being sloshed about and nearly groaned at the idea that she was completing her wash right there a few feet away. All he had to do was turn. It was a sight he’d receive much pleasure from. Watching his wife as she bathed. He could well imagine the path of the washing cloth as it glided over her body.

He should be lying on the bed, enjoying the delectable sight, not standing here rigidly, his back to her because he feared scaring her. His attraction was inappropriate, but his body didn’t seem to care what his mind objected to. His body found her pleasing and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about that.

Then he heard a gasp and he realized she must have finally seen him standing there. Slowly he turned, keeping his gaze averted. When he chanced looking up, he saw her clutching the linen from the bed to her naked body and staring at him with wide eyes.

But he read no fear in those eyes and that relieved him immensely. The last thing he needed was a hysterical female in his chamber.

“I wanted to see how you fared,” Graeme said.

Eveline nodded, still clutching the linen close to her breast.

“Perhaps I should return when you’re fully dressed.”

She hesitated a moment before offering a slow nod. He wondered at that hesitation and what she’d been thinking as she stared back at him, those eyes so serious and contemplating.

“Right, then,” Graeme muttered. He turned around and hurried from the chamber, closing the door behind him.

He felt ten kinds of a fool standing outside his bedchamber while his wife made herself decent within. She was his. She belonged to him. There was no part of her that he should be denied. But no amount of telling himself that or rationalizing the desire that simmered and boiled in his veins could convince his mind that he wasn’t the filthiest loch slime for thinking of her in that way.

He was still standing there in the hall, hoping no one came above stairs to see him, when his chamber door opened and Eveline poked her head out. She smiled broadly when she saw him and she motioned him back inside.

She was fully clothed now, a fresh, clean dress with a pretty embroidered neckline.

He inched inside the chamber and found her perched on the edge of the bed—his bed—and she smiled when he found her gaze again.

“I’m sorry for what happened below,” he said in a low voice. “Kierstan will serve in the hall no more.”

Eveline’s expression grew somber, and sadness clouded her brilliant eyes.

Graeme sat on the bench in front of the fire, not trusting himself to sit on the bed beside her.

“Do you feel it was intentional, Eveline? Has Kierstan made you unwelcome thus far?”

Her expression became unreadable. She appeared to give the matter some thought, and then her eyes narrowed. She shrugged, but Graeme didn’t believe for a moment she didn’t have an opinion on the matter, but he respected the fact that she wasn’t slinging accusations, even if they were well merited.

He’d worried over Eveline’s ability to understand the situation, how she’d fit in, what kind of problems her presence would cause. But so far, her actions had been beyond reproach and it shamed him that his own clan was behaving so childishly, even if he could understand the motivation behind it.

“I want you to feel welcome here, Eveline. ’Tis important for you to be happy.”

She smiled again, her eyes shining in the glow of the candlelight of the chamber. Then she cocked her head and pointed at the bed and then to him.

His brow wrinkled a moment, and then he realized she was asking him if he intended to go to bed.

In truth, he never retired this early, but now that he was here, it would be awkward to tell her nay and return below stairs.

So he nodded.

She smiled, seemingly delighted that he wasn’t leaving the chamber again. Then she rose and went to the stack of wood for the fire. He glanced over his shoulder to see her shyly skitter past him to add more wood to the fire. He turned quickly, catching her wrist.