Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)(51)

Graeme smiled. “I suggested no such thing. Rorie is young yet and she may change her mind. She may want to seek out a husband and settle down to have children of her own.”

Bowen chuckled. “I wouldn’t wager anything on that.”

“My thanks again for your support of Eveline,” Graeme said in a more serious tone. “It will mean much to her as well. Rorie has been the only friendly face she’s seen since she arrived on our lands. I’m determined to change that.”

“If you are content, then that is sufficient enough for me,” Teague said.

“Do you want us to share all that you have told us?” Bowen asked.

“Most, yes,” Graeme replied. “I want you to spread the word that Eveline is not daft, but that she is deaf and that she perpetuated the deception to escape marriage to Ian McHugh. We have no love for the Armstrongs, and I’m not above using our clan’s dislike of them to rally support for Eveline. If ’tis believed that Eveline was a victim of the Armstrongs and the McHughs alike, then ’tis more likely she will find sympathy among our own kin.”

“ ’Tis a dangerous game you play,” Teague mused. “Eveline would not likely appreciate such things said about her family.”

“ ’Tis true enough,” Graeme said darkly. “Tavis Armstrong would have used his daughter for his own purposes despite her wishes. That they love and cherish her is not enough to satisfy my disgust over that fact.”

Bowen nodded. “ ’Tis a good plan. Foster sympathy for Eveline by letting it be known that she is happier in our clan than she was in her own.”

“Bowen and I will talk to the men,” Teague said.

“Thank you. I will see the both of you in the hall for the evening meal.”

Graeme turned and walked back toward the keep, suddenly anxious to see his wife again.

CHAPTER 24

Eveline dressed with care for the evening meal. She’d worn only simple dresses since her arrival. Plain, more suited to working within the keep or even outside the keep than anything that could be considered pretty or frivolous.

Tonight she dug out one of the silk underdresses that her mother had so carefully packed before Eveline had departed her father’s lands.

It was lovely and Eveline adored the rich green color. It made her feel livelier. Appropriate for coming out of her self-imposed seclusion.

She wore a simple white overtunic that contrasted nicely against the vibrant green. The sleeves were long, nearly covering her hands.

Deciding that if she were going to wear something so grand, she may as well not hold back on the shoes, she dug out the jeweled slippers with sharp pointed toes and slipped them onto her feet.

At home she had a maid who’d arrange her hair, but here she hadn’t been assigned any such person nor had she asked. With the women of the keep so ambivalent toward her, she hadn’t wanted one to attend her.

She had pins and such, again thanks to her mother’s careful packing. Eveline would have likely left it all and gone to her new husband in bare feet and a much-worn linen dress.

After brushing and fussing with her hair, she gave up on pinning the heavy mass up and instead opted to pull some of it back away from her face, securing it at the back of her head.

The result was better than she’d anticipated. She even thought herself pretty. There hadn’t been many occasions at home that had warranted her looking her absolute best. And those times her mother had always taken over and made sure Eveline was dressed appropriately.

It was perhaps too much for a simple evening meal with no guests in attendance, but for Eveline, this was an important evening. It was when Graeme would relate her secret—if he hadn’t already. All eyes would be upon her. She wanted no one to be able to find fault with her—or at least her appearance.

She was nervous. Nay, she was terrified. It did no good to deny it.

She sank onto the edge of the bed and sat there a long moment investigating the looming shadows in the room. There were only two candles lit and the fire in the hearth had long since gone out.

A touch to her shoulder had her yanking her head up in surprise. Rorie stood beside her, an expression of concern on her face. Eveline hadn’t noticed her coming into the chamber.

Rorie turned and picked up one of the candleholders and sat on the bed next to Eveline, so that Eveline would be able to see her face.

“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Rorie said. “Graeme sent me up to see if you were ready to come down to the hall for the evening meal.”

Eveline smiled. “Thank you. I am.”

Rorie’s eyes widened. “You can speak.”

Eveline nodded. “Has Graeme not told you all?”

“I heard. Talk, I mean. No one has said anything to me directly, but there are rumors now. That you cannot hear and aren’t daft at all. Of course I knew you weren’t daft, but I didn’t know the rest. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Eveline sighed. “I’ll tell you the whole of it later. I do not want to leave Graeme waiting in the hall.” She rose and then took a few steps back so Rorie could see her attire. “Do I look pleasing? Like a laird’s wife even?”

Rorie also stood, bearing with her the candle. “You look beautiful, Eveline. Truly. I think Graeme will be more than pleased.”

Rorie put the candle down and turned to leave the room, but Eveline put her hand out to catch Rorie’s. Rorie turned back to Eveline, question in her eyes.