Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)(58)

CHAPTER 27

When Eveline awoke the next morning, sunlight was streaming through the window and right onto her face. She opened her eyes, then rapidly blinked and shut them again before turning her face away.

Who had pulled the furs aside?

She soon had her answer when the bed moved. Eveline’s eyes popped open again to see Rorie sitting on the very end, her eyes brimming with impatience.

“There you are,” she said. “You’ve been sleeping for ages. I didn’t think you’d ever awaken.”

Eveline blushed and made certain the furs stayed tightly arranged over her very naked body. The truth was she hadn’t been sleeping for ages at all. Graeme had kept her awake most of the night with his hands and his mouth … She shivered in remembered delight.

The first rays of sunshine had begun to peek over the horizon by the time she’d drifted off to sleep. Graeme had kissed her and then had risen to dress. He hadn’t bothered sleeping since he was due in the courtyard at dawn.

After the first time he’d made love to her, he’d insisted that she would be too sore for him to take her again, but that hadn’t stopped him from pleasuring her the entire night.

She’d achieved release so many times that when he’d finally eased from bed, she’d been asleep before he’d fully left the chamber.

Yawning, she clutched the furs tighter around her and struggled to sit up.

“Why are you here?” Eveline asked Rorie.

Rorie bounced impatiently. “Graeme sent for Father Drummond this morning!”

Eveline smiled. “ ’Tis wonderful, Rorie. I know how badly you want to learn to read and write.”

“You’ll still study with me, won’t you?”

Eveline nodded. “Since you’re here, I’d like your help with something this morning as well.”

Rorie cocked her head to the side. “You want my help? You aren’t angry about last night? ’Tis part of the reason I came into your chamber. I wanted to again offer apology if I hurt you.”

“ ’Tis forgotten,” Eveline said. “And, aye, I need your help. I want to approach Nora. It’s occurred to me that Graeme expects his clan to accept me even though I am from an enemy clan. But ’tis the truth, I’ve yet to do anything to gain their acceptance.”

Rorie scowled. “It does not give them cause to abuse you as they have done.”

“Nay, it doesn’t. But I can’t very well wander around the keep as I used to do in my own, acting the simpleton so no one ever expects anything from me. I’m the laird’s wife and ’tis my duty to oversee the running of the keep.”

A look of unease crossed Rorie’s face. “Well, aye, ’tis true a laird’s wife is usually tasked with the running of the keep, but my brothers share in the responsibility of ensuring the keep is well run. Perhaps ’tis best if you leave it to them.”

“ ’Tis even more reason for me to step in,” Eveline insisted. “Graeme should not be bothered with woman’s work. Nor should Bowen and Teague. They have more important matters to attend to. Will you help me?”

Rorie hesitated and then said, “Aye, of course I’ll help you. I’m uncertain as to what you want me to do, but I’ll assist you in any way I can.”

Eveline beamed over at her sister-in-law. “Wonderful. All I need is your support. ’Tis shameful of me to admit, but I’m a coward. It will ease me to have you at my side when I speak to Nora in the kitchens.”

Rorie slid off the bed. “Well, then, you’d better rise and put some clothing on. You can’t be running about the keep as you are.”

Eveline blushed to her toes and groaned her embarrassment. Rorie sent her a cheeky grin and then went to one of Eveline’s trunks to pull out suitable apparel. A moment later, she returned to the bed and held up the garb.

“Well, come on. I’ll play lady’s maid today. Graeme really must assign one of the women of the keep the duty. We can’t have it said that the Montgomery lady has no maid.”

Her nudity evidently didn’t bother Rorie in the slightest so Eveline left the comfort and warmth of the furs and hurriedly pulled on the clothing Rorie offered. Afterward, Rorie helped her arrange her hair and then the two hastened down the stairs to the hall.

It was mostly empty and Eveline nearly lost her courage and opted to go outside with Rorie. Maybe go sit by the river and enjoy the day. But she knew she was being cowardly and it was time to stop hiding.

No one was going to give her a place in this clan. She was going to have to create one.

As it turned out, making a trip to the river was precisely what she and Rorie ended up doing. Nora was overseeing the washing of the clothing while a few of the other women washed their hair.

When Eveline was spotted approaching, work ceased and all eyes pointed in her direction. She stood a long moment before Rorie pushed her forward. She stumbled, righted herself, and then continued down to the bank, a bright smile on her face.

“Nora, is it?” she inquired of the older woman who was studying Eveline with a frown.

Nora’s frown deepened as she nodded. “So ’tis true. You can speak. Is it also true you’re not daft at all?”

Eveline’s cheeks heated, but she shook her head slowly.

“Then what’s wrong with you?” Nora demanded.