Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)(60)

“ ’Tis a wonderful job you did on the floors, lass. I vow all the women will think so.”

Somehow Eveline couldn’t muster any enthusiasm over knowing they’d approve of the task she’d performed.

Thinking she’d love a brief respite and that she would investigate what the women and the children were doing on the hillside behind the keep, she made mention of doing just that to Nora, only for Nora to frown.

“Oh nay, lass. ’Tis too much to be done to be thinking about play. What would the others think if the laird’s wife expected the women to work while she went off on a lark? Nay, ’tis not a good idea at all. Come and I’ll show you where there’s washing to be done. Mary has just finished preparing tonight’s meal of oatcakes and fresh bread. There’ll be a little stew leftover from last eve’s meal, but I’m sure she’ll have a pile of cooking pots and such just waiting to be cleaned.”

Eveline’s shoulder’s slumped, but the last thing she wanted was to appear to be beneath such work to the other women of the keep. If they could perform such tasks on a daily basis, then she certainly could and would as well.

She followed Nora into the kitchens where Mary and one other woman, who spared Eveline only a quick glance—she didn’t look very impressed with Eveline—were working and muttered an introduction in such a manner that Eveline couldn’t read the name on her lips.

Not wanting to admit to such, she smiled brightly and then watched attentively as Nora instructed her on what she was to do. Oddly, though, as soon as Eveline began to scrub at the large pots used for cooking, the other women disappeared from the kitchen.

It was a long and arduous task, one that Eveline was certain she didn’t do well. The pots were large and it was difficult to empty them of water once she’d added it to scrub the insides.

Even though the day was quite cool, and a steady breeze blew in from the window facing the back, sweat beaded Eveline’s brow and at her nape, making her hair damp.

By the time she was finished, she no longer cared what the other women of the keep thought of her and she left the kitchens to head straight for her chamber, where she could at least wipe the sweat from her body. She would have gone for a swim in the river, but she was afraid she’d encounter Nora or one of the other women and immediately be tasked with something else to do.

She trudged up the stairs and into her chamber, her back aching and her bones weary. She grimaced when she looked down at her underdress. It was filthy and the smell made her nose wrinkle. She doubted even a good soaking in the river would save this one.

Peeling it away from her body, she stripped down until she was completely naked, and then she washed herself from head to toe. It wasn’t a complete bath—she’d give anything for a good, long soak—but to do so would require having someone heat water and fill a tub and she wanted no comments from the other women, who no doubt did not take time out of their busy days to have an afternoon soak hours before it was time to sleep.

She settled for a good wipe down with some of the scented soaps from her clan. Afterward she changed into a fresh dress and plopped onto the bed. She would rest just for a moment. No one would even know.

She leaned over, burrowing her head into one of the pillows as she curled on top of the furs covering the bed. Just a moment. No more. Her eyes were closed before she was fully settled into a comfortable position.

Graeme entered the keep as the others began gathering for the evening meal. Truth be told, he was eager to see Eveline. He’d gone all day without seeing his wife even once. Throughout the day he’d tortured himself by reliving the prior night in vivid detail.

Though he hadn’t managed any sleep, he’d never felt as refreshed and invigorated as he did today. It made him a complete pig, but he was tempted to take her again, even though she’d been a maiden just the night before and she’d be sore for days to come. She needed time to recover before she suffered his attentions again, but he had to remind himself of that hourly to combat the urge to go sate himself again and again.

His brothers would laugh if they knew how solidly his thoughts were occupied by coupling. They’d tease him and remark on how swiftly he’d gone from having the life of a monk to one more resembling a whore.

Ah well, ’twas what having a wife did to a man, or so he imagined.

He took quick stock of the hall and the area immediately surrounding the keep where other women were congregated, but not seeing Eveline, he mounted the stairs to see if she was in their chamber.

When he pushed the door open, he was surprised to see her sprawled on the bed, fully dressed, and deeply asleep. He started to close the door quietly when he realized the absurdity of his actions.

Though he knew she was deaf, it was still hard to remember and he found himself acting on occasion as though she could hear. It didn’t help that she was so adept at reading lips that it was easy to forget and turn his head as he spoke.

He went to the bedside and then gingerly settled down to perch on the edge. He touched her long blond hair and smoothed it away where it covered her face. She didn’t even stir as he ran a hand down her side.

The lass was exhausted. Was it the long night before? But she’d slept well into the morning.

He considered whether he should awaken her to eat, but when he gently shook her shoulder, again, she didn’t even twitch.

Deciding that she was in obvious need of rest, he withdrew and went back below stairs to search Rorie out. Perhaps she would know of Eveline’s doings today and could offer more on why Eveline was so soundly asleep.