Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)(85)

“Nay, I’ll not do anything to wake her,” Graeme vowed. “She’ll sleep next to me as long as it takes for her to heal.”

After arranging the covers back over Eveline, Nigel insisted on changing the dressing on Graeme’s wound. Nigel carefully washed it, inspected the stitches, and pressed a fresh cloth bandage over the wound, and wrapped the linen strips around and over his shoulder and underneath his arm to secure it back in place.

“Is it all right to look now?” Bowen said impatiently.

“Aye,” Graeme called.

Nigel took his leave and Bowen and Teague pulled the chair and the bench to the side of Graeme’s bed so they could sit and converse with their brother.

A knock sounded and Graeme bit out an impatient oath. But when the door opened and Rorie eased inside, a hesitant look on her face, Graeme softened and motioned her forward.

“Graeme?” she questioned, a slight quiver to her voice.

“Aye, sweeting. Come here.”

Rorie walked to the side of the bed, her eyes troubled. She stared down at Eveline, tears filling her eyes.

“Will she be all right, Graeme? I saw the bruises when Nora and Mary put her to soak. I had no idea. She wouldn’t allow anyone near her. She insisted that all attention be focused on you.”

Graeme lifted his arm slowly and took her hand in his. “Aye, she’ll be fine in no time. I vow it will take more than this to defeat that lass. She’s a determined little thing when she’s set her mind to something.”

He kept his tone light so as not to worry his sister. She’d grown very attached to Eveline in the time Eveline had been here, and Graeme could see the worry in her eyes.

“Nigel just left here and he says she just needs to rest and gain back all that she has lost in the time she was caring for me. I’ll not allow her out of bed until she’s hale and hearty again.”

Rorie nodded her approval, and then she went to her knees beside Graeme’s bed, taking his hand with her. “And you? Will you be all right as well? I’ve never been so frightened. I had no idea if you would live or die.”

He squeezed her hand, and Bowen reached over to touch her hair in a gesture of comfort.

“ ’Tis naught but a scratch,” Bowen said cheerfully. “I’ve seen far worse than his paltry wound.”

Graeme glared at Bowen.

“How are your lessons going?” Teague asked, directing her attention to something she found more pleasing.

A smile bathed her face. Her eyes lit up and she all but bounced in her excitement. “I’m learning! Father Drummond says I’m a very apt student and that he’s never taught someone who takes to it so quickly. He says I’ll be reading and writing in no time.”

Graeme smiled. “I suppose then you’ll have to take over as the clan scribe.”

She nodded vigorously.

“Ah, what will we ever do without you, Rorie?” Bowen teased. “One day you’ll marry and move away and we’ll be left with no one to educate our lowly minds.”

She frowned and a shadow crossed her face. “I’m never leaving here. I’ve no wish to marry. I’m quite content to stay here with you. I won’t have to leave, will I, Graeme?”

Graeme sent Bowen a look of admonishment, and then he said to Rorie in a gentle voice, “Of course not. You’ll remain here as long as you like.”

She practically wilted in relief, and then she pushed herself to her feet. “I must go. Father Drummond awaits me. I think he’s tried to keep me as busy as possible so I would not worry over you and Eveline.”

“ ’Tis a good practice,” Graeme said. “There is naught for you to worry over. Eveline and I will both be fine.”

Rorie leaned down to kiss Graeme’s cheek, sent Eveline one last seeking look, and then turned to hurry out of the chamber.

“Two days,” Graeme said when the chamber door had closed.

Teague’s brow went up. “Two days for what?”

“Two days is all I’ll wait before I send word to Tavis Armstrong.”

Bowen shook his head. “You won’t be healed by then.”

Graeme shrugged. “The matter cannot wait. It will take a day or two, maybe longer to receive a response from Armstrong and then another few days to arrange the meeting. By then, I’ll have had almost a fortnight to recover. Whether I am at full strength or not, we cannot wait to dig to the bottom of this matter.”

Teague blew out his breath, but he nodded his acceptance.

“Have Father Drummond come to me so I can dictate the missive. Then choose an able warrior to ride under the banner of truce onto Armstrong land to deliver the message.”

“I’ll go myself,” Bowen said in a terse voice.

“Not without me,” Teague snapped.

“And I’ll not allow either of you to leave, not when you’re needed here at the keep. Our first priority is to protect our clan and guard our walls well. Find someone else to go.”

Bowen didn’t look happy with the directive, but neither did he argue.

Another knock sounded at the door, and this time it was Nora with food for Graeme.

“I brought enough for two,” Nora said as she neared the bed with the tray. “But if the lass is still sleeping, ’tis best not to disturb her. I’ll bring her something the moment she awakens.”