Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)(87)

She had nearly drifted back into sleep when he lifted her away from him, but held her so that they were still close. He’d positioned her so she could see his mouth.

“There are things we must discuss, Eveline.”

Her mouth turned down and she lowered her gaze. Bowen and Teague would have told him what she’d seen.

He nudged her chin upward with his fingers. “You know I must investigate whether this threat came from your clan.”

She nodded reluctantly.

“Eveline, I will do all I can to avoid conflict with your family. But you have to understand that I cannot allow this to go unanswered.”

“I know it,” she whispered back, her heart aching at what must come.

“Come here and lie against me. For now, we’ll not think on unpleasant things.”

She snuggled back into his arms, closing her eyes in the sweetness of the moment. There were no guarantees of what tomorrow would bring, but today she would savor a brief respite in her husband’s embrace and pretend that something so simple as love could bridge the gap made wider by decades of hatred.

After eating a light repast with Graeme in the comfort of their bed, Eveline was itching to rise. Her hunger sated, she was ready to turn her attention to other important matters such as a bath and walking enough to ease the stiffness and soreness from her muscles.

She was considering how to put the matter to her husband, who was insistent on her remaining abed, when she saw Graeme frown and then tell someone outside the door to remain so until Eveline was decent.

Her cheeks burned at the idea that whoever it was knew she hadn’t a stitch on. Graeme patted her rump and then motioned her out of bed to dress.

She hurried from the warmth of his body and the furs and pulled on one of her simple day dresses. She took a brush to her hair to work the tangles and would have retreated to the far corner of the room, but she looked up and saw Bowen and Teague, accompanied by Father Drummond, enter the chamber. The priest had a scroll and quill and ink, and Eveline realized that Graeme meant to dictate the message to her father.

She went to Graeme’s side and touched his arm. “I would like to go below stairs and breathe a bit of fresh air. My muscles need stretching.”

Graeme regarded her a long moment, and then his shoulders heaved in a sigh. Then he nodded. “Do not be gone overlong. I’ll send a summons down when I’ve finished with my brothers and Father Drummond.”

She nodded, her heart heavier with each breath. She didn’t want to be about when he transcribed the message that might well send the two clans she called her own into battle against one another.

Graeme squeezed her hand, and then she eased away, setting the brush down before exiting the chamber.

It wasn’t a total untruth she’d told Graeme. She was desperate to leave the suffocation of the chamber if only for a little while.

She stretched her arms and worked her shoulders as she descended the stairs to the hall. Despite having eaten a bit earlier, she went to the kitchens in search of a piece of bread or bit of cheese to nibble on. She was still hungry.

Mary was only too happy to accommodate her after demanding to know if her laird knew she was below stairs. Eveline gratefully took bread and cheese, and after conversing with Mary for several minutes, she exited the kitchens and stepped into the courtyard.

Dusk was rapidly falling, ushering in cooler breezes as the sun slid completely out of sight over the horizon. The entire land was bathed in purple and gray hues, and the air was still. Most of the clansmen had retired to their cottages and were preparing for the evening meal.

The torches that lit the guard tower threw shadows on the wall of the keep. Eveline closed her eyes and breathed deeply of the spring-scented air.

’Twas so peaceful. A time for gathering in the evening to tell stories, speak of the day’s events, and share a good meal.

But she knew that the calm was deceptive because even now, the Montgomery soldiers were preparing for war.

The ground vibrated under her feet and she turned rapidly in time to see a Montgomery herald on horseback ride at a fast pace toward the gate. He wore a cloak bearing the Montgomery colors, but a white banner of truce was attached to the horse’s mane.

A chill scuttled up her spine until she shivered. Dread centered in her belly, making her wish she hadn’t eaten the bread and cheese Mary had offered.

A touch to her shoulder had her jumping in fright. She whirled around to see Kierstan standing in the fading light.

“My pardon for startling you, my lady.”

Eveline took a step back, but focused on Kierstan’s lips, not wanting to miss anything the other woman would say.

“I came in search of you when I heard you’d awakened. The hot soaking soothed your aches before and I thought to offer you my services to prepare another soak for you in the bathhouse.”

Eveline’s eyes widened at what seemed to be an offering of an olive branch from the woman who’d caused her no end of grief. Kierstan looked sincere. Moreover, she looked … contrite.

“ ’Tis the least I can do,” Kierstan said, her expression sad. “I’ve wronged you badly and I’d like to make amends.”

Knowing this was yet another opportunity to mend some bridges, Eveline nodded and Kierstan smiled, seeming relieved by Eveline’s agreement.

“Come this way. We’ll walk around the keep. It will be shorter than navigating the hall. ’Tis filling up with those seeking the evening meal. I’ll send someone to the laird’s chamber to give him word of your whereabouts so he does not worry.”