Never Seduce a Scot: The Montgomerys and Armstrongs (13 page)

Graeme held silent while he was given his trencher of food, and when the serving woman moved away, he directed his gaze back on Rorie.

“I’d like for you to go up after Eveline. Make sure she has something to eat. She didn’t eat for most of yesterday, so she’ll likely be hungry. I’d also like for you to keep her company and perhaps offer your assistance in putting away her belongings.”

Rorie wrinkled her nose. “So you’re allowing her to stay in your chamber?”

Graeme frowned. “ ’Tis none of your affair. However, I see no reason to toss her right back out, at least until she’s more settled and comfortable in her surroundings. Who knows what odd ideas she may have formed or why she refused to remain in her own chamber. For now, I want her to be at ease, and if remaining in my chamber accomplishes that, then I can survive a few days.”

Rorie turned and gave Teague an impish smile. “I believe I won our wager.”

Teague scowled and then shot Graeme a disgusted look.

“And what was this wager?” Graeme demanded.

“Teague wagered that you’d toss Eveline from your chamber come morn. I knew you wouldn’t,” she said smugly.

He sent them both dark looks. “I’m so happy to have provided you both with entertainment.”

“ ’Tis your bed to lie in now that you’ve made it,” Teague said.

“ ’Tis none of your concern,” Graeme said in an icy voice.

Teague rose, irritation etched on his face. “I’ll be in the courtyard sparring if you decide to find your missing cods and come join us.”

Graeme decided on the spot that his first session would be with Teague and he’d teach his younger brother a lesson about respect.

Eveline woke and for a moment had no recollection of where she was. She wasn’t in her own chamber in her own bed. None of the smells were familiar. It took her a moment to clear the cobwebs from her mind and remember that she was married and was lying in her new husband’s bed in his chamber—a room she’d invaded without gaining his permission.

But he hadn’t awakened her to throw her out, so perhaps he wasn’t angry over it.

The fact of the matter was, she’d felt desperately alone and isolated in the chamber he’d given her. And while he might be her clan’s enemy, he’d been kind to her—the only Montgomery who’d been remotely gentle with her.

She frowned. That wasn’t entirely true. Rorie had been helpful, though Eveline wasn’t certain what Graeme’s sister’s motives had been. There’d been mischief in her eyes when she’d agreed to help Eveline move her belongings.

As she shoved the covers aside, a cool draft fell over her and she shivered. But as she turned, warmth greeted her and she realized that a fire had been started in the hearth.

Judging by the height and blaze of the flames, the fire
hadn’t been started very long ago. Graeme must have had someone light it for her so she wouldn’t be cold when she rose.

A man who’d show that kind of consideration to his enemy’s daughter couldn’t be all bad, could he?

Nothing she’d seen thus far told her that she was in any danger with Graeme Montgomery. He wasn’t happy about the arrangement—who could blame him? But he hadn’t misused her or shown her ill treatment. Not yet.

Never before would she have considered that a Montgomery could be noble and just, but Graeme seemed destined to change her opinion on that matter.

She wandered closer to the hearth and stuck out her hands to warm her cold fingertips. Once sufficiently baked, she turned to find suitable clothing for the day.

At home, she wouldn’t have given the matter much thought. Here, she was suddenly fretting over whether she should leave her hair down or braid it and whether she should wear her plain, simple dress or one prettier. What would Graeme expect of his wife?

She frowned when she realized she had no idea what his expectations were. He didn’t seem to have any, other than to put her away and perhaps go on with his normal activities. Perhaps that was why he’d arranged for her to have a separate chamber.

She opted for something plain. The last thing she wanted was for the Montgomery clansmen to think she was uppity and putting on airs. She’d noted the dress of the other women of the keep, and most wore very basic work apparel.

After dressing, she began brushing her hair. It was a chore because the long ride to the Montgomery holding had resulted in having windblown hair and she hadn’t brushed it before going to sleep the night before.

She worked the knots from the strands and then began to braid it by pulling it over her shoulder. She perched
on the bench closest to the fire as she worked on her hair, but a moment later, she felt the presence of someone else.

Her skin prickled in awareness and she hastily glanced up to see Rorie in the doorway. She smiled, not knowing if Rorie had already said anything to her. Then she motioned her forward.

In that moment, she was intensely glad to see the other lass. The isolation of Graeme’s chamber was overwhelming and yet she lacked the courage to go below stairs on her own. The looks from Graeme’s kin were still fresh in her mind.

“Good morn, Eveline,” Rorie said.

She smiled hesitantly at Eveline as she spoke, and Eveline smiled back, wanting to encourage any conversation Rorie might strike up.

“So, are you planning to stay above stairs all day?” Rorie asked.

Eveline frowned, uncertain of the point of the question.

“Graeme thought you might be hungry. You had little to eat yesterday.”

Eveline gave a slight nod.

Rorie’s eyes gleamed as she seated herself in the chair opposite the bench Eveline was perched on.

“The women are wagering whether or not you’ll be brave enough to show your face outside of your chamber.”

Eveline blinked in surprise, and then her brows came together as she stared back at Rorie. What was Rorie’s purpose? Was she trying to anger Eveline? Upset her? Remind her of her tenuous position in her new clan?

“I’m sure they wouldn’t expect you to boldly march down and demand something to eat,” Rorie continued on, seemingly unbothered by Eveline’s reaction. “It
might be amusing to see the expressions of their faces were you to do so.”

Eveline’s lips twitched, and then they rose upward in a smile. Rorie was obviously a mischievous sort. It was likely why she’d aided Eveline yesterday in moving her belongings to Graeme’s chamber.

Then she simply nodded once.

Rorie grinned. “Then come on. No sense hiding away up here when there’s mischief to be had below.”

Eveline hastily tied the end of her braid with a leather strip and rose to follow Rorie from the room.

When they entered the hall, the women were clearing away the remnants of the morning meal. Two were sweeping the floors while others pushed away the furs over the windows to allow the light and warmth from the sun inside.

Everything came to an abrupt halt the moment Eveline was spotted. Rorie continued forward and Eveline followed. Rorie said something that the women had no liking for. One scowled openly at Eveline and said, “If she’s wanting to eat, then she should be about when the rest of the keep is.”

Eveline stared back, refusing to be cowed by this unpleasant woman.

Rorie motioned the woman away and then turned back to Eveline. “Come and sit so you can eat.”

Eveline glanced at the tables and then up to the high table on the dais, much like the one back home. Her eyes narrowed, and then she marched forward. She was the chieftain’s wife and she would sit at the high table.

She made sure she sat on the side where she could face the rest of the room. She wanted to be able to see what was being said. Rorie settled across from her, a wide grin on her face.

“I like your spirit. Bold move. But a good idea. Show them early on that they can’t bully you. The women of
our clan can be quite headstrong. They’re loyal, mind you, but they’re rather fierce in their opinions. ’Tis often said that Graeme is laird, but the women run the keep.”

Eveline’s eyebrows arched upward. Surely Rorie was jesting.

“Not that Graeme would ever admit such a thing,” Rorie added, still grinning. “But they’re an intimidating lot. Some like me, and some don’t.”

Eveline studied Rorie for a long moment. Here, too, was a lass who was likely underestimated. She had a frail, almost boyish appearance and yet she was impudent and struck Eveline as someone who was extremely quick-witted and intelligent.

Then she glanced over Rorie’s shoulder because she could see the women conversing. One holding a broom was only making a pretense of sweeping as she spoke with one of the women who’d been clearing a table.

It was hard for Eveline to follow, but she caught enough of the words to know she was the topic of conversation. The usual words were thrown about. Daft. Addled. Touched. She winced when she saw “stupid,” “arrogant,” and “Armstrong trash” added to the mix.

Anger tightened her jaw. Her first instinct was to defend herself, which was absurd given the fact that she’d spent the last three years allowing people to think of her what they liked, and she’d done nothing at all to correct their assumptions. Beliefs that she’d purposely fed.

But it hurt more coming from these people. They didn’t know her. They judged her solely on the fact that she was an Armstrong. Her clan was worth ten of them and the women of her keep weren’t as lazy.

The woman who’d sniped at Eveline about eating sooner stalked toward the table and rudely plunked down Eveline’s serving of bread and cheese. She shot Eveline a disgruntled look and then turned and walked away. The woman hadn’t brought anything for Eveline
to drink, and Eveline wasn’t going to risk a confrontation over it. She could make do without.

Eveline nibbled at the bread. It was quite good and someone had taken the effort to warm it a bit or perhaps it had been stored close to a heat source in the kitchen. At any rate, it was soft and tasted wonderful.

“Would you like a tour of the keep after you’ve eaten?” Rorie asked.

Eveline pursed her lips in thought, suddenly nervous about taking that direct an approach. It had consumed most of her courage just to come down to the hall to eat.

“Not scared, are you?” Rorie said with that gleam in her eye.

Eveline frowned and curled her lip, letting Rorie know what she thought of her baiting. But it had the effect Rorie obviously wanted because there was no way Eveline would refuse now. She wasn’t going to let a bunch of Montgomerys back her down and force her into hiding.

She was a chieftain’s daughter and now a chieftain’s wife. That counted for something, didn’t it? She may not be a mighty warrior, but one thing she’d learned after observing her mother, was that if anything could fell a warrior, it was a determined woman.

Rorie sent her a satisfied smile and then sat back to wait as Eveline finished eating.

When Eveline was done she sent a pointed glance at Rorie and then rose, taking the initiative and stepping around the table, past Rorie, so she was in the lead and not cowering behind her sister-in-law.

Chin up, she walked down the middle of the hall, boldly meeting the stares of the other women as she passed. At the end, a dark-haired woman stepped into her path, and Eveline had to pull up short to keep from plowing into her.

The woman was pretty enough. Younger perhaps than
the other women who’d been working in the hall. Her green eyes would be pretty if they weren’t full of cold malice. She eyed Eveline with open hostility, her nostrils flaring almost as if she were challenging Eveline.

“Armstrong bitch.”

The words were formed on the woman’s lips with such clarity that there was no possibility of Eveline mistaking them. The woman’s daring took Eveline aback and she stared agape.

Rorie pushed in front of Eveline before Eveline could react. She was turned just enough that Eveline could see what she said.

“The only bitch here is you, Kierstan,” Rorie said, her features drawn tight with anger. “Back off or I’ll tell Graeme that you’re maligning his wife.”

Kierstan’s face twisted in disgust, but she turned and walked away, leaving Rorie and Eveline standing there. Rorie turned to Eveline and smiled.

“There now. That’s out of the way. Shall we proceed with the tour?”

C
HAPTER
15

Graeme was aware that Rorie was taking Eveline around the keep because he’d been told by no fewer than a dozen clansmen. They acted as though he should lock Eveline in his chamber and keep her there at all times.

He understood their hatred for the Armstrongs because it was a hatred he shared. But he didn’t understand their willingness to extend that hatred to an innocent woman. He couldn’t say he was surprised by it, but he didn’t understand it.

By the time the next person happened along to inform Graeme that his Armstrong wife was walking around Montgomery land as if she belonged, Graeme’s patience was wearing thin.

“She does belong,” he roared, startling the older man with the force of his bellow.

He turned in a half circle so that everyone within hearing would know of his displeasure.

“ ’Tis enough! The king has decreed this marriage and there is naught to be done about it. Stop acting as sulky children and cease making an innocent woman suffer for something she has no knowledge of. You should all be shamed by your actions.”