He would have a very long discussion with her over never taking such risks again in the future. Just as soon as she was well enough.
“I think she is well enough, Laird. Her breaths aren’t labored. She appears to merely be deeply asleep. ’Tis likely she’ll sleep through the night and into the morrow. She’s gone days without rest and she sorely needs it. Try not to waken her and let her come around herself.”
“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.”
“My thanks,” Graeme said. “I find I’m hungry enough to eat both portions.”
Nora beamed. “ ’Tis a good sign, Laird. A healthy appetite is a sign of a well and able body. You’ll be up and back on your feet in no time at all.”
Graeme froze when Eveline stirred beside him. It was the first time she’d moved at all since being placed in his bed. But all she did was make a slight humming sound, and then she rolled onto her belly, facing away from him, her eyes never opening.
The furs had slipped down her back, baring her shoulders, and Graeme quickly pulled at them, frustrated by the burst of pain that shot down his arm at so simple a task.
Teague and Bowen stood and hastily excused themselves, saying they’d be back later to further discuss the matter of the Armstrongs. Bowen said he’d send Father Drummond up after Graeme had time to eat his meal.
Nora fussed over Graeme for a moment until he was settled and his food in front of him, and then she sent a look of genuine concern in Eveline’s direction before turning to leave the chamber.
But as she turned away, she paused and then looked back at Graeme, clear hesitation in her eyes.
“Say what’s on your mind, Nora,” Graeme said in resignation. At this point he just wanted to be left alone with Eveline so he could have some peace and mull over the matter before him.
“I offered the lass an apology,” Nora said in a low voice. “But ’tis the truth I owe you one as well, Laird. I acted unforgivably and I wonder if you could find it in your heart to forgive an old woman for her bitterness. ’Tis a sad state of affairs when I encourage such spite against a wee lass who only has good in her heart.”
Graeme smiled at Nora’s description of Eveline because it was so true. It was also true that he held a lot of anger toward Nora and the other women, but Nora had done much to make amends.
“I am not happy with the way you and others acted toward my wife,” Graeme said sternly. “You caused her endless grief and moreover, you made her so unhappy that she wanted to return to her own kin.”
Nora gasped and put her hand to her mouth.
“I’m not prepared to let her go,” Graeme said in a calm voice. “She means much to me and as such, she will remain a permanent fixture here, so see that your goodwill toward her continues and moreover, ensure that others regard her in the same manner as you now regard her. I’ll not have any further patience or tolerance for any slight against her whatsoever.”
Nora nodded and bobbed a curtsy. “Thank you, Laird. I’ll not disappoint you or the lass.”
Graeme waved her away and then glanced down at Eveline’s tousled hair and the peaceful expression on her face. Her eyelashes rested delicately on her cheeks, and her lips were slightly parted as she breathed through her mouth.
He couldn’t resist touching her. He reached down, angling his arm so his fingers brushed over the softness of her cheek. He pushed back the golden strands of hair behind her ear and softly stroked.
“I love you, Eveline,” he whispered, though he knew she could not hear him. “Somehow, I’ll make you hear me and you’ll know that I love you as fiercely as it’s possible for a man to love a woman.”
CHAPTER 40
When Eveline awakened, she was completely confused. It took her several long moments to collect herself and realize that she was abed with Graeme. And she was starving.
She pushed upward, her entire body protesting the movement. She turned to squint toward the window as sunlight bathed her entire face. It had to be midday at the very least.
When she turned back to Graeme, intent on tending his wound, she found him awake and regarding her with a probing stare.
Her hand went to his shoulder, but he caught her palm and slid his fingers over hers, curling them around her hand. He moved it to his chest, holding it there for a long moment.
“Are you …” She cleared her throat, coughed, and then started again. Her throat wasn’t as sore, but the words still felt blocked and rusty. “Are you well?” she asked. “Are you in pain? Should I fetch Nigel?”
Graeme pulled her to him so she was sprawled against his chest, her face just inches from his.
“The question is how are you feeling?” he said. “Do you hurt still? Are you still fatigued? Perhaps you should rest awhile more.”
She frowned and shook her head. “How long have I been sleeping?”
His lips quirked upward. “Two days.”
“Two days!” she shrieked.
He winced, but nodded.
She yanked away from him and then wrung her hands in agitation. “Two days? ’Tis disgraceful. Who has tended to you for the last two days?”
He put his finger over her lips. “You were exhausted and hurting. I’m furious with you over the risks you took. You could have been killed or far more seriously injured. You needed to rest and you needed to eat.”
“And you? Is your wound healing?” she asked anxiously. “Is your fever gone?”
“I’m in far better condition than you are,” he said. “Now come here. I want to hold you.”
Shocked by the sudden demonstration of affection, she didn’t argue as he pulled her tightly into his arms. He tucked her beneath his uninjured shoulder and wrapped his arm around her until she could barely breathe.
He kissed her forehead and smoothed the hair from her brow. Calm descended. She sighed in contentment and burrowed into his big body. ’Twas nice to lie here in the middle of the day and rest in her husband’s arms.
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.
