Eveline blushed to her toes and groaned her embarrassment. Rorie sent her a cheeky grin and then went to one of Eveline’s trunks to pull out suitable apparel. A moment later, she returned to the bed and held up the garb.

“Well, come on. I’ll play lady’s maid today. Graeme really must assign one of the women of the keep the duty. We can’t have it said that the Montgomery lady has no maid.”

Her nudity evidently didn’t bother Rorie in the slightest so Eveline left the comfort and warmth of the furs and hurriedly pulled on the clothing Rorie offered. Afterward, Rorie helped her arrange her hair and then the two hastened down the stairs to the hall.

It was mostly empty and Eveline nearly lost her courage and opted to go outside with Rorie. Maybe go sit by the river and enjoy the day. But she knew she was being cowardly and it was time to stop hiding.

No one was going to give her a place in this clan. She was going to have to create one.

As it turned out, making a trip to the river was precisely what she and Rorie ended up doing. Nora was overseeing the washing of the clothing while a few of the other women washed their hair.

When Eveline was spotted approaching, work ceased and all eyes pointed in her direction. She stood a long moment before Rorie pushed her forward. She stumbled, righted herself, and then continued down to the bank, a bright smile on her face.

“Nora, is it?” she inquired of the older woman who was studying Eveline with a frown.

Nora’s frown deepened as she nodded. “So ’tis true. You can speak. Is it also true you’re not daft at all?”

Eveline’s cheeks heated, but she shook her head slowly.

“Then what’s wrong with you?” Nora demanded.

Eveline’s hand automatically went to her ear and she fiddled with the lobe and the shell, fingering it absently.

“I cannot hear.”

“What’s that? Speak up, child. I cannot hear you.”

Rorie pushed by her and angled herself so Eveline would be able to see.

“She cannot hear, Nora. So she doesn’t always know how loudly she speaks. Sometimes ’tis hard to understand her, but all you need to do is ask that she speak up.”

Nora’s eyes narrowed. Behind her several of the women put their washing down completely and hovered in the background, watching and listening to the goings-on.

“What do you mean, she can’t hear?” Nora said. “She understands what we say, that much is obvious.”

“I can read the words that are formed on your lips,” Eveline intervened. This time she made certain she spoke loudly enough. Perhaps it was too loud, because Nora took a step back, her eyes widening.

“How is that possible?” Nora asked suspiciously.

Eveline shrugged. “I have no desire to explain it. I can only say that I am able to understand when you speak as long as I’m looking directly at you.”

“And why wouldn’t you talk before now? Rumor is you haven’t spoken in three long years.”

There was a long pause as Eveline weighed just how honest she should be. There was little point in any further deception.

“Because I didn’t feel safe,” she said.

Nora looked taken aback. “Not safe? With your own clan?”

Behind her several of the other women were murmuring among themselves. Eveline’s declaration had surprised them all. Some even looked at her with sympathy. Sympathy always made her cringe. It was something she’d had to live with for a very long time. But coming from these women, it didn’t feel as smothering. They were horrified over the idea she wouldn’t have felt safe among her own kin and she wasn’t going to take the time to explain the entire story nor would she clarify the true reasons for her fear.

Another woman pushed in beside Nora, her brows drawn in question. “Yet you speak to us. Here, among the Montgomerys.”

Eveline smiled and nodded.

“Why?” Nora asked, obviously perplexed.

“Because I feel safe.”

Eyes widened all around at that.

Rorie, ever the impatient one, cut in. “Nora, Eveline wanted to ask your assistance in a matter.”

Nora glanced back at Eveline. “Of course. What is it you wish to ask for?”

Eveline took in a deep breath. “Everyone has a duty here … save me. Rorie has told me that the laird and his brothers oversee the running of the keep. ’Tis my duty as wife of the laird and one I take seriously. But I need the assistance of someone who is well versed in the duties and has the knowledge to instruct me on the way of things.”

Nora puffed up, her chin coming up a few inches. “Well, now, you’ve come to the right place, lass. Indeed, you have. You spend the day with me and I’ll have you running the place in no time.”

Eveline beamed back at her, excitement curling in her stomach. “Thank you!”

Rorie rolled her eyes. “I’ll leave you two to your women’s duties. I’m going to go straighten the accounting room for when Father Drummond arrives.”

Eveline waved Rorie off, too excited by Nora’s ready acceptance of Eveline’s request for help to worry over the loss of Rorie’s companionship.

It wasn’t complete acceptance. Eveline still had a long way to go. But it was a step in the right direction. If the women saw that she was willing to throw herself into the Montgomery way of life, then perhaps they’d eventually soften toward her, forget that she was Eveline Armstrong and eventually think of her as Eveline Montgomery.

CHAPTER 28

Eveline didn’t remember her mother ever scrubbing floors as part of her duties as a laird’s wife, but it was also true, Eveline had spent little time inside the keep. And when she was indoors, she kept away from the main social areas.

During the long winter months and seemingly endless nights, she’d kept to her chamber in front of a roaring fire. Brodie and Aiden often came to visit her, and she enjoyed their company, even when they were saying nothing at all or merely conversing among themselves and not including her in the discussion.

Nora had insisted that true leaders led by example and if she wanted acceptance from her clansmen, she had to show them that she wasn’t above a little dirt on her hands.

It all made sense when Nora explained it, but now, when Eveline was on her hands and knees, up to her elbows in soapy water, the idea didn’t seem so sound any longer.

Still, she was too stubborn to cry off once she’d begun the task. She knew they watched her, and she wouldn’t allow them to see her in a weak moment. She’d scrub the floor until it shone. Even if it killed her.

When she’d done the entire hall, she could barely stand. Her back protested loudly when she straightened, and she was fairly certain she’d groaned aloud.

Wiping the hair from her face, she lugged the pail of now dirty water to the back entrance and tossed it onto the ground. In the distance, she saw a group of women playing with the children, and her mouth drooped. It would have been fun to be outside on such a glorious day.

She trudged back indoors and went into the small room just off the kitchen where many of the utility items were stored. Nora met her as she came out, an approving smile on her face.

“ ’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.

He caught Rorie as she was coming out of their father’s accounting room and he motioned her away from the hall where she was about to enter.

Rorie frowned, her brow wrinkling in question as she let Graeme pull her to the side.

“Is something amiss?” she asked.