Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

" W hy so many questions?" Eloise downed the mead from the cup in her hands, desperate to do something other than face the constant interrogation of Callie and Aila.

"When did it begin?" Aila asked hurriedly, not even bothering to answer Eloise's question. "Who started courting whom?"

"Hard tae imagine Murdoch proposing at all," Callie laughed deeply. "He's so quiet a fellow. I half imagine him just taking yer hand and getting down on one knee, without actually saying the words. Oh, is that what happened?"

"Nay!" Eloise declared with vigor as Ian swept the empty cup out of her hand and replace it with a full one. She took it gladly, noting the look of humor in his eyes. "I'm stuck here now, am I nae?"

"Aye. Me wife and sister-in-law willnae let ye free until ye answer them."

"Oh, in the name of the wee man –" She was cut off as both women simultaneously thought of more questions.

"When did he ask ye tae marry him?"

"How close are ye two exactly? I take it ye havenae already married in secret. Imagine Avery's reaction if that was the case?"

"Callie!" Aila held her hand over her mouth in shock.

"What? They are clearly adept at keeping secrets, so we have tae ask the question," Callie said, affecting a look of innocence.

"Of course, we arenae wed yet." Eloise tipped more mead back to her lips, hardly caring to drink it with any degree of propriety anymore, or even slowly. All she wanted was an escape. Her heart jittered in her chest and her breathing came fast.

"Look out, here they come," Ian said, pointing across the room. Eloise turned to see Murdoch and Avery had returned to the room.

At least Avery nay longer looks as if he will murder Murdoch. That is something.

"Come on, Eloise. How did it happen?" Callie pleaded, tugging on her arm. "There must be something ye can tell us. Who initiated the first kiss?"

"How long ago did it happen?"

"Oh God." Eloise couldn't handle it anymore. Murdoch was not crossing the room half so quickly as she would have liked, and she feared that if Aila and Callie kept asking her so many questions, she would soon cave and give away the secret.

It is all a ruse. A complete and utter lie that ye have all fallen fer.

With a fresh lightness in her head because of all the mead, an idea occurred to her. If she pretended to swoon from all the liquor, that would stop any further questions from being asked, and she would certainly be unable to answer them anymore.

She placed the cup down on the nearest table beside her, drowning out the constant questions.

"I bet it was Murdoch. It was, was it nae?" Aila asked.

"Nay. It had tae be Eloise tae start it. He's too quiet tae dae such a thing himself. Am I right, Eloise? Oh, Eloise!" Callie cried as Eloise slipped to the side.

She closed her eyes, pretending to faint and dropping to the floor. There was a collective cry of panic and surprise from this side of the room, but fortunately the pipers were playing so loudly and there was so much jollity that not everyone in the room noticed.

Eloise discretely stopped herself from smacking her head on the floor, with her palm planted under her head, before she fell completely still. With her eyes firmly closed, above her she heard a commotion of people moving around her.

"Goodness, was it the heat?" Aila asked in panic.

"Ian, take this." Callie must have thrust her own cup into Ian's hands. "I ken what tae dae."

Oh, I am a fool. I am pretending tae faint in front of a healer.

It was too late to change tactic now though, and Eloise had to commit to the act. She laid perfectly still, making her breath shallow and reasonably fast. She felt Callie's warm hand move to her cheek and her forehead, checking for a temperature, then she checked her breathing.

"Is it the liquor?" Ian asked. "We should move her."

"Aye, it could be the liquor. How much did she have?" Callie asked in panic.

"God only kens how much I filled up her cup as ye two asked her an insatiable number of questions."

"Us?" Aila asked with innocence. "Ye were the one tae fill up her cup, Ian."

"She drank it."

"What in God's name is going on?" The sudden firm voice caught Eloise's attention. She had to stop her body from flinching as she heard Murdoch's deep tones.

Callie's hand left her face and Murdoch replaced her, a large hand on her shoulder.

"Step back, Callie," Murdoch pleaded.

"I am the healer among us."

"And I am her betrothed." Murdoch leaned down toward her, his face coming so near that his scent wafted toward her. He must have walked out in the garden near heavily pollinated flowers, as her nose began to tickle.

Oh nay. I cannae sneeze when I'm supposed tae be unconscious.

She held her breath, terrified she would be discovered at any moment.

"It could be the liquor," Aila confessed in a hurry. "She drank quite a lot."

"Then I shall get her tae our chamber tae sleep it off." Murdoch's hand reached for Eloise again.

"Wait… yer chamber? Ye said our chamber?" Avery's voice was firm once more. "Dinnae tell me –"

"Oh, Avery, calm yerself," Callie said dismissively. "If he is going tae marry yer sister, then he'll be doing much more than just sharing her chamber."

Everyone laughed apart from Avery and Murdoch. Eloise was rolled into Murdoch's arms, but coming so near him, that tickling feeling under her nose only grew worse. She tried to keep herself as limp as possible as he lifted her from the floor. Her head rested against his shoulder, her arms loose, with one at her side and one curled in her lap. The fast-paced music started to fade, suggesting they were leaving the room.

Behind them, voices followed. Clearly, their friends were reluctant to let them go just yet.

"God's blood, this is a mess," Avery muttered.

"Husband, if ye are just going tae curse all night, go and have yerself a drink." Callie attempt to dismiss him. "We need tae care fer Eloise at this time."

"Ye think I am nae trying tae dae that?"

Ian abruptly launched into song.

" Oh, tae celebrate a wedding, a Scotsman's wedding!

We'll drink, we'll dance, and a merry bunch we'll be."

The traditional tune filled the air as he laughed warmly. "Nae quite an accurate song, is it?"

"Ian!" Aila must have elbowed him once more for he ‘oomph-ed' but a second later.

"If ye would excuse me, I am going tae get Eloise somewhere she can rest. She needs tae be alone," Murdoch pleaded with them. "Avery, if ye wish tae be of use, find the castle healer."

"I am a healer. I can look at her," Callie insisted.

Eloise peeked open an eye, enough that Murdoch could see her. On the top step, he practically stumbled, carrying her. She stiffened, fearing he would drop her. She subtly shook her head, and he winked, showing he understood.

He now kens it is fake.

"Nay, Callie," he said as Eloise closed her eyes once more. "The healer here in this castle has already checked on her yesterday when she arrived. It was a long ride, it tired her out. I'd rather he saw her again."

"Well..." Callie huffed but didn't object again. "Perhaps it was the liquor? Or the heat in that room?"

"Maybe the surprise of being discovered?" Ian said with a snigger.

"Are ye still talking?" Aila's attempts to shut him up appeared to fall on deaf ears.

"Enough, please," Murdoch pleaded as they passed into the next corridor. As he shifted Eloise in his arms, that tickling feeling under her nose returned. She breathed in sharply, holding her breath as she tried to mask it. Murdoch strode so far ahead of the others now, that he could whisper to her. "Eloise? What's wrong?"

"I… I…" She breathed in sharply, tipping her head back a little. He clearly saw what was about to happen. As she sneezed, he tossed forward his head as if he was the one who had sneezed. Eloise clamped her lips together to stop herself from laughing.

"Pah!" Ian called. "Ye sneeze as a woman would Murdoch!"

Eloise peeked open an eye to see Murdoch winking at her.

Thank God! He is a much better player than I first gave him credit fer.

When they entered their chamber, the fire was already raging, casting strong amber light across the room. Murdoch crossed straight to the bed and laid her down on top of it, releasing her slowly.

Eloise grew all too aware of the way his fingers brushed her. The hand that left her waist lingered a moment as he leaned over her, his eyes searching her face. She closed her eyes as the others ran into the room behind him.

"Please, let me look at her, Murdoch." Callie pleaded. Her voice was close to the bed, but from the complaint she put up next, Eloise guessed that Murdoch had caught her arm before she could reach Eloise and urged her back again.

"Nay, I couldnae ask it of ye after yer long journey. Ye should all return tae the great hall and get some food. Ye havenae eaten yet, have ye?"

"Nay, but who can think of food when there is such entertainment tae be had here, eh?" Ian asked with humor. "Each time Avery looks at ye, ye look ready tae jump from the window tae save yer own life."

"Well, ye can laugh at my expense tomorrow if ye so wish. Come, time tae leave. Eloise needs tae rest. Whether it's tiredness or liquor, the bed will do her good, and the healer will come tae check on her."

There was collective complaint, but Eloise could distinctly tell that all the voices were moving toward the door. All she felt was the brush of a hand against her own, a touch she presumed to be her brother's, before they reached the doorway.

"One thing more, Murdoch," Avery said, his voice deep.

"Aye?"

"Ye and I will talk tomorrow about how ye and me sister are sharing a chamber."

"Aye, aye, ye can kill me for it then, just please, let her rest."

The door closed loudly.

Eloise didn't move. She waited, listening to the voices and the footsteps that hurried away down the corridor. When soon all she could hear was Murdoch's heavy breathing, she sat up on the bed, her eyes shooting open.

"Good God, what a mess!" she declared loudly.

"Aye, ye could say that." Murdoch stood against the door, his hands on his knees as he leaned forward and stared at the floorboards. The strong light of the fire danced across his features, making it seem as if it had been cast in bronze. "Avery…"

"Aye, he may well kill ye."

"He may," Murdoch grunted and stood straight. "What the hell are we going tae dae?" He crossed the room toward the bed, hurrying up the two levels to get nearer to her. "Yer brother made me promise nae tae hurt ye, and it is a vow I made. How can we possibly avoid this wedding now?"

His words made Eloise flinch on the bed.

It's as if we cannae avoid it.

Eloise stiffened, her hands tightening around the fur covers beneath her. Was it possible that she and Murdoch could marry after all? What would that life even be like?

She imagined walking down an aisle toward him, greeting him at the altar, only to be met with another one of those kisses she could not stop thinking about. There would be celebration, dancing with more pipers, and more stolen kisses and brushes of hands. The excitement led to a flash of what the wedding night could be like. She saw herself on the bed where she sat now, but she was wearing nothing, with Murdoch above her. Her legs were around his hips as he entered her. Her head tipped back moaning his name as he drove the two of them together.

"Eloise!"

"What?" She looked around at him again, praying he had not noticed how quick her breathing had become.

"What are we going tae dae?" He marched around the bed. She scrambled to kneel up at the very edge, trying to catch his eye, but he looked anywhere but her as he paced. Sometimes his hands went for his hips, other times they went for his waistcoat, haphazardly adjusting it in his stress. "I dinnae wish tae marry. I cannae dae it."

"Why dae ye object tae the idea of marriage altogether?" He glanced at her briefly, that now familiar glare set upon her. "I'm beginning tae think yer glare isnae something tae be so frightened of."

"Ye think nae?" He halted in front of her, standing at the foot of the bed as she knelt between the two posts, her hands on either one as she stared back at him.

"Ye trying tae intimidate me now?" She smiled a little. "There is nothing so frightening of that glare." It grew deeper still. "I could get rid of it." She felt mischievous as she smiled at him, nearly at his tall height.

"Ye want a wager on that?"

"Let me see." She leaned toward him and kissed him so fast that he didn't have time to respond. It was a mere brush of their lips together, yet it had the same effect their other kisses had done, making at tingle pass through her body. As she moved back again, she caught sight of the shock, his eyebrows shooting up across his temple. "I win our wager," she said with satisfaction.

"This isnae the time fer jests, Eloise." He walked away from her, returning to his pacing. The thought that maybe the kiss had had no effect on him at all made her sink down on her haunches. Even as she tested the waters, he pulled back from her.

Whatever I feel here, I feel it alone. He doesnae feel the same way.

"Ye havenae answered me question," she murmured.

"What was it?"

"Ye ken what it was. Why dae ye object tae the idea of yer father pushing ye intae a marriage so much?" she urged, resting her chin in the palm of her hands as she sat cross legged.

"I…" He halted, his back to her as he faced the fire. He kicked a log into the fire, watching the flames spit and dance into the air.

"Ye prefer tae stay silent when ye dinnae wish tae talk of something, dae ye nae?" Eloise observed, though part of her argued against it, even as she said it. For all of Murdoch's usual reserve and silence, he had not been so reserved with her over the last few days. He'd been a different man; one of strength and mystery.

Her eyes lingered on him far longer than they should have as he slowly turned around to face her, putting his back to the flames.

"I was tae marry once before." His words startled her so much, she knelt up on the bed again. "It was a few years ago now. I was tae marry Harper's sister. Me father was keen fer an alliance between the clans."

"Ye were in love?" Her stomach knotted, for some reason, she wasn't sure she wished to hear his answer.

"Nae exactly." It was an enigmatic answer, leaving her reeling as he faced the wall and rested his hands on the mantelpiece, looking into the flames. "Something happened tae her. After that, I just… I dinnae think I can marry again, least of all someone I care fer. Aye, if I could dae the whole construct, satisfy my father's wishes and be married conveniently, maybe then that would be something. Yet I willnae care fer a bride again."

Eloise's hands shook as they fidgeted in her lap. She didn't know what to be more shocked at, the idea that Murdoch was to marry once, or that he had cared for a woman. She felt strange sitting on his bed, where another woman should have sat, to have kissed him at all, when another woman should have kissed him. Another woman should have danced with him tonight and listened to the raucous applause of people celebrating Murdoch and the woman he had truly cared for.

I shouldnae be here, but she is sadly gone. Did she die? Is that what Murdoch hinted at?

Feeling small, she slid to the end of the bed and stepped off it, leaning against one of the posts. A mad idea occurred to her, one that could satisfy his need to marry for convenience, whilst ensuring Avery and Scarlett never found out what she truly did.

It has tae stay hidden, nay matter what the consequences, even if that means binding me tae a man who has refused tae care fer a woman again.

"Well, if ye are happy tae marry for convenience, I ask ye this, Murdoch." She waited until he lifted his head, clearly paying attention to her words. "What if ye and I were tae marry after all?"