Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

M urdoch stared at his father, slack jawed, wary of what was to follow.

"I have great news indeed. My eldest son, Murdoch, has returned with his own betrothed, Eloise MacLaren." He gestured toward the pair of them.

Murdoch's eyes darted to the crowds, noting the way they whispered and marveled, all eagerly craning their necks to look toward her. Ladies pointed at Eloise and gentlemen's eyes wandered. When Murdoch caught sight of his father's guard, MacArthur, staring at her a little too eagerly again, Murdoch stood taller, moving an inch in front of her though she did not appear to notice.

"Let us toast their happiness as well," Fergus said, holding his goblet in the air. "Tae Murdoch and Eloise."

There was general cheer and applause. Murdoch bowed his head in acknowledgement and Eloise curtsied, but the focus on them was not yet over.

"Kiss!" the crowd shouted, just as before.

"Aye, aye. Let them kiss!"

Och, this wasnae supposed tae happen.

Murdoch glanced at Eloise at his side. She'd blushed that pleasant shade of pink again that was so distracting, and in that dress, the allure was complete. Murdoch had resolved to try and look at her little tonight, for she was so captivating in that gown with much of her delicate neck and collarbone on show. It had his mind filling with images of playfully nipping her skin there, listening to her gasp.

Murdoch placed a hand to her hip and drew her toward him, not hesitating in placing his lips to hers. The kiss was sudden, though he kept it chaste, merely a press of lips together. The applause grew greater, and he could have pulled back, but then something happened.

Eloise's lips were soft beneath his own. She knew how to kiss and with her hand curling around his arm further, anchoring the two of them together, he had no wish to pull away at all.

"Ha! Well, well, looks like they'll be rushing tae the wedding night soon enough." Fergus' words echoed, making many people laugh, as he clapped Murdoch on the back, urging him to break the kiss.

Murdoch pulled back from Eloise, seeing that her cheeks were even redder than before.

"Ye were right," she whispered. "Ye are a good player after all."

He didn't manage any words as he released her and faced the room again.

I wasnae expecting a kiss such as that.

"Now, let us have some dancing, eh? Let us celebrate," Fergus declared warmly. The pipers' music struck up again and servers entered the room carrying trenchers and trays of more food, which was spread across the tables.

Murdoch sat down heavily in his seat, his eyes tracing Eloise beside him. She refused to look at him now and stared forward, reaching for the jug of wine. Murdoch reached it at the same time, and they had a repeat of the moment when they had pulled back from one another that night at the Chattan Castle.

"And here I thought ye werenae going tae jump in me presence anymore," Murdoch whispered, leaning on the chair arm as he poured out wine for the two of them.

"Can ye blame me after a kiss like that?"

Her question rooted him to the spot. He paused with the wine and met her gaze, seeing those bright blue orbs were restless.

"Ye were supposed tae just kiss me, nae tae kiss me… in that way."

"What way?"

"With passion!"

"That isnae a passionate kiss, Eloise," he said, chuckling beneath his breath. "Believe me, I can show ye a passionate kiss some time, but it is something much more intense than that." Her lips parted in a sort of wonder. Unsure what more to say to her, he lifted her goblet and pressed it into her grasp, urging her to move again. "What kisses have ye shared before that ye think a kiss like that passionate?"

"Ye ken my job," she whispered, turning her gaze down to her cup. "I never sold myself, but certain performances required the occasional kiss tae complete an illusion."

"Then I am sorry indeed. Have ye never had a true kiss? One where ye and the lover were caught up in the moment?" He smiled, expecting there to be one obvious answer, yet she turned away and stared at the room, hurriedly sipping from her goblet. "Wait, Eloise, have ye nae?"

"Let us nae talk of this anymore."

"Hard tae imagine," he muttered.

"What?"

"That nae man would have kissed ye by now fer a reason other than tae complete an illusion," he said with a shrug.

"I could have mistaken that for a compliment, Murdoch," she said, with the smallest of smiles. "After yer insults all day, it is welcome relief."

"I am nae so bad."

"Are ye nae?"

He couldn't answer her. They simply stared at one another as they lifted their goblets to their lips again.

Eloise walked away from the dancers and moved to the door, waiting for Murdoch to follow her. They had completed their illusion well for the night, staying by one another's side and talking. She asked him a lot about his life in this castle, but his answers had been evasive. He mostly freely spoke of his father and his brother, saying little about himself at all.

Now, Eloise was tired and needed to retire for the night. She caught his eye and hesitated by the door, knowing she would have to wait for him to follow her as they appeared to be sharing a room. He nodded from a distance, showing he had seen her signal, then he returned to the conversation he was having.

Eloise's brows knitted together as she watched him. He was talking intently with a young woman who she abruptly recognized. It was Harper's maid, the dark-haired woman who had been standing with Harper earlier that evening. She kept trailing her finger in a loose strand of hair that had fallen out of her updo and she smiled sweetly at Murdoch. When she giggled and placed her hand to Murdoch's arm, Eloise's stomach tightened into a knot.

Uncertain why it angered her so, she no longer waited by the door but moved toward him, circling the groups that stood and chatted in the room. When she reached his side, he didn't appear to notice her presence at first, for he was far too busy staring at the maid.

The closer Eloise moved, the more she saw just how beautiful the maid was. Those eyes were rather near together and large. There was such depth and darkness in them that she had a bewildering sort of attraction that Eloise supposed many men liked. She laughed once more at something he said, placing her hand on Murdoch's arm again.

"Murdoch?" Eloise caught his attention as she stood beside him.

"Ah, if you would excuse me, Beatrice." Murdoch bowed his head to her.

The maid's dark eyes shot to Eloise, with so much strength in them that Eloise nearly flinched. She fidgeted instead with the skirt of her gown, tearing her gaze away from the beautiful maid. As if it was an old habit, Murdoch laid a hand across her back and steered her away, moving with her to the door.

"I was coming. Believe me after the long ride today, I will be happy tae retire fer the night."

"Ye think I come tae yer side out of impatience?" She waited until they were out of the door then brushed his hand off her sharply. Looking around, she checked no one else was nearby. "Ye and I are supposed tae be creating an illusion of being in love."

"Aye?" He walked away from her, heading for the stairs.

"And yet ye stare at that beautiful maid with yer jaw practically on the floor." At her words, he halted halfway up the stairs and turned back to face her. "See? Just in that way." His jaw had slackened once more.

"Are ye angry, Eloise? I could have sworn that was a tone of jealousy in yer voice."

"Jealous? Pah!" She laughed and walked up the stairs, halting a few steps above him so that she was now at his head height. "I am warning ye merely that if ye want yer trick tae work, ye shall have tae pretend as if nae other here has taken yer liking but me. Dae ye think ye can dae that?"

"I was talking tae her, Eloise," he hissed, taking a step up so he was above her head once more.

"And what was she doing? Touching yer arm repeatedly?"

His lips parted and closed in shock, as if he had not noticed at all.

"She was hardly pawing at ye as if she didnae want yer attention, was she? Take care, Murdoch," Eloise warned as she turned and strode up the stairs. "Ye run the risk of halting our deception scarcely before it has begun."

He hurried up the stairs behind her. They trailed the dark corridors in silence, with not a word shared between them, occasionally passing through the shadows and lit sections where burning torches had been fastened to the castle walls. When they halted at his bedchamber, he led the way inside.

Eloise couldn't bear to look at Murdoch at that moment, fearing his liking for that maid could be about to ruin their act. She turned her focus to her bag instead and pulled out a nightgown that she laid on the bed, determined to sleep.

Moving to a small garderobe off the side of the chamber, she washed and splashed her face, trying to cool herself after she'd suffered much heat that night. She'd wished to blame the strong fires in that great hall, yet she feared there was something else afoot. Her hands had been particularly clammy whenever Murdoch had had to fake some affection toward her.

When she returned to the chamber, she found a figure on the bed. Halting, she jumped back, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. In the few rushlights they had spread around the room, the light was dim and flickering, barely enough to see the figure's face. Stepping forward, she peered at Murdoch's long form, seeing his eyes were closed. He was still fully clothed as he'd stretched out on the bed, and his snoring slowly filled the air. It was so loud that she squirmed at the sound of it.

She glanced to the other side of the bed, but there was no chance she was going to get in there now, even with him lying on top. Snatching the night gown away, she didn't bother to change into it, but slung it back toward her saddle bag and crossed the room. Shifting the chairs around the table, she stuffed two with loose cushions and laid out on top of them, blowing out the rushlight beside her and casting the room into darkness.

As her eyes closed, Murdoch's snores continued to fill the air.

How can I spend the next couple of weeks in this state?

"Ye cannae sleep again like that tonight," Murdoch said as he laid a hand to Eloise's back and followed her into the dining room where food had been set out for breakfast. He sent a hurried glance across the room, seeing his father sitting at the head of the table. Beside him was Clyde, and the two of them were laughing together about something. Harper was there, listening attentively to Clyde's story, as behind her, her maid offered forward a printed pamphlet for her to read.

Beatrice's dark eyes shot to Murdoch, and he hurried to glance away. That look had clearly been seen by Eloise, who purposefully reached back toward him, those urgent fingers resting on his bicep again.

"Remember what I said last night about this illusion. If ye wish it tae be believed, then ye cannae go tae her bed."

"I had nay intention too."

Eloise's narrowed gaze silenced him. He could hardly explain at this moment that he'd been once to Beatrice's bed already, but that was many years ago, long before he'd even been betrothed to Lillie and had stepped back from women altogether. Clearly, after the conversation he'd had with Beatrice the night before, she had no intention of forgetting it, even if he wished to.

"Eloise, ye willnae sleep on a chair again." He returned to his earlier conversation as they moved to the table.

"I wasnae going tae share yer bed."

"Ye will have tae."

"I beg yer pardon?"

"Tae sleep!" he hissed under his breath and turned to the table. Now they had reached their seats, they couldn't afford to talk anymore. He forced a smile for his father's and brother's sake and sat down, reaching for the coffee pot in the middle of the table.

"Here they are," Fergus said with some delight then pretended to whisper to Clyde. "I'd ask them why it took so long for them tae rouse from their chamber, but I fear hearing the answer." He and Clyde guffawed with laughter as Murdoch looked at Eloise with triumph in his eyes. She looked away, chewing her lip, as he considered that completing this performance would be much easier if his father just kept leaping to such conclusions.

"Father, ye're making them uncomfortable," Clyde said between fits of laughter. "Our father has been wondering this morning if ye two have set a date yet."

"A date?" Eloise spluttered beside Murdoch. Under the table, Murdoch laid a hand on her leg, trying to calm her. She stilled very suddenly in her seat beside him, and he realized just how high up he'd unintentionally touched her thigh. He retrieved his hand quickly, trying not to think of what that touch had done to him.

"Nae, we havenae," Murdoch said simply. "But we are here fer yer wedding, are we nae?" he asked, gesturing between Clyde and Harper.

The two of them smiled at once. Harper was a quiet soul indeed, but as Clyde offered his hand to her on the table, she placed it hurriedly in his, without hesitation. Murdoch found himself comforted at that touch.

The relationship between him and Lillie had been a warm one, even if they hadn't yet reached love. It was some strange comfort to him now that Lillie's sister, Harper, might be able to love Clyde.

Aye, maybe those two can have the happiness which we were nae so fortunate enough tae have.

"That we are," Clyde said, looking at his betrothed with a softness in his eyes.

The maid behind Harper offered Murdoch another sweet smile before she retreated from the room. He felt Eloise's hand take hold of his thigh, in clear warning not to return that look. Just as he had touched her too high on her leg, she returned the favor and gripped so close to his hip that he started. Struggling to stay calm under the table, he felt his length twitch, all too aware of how close that touch was.

Fortunately, no one else at the table appeared to notice. They were all too busy looking at Clyde.

"Soon, son, it will be soon indeed," Fergus said and offered the coffee pot back toward Clyde. "I have invited some more guests, so we must wait for their arrival before we decide on a firm date."

Murdoch and Eloise exchanged uncertain looks. He could see in her expression what was on his own mind. With no date firmly set upon yet for Clyde's and Harper's wedding, they could end up being here much longer than they had both intended.

"What are the next plans for the celebrations?" Murdoch asked, hoping to change the subject and urge Eloise to release him. Slowly, her fingers did release his thigh, but the heat still traveled up his leg, as if her fingers had remained there.

"We have another feast tonight," Fergus explained.

"Another?" Clyde said in surprise.

"Aye, tae welcome more of our guests. I have some announcements tae make tonight as well."

"What announcements?" Harper asked, leaning forward.

"Ah, my dear, that is me secret fer now." Fergus tapped his nose and chuckled deeply. "Dinnae fear, fer they are good announcements indeed."

Murdoch glanced at Eloise beside him, to find she was staring back at him.

It looks like we will be here for a little longer yet, Eloise.