Page 43 of In Bed with a Highland Brute

“Yer mother?” Eloise turned in the saddle, realizing she had heard so little of his mother. In fact, she realized she hadn’t heard him mention her at all. “What happened tae her?”

“She died.” He didn’t look at her but stared across the loch. “Let us leave it at that.”

He slipped down off the saddle. Without him beside her, she felt colder than before and wished, despite all of their teasing, that he had stayed there a little longer.

Eloise realized as he turned to walk away to greet Clyde, who was carrying the picnic basket on his horse, that she and Murdoch had a shared experience. They had both lost their mothers. She would have liked to have shared something of herself and learned more about him too.

Distracted with these thoughts, she barely paid attention as the others arrived and they prepared their picnic. Both Aila and Callie, despite the cold, braved paddling in the shallows of the loch, with Callie complaining dramatically and her sister laughing at her for it. Murdoch and Clyde sat nearby, talking intently together as they lit a fire to cook the food. Judging from the way they gestured, Eloise deduced they spoke of battle and their scars. The brothers looked closer than she had yet seen them, leaning toward one another and happily drinking from the flagons of ale they had brought with them.

Setting up by the food were Avery and Ian. Though both men kept looking toward their wives at the loch, they were distracted by the promise of food. Eloise sat with her brother for many minutes, certain that he would ask her more questions about Murdoch. To her surprise, he didn’t, but he watched her intently. He appeared to watch her the most when she glanced Murdoch’s way.

Is he suspicious that there is something more afoot here?

There was one who didn’t sit with the others but perched at a distance. Harper sat amongst the flowers, pulling at the thistles and the small heather flowers that were dropping petals. Behind her, the maid, Beatrice, wandered back and forth, collecting a posy for her mistress.

Well, we are tae be sisters-in-law, are we nae?

Eloise looked at Harper and the way she chewed her lip as she toyed with the flowers. Eloise had seen firsthand how close sisters-in-law could be. She was good friends with Callie, her own sister-in-law, and Scarlett was particularly close with both Aila and Callie. With a little luck, Eloise could have that relationship with Harper.

Leaving her brother’s curious stares behind, Eloise moved around the loch to where Harper sat amongst the flowers. Beatrice paused in her task with the flowers and glared at Eloise, before returning to her task. Eloise chose not to engage with such glares as she sat beside Harper.

“These are beautiful,” she murmured in appreciation as Harper pulled at the flowers.

“Aye, this heather is unique tae this part of Scotland. I have only ever seen it in this clan.” She sighed, rather wistfully and passed one of the flowers to Eloise. “Beautiful indeed.”

“Forgive me for asking, Harper, fer we dinnae ken each other well yet, but I’d like to ken ye.” Eloise sat forward, noting as she spoke that Harper only managed sad smiles. “Are ye well? Is there something that worries ye?”

“Aye, I’m fine.” Harper smiled a little more, genuinely this time. “I guess I am just nervous ahead of the wedding.” She glanced across the loch, clearly in Clyde’s direction as he sat beside Murdoch. Sidling closer to Eloise, she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “It is a lot, is it nae? Tae bind yerself tae a man forever.”

“Aye, it is.” Eloise’s hands fidgeted around the fire as she considered that was exactly what she was doing. She was prepared to bind herself to Murdoch, for convenience, and to avoid Avery discovering the truth about her being an escort for the sake of her father. Clearing her throat, she tried to clear her mind, returning her focus on Harper and her discussion of Clyde. “Ye two are friends though, are ye nae?”

“Aye, we are.” Harper nodded, looking toward Clyde again. “But a marriage, it is a huge thing. I just wish my nerves would calm themselves.” She let out a jittery breath. “Ye must feel the same, surely? With yer marriage tae Murdoch so near now.”

“I cannae deny that.” Eloise nodded and glanced toward Murdoch. He said something to his brother, stood, and walked Eloise’s way. Distracted, her eyes danced across his tall figure and the athletic stance, as well as his dark black hair that was tousled by the wind.

I need tae get control of meself!

Turning to face Harper, she offered her hand. Harper seemed surprised, her eyes widening, but she took it.

“We shall be sisters then, though, shall we nae? And I’d like us tae be close, if we can.”

“I’d like that too.” Harper smiled sweetly.

Eloise could see how nice Harper truly was. She might have been a nervous sort, quiet, and with the constant maid at her side who was excessively beautiful indeed, Eloise was not surprised that Harper kept sending her nervous looks too.

Does she fear Beatrice setting her cap at Clyde the way she has done Murdoch?

Any question Eloise was about to ask died on her tongue as Murdoch’s shadows passed over her.

“Apologies, Harper, I have come tae steal me betrothed away.” Murdoch took Eloise’s hand and pulled her to her feet. Eloise smiled at Harper and turned away, shifting an accusing glare at Murdoch.

“I may have agreed tae marry ye, but I am nae yers tae order around and drag from place tae place like mutton,” she muttered as they walked away.

“Clyde was suspicious of how ye and I started courting. I need ye tae complete the illusion now,” Murdoch whispered in her ear, wrapping his arm around her waist as they walked side by side along the loch.

“Very well, ye have yer wish.” Eloise turned to face him completely and planted her hand to the center of his waistcoat, pulling him down toward her.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN