Page 44 of In Bed with a Highland Brute

Murdoch thought only of that kiss. Eloise might have done it at his request to complete an illusion, but God was she a good kisser when the time called for it. His hand at her waist softened, his fingers merely a caress as they rested on the curve of her corset. The hand that had pulled tightly on his waistcoat also grew gentle, her fingers toying softly with the top button.

Murdoch angled his head toward Eloise, capturing Eloise’s lips completely with his own and sneaking something a little deeper, determined to taste her. Wrapped up in her scent of bergamot and rose, he could not pull away.

Her kisses. Aye, they are dangerous.

“Ye can put her down now,” Avery called across the loch.

Murdoch pulled back sharply from Eloise, though his hand stayed at her waist.

“Avery!” Eloise complained loudly. “Did ye want me tae be yer guard dog before ye married Callie? Because there was a lot I could have said.”

“She has a point, ye ken,” Callie said as she clambered back out of the loch. “Ye should respect yer sister’s wishes.”

“Nae always as easy as it seems,” Avery muttered, his glare settling on Murdoch once more.

He walked with Eloise back to the picnic, meeting Avery’s gaze.

I willnae hurt Eloise. I will hold true tae that promise, but it is hard tae stop such kisses.

“Well, ye shouldnae be so upset by a kiss,” Ian laughed at Avery’s side. “If he’d seen what we had seen…” He trailed off and looked at his wife. Aila froze as she followed her sister out of the loch.

“Enough, Ian!”

“Saw what?” Avery sat forward, sudden panic on his face.

“Nothing.” Murdoch hurried to the picnic blanket and tossed a small pork pie into the air toward Avery. He busied himself with catching it, and Murdoch prayed it was enough of a distraction to stop him asking anymore questions. The plan worked as Callie playfully tackled Avery, trying to get the pie for herself.

I dinnae need Avery finding out about how Ian and Aila saw us together. He’d kill me if he thought I had already taken her virtue.

Murdoch looked at Eloise at his side, who blushed the deepest shade of red he had ever seen. She put herself behind his arm, hiding a little, her quiet nature so plain to read that he stared at her. He’d accused her before of the demure and proper act, but as he looked at her now with that great blush, he knew it was not always an act. Eloise felt things keenly. Taught to always be the fine lady by her parents, he supposed people making such crude jokes around her made her ill at ease indeed.

He offered her his hand, drawing her to sitting on a log nearby. She perched primly as he sat beside her, his knees spread wide and his posture nowhere near as good as her own.

Aye, we make an odd match, the others must think it.

Food was passed around as Harper and Beatrice returned. Harper sat beside Clyde, and more than once he tried to draw her into conversation, but Murdoch observed there was a reticence to Harper today. It was not a match of love, but Murdoch prayed that in time, Clyde could love Harper.

“Sir? Sir!” one of the guards that had been trailing them at a distance appeared between the trees. In his hands was a slip of paper, one that he proffered in front of Murdoch.

“What’s this?” Murdoch asked, staring uncertainly at the paper as the other guards approached the Loch. The three of them sat down by the water, passing their own food between them.

“A message from the warden of the castle. I forgot tae give it tae ye before we left.”

“Thank ye.” Murdoch continued to stare at the folded paper as the guard retreated to sit with the others.

They expect me tae read.

Murdoch was aware of Ian’s gaze upon him. After all, Ian knew he could not read. Slowly, Murdoch unfurled the note, uncertain what else he should do. His eyes darted across the lettering, but he knew so little, he couldn’t even form the words. Ian leaned forward, as if ready to take the note. Murdoch’s embarrassment piqued. He had no wish for so many around him to discover the truth – that he was an ill-educated oaf who could not read.

“Let me see,” Eloise declared, shifting on the log beside him and playfully snatching the note.

“Oi,” he said in surprise as she laughed and leaned against him.

“Well, ye better get used tae my annoying ways if ye are tae marry me,” she said loud enough for the others to hear. They all laughed and returned to their food. With their attention elsewhere, she leaned on his shoulder and whispered the note in his ear. “The warden warns ye that adders have been seen around the loch here recently. We should take care.”

“Aye, very well.” Murdoch took the note from her and hurried to place it in his pocket. Stunned that she had been kind enough to not only distract the others, but then to read the note for him, he shifted toward her, wanting to show his gratitude. He reached for a fresh pie and held it up to her, then wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his side. He had to pray she understood his silent gratitude, and she seemed to, for she smiled and hung her head a little as she tore into the pie. “That demure look again,” he whispered.

Purposefully, she lifted her head and met his gaze with a smile.