Page 61 of In Bed with a Highland Brute

Where the idea of a marriage of convenience had seemed so logical before, all of a sudden it seemed strange, as if she had been struck by a wave of the ocean that had brought her such a thought.

Determined to escape the revelers and be alone with her own thoughts, she put down the tankard of mead and hurried to the door on the side of the hall, stepping out onto the terraced gardens. She didn’t dare wander far, not after the hooded men she had meet in the garden two days before, but she stood on the top terrace, clinging to the stonework that bordered the walls as she breathed in the cool air, hoping it would bring some clarity of thought to her mind.

“Eloise?” Callie’s voice sounded from behind her. Eloise glanced back to see her sister-in-law approaching. “Is all well? Is it yer ankle?” She gestured down to her ankle.

“A little sore, that is all.” She raised herself on the stone wall and turned around, so she faced out to the gardens with her back to the ballroom as Callie stopped by her side. “Ye should return tae the feast.”

“As should ye,” Callie said with a knowing smile. “What is it? What is on yer mind? We are here tae celebrate yer betrothal, yet ye are the one running away from the festivities.”

“I am nae running. I cannae.” Eloise attempted to jest, wriggling her leg in emphasis, but Callie merely frowned at her. “Ye’ve got that frown from me brother, ye ken that?”

“Well, maybe he and I are quite alike.” Callie smiled. “Now come, tell me, what is wrong.”

“It is nothing.” Eloise sighed deeply, letting her eyes dance across the dark horizon. She could just make out the hills silhouetted against the stars and the moon. “Perhaps I am a little nervous about the wedding. That is all.”

“That is only natural.” Callie leaned beside her on the wall. “I was nervous myself. If ye wish tae talk properly, Eloise, ye ken ye can always talk tae me, dae ye nae? If ye wish tae discuss anything about marriage, any questions ye have, I can help.”

Eloise reached for Callie’s hand on the wall and patted it, comforted by the words.

“Thank ye, Callie. Ye are good tae me but worry nae for me this evening. All I need is a breath of fresh air.”

“Very well, but return tae the great hall soon, aye?”

“Aye, as ye wish.” Eloise released Callie’s hand and watched her return inside. After she had gone, Eloise faced the hills once more, breathing in the chilly air as she thought of all that was running through her mind. Marriage… commitment… Murdoch… what they had done…

She could still remember the heat of his touch, the excitement. When he’d withdrawn from her the morning after, she could only make one conclusion.

He changed his mind. He has decided he doesnae want me after all.

Footsteps approached behind her, and Eloise presumed it was Callie again, or maybe even Avery, determined to pull her back inside. Then a pair of hands slowly took hold of her waist.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Nae need tae jump,” Murdoch whispered in Eloise’s ear, nervous when he felt her flinch so much in his grasp.

“Murdoch!” She gasped, placing a hand on her chest. “God, ye frightened me.”

“I am sorry. I couldnae resist when I saw ye were out here.” He turned her waist, urging her to shift on the wall and move to face him. Slowly, she did, her expression revealed to him. She was frowning, with her lips pressed together. “I daresay I deserve that expression after what I said tae ye two days ago.” He sighed, knowing the words had haunted him ever since he had dared to utter them.

“Ye confuse me,” Eloise whispered, planting her hands on the wall and leaning a little back from him. He stepped closer to her, ending up standing between her knees with her gown pressing against his hips. She had worn that deep red gown again, the one that had driven him mad the last time he had seen her in it. Tonight, it had just the same effect, making his mind run wild with imaginings.

He thought of taking her back to their bedchamber, repeating what they had done the other night, but then going further. What if he kissed her in such a private place and drove her to an oblivion of pleasure with his tongue? Would she moan his name then and twist the bedsheets beneath her with her hands? He thought of taking her body completely with his own, driving his length into her from behind and watching her back arch.

“Why are ye looking at me like that?” she murmured, her eyes frowning. “Why are ye standing so close tae me? Ye didnae seem tae want much tae dae with me the other day, after we…”

“Ah, Eloise.” He grimaced and planted his palm down on the wall, on either side of her own, so they were brought close together. “Ye have haunted my thoughts ever since.”

“Me?” Her brows shot up. “The woman ye have barely looked at since.”

“With good reason.”

“What possible reason?” she spluttered.

“Trying tae resist ye.” At his words, her lips parted and closed, then she tilted her head to the side, watching him closely.

“Why bother resisting?” The way she asked such a question tempted him to throw her over his shoulder and take her to his bedchamber at that moment.

“Let us say this.” He raised a hand and caressed her cheek, remembering the way she had leaned into his touch the night after she had been sedated. She didn’t lean into him now, but neither did she pull away. “My past plagues me. Fears plague me, and it is them I was running from. Nae ye.”