Page 67 of In Bed with a Highland Brute

A voice called to Eloise in the chamber. Lifting her head out of the bath, she took a deep breath and looked around the room.

“Melady?”

“Ethel?” Eloise called to the maid, recognizing her padding on the other side of the screen.

“A note has arrived for ye.” Ethel poked her head around the screen keeping her eyes averted as she proffered forward the note.

“Thank ye, Ethel. I shall be out soon.” Eloise took the note and smiled at the maid, feeling much happier after seeing Avery recovering so well. Ethel parted, leaving Eloise to rest back against the edge of the bath once again as she broke the seal on the letter.

Her mind distracted as she moved her long legs beneath the water, she thought of the other reason she was so happy today. It was all to do with Murdoch and what he had done for her the night before.

Breaking the seal of the note, her eyes darted across the words.

‘Dear Eloise,

I know Avery might be out of danger, but I am still concerned. Aye, it is the truth that my heart cannae bear seeing me beloved husband in such a state. I wish tae talk openly with ye, let us share our woes, but nae where he can see us. Come take a walk with me on the cliffs overlooking the ocean at Glenfinnan this afternoon.

Yours,

Callie.’

There was something strange about the letter. Usually these days, Callie signed her name with just a ‘C’ when she wrote to Eloise, though Eloise figured in Callie’s distraught and nervous state that it was hardly a surprise she as not writing in her usual manner.

Determined to be there for her sister-in-law, Eloise closed up the note and dropped it onto a small table beside the bath, climbing out of the water.

“Eloise?” Murdoch called as he strode into the chamber.

There was no answer. He frowned as he looked around the room. He’d been searching for her for the last hour at least, and yet there was still no sign. They had talked about meeting in the library again for another reading lesson or he could teach her how to play chess again. Any time with her at this moment would be well received after he had been looking over the state of the soldiers all morning.

The Douglas soldiers had left their mark on the castle and on the men. It was agony to see, but Murdoch had to stay strong for his father and brother. What hurt him most was seeing the pained look on his father’s face. Poor Fergus felt he had let his kin down by not being better prepared for such an attack.

Nay one could have seen it coming. It was nae his fault.

Murdoch walked across the chamber when he caught sight of the droplets of water near the copper bath. He approached it, catching sight of an opened letter beside the bath resting on a table. He lifted the note, reading quickly – as quickly as he could - the words that had been written by Callie. By the time he was done, he was smiling.

There was something about the thought of Eloise running to her sister-in-law’s aid which touched him dearly. Eloise had a good heart. Maybe there was a time when he had been reluctant to see it, but he knew it now without a doubt.

Figuring that with Callie gone, he should go and check on Avery, he tucked the note into his doublet and left his chamber, hurrying through the keep and out of the courtyard, down the hill toward the healer’s cottage. As he reached the door, he tapped lightly and stepped inside.

“Avery?”

“Ye come tae see me too?” Avery called. “Aye, I’ve been having visitors all morning.”

Murdoch stepped through the open door and stalled when he saw Avery was indeed not alone. Ian and Aila were there, as was Clyde, and Callie too.

“Callie?” Murdoch muttered in surprise.

“Ye look shocked.” She giggled as she continued grinding some herbs in a pestle and mortar. “Where else would I be?”

“I thought…” Murdoch trailed off and reached for the letter in his pocket. Crossing the room, he passed the note into Callie’s hand. Her smile slipped from her face as she read the note.

“This isnae me handwriting. Murdoch, I didnae write this letter.”

“Ye didnae?” Murdoch asked, needing to be certain.

Wait… the cliffs.

Murdoch felt he had been struck by thunder as he realized exactly where Eloise had been asked to meet the writer of that letter.