Page 76 of In Bed with a Highland Brute

How did she get me down here? She must have planned it well tae avoid being seen.

As Eloise pulled at the ropes around her wrists, shifting her feet to try and tear at the bindings across her ankles too, a sound caught her ears. That sound made her completely freeze.

In the distance, she heard pipes. It was joyous music, and an all too familiar tune to her. It was the song that was played at the end of weddings in this part of the highlands. With her jaw hanging open, she realized in horror why exactly her gown had been taken.

Another has taken me place.

She must have put the veil over her face to hide her features completely, then taken Eloise’s place in the church. Eloise’s good sense wished to argue against such a possibility. After all, wouldn’t Murdoch have noticed it wasn’t her? Surely Avery, who had known her for her whole life, would recognize something was off? They were the same height but still…

This doesnae make sense!

That music grew louder, suggesting the pipers were even nearer than before. When she realized there was a possibility that Murdoch was with the pipers, leading the crowds toward the feasting room, she tried to call out again. Yet each word was dampened, the cries merely strained and animalistic noises that escaped her lips. No words were uttered cleanly, and nothing made sense.

Tears wracked her body as she gave up, bending her body as far forward as she physically could do again. Her stomach trembled with those cries as she didn’t bother trying to get a handle of her breathing.

She has ruined everything. What does she plan tae dae with me now?

Eloise realized that this woman was already capable of a lot. She had drugged Eloise with that mead laced with some sort of sedative. She had then dragged Eloise from her chamber all the way to the dungeons, which was no small feat. It took strength, planning, and a lot of gall to do that whilst risking being seen. She wasn’t just determined but mad, for what else would have persuaded her to take such a risk?

Eloise closed her eyes as she thought of the face that was revealed to her when that hood had slipped down. She remembered the eyes she had once thought were rather sweet, and how they had stared back at her, with such hardness that Eloise wondered how she could ever have been so mistaken about the woman’s character at all.

I must get away from here.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“Eloise, please, take off the veil.” Murdoch hissed in her ear. He’d grown tired of this now. He’d stood beside her dutifully and been as patient as he possibly could, whilst the celebrations carried on around them. Most people took to the floor dancing, and it seemed almost every couple did apart from them. The one time that Murdoch had attempted to draw Eloise forward, she resisted, pulling his hand back again. “What is wrong? If ye didnae wish tae marry me, then why did ye agree tae it in church?”

Her fingers entwined with his own. It was a clear sign that she didn’t wish to refuse him and wanted this marriage too, but there was still something strange about that touch.

It just doesnae feel right.

When Fergus’ last toast to their happiness was finished, Murdoch knocked back his wine, so angered that he didn’t mind the idea of being in his cups for the rest of the evening. On Fergus’ other side sat Clyde, who had barely said a word all evening as the chair where Harper was supposed to be sitting was empty. Beatrice was nowhere to be seen either. On the dance floor were Ian and Aila, enjoying themselves, whilst off to the side sat Avery and Callie. Avery sat still, clearly looking after his wound, though he repeatedly glanced at Eloise.

Murdoch could hardly blame him for it. It appeared he was not the only one to be bothered by Eloise’s strange behavior all day.

“Nae more of this.” He turned to face her in the chair, tired of this frustration. “Take off the veil.”

She shook her head but pointed upward with her finger to the ceiling. It was a subtle sign of what she did want.

“Our chamber? Aye, very well.” At least then he might get a glimpse beneath that veil and discover what was so wrong with her today. He waited until Fergus was completely distracted, dragged to the floor by one of the widows in the clan, then he took his opportunity to leave. Murdoch offered Eloise his hand and crept out of the door. He glanced back once to see that only one person noticed their departure – Avery. The frown on his face only deepened a little, but he did nothing to stop them.

It was late afternoon now, with the light dipping in the sky. Not yet evening, no candles had been lit in the castle, so the light through the windows was grey as Murdoch led Eloise back to their chamber. He stepped inside hurriedly, casting her hand out of his.

“I dinnae understand ye.” For some reason, he couldn’t bear holding that hand right now. He wanted to see Eloise again first. “After what passed between us the other day, ye give me the cold shoulder our entire wedding day?”

He turned to face her. She walked toward him, shaking her head.

“Have ye become a mute and lost the power of yer tongue?” he hissed in a low tone, backing up from her and colliding with the door. He had no idea why he was backing up from her after what they had already shared between them. All he knew was that this didn’t feel right.

She shrugged, the only sign she gave of communicating with him at all.

“I’m reaching the end of my tether here,” he muttered darkly.

She stepped away and reached toward the table in their chamber. In the middle of the table on a copper tray was a silver jug, engraved with the clan emblem. She lifted the jug and poured out two cups. Murdoch cocked his head to the side as he watched her movements.

Something isnae right about that.

He’d seen Eloise pour out wine and mead many times by now, yet today, she held the jug in a slightly different way. It was something he felt deeply in his gut as he stared at her.