Page 12 of In Bed with a Highland Brute

Why does that feel so good?

“I changed me mind. I willnae marry just because me father wills it. Come, Eloise. Where did that affection go ye managed tae manufacture so easily a minute ago?”

“I’ll give ye affection.” She moved her foot and pressed the heel of her boot down on his toe, hiding the action with the skirt of her gown. He grunted, trying to mask the sound as he coughed. She gave a small smile of satisfaction.

“Andrews, McArthur. This is Eloise. Someday, she’ll be lady of the Gordon clan.” Laird Gordon gestured toward her.

Eloise froze, realizing that was the implication of this faked betrothal. Everyone would think that Murdoch had chosen her not just to wed, but to someday be the future lady. The two guards bowed their heads in acknowledgement of her. The latter, McArthur, had wandering eyes that darted over her. She didn’t react, but Murdoch swiftly did. He pulled on Eloise’s waist once more, and she nearly toppled into his side.

“Possessive?” she whispered as Laird Gordon distractedly gave quick orders to Andrews to race back to the castle and give the good news.

“Acting a part, am I nae?” Murdoch reminded her in her ear. “Father, please, there is nay need for a large celebration. We are here tae celebrate Clyde’s and Harper’s wedding after all.”

“Aye, aye, so we are, but ye cannae begrudge me a little celebration.” Laird Gordon stepped forward, holding his fingers in the air to emphasize the ‘little’ part. “It has been so long since I have seen ye.” He clapped his son on the shoulder once more, his booming voice falling quiet.

It was a strange moment, different to the rest of their conversation. The quiet look shared between Laird Gordon and his son made Eloise observe them more carefully. For a second, Murdoch’s usual quiet manner seemed to have more to it. A muscle twitched around his jaw, as if he held himself back from saying something.

“It is so good tae have ye back,” Laird Gordon declared with feeling, his face softening.

“Thank ye, Father.”

“Come, come. Let us get ye back tae the castle. Ye can rest up before we begin the celebrations for yer brother tonight. I am afraid the castle is so full of guests that ye and yer betrothed may have tae share a chamber. I bet ye willnae mind that, eh?” Laird Gordon laughed loudly as he returned to his horse. “Eloise, I hope ye wont’ mind, as I’m sure you ken that it is not uncommon in some parts of Scotland for betrothed couples to share a chamber,” he added, turning toward her. She nodded curtly, casting her eyes to the ground.

However, once he had turned away, Eloise dug her heels into the ground, refusing to follow Murdoch anywhere. He pulled on her waist, trying to return her to her horse, but she refused, and he ended up swinging back around toward her.

“Dinnae make me drag ye tae that castle,” he whispered as Laird Gordon and MacArthur returned to their horses.

“Ye wouldnae dare,” she muttered.

“Wouldnae I?” That brow quirked high again. “I could toss ye over my shoulder and carry ye easily.” Those words should have frightened her, but they did not. They thrilled her, in such a way that she cursed inwardly at herself.

“Murdoch! Listen tae yerself,” she hissed and waved at Laird Gordon, forcing a smile as he turned his horse back to the path. “I agreed tae come here and be paid tae pretend tae be a man’s betrothed. I havenae agreed tae share his bedchamber.”

“Worry nae.”

“How can ye say that?”

“Did ye think I intended tae touch ye at any point?” His arm lowered from her waist as Laird Gordon dropped out of view. “Trust me. The thought never even entered my mind.” He turned his back on her and moved toward his horse.

Wrongfooted, Eloise stared after him. She should have been relieved, she knew that. After all, she was not an escort who sold her body, yet there was something about Murdoch’s words that hurt, as if she had been wounded in the gut. The only reason she could think as to why it might have hurt was because she’d been thrilled by the idea of him carrying her. She was attracted, despite her frustration at the man, but he plainly was not.

This is madness.

“Ye coming?” Murdoch called, not even looking at her as he gathered his horse and pulled himself into the saddle.

“Aye,” Eloise muttered reluctantly. She pulled herself into Thunder’s saddle as the horse grunted beneath her. “I ken. This is a bad idea indeed.” Thunder snorted in agreement.

The ride to the castle was swift from their position. Eloise rode behind Murdoch as he chatted with his father on the path. Murdoch was still quiet, allowing his father to do most of the talking. Though there were similarities in their faces, the eyes just the same, the cheekbones too, their manners were entirely different. Where Murdoch allowed others to talk and offered the smallest changes of facial expressions to show his feelings, Laird Gordon constantly talked, sometimes scarcely taking breaths between sentences at all.

Eloise shifted when she felt MacArthur’s eyes constantly on her, but she tried not to react too much, reluctant to make a scene. When they reached the village and his horse moved near hers, she laid a hand to the dirk in her belt instead, hoping that if he was watching her so closely after all, he would see the silent hint at what she was capable of.

They crossed the bridge toward the castle, and Eloise grew distracted, staring at the vast grey structure. It was as large as the Chattan Castle, though differently situated with the loch acting as a natural defense and the snow-capped mountains bordering either side of the curtain walls. Any soldier wishing to attack the Gordon Castle would have a hard time indeed making it into the estate.

“God’s wounds,” Eloise murmured as they stopped in the shadows of the castle. There was color everywhere, flags and banners being waved from windows and atop the battlements, all to celebrate the upcoming wedding. As they passed under an archway, she caught the sound of pipers. A group of musicians stood on a platform in the courtyard, playing for anyone who cared to hear. Two servants danced before them, already delighted with the celebrations that were to come.

Behind them, others gathered, some clapping along to the music, as others hurried to and fro with their tasks. Laundry maids carried fresh sheets for the multitude of bedchambers that were to be prepared and the stable boys ran to the horses, ready to take them away.

Eloise stepped down and rounded her horse, her gaze admiring the castle. With such a place full of happy smiles and music, she found it hard to understand why anyone would wish to be away from here. It was certainly a happier home than the one she and Avery had had with their father.