Rorie bounced impatiently. “Graeme sent for Father Drummond this morning!”
Eveline smiled. “ ’Tis wonderful, Rorie. I know how badly you want to learn to read and write.”
“You’ll still study with me, won’t you?”
Eveline nodded. “Since you’re here, I’d like your help with something this morning as well.”
Rorie cocked her head to the side. “You want my help? You aren’t angry about last night? ’Tis part of the reason I came into your chamber. I wanted to again offer apology if I hurt you.”
“ ’Tis forgotten,” Eveline said. “And, aye, I need your help. I want to approach Nora. It’s occurred to me that Graeme expects his clan to accept me even though I am from an enemy clan. But ’tis the truth, I’ve yet to do anything to gain their acceptance.”
Rorie scowled. “It does not give them cause to abuse you as they have done.”
“Nay, it doesn’t. But I can’t very well wander around the keep as I used to do in my own, acting the simpleton so no one ever expects anything from me. I’m the laird’s wife and ’tis my duty to oversee the running of the keep.”
A look of unease crossed Rorie’s face. “Well, aye, ’tis true a laird’s wife is usually tasked with the running of the keep, but my brothers share in the responsibility of ensuring the keep is well run. Perhaps ’tis best if you leave it to them.”
“ ’Tis even more reason for me to step in,” Eveline insisted. “Graeme should not be bothered with woman’s work. Nor should Bowen and Teague. They have more important matters to attend to. Will you help me?”
Rorie hesitated and then said, “Aye, of course I’ll help you. I’m uncertain as to what you want me to do, but I’ll assist you in any way I can.”
Eveline beamed over at her sister-in-law. “Wonderful. All I need is your support. ’Tis shameful of me to admit, but I’m a coward. It will ease me to have you at my side when I speak to Nora in the kitchens.”
Rorie slid off the bed. “Well, then, you’d better rise and put some clothing on. You can’t be running about the keep as you are.”
Eveline blushed to her toes and groaned her embarrassment. Rorie sent her a cheeky grin and then went to one of Eveline’s trunks to pull out suitable apparel. A moment later, she returned to the bed and held up the garb.
“Well, come on. I’ll play lady’s maid today. Graeme really must assign one of the women of the keep the duty. We can’t have it said that the Montgomery lady has no maid.”
Her nudity evidently didn’t bother Rorie in the slightest so Eveline left the comfort and warmth of the furs and hurriedly pulled on the clothing Rorie offered. Afterward, Rorie helped her arrange her hair and then the two hastened down the stairs to the hall.
It was mostly empty and Eveline nearly lost her courage and opted to go outside with Rorie. Maybe go sit by the river and enjoy the day. But she knew she was being cowardly and it was time to stop hiding.
No one was going to give her a place in this clan. She was going to have to create one.
As it turned out, making a trip to the river was precisely what she and Rorie ended up doing. Nora was overseeing the washing of the clothing while a few of the other women washed their hair.
When Eveline was spotted approaching, work ceased and all eyes pointed in her direction. She stood a long moment before Rorie pushed her forward. She stumbled, righted herself, and then continued down to the bank, a bright smile on her face.
“Nora, is it?” she inquired of the older woman who was studying Eveline with a frown.
Nora’s frown deepened as she nodded. “So ’tis true. You can speak. Is it also true you’re not daft at all?”
Eveline’s cheeks heated, but she shook her head slowly.
“Then what’s wrong with you?” Nora demanded.
Eveline’s hand automatically went to her ear and she fiddled with the lobe and the shell, fingering it absently.
“I cannot hear.”
“What’s that? Speak up, child. I cannot hear you.”
Rorie pushed by her and angled herself so Eveline would be able to see.
“She cannot hear, Nora. So she doesn’t always know how loudly she speaks. Sometimes ’tis hard to understand her, but all you need to do is ask that she speak up.”
Nora’s eyes narrowed. Behind her several of the women put their washing down completely and hovered in the background, watching and listening to the goings-on.
“What do you mean, she can’t hear?” Nora said. “She understands what we say, that much is obvious.”
“I can read the words that are formed on your lips,” Eveline intervened. This time she made certain she spoke loudly enough. Perhaps it was too loud, because Nora took a step back, her eyes widening.
“How is that possible?” Nora asked suspiciously.
Eveline shrugged. “I have no desire to explain it. I can only say that I am able to understand when you speak as long as I’m looking directly at you.”
“And why wouldn’t you talk before now? Rumor is you haven’t spoken in three long years.”
There was a long pause as Eveline weighed just how honest she should be. There was little point in any further deception.
“Because I didn’t feel safe,” she said.
Nora looked taken aback. “Not safe? With your own clan?”
Behind her several of the other women were murmuring among themselves. Eveline’s declaration had surprised them all. Some even looked at her with sympathy. Sympathy always made her cringe. It was something she’d had to live with for a very long time. But coming from these women, it didn’t feel as smothering. They were horrified over the idea she wouldn’t have felt safe among her own kin and she wasn’t going to take the time to explain the entire story nor would she clarify the true reasons for her fear.