She trudged up the stairs and into her chamber, her back aching and her bones weary. She grimaced when she looked down at her underdress. It was filthy and the smell made her nose wrinkle. She doubted even a good soaking in the river would save this one.
Peeling it away from her body, she stripped down until she was completely naked, and then she washed herself from head to toe. It wasn’t a complete bath—she’d give anything for a good, long soak—but to do so would require having someone heat water and fill a tub and she wanted no comments from the other women, who no doubt did not take time out of their busy days to have an afternoon soak hours before it was time to sleep.
She settled for a good wipe down with some of the scented soaps from her clan. Afterward she changed into a fresh dress and plopped onto the bed. She would rest just for a moment. No one would even know.
She leaned over, burrowing her head into one of the pillows as she curled on top of the furs covering the bed. Just a moment. No more. Her eyes were closed before she was fully settled into a comfortable position.
Graeme entered the keep as the others began gathering for the evening meal. Truth be told, he was eager to see Eveline. He’d gone all day without seeing his wife even once. Throughout the day he’d tortured himself by reliving the prior night in vivid detail.
Though he hadn’t managed any sleep, he’d never felt as refreshed and invigorated as he did today. It made him a complete pig, but he was tempted to take her again, even though she’d been a maiden just the night before and she’d be sore for days to come. She needed time to recover before she suffered his attentions again, but he had to remind himself of that hourly to combat the urge to go sate himself again and again.
His brothers would laugh if they knew how solidly his thoughts were occupied by coupling. They’d tease him and remark on how swiftly he’d gone from having the life of a monk to one more resembling a whore.
Ah well, ’twas what having a wife did to a man, or so he imagined.
He took quick stock of the hall and the area immediately surrounding the keep where other women were congregated, but not seeing Eveline, he mounted the stairs to see if she was in their chamber.
When he pushed the door open, he was surprised to see her sprawled on the bed, fully dressed, and deeply asleep. He started to close the door quietly when he realized the absurdity of his actions.
Though he knew she was deaf, it was still hard to remember and he found himself acting on occasion as though she could hear. It didn’t help that she was so adept at reading lips that it was easy to forget and turn his head as he spoke.
He went to the bedside and then gingerly settled down to perch on the edge. He touched her long blond hair and smoothed it away where it covered her face. She didn’t even stir as he ran a hand down her side.
The lass was exhausted. Was it the long night before? But she’d slept well into the morning.
He considered whether he should awaken her to eat, but when he gently shook her shoulder, again, she didn’t even twitch.
Deciding that she was in obvious need of rest, he withdrew and went back below stairs to search Rorie out. Perhaps she would know of Eveline’s doings today and could offer more on why Eveline was so soundly asleep.
He caught Rorie as she was coming out of their father’s accounting room and he motioned her away from the hall where she was about to enter.
Rorie frowned, her brow wrinkling in question as she let Graeme pull her to the side.
“Is something amiss?” she asked.
“Nay, I merely have a question about Eveline. She’s above stairs sleeping the sleep of the dead and I wondered what occurred today that would exhaust her so. What did the two of you do?”
Rorie sighed and pressed her lips together, her eyes completely giving away the fact that something was up.
“Rorie,” he said in a warning voice. “If you know something, you’d better speak up. You know I have no tolerance for such matters.”
“She’s resting because she’s been working tirelessly with the other women.”
Graeme frowned. “What?”
Rorie gave him an impatient look. “You cannot intervene, Graeme. ’Tis important to Eveline.”
“What is important? I vow, Rorie, you make me want to tear my own hair out at times. Explain what is about before I throttle you.”
“She asked me to take her to Nora so she could ask Nora to instruct her in the way of running the keep. She feels as though ’tis unfair of you to expect the clan to accept her when she’s done nothing to gain that acceptance.”
Graeme swore and shook his head. “She doesn’t have to work herself into the ground to prove herself. ’Tis foolishness. She is their mistress. ’Tis she who should be directing their work, not the other way around.”
Rorie nodded. “Aye, and ’tis the way it’ll be, but first she must learn and who better to instruct her than Nora? I stood there myself, Graeme. Nora agreed. Eveline was all smiles and quite happy with the accomplishment. Once I was sure all was well, I took my leave and retreated to Da’s chamber.”
“I saw her above stairs. She was clearly exhausted,” Graeme said in a grim voice. “I don’t like it.”
“She wants to fit in, Graeme,” Rorie said softly. “She wants it so much that she’ll do whatever it takes to achieve it. She wants a place in our clan, and this is how she feels she must accomplish it, whether you or I agree with her methods or not.”
“She should not have to prove anything,” Graeme said harshly.
“In that we are agreed. But Eveline does not feel that way. ’Tis important to her and so I’ll not gainsay her, nor should you. Allow her this, Graeme. What does it hurt?”