“Me maither excels at patience.It’s nae a trait I inherited,” Hector admitted.
They completed another circuit,their bodies moving closer as the dance required.
“Ye seem patient enough with me,”Gabriella ventured. “Despite the mistakes I made.”
“Everyone makes mistakes,”Hector said. “The key is learnin’ from them.”
“Are ye speaking from experience?”she asked, her eyes meeting his as they spun around.
“Aye. One of many,”he replied, guiding her through a more complex step. “Me previous betrothal taught me much about mistakes.”
As soon asthe words left his mouth, he regretted them. It was not a topic he’d intended to raise, especially not during a dance lesson.
His words caughther off-guard enough that she missed her step, stumbling slightly. His arm tightened around her waist instinctively, steadying her. The brief press of his body against hers sent an unexpected warmth through her cheeks.
“Previous betrothal?”Curiosity flickered in Gabriella’s eyes as she tried to regain her footing. “Ye were to be married before?” When he did not answer, she murmured, “Forgive me.”
“Nay need,”Hector replied, resuming the dance as if nothing had happened, though his hand remained firmly on her waist.
He considered deflecting,but something in her open expression compelled honesty.
“It was four years ago,”he relented, his jaw tightening. “To Caitlyn Grant. The match was arranged by our faithers for political alliance.”
“What happened?”Gabriella asked quietly as they continued the slow, circling steps of the dance.
“She broke the betrothal,”Hector said, the old wound less painful now but still present. “Decided I wasnae worth waitin’ for. Me faither was still Laird, ye see, and I was merely the heir.”
“That’s terrible,”Gabriella said, genuine indignation flashing in her eyes. “To abandon a commitment for such a shallow reason.”
Her reaction surprised him.There was no pity, but anger on his behalf.
“The true ironycame after me faither’s death,” he continued, finding it unexpectedly easy to speak with her as they moved through the dance. “When I became Laird, she suddenly reappeared, full of regret and renewed interest.”
“Ye didnae take her back,”Gabriella stated rather than asked, her tone suggesting she approved.
“I havenay use for people who value title above character,” Hector replied. “It taught me to be wary of those who seek position rather than the person.”
“Isthat why ye’ve remained unwed?” Gabriella hesitated, then asked more boldly, “Because ye dinnae trust women’s motives?”
Hector consideredher question as they completed another turn, his hand on the small of her back, guiding her through the movement.
“Perhaps,”he acknowledged. “Though if distrust was me only reason, our current arrangement would make little sense.”
Something flickeredin Gabriella’s expression.
“I trust ye,”he clarified, the admission surprising even himself. “Despite knowin’ ye for less than two weeks.”
“Why?”The question was simple but weighted.
“A womanwho would risk death rather than captivity values freedom above all else,” Hector answered. “Such a woman wouldnae feign affection for safety.”
Their dance had slowed,the steps nearly forgotten as the conversation deepened.
“Isnaethat exactly what I’m doing?” Gabriella asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Tradin’ freedom for safety?”
“Nay,”Hector replied with certainty. “Ye’re acceptin’ protection while maintainin’ yer independence. There’s a difference.”
The piper continued playing,but they had stopped moving entirely now, standing close enough that Hector could see the faint freckles across her nose, the precise shade of blue in her eyes.
