Douglas Bain rushed over with Allan Munro, and Lachlan squatted down to the lads’ level.
“Teach us the sword dance, please?” Allan bounced in his wee kilt in his clan’s red tartan.
Lachlan rested his forearms on his knees. “Are you ready to become Scottish warriors, lads? No matter what, you cannae let your feet touch the swords or the enemy might win.”
Douglas’s light blue eyes stretched wide in his freckled face. “We cannae let the Germans win.”
“Or the Japanese,” Allan said.
“No, we cannae.” Lachlan fought the heaviness in his chest. After the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese armieswere sweeping throughout the Pacific and Asia. Hong Kong had fallen, and thePrince of Walesand theRepulsehad been sunk with heavy losses.
At least Britain had a new ally in the United States. And with the British chasing the Germans and Italians into full retreat in Libya and with a powerful Soviet counterattack in Russia, Lachlan insisted on indulging in hope for the new year.
Mother stood and clapped her hands. “Time for the country dancing.”
“The sword dance will need to wait, lads.” Lachlan patted Douglas and Allan on the shoulder and returned to nestle his bagpipes properly in their case.
Father was tucking his pipes in for the night too, whilst Mr. and Mrs. Fraser pulled out violin and accordion for the country dancing.
“I wish Neil had come,” Mother said to Father. “We’re short on men.”
Lachlan kept his head down as he arranged the drones in the case. Neil’s absence made for a happy Hogmanay, free of rancor. “I’m sure Neil is having a grand time in Inverness.”
“Aye.” Mother’s voice drifted low and sad.
By now, Neil would be thoroughly drunk, reveling, ranting, possibly plotting against the crown.
Lachlan latched his case shut and set it under a bench. Would the fake sabotage shine attention on Free Caledonia? As much as Lachlan despised what his brother was doing, he didn’t want him imprisoned again.
Somehow Cilla wanted what was best for her sister, despite what Hilde had done. Remarkable. Could Lachlan do the same? Want what was best for Neil?
Such mercy would have to come in the Lord’s strength, not Lachlan’s, and he sent up a prayer.
Father and Mother stood hand in hand at the top of the room by the musicians, and Mr. and Mrs. Bain joined them.
Across the room, Irene tugged on Arthur’s hand. “Let’s dance.”
“I don’t know the steps.”
Lachlan strode over. In one move, he could help Arthur and Irene—and avoid dancing with Cilla.
He bowed to Irene. “May I have the honor?”
“Aye, thank you.” She set a tiny hand in his, and he led her to the line of four ladies, whilst he took his place among the men.
The violin played “The Machine Without Horses,” and Father and Mother danced to the center and clasped right hands.
Irene knew the steps and danced well, but her attention kept sliding to Arthur, who was laughing with Cilla as she tried the steps on the sidelines.
When the dance ended, Mr. Fraser announced the next dance to be “The Duke of Perth.”
Cilla bounded over to Lachlan and Irene. “Arthur and I are ready.”
Arthur laughed. “I am most definitely not ready.”
“This is a different dance,” Lachlan said. “Different steps.”
Cilla’s blue dress brought out the blue in her brilliant eyes. “We’ll stand at the end of the line. We’ll figure it out as we go.”
