“Sword dance?”
“Yes. Her brothers were well known for it and she’s mentioned before how she learned along with them when they were children. We can do a sword dance. Tonight.”
“We?”
“Well, of course. She wouldn’t do it otherwise. Your sisters will have to help us.”
“But we don’t know how to sword dance.”
“You don’t need to. I have a plan,” she said, winking as she pulled away from Hope’s arm. “Let me talk to my father.”
“All right.”
Jeanne hurried off as Hope ambled past the tents and carts, enjoying the smells of delicious foods and spiced wine. Seeing Faith and Grace a few feet away, she moved through the crowd. She wasn’t sure if Jeanne’s plan would work, but she was hopeful, and she would need her sisters’ help.
After Hope spoke with her sisters in whispers, Faith seemed less than pleased while Grace was nearly jumping up and down with excitement.
“Oh, this will be so much fun!” Grace exclaimed.
“I don’t see how making fools of ourselves is going to help matters,” Faith said.
“We won’t be on anyone’s mind when they see Rose,” Hope said, peering over their heads. “Come, let’s find Jeanne.”
As the sun set, Hope, her sisters, Jeanne, and Rose come together in a circle. As several men lit the fire, to the cheers and claps of everyone, Jeanne helped tie up the girls’ bustles.
“I don’t see why we have to do this,” Rose said, fixing her hair so it wouldn’t come loose. “It seems awfully silly to me.”
“My father’s a silly man,” Jeanne said as she tightened Grace’s skirts. “But you know how he is. He loves revelry.”
“Aye, but why cannot the men do this? It’s a sword dance, after all.”
“My father insists that I’m the best dancer in the family and I won’t do it alone. Now hurry up,” Jeanne said.
“And you all know what to do?” Rose asked Hope and her sisters, who nodded emphatically. “When did anyone have time to teach you?”
“Oh, well, Belle did when she would come visit us during Christmas,” Hope lied.
“Lady Belle?” Rose said with suspicion. “With her cane and all?”
“Oh, well no, she taught us by telling us where our feet were to go, but I think we’ve become quite proficient in it. Don’t you think so, Faith? Grace?”
“Very proficient,” Grace agreed, nodding.
“Yes,” Faith said, without conviction. “Very.”
Hope glared at Faith from over Rose’s shoulder.
“Very well, let’s get it over with,” Rose said as she led the way to face the crowd.
The rest followed her in a single line. Hope usually became quite nervous before performing, whenever she was requested to play the pianoforte or heaven forbid, sing, but this was different.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Laird McTavish spoke, getting everyone’s attention. “My daughter and her friends have asked to put on a performance and I canne say no. They’ve decided to start tonight’s festivities with a dance, one that I know you’ll all recognize.” The smiling Laird looked back at them and winked. “Ready?”
“Aye,” Jeanne said.
He turned back.
“Very well. Music?”
