“Turn under my arm,” he said.“Now you’re on my right side, step forward with your left…there, you got it, love.”
The movements were melodic and romantic with couples peering up at each other.Scottie locked eyes with Michael’s, only breaking her gaze when she turned under his arm for the next iteration of the dance.On and on it went, the couples moving around the floor in a large circle.
When the song and dance ended, Scottie was facing Michael, his arms firmly about her.All around them couples kissed and hugged, several gave a whoop and returned to the sidelines to see what the band played next.
But Scottie and Michael remained locked together, his gaze so intent she felt captured, unable to move.His attention drifted to her lips, and she ached for him to kiss her.But if he did, then—
“We should go.”She pushed out of his arms, away from the romance of Michael, the music and the dance, and the tug of a world not her own.“Even though Edric is there, I need to check on Kate.”
Cutting through the tables and chairs, she burst into the clean, cool air swirling through the street where the afternoon light gave way to the purplish light of evening.She breathed deep, clearing her head, clearing her heart.
“Scottie, wait.”Michael came after her.
She whirled around to him.“We forgot to pay.We should go back and pay.”
“I’ll pop round later,” he said, concern in his eyes.“Talk to me.”
“I wanted you to kiss me in the doorway, Michael, and again after the dance, but let’s remember who we are and what we’re about.We’re not a couple of teenagers on summer break, going back to school soon, only to fall in love with someone else.”
“I wanted to kiss you every bit as much.”
“Then let that be the first and the last.”She swerved toward the sound of an old steamer boat horn, the large vessel drifting toward the quay.The lights, the sounds, the scent on the breeze…Kate and Hadsby…Michael…they were all becoming a part of her.“We’re breaking all the rules.”
“Do they matter so much?I’ll request reassignment—”
“Yes, Michael, yes, they matter.I’ve lived my life by the rules.They held me, kept me safe when the pieces of my story didn’t make sense.In Hearts Bend, I know who I am.But here?”She looked away, shaking her head.“Here, I don’t.So yes, the rules that govern my heart matter very much.”
They arrived in silence at the gate in the woods.Michael punched in the security code and Scottie headed off through the trees, stumbling over roots, crashing into low branches, aiming for the castle’s front door, bypassing the secret of the secret passageway, leaving the taste of Michael’s kiss among the flora and fauna.
* * *
“Yes, Perry, Lady Royal came to my office.Wanted to know why I’m a republican.Why I think the time of kings and queens is over.She was completely out of line and I’m wondering if the whole reason she’s here, with an old title dug out from the moth balls, is to tug on the people’s emotions regarding our history, to find out what I’m about and bring down the RECO party.The House of Blue is using their American relative to do their dirty work.This business of staying out of politics when the Family is the head of the country is ludicrous.Our very government is formed in Her Majesty’s name.You cannot be more political.”
— Hamish Fickle on CNC: Cable News Channel with Perry Copperfield
* * *
“I applaud Lady Royal for asking that bloke Hamish Fickle for the skinny.I’d like to know the answer meself.”
— @LadyRoyalFan on IG
* * *
“What do my wandering eyes see but Lady Royal and her equerry doing the romantic Ildys dance at the Belly of the Beast.It’s a grainy shot but you can see it’s her.”
— @AllAboutGossip on TikTok
* * *
Michael
He was trying to distract himself and failing.Sitting in the football stands on his day off, watching Finn on the pitch seemed the perfect elixir.But the effects were taking too long to kick in.
He relived the moment Scottie turned away from the Belly of the Beast and started up Wells Line.It stirred an old, familiar feeling, and he determined to be rid of it forthwith.
She’d been right.They were breaking all the rules.He was certainly betraying the code of a protection officer.Yet deep down, their conversation in the middle of Centre Street forced him to realize he was not enough for her.Not enough to change course.To consider him as part of her future.
“Finn’s becoming an exceptional player.”Michael glanced round to see Dad squinting against the afternoon sun as he made his way up the stands.“Think he’ll stick with it?I couldn’t get you off the pitch at his age.”
