“We are nae tight. We just do nae want to dance,” Alina replied with pursed lips.
Tam placed his hands on Alina and Ceana’s wrists and locked his grip. “Ye are no fun,” he said with a wink.
Ceana was sure that Alina would deck him, but there came a voice she recognized instantly.
“What seems to be the problem, Tam?”
The group of three turned to Torcall, who seemed to tower above them.
“Nothin’ to bother yerself about, Torcall!” Tam spat out, still holding on to Ceana’s hands, effectively putting them in a terrible situation. If a tussle occurred, it would catch attention, new elements would be added, and then spread into a brawl.
Tam’s grip on her hand grew tighter, and Ceana felt her skin crawl.
With a look of indifference on his face, Torcall bent down and whispered to Tam so she could hear.
“Ye must ken that I do nae shy away from scandals. Not especially when I have the chance to beat ye and have the maids of the clan giggle as ye pass. Now, if ye do nae let her go now, the next place ye’ll be sitting is the ground.” The smile on his face never wavered as he spoke.
From a distance, they would have looked like a small group simply talking.
Tam stared at Torcall for only a moment before dropping her hand and furiously marching away.
Awestruck, Ceana turned to Torcall. The violent look in his eyes was gone, and instead, there was the carefree and happy look she was used to seeing.
“He didnae hurt ye, I hope?” His long lashes fluttered slightly.
Ceana rubbed her wrists and blushed slightly. ‘Nay, ye were here in time.”
Beside them, Alina rolled her eyes and went unnoticed by the pair.
“I’m glad. Have ye....”
“Torcall!” the call came from the other side of the room.
Torcall looked at the caller, and a guilty look appeared on his face. “I’m sorry. My cousin calls. We will see you some other time. Do tell me if Tam bothers ye again,” he said to her.
“Thank ye,” she said breathlessly.
“Even ye,” he said, turning to Alina.
“I will. Although I do nae think we will have more trouble with him. Thank ye,” she said with a polite smile.
He smiled at both ladies and jogged to the other side of the room to his cousin.
Ceana was only to hold her squeal long enough for him to get out of earshot.
“Oh, do be quiet,” Alina said, but she was smiling. “He makes it hard to dislike him.”
“Ye see it too, do ye nae?” She put her hands to her chest and sighed deeply.
“If ye gush over him once more this night, we are going home,” Alina put her hand in her sister’s and dragged her to the other ladies of their own age.
The feast was a great one for its small size. The mead was abundant, and Ceana was on her fourth cup before she knew it.
“Ye should nae drink so much,” Alina said.
“Ye are worse than mother,” Ceana said good-naturedly. “Ye should have some fun.”
“Ceana!”
