Both sisters turned to an acquaintance, Bridget.
“Yer dress is amazing,” she said to Ceana.
“Thank ye,” Ceana said with a smile. “Yer hair looks amazing. Did yer sister do it again?”
“Aye, she made me do her chores, but it was worth it. I think Doug took notice today.”
Doug was the son of the head of the guard. He worked directly under Tam’s and Rannoch’s Faither, Dirk, and was one of the most respected men in the clan. Doug and his older brother, Dan, were a close pair and were hardly without each other. The men were eligible bachelors and had their fair share of admirers in the clan.
However, it was for Doug that Bridget’s torch burned. Sadly, she was not getting much attention from him.
“It seems he did,” Alina muttered. “He is coming up behind ye.”
Bridget’s cheek burned slightly, but she got it slightly under control before they arrived.
The men exchanged pleasantries, and then Doug turned to Ceana.
“I looked for ye. How are ye enjoying the feast?”
Ceana paled. What did he mean? Beside her, Bridget’s pride deflated.
“Oh?” Ceana replied.
“Aye,” he nodded with a smile on his face.
Ceana would have rather been anywhere else on the planet. It wasn’t that Doug was an unattractive man, but she was not attracted to him, and Bridget was right beside her.
“Would ye like to dance?” he asked her with a bashful smile.
“Nay,” she said, quick as a bullet. “Sorry, I was supposed to meet with a friend right about now,” she lied.
“Oh,” he said. “Maybe another time,” he smiled.
“How about ye?” Dan asked Alina with a shy smile.
“Nay,” she smiled. “Thank ye.”
The brothers left, and the girls turned to Bridget, whose eyes were tinged red.
“I am sorry, Bridget,” Ceana said, embarrassed.
“It matters nae,” she replied, although it was obvious that it did, in fact, matter. “Why did ye nae dance with Dan?” she asked Alina. “Nae on me account, I hope?”
“Nae,” Alina assured. “I do nae fancy him.”
“Ye do nae?” Bridget asked. “He is an eligible bachelor, ye ken?”
“Aye,” Alina smiled. “And ye do nae fancy him?”
“Nae. I wouldnae fancy him because of who his Faither is. Do ye fancy Tam?” Alina asked with an arched eyebrow. “Tam is the most eligible bachelor after the Laird’s heir—that is if ye do nae consider Rannoch.”
Bridget laughed. “It does nae really count, ye ken. Tam knows just as much about fightin’ as I do. His da is training Torcall, and e’ryone believes that Torcall, and not Tam, will succeed him, so he is nae so eligible, is he?”
“Good point,” Alina said.
“And neither Torcall nor Rannoch catches me fancy. I could have them if I wanted,” she shrugged dismissively.
Ceana said nothing, but her lips thinned.
