She had read in many romantic plays and books back in England that a man derived pleasure in a different way. Her skin burned as her mind pondered what it would feel like to give him that.
Just as much pleasure as he gave me last night.
When they reached the end of their dance, Killian tucked her closer to him one last time, slid his hand to the small of her back, and tipped her down so she nearly touched the ground.
Applause erupted around them, and the heat kissing Lily’s skin sprang hotter till she pressed her hands to her cheeks. She glanced around where they stood by the fire and saw that most of the spectating villagers cheered.
Killian’s men and Niamh also joined in the applause, and it thundered on around them for a long time before the musicians continued with a slower tune.
“They loved yer dance,” Niamh spoke then, drawing Lily’s attention.
Lily turned away from Killian and joined Niamh instead. She could breathe easily when she wasn’t around him, at least.
“I am not so sure,” she answered as they returned to where they had sat earlier.
Fletcher was no longer there, and Lily could indulge Niamh’s questions about swordsmanship without him interrupting.
The rest of their time feasting ran by fast. Lily had her fill of venison and hairst bree. Niamh offered her some cherries after they decided to walk around the field.
“My brother learned from our faither. He was the best swordsman of his time. Many rumored that he moved like the wind. His enemies never saw him comin’ until they were down on their knees, bleedin’ to their death.”
Lily loved Niamh’s expressions and the vivid picture she painted of her father.
“Did ye have any swordsman in yer family?”
“I am an only child, and my parents were servants for an earl in the town I lived in before they passed. Their lives were all about their master,” Lily replied softly. “And me.”
She could not recall much, as she had been eight when it had happened, but at least her mother’s singing voice was always in her memory when she was sad.
“So, how did ye learn?”
“I practiced with the guards back in England, but that wasn’t enough. I met a man who was willing to teach me when I came here,” Lily answered, remembering Laird McLennan’s good friend back home. “He is very skilled.”
“My brother, Peter, was a skilled swordsman, but on the night he died, I dinnae think he fought for his life. When they brought back his body, his clothes were clean—his sword too. It proved that he trusted whoever attacked him that night.”
Niamh’s tone dropped a notch as she spoke of her late brother, and Lily’s heart ached with grief for her.
“Your brother was alone when he was attacked, was he not?” Lily asked as they slowed their steps.
Their walk around the field ended when they reached where most of the villagers were gathered. Some men were performing a sword and fire dance, and most villagers, including Killian and some of his men, were watching their performance with much interest.
“Nay,” Niamh said. “He wasnae alone. He was here in Wehnthor, and he went for a ride to his favorite cliff with some of his men. He was attacked, and his men were killed. Only Fletcher survived. He was badly wounded when he returned, and he nearly died too. He told us everything that happened that day.”
“Only Fletcher survived?” Lily asked.
Niamh nodded, and Lily spotted Fletcher ordering some of Killian’s men when her gaze skittered past Niamh to scan the crowd.
“He has been loyal to our family for decades. He saved my brother’s life so many times and blamed himself for his death in the end. He is a good man.”
As Lily watched him, she felt grateful that Killian had someone like that on his side.
Someone loyal whom you can trust with your life.
Killian found Lily and Niamh some seconds later, and he led them back to the crowd of villagers so they could join in the final dance. They feasted till the break of dawn, celebrating with hopes for a good harvest to come.
When Lily finally retired to rest in the early hours of the morning, she lay cuddled up in a ball on the bed she shared with Niamh and thought of Killian’s plan to find who had betrayed his brother.
She decided to write to Duncan once she returned to the keep. He had no reason to plan war while she stayed here willingly to help prove his innocence.
