Creighton swallowed, staring down at the older woman. “Ye truly think so?”
Aunt Helena tucked away a small, knowing smile, as if she knew more than she was letting on.
“I have a hunch,” she responded innocently. “Now, come along. We have a ceilidh to get to.”
CHAPTER 18
Nora couldn’t have guessedwhat to expect from the MacCrimmon outdoor ceilidh, but it sure wasn’t this.
Firstly, it was clear that the MacCrimmons often held ceilidhs outdoors. Behind the Keep was a long, flat terrace, tapering down to a smooth green hill. The terrace was set out for a feast, with long, rough-scrubbed tables set out, piled with food. There were stalls, strung with glittering lanterns. Since Nora and the others had traveled through the day, and the afternoon would soon creep into evening, the lanterns would be useful. There was ale, whiskey, foaming tankards of beer, and so much food that it made her stomach ache just to look at it.
People filled the terrace, spilling onto the grass. A small platform near the Keep wall was occupied by a few musicians getting their instruments ready but not yet playing.
“There’ll be dancin’ later,” came a voice at her elbow, and Nora glanced down to see the older woman, Helena MacCrimmon.She leaned heavily on her walking stick, and exhaustion weighed heavily in her eyes. She smiled, though, wide and sincere.
“Are ye fond of dancin’?” she asked, after a moment.
“I am,” Nora admitted. “But I am nae good at it.”
Helena laughed. “Oh, that does nae matter. It is nae about bein’ggoodat it. It is about enjoyin’ oneself. See, the youngsters generally dance over there.”
She pointed to a spot on the green slope where boards had been laid flat, creating a dancing surface.
“Why daenae they dance on the terrace?” Nora asked, frowning.
“Stone is harder on the feet,” Helena answered. “And it doesnaedrumthe way wood does. Ye should hear it when they are all dancin’ together. It’s music fit to wake the dead.”
“Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?” Nora wondered aloud.
Helena gave a low chuckle, and in that moment, she reminded Nora very much of her nephew. “Ye’ll see,” she answered cryptically.
A few moments passed. The two women stood together companionably, their cloaks whipping around them.
“I was a healer, too,” Helena said suddenly, after a long, comfortable pause. “When I was yer age. A healer’s apprentice, that is. I gave up me studies when I married. It seemed the right thing to do at the time, and nobody’s decision but mine, but now I wish I had kept it up. When ye are wed, I hope ye will continue to be a healer. We daenae have enough of them in the world.”
Nora gnawed on her lower lip, feeling a pulse of guilt.
There’ll be nay weddin’,so nay fear of me givin’ it all up.
She didn’t say that, however, choosing instead to clear her throat and shuffle her weight a little.
“I would never give up bein’ a healer. It means a good deal to me.”
“As it should, as it should. I’m glad ye came today, Nora. I wanted to invite ye, but we were afraid with ye bein’ sick and so weak, ye would nae be able to come. I should nae want ye to push yerself too far and get sick again.”
“I daenae plan on getting’ sick again,” Nora answered firmly, and she meant it. Helena nodded approvingly, as if avoiding illness simply was a matter ofintendingit.
“I’m glad that Creighton has ye,” she added, almost off-handedly. “He’s a hard worker.”
“Aye, I’ve noticed that,” Nora murmured. She’d expected the conversation to swing around to Creighton sooner or later. So far, she had managed to mostly avoid him. It was easier that way, really. Otherwise, they’d just have to look each other in the eye and battle with the humiliation of remembering what had happened. She could almost hear the slosh of bathwater in her ears.
Swallowing thickly, Nora determinedly put the memory ofthatscene out of her mind and concentrated on looking Helena in the eye without turning as red as a beet.
“He’s too hard on himself,” Helena added, frowning darkly. “Too unforgivin’. He can be harsh toward other people, which I daenae like, but he’s harsh on himself, too. He tries so hard to secure peace and happiness for his clan, and never quite finds it for himself. Of course, he’d have a better chance of findin’ it if helooked,” she added, somewhat testily. “I’ve never agreed with his decision nae to marry.”
There was a brief pause after this. Nora hesitated, wondering whether she should do the sensible thing and let that comment go, or inquire further.
Of course, she was going to inquire further.
