He laughed. “Even dukes are just men.”
There was so much to learn.
Alec took a seat at the piano and ran his fingers along the keys. The sound filled the room with a melody I’d never heard before.
He played piano, too?
“Do you know ‘I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen’?” He began to play the familiar song, its gentle, haunting beauty coming alive beneath his fingers. Then he joined the piano with his voice, and it was mesmerizing.
“I’ll take you home again, Kathleen
Across the ocean wild and wide
To where your heart has ever been
Since first you were my bonny bride.”
He smiled at me, and a wave of affection overwhelmed me. I hardly knew what to do with myself, so I began to sing.
“The roses all have left your cheek
I've watched them fade away and die
Your voice is sad whenever you speak
And tears bedim your loving eyes.”
He stopped singing as he listened to me, a tender look on his handsome face.
When I hesitated before the last verse, he nodded with encouragement for me to continue.
“Oh, I will take you back, Kathleen
To where your heart will feel no pain
And when the fields are fresh and green
I'll take you to your home again.”
He played the final notes and his hands rested on the piano, the sound slowly dying.
“That was beautiful, Keira.” He shook his head, almost in disbelief. “I’ve never heard such a sweet and pure voice.”
“Thank you.” I looked down at the piano, not used to hearing so many compliments.
“If your blushing cheeks or sweet disposition don’t win over a duke, surely your singing will.”
I caught the teasing gleam in his eyes and decided I would give him back a little of his own medicine.
“And what about you?” I asked him, leaning against the piano. “You must have a line o’ young ladies waiting for you to turn their way.” It hadn’t occurred to me that he might already be courting or engaged.
The realization stung more than it should after such a short amount of time.
Alec looked down at his hands and played a simple tune as he shook his head.
“You aren’t interested in gettin’ married?” I asked him.
“One day,” he said, finishing the tune. “I’d very much like to be married.”
