“Only?” Eleanor raised her brows in question, wondering why Callum had not thought to tell her of the impromptu celebration.
“Aye.” The maid laughed. “Only the clan's favorite excuse to eat, drink, dance, and pretend they have no work to do tomorrow. It is tradition to hold a smaller Ceilidh after the bonfire evening. It gives us somethin’ to look forward to until the next one.”
Eleanor surveyed the crowded hall and let out a sigh. It did not seem as if she would be getting the quiet evening that she had been hoping for. Images of the bonfire and the sudden kiss flitted across her mind, making her blush despite her attempts to remain nonchalant.
Women in bright tartans twirled between rows of dancers while children darted between the tables. Men gathered around casks of ale, already several drinks into the evening. Not only had Callum forgotten to tell her about the celebration, but he had not summoned her to join.
Is he avoiding me as much as I am avoiding him?
For the first time since arriving at Castle Fraser, she felt less like a guest and more like an observer peering into the heart of the clan. It felt strange that Callum had not told her, but she enjoyed the fact that there was an element of surprise to the evening.
“This happens often?” Eleanor decided to change the subject before her mind could linger for too long on Callum.
“When there is reason to celebrate, and the clan is very good at findin’ any reason to celebrate,” Marion said cheerfully.
“And what are we celebrating tonight?” Eleanor peered over her shoulder at the dancers who were beginning to twirl in the middle of the floor.
Marion's grin widened. “The sheep survived lambing season.”
Eleanor blinked. “That is all?” She was beginning to wonder if Callum even knew about the Ceilidh at all. It did not seem like something that he would have approved if he knew about it.
The maid shrugged. “Seems reason enough to me, Mistress.” Before Eleanor could respond, Marion nudged her forward. “Why do ye nae go and join in the celebrations, Mistress? I shall take all of these scrolls to the study for ye.”
“But I have nae desire to dance or even participate,” Eleanor began to complain, but found herself being nudged forward.
Marion laughed. “It doesnae matter at Castle Fraser, Mistress.” The maid vanished into the crowd before Eleanor could protest further.
Abandoned, Eleanor made her way toward one of the side tables. Unfortunately, she did not go unnoticed. Several clan women greeted her warmly. Children waved. Even a few elderly men tipped their heads respectfully. The friendliness surprised her. Not long ago, she had felt entirely out of place among theFrasers. Now she found herself smiling back. Perhaps she truly was beginning to belong here.
The thought both comforted and frightened her. What did it even mean to say that she belonged at Castle Fraser? She was no closer to finding her brother, and the arrangement between her and Callum was only temporary until then.
A sudden cheer erupted from the center of the room, drawing her attention away from her own thoughts.
Her breath caught in her throat when she spotted Callum, who had just entered the hall.
His arrival immediately drew attention. Men greeted him with slaps on the back. Women smiled. Several children rushed toward him. The laird accepted it all with easy confidence. And for the hundredth time since she had arrived at the castle, Eleanor realized that he was not as gruff as she had first thought he had been. His gaze met hers from across the room, and despite everything else that was going on, the world around them seemed to fade.
For one brief moment, it felt as though they were the only two people in the hall.
Heat crept into Eleanor's cheeks when Callum smiled at her.
What does it mean?
Her pulse instantly began to race as the kiss floated across her mind, warming her core in ways that were entirely too embarrassing for her to admit. Did he feel the same way that she did? Or was he simply smiling at her for the good of the clansmen around them? She was about to raise a hand and wave at him when several clansmen dragged him away to settle an argument. Eleanor released a breath she had not realized she was holding.
The evening continued as she looked around the hall at all of the merriment around them. It seemed almost odd to her that everyone was so jovial and pleasant when there was so much underlying tension among them all.
Or did someone plan it this way?
She looked around the room again, her pulse freezing as her gaze landed on Hamish. She had not seen him again since that first dinner in the hall, but he seemed to be staring at her in the exact same manner. Her eyes instantly moved to Callum, who seemed to be blissfully unaware of the exchange. She looked back at Hamish, who was still looking at her.
What is he thinkin’?
Her breathing became more labored as she once again broke their gaze. She could not handle the way he was looking at her without knowing what was going on in his mind. She looked back again, but found that Hamish had turned to the man beside him and now seemed fully immersed in a conversation.
That man will be the death of me.
She attempted to calm herself as he looked to the rest of the hall. She would tell Callum later that Hamish had still seemed fixated on her, but for now, she intended to enjoy the evening as best as she could.
