Page 13 of The Lady of Her Highland Clan

Shaking her head, Fiona tried her hardest to stop him fussing. "I'm braw, dinnae fash," she assured him, taking a second sip of the wine. It was most palatable, and despite herself, Fiona found herself draining the goblet and looking around for more. Then, a smile erupted from behind her nose.

"Aye," she said, swirling the goblet between her fingers. "I remember the wedding, an' I remember the dance..."

Fiona stopped as Clyde's eyes met hers. Just at the mention of dance, the fiddlers struck up again, signaling the start of another raucous reel. Clyde's eyes played with her, and for a second, she thought he was going to ask for a dance.

But he did not. Not with the beady eyes of the clan elders on them. Sensing Fiona's hesitancy, he smoothly refilled her vessel and nodded.

"They're awfu' nebby, that lot," he said, glancing at the elders. As coolly as she could, Fiona nodded. "Wilnae let ye alone for a minute. Dinnae ye want me tae tell them tae go boil their heids?"

"Aye," agreed Fiona. She hoped the elders could not hear her. Dropping her voice, she confided in Clyde, "But I need tae get them tae trust me. Ye see, in order tae be the lady o' the clan, they have tae approve."

"Ah," said Clyde, as if he immediately understood. "Problems wi' the clan. I ken exactly what ye mean." He smiled.

Fiona looked interested. "Ye have problems wi' the clan?" she asked. For the first time, Clyde hesitated. Fiona sensed backtracking.

"Nae exactly the clan. But like ye ken, one or two forces wi'in it, they can be very...disruptive." He smiled charmingly, and his hand rested upon her wrist. Fiona's flesh buzzed at the warmth of his touch.

"Aye," she replied. "I do." Her eyes went straight to the head elder, whose eyes seemed permanently stuck to hers. At the sight of her staring so strongly, the elderly counselor had no choice but to drop his eyes. For now.

"Well, perhaps ye’re in luck," said Clyde thoughtfully. Fiona wondered what he meant. His fingers played with his spoon, tapping out a ditty on the silver goblet in front of him.

"Ye see, perhaps I can help ye," he said, with an aside to Fiona. Fiona was instantly agog. But in her rush to know more, Clyde had turned from serious to playful.

"So ye remember our dance," he said, rapidly changing the subject.

Fiona met his eyes unwaveringly. She wanted to know more about how he could help her, but then, as soon as he looked at her, all she wanted was to be in his arms once more.

"Oh, o' course," she said softly. A quick glance around reassured her that for once, the beady eyes of the elders were not upon her. Gradually, Fiona began to loosen up. "How could I forget?"

A radiant smile wrapped around his lips. Fiona longed for nothing more than to kiss it immediately off. An intense warmth worked its way down her spine, burning in the base of her back. Inside, everything just sizzled. But it was hard for Fiona to enjoy it. Not with them looking, and also, she just could not bring herself to give into it.

Not yet, anyway.

So instead, Fiona refilled both of their cups and tried to think of some way to change the subject.

"So, um, what business brings ye here?" she asked, as subtle as she knew how. Maybe she had chided Grace for asking just the very same thing, but it was for Fiona to ask him.

"Och," said Clyde dismissively. For the first time, she noticed he did not look her in the eye.

"I am just in the regions, the clans around yers, doing trade wi' all the lairds. An', I hope, also wi' the Duncans." He spoke formally but without looking. And reading between the lines, Fiona got the impression he did not want to linger on this topic.

Then, with no warning at all, she yawned. Fiona tried to stop herself, but it was too late. And Clyde had seen. Apologizing profusely, Fiona's cheeks burned yet again. But Clyde shook his head.

"Dinnae fash. Ye are right; it is late."

He smiled again and then paused. "Such dry talk is for another day. Ye are tired..."

"Nay, nay, nay," said Fiona desperately. The last thing she wanted was for him to go. "Please, go on."

Clyde glanced around; half of the clan was still watching them. Fiona saw the problem.

"Come on," said Clyde, with a suggestive smile. "I will walk ye tae yer chambers an' get some air. If that is alright?"

Fiona thought it over for about one second.

"Aye, braw," she said, immediately getting to her feet. To her surprise, she found the room was swaying. Then, she realized it was her.

"Come on," said Clyde, ushering her along the edges of the hall. Fiona noticed he took her around the long way, away from the prying eyes of the elders across the room.