Page 103 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

She had been versed too well in what to do, how to act when she finally met her man. Not by her father, of course; that would be strange. And not by her family; Douglas Castle was a lonely place, and she was an only child.

It had been left to the Douglas clan ladies to help her. Nora blushed faintly at the memory of the horror. Highborn ladies coming down from the local towns to instruct her on the dark arts of seduction. It was just too awful. Sorcha had not been involved, though. Now there was a thought Nora could never let pass. Although not bad-looking, she could not picture the gray lady seducing anyone, ever.

Sorcha smiled encouragingly as Nora made her way through the crowds to William. She was nervous, but William's touch put her at her ease.

"Och, ye must try this," he said, leaning toward her.

Getting herself straight, Nora rearranged her shawl and allowed her jade-green houppelande to fall freely, then she glanced to see if William was looking.

He was. With about half of the hall.

Fiddling self-consciously with the detail on the wine goblet, Nora tried to pretend she had not noticed their stare and smiled at William. Almost immediately, a whirl of servants spun around them, bringing her this dish and that. There was so much food, Nora felt dizzy.

"Och, this," said William, placing something on a silver platter before her.

Prodding at it unsurely, Nora looked quizzical. "Whatever is it? Some sort o' funny pudding?"

William just grinned as Nora scrutinized the plate. The creation was baked into a mound and smelled sweet, with the consistency of a pudding. But when she put her spoon in it and tasted it, she got a strange surprise.

"Och, it's rich," she said, as the flavors of whiskey, fruit, and spices filled her mouth. It took a moment for her to calm her tongue down, but then, slowly, she took another bite. "But muckle gusty."

William smiled as Nora ate. But even as he smiled, Nora noticed his eyes spreading to the rest of the table. There, on his other side, was her father, now firmly on his stool, but still rather out of sorts. Surely, he could not fail to notice the sideways swipe he gave her?

Nora frowned, but lightly. Turning her head away, she faced William. Hopefully, he would not notice how oddly her father was behaving.

"'Tis a specialty o' the Duncans," said William, smiling.

But out of the corner of her eye, Nora noticed him looking—staring straight at her father.

"Och, really?" said Nora politely. She took another bite. The warm, intoxicating flavor of the dumpling flooded her mouth. "'Tis braw. Ye should get yer cook to tell us the recipe."

Licking her fingers, she grinned at William. He looked as if he already had his tongue out. And, shy as she was, Nora tried her hardest to stay in character. Because that was what this was; it was an act. She was acting. But not about the pudding; that was really rather good. And oddly, not about William.

Nora glanced coyly at his enticing face. He, too, was unexpectedly delicious. She had not anticipated his looks.

His clear complexion drew her in with his healthy hue. It seemed that William liked the outdoors, and it showed in his bronzing. His face was bold, with a pleasing nose and firm cheeks. There was a faint resemblance to his sisters, but he was fairer, his face set with rich flame-tinted hair.

Nora luxuriated in his hair for just a minute. It was a darker red than hers, edging his features with a rusty tinge. Either way, he was handsome. Nora had never met anyone with such flashing eyes. He had a way of looking that made her blush. She did not know why.

His clear blue eyes met with hers head-on. Nora turned away, her cheeks coloring. A strange burn was filling her, and it was not just the spicy dumpling.

"Hark! A toast!"

At last, her father had made it to his feet. Grabbing the table shakily, he swayed. Nora had never seen him so drunk and found it difficult to countenance that he would get himself into this state. Just as she was wondering how, her eye met her father's.

Then she saw his gaze. Beneath his drunken demeanor, his eyes were gray and cool. He watched her with a tilted face. Nora knew that pose. He was reckoning.

She was not the only one in that room acting. It was a ruse.

Across the room, her father urged her with his eyes. Get on with it, he was saying in no uncertain terms. On with seducing; on with killing.

Nora's heart gave a massive leap. The walls closed in. Suddenly, there was no escape. She had been sent on this mission and could not fail. Her father's unexpected frailty was no ally to her qualms. She should have known his all-seeing eye was watching her. He would not let her squander this chance. He was simply playing into the enemy's hand by affecting a malaise.

Before she could move, another courtier was on his feet, this time from the Duncan clan.

"Aye, a toast!" he called, leading to cheering and the stomping of feet.

Nora looked over. A lithe, blond man she had barely noticed was calling for their union, his goblet raised in the air. Soon, they were all united in cheer, holding their vessels aloft.