Page 24 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

Will blanched. Now he had gotten that thought into his head, it was never going to be dislodged. Furiously, he blinked, hoping to stop the tsunami of passion from unleashing.

Her eyes were just watching him. As if he were mad. Perhaps he was. He certainly felt it then. Heart racing, Will wondered just what she was doing to him and how this had happened.

Was she a witch?

And she did not speak; The question that Will had asked seemed to die in the air as the girl just gazed at him. Her eyes were half-filled with horror.

Was he that repellent?

About a million thoughts raced through Will's head at that moment, and precisely none of them were appropriate. To cover up for his own racing heart rate, he coughed again and said, "I do not wish to trouble you, miss. Just see that you fare well..."

His eyes widened plaintively. As much as he wanted to sit with her, he feared others' eyes watching.

Just answer, please, miss! thought poor Will, the palms of his hands sweating.

Finally, the woman smiled and nodded. Vaguely, she murmured something beneath her breath, allowing Will, at last, to breathe out.

She was smiling. Will could not help beaming in the reflection of her smile. She had one of those smiles it was impossible to ignore, like being in the full glow of the sun.

"Hoo! That's a relief! What say, you dance with me to make certain, though?"

A slight smile snaked around Will's mouth. He was not supposed to do this. It was not part of the script, but all he had to go on was his brother's half-legible scribbles, and he would never find this elusive woman.

The lady paused for a moment and then grinned. Wasting no more time, Will simply helped her up and led her by the hand into the dance.

There, time stopped. At least, it felt like it did.

As the fiddlers worked themselves into a frenzy and the singers' melodies became roused, Will and the girl caroused in unison.

There was an excitement in her that Will had seldom seen before. Casting an eye over the great hall, Will noticed many comely girls, but none of whom had the vivacity and sheer sleight of movement of this woman. And just as he was bowled out and genuinely amazed by her sheer grace, she stood on him.

Again.

And this time, it hurt!

"Och!" puffed the girl, her cheeks filling with color. "I dinnae ken where to put my feet. I'm awful sorry!"

She bit her lip as if afraid, and it was all Will could do not to laugh. He was about to tell her not to worry when she shut up like a clam, as if she had said too much.

Worried that he had put her off, Will tried his hardest not to laugh. A bewildered look had come upon her. They finished their dance, Will marveling at the lightness of her turn, and wishing fervently for more.

"Thank you, my lady," said Will formally, as the music stopped and men waited to step away and on to the next partner.

She just smiled, as if she was battling something and could not speak out. All Will wanted was to pull her close and ask her for another dance.

But he had already been promised. Clutching the scrappy parchment in his hand, he sighed reluctantly. Even so, his impetuous side won.

"Milady, perchance you could promise me another dance once I have discovered this lady here on the parchment." Will smiled, but his brow clouded with vague discontent.

Seeing his face, the girl looked up, uncertain.

"Oh, you could help me," said Will, thrusting the paper toward her. "I cannot make head nor tail of it. My brother's handwriting is the devil's own."

Curious, the girl took the parchment, which she used as a fan. Glancing quickly at it, she pointed to herself, then grinned.

"Pardon?" said Will, as the girl smiled. Once again, he had time to admire her pure skin and rosy, fair complexion. Her jeweled eyes sparkled at him deeply. And her thick dark hair had begun to be teased out of her headdress.

Will was glad.