Page 46 of The Laird’s Wrong Wife

The man laughed. “Then our first judgment is yers, Lady MacKane.”

A wave of faces turned toward her, several still smiling.

“We shall dance a reel with every generation willin’ to survive Tommy’s feet,” Ceana decided.

“Me feet are perfectly safe,” Tommy said.

The elder accepted her ruling with a bow.

As the musicians began playing, Ceana glanced toward Paisley. The girl had folded her hands over her dress and edged back toward Heather. Her gaze flicked from Tommy’s hand to the elder’s.

Ceana turned away from the clansman and extended a hand toward her. “We cannae begin while one member of the family is missin’.”

Paisley hesitated. Then her eyes dropped to the embroidered ribbon, which Ceana had tied around her waist after the ceremony. Her shoulders relaxed, and she placed her hand in Ceana’s.

“Beside me,” Ceana said, drawing her into the set.

Tommy launched into the reel a beat ahead of the music and turned in the wrong direction. Paisley tried to pull him back into place until Ceana caught her hand.

“Laugh with him,” she murmured. “He will never learn if ye keep savin’ him.”

Paisley giggled as Tommy collided lightly with the elder, who spun him around and sent him back. When Paisley missed her next step, Ceana moved with her and turned the mistake into a second circle. No one else seemed to notice.

“Faither!” Tommy shouted across the set. “Ye must join us. Faithers count as family.”

Oscar stood several paces away. He shifted on his feet, and his gaze moved from Tommy to Paisley before settling on Ceana. He handed his untouched cup to Lennan and approached.

Tommy seized his wrist and hauled him into a spot meant for another dancer.

“Ye mean to defeat me through dancin’,” Oscar said. “I admire the strategy.”

Ceana laughed. He looked at her, his severe expression giving way to a faint smile.

The dance carried them apart. Tommy rushed the next turn and sent Ceana toward the neighboring couples. Oscar caught her around the waist before her shoulder struck another dancer. His palm spread firmly across her back and remained there even after she regained her balance. The pressure recalled their wedding kiss so sharply that her lips tingled and her stomach tightened.

Eventually, he had to release her. However, his eyes stayed on hers as Paisley took her hand for the next turn. Tommy led part of it with extravagant care, and Paisley laughed again when he nearly fumbled it.

For several moments, the four of them held the same pattern, with Oscar opposite Ceana and both children between them. When the final note faded, Paisley remained at Ceana’s side, and Ceana squeezed her hand before letting her go.

The musicians were tuning their instruments when movement at the entrance drew her eye. A messenger wearing Gilmore colors handed Lennan a sealed packet. He refused the cup a servant offered and departed without stepping further into the hall. Ceana watched as David’s face tightened, though Heather laid a hand on his arm before he could move.

Lennan brought the packet to Oscar, who examined the seal without breaking it.

“Keep it until mornin’.”

Lennan carried the packet away, and Oscar’s attention returned to Ceana. She was speaking with another clanswoman when he approached. He waited for the clanswoman to finish, then offered Ceana his hand.

“Ye have dedicated enough of the evenin’ to everyone else.”

She placed her fingers in his. “Lady MacKane has duties.”

“She also has a husband.”

“Must married people dance alone?” Tommy asked, loud enough for the nearest tables to hear.

Oscar’s hand closed around Ceana’s. “They must for this dance.”

“Husbands apparently grow impatient once the vows are spoken,” Ceana muttered.