Page 33 of The Highlander’s Tempting Touch

Alistair smirked as he led her to the floor. “I’m sure ye’ll manage. Ye’re a deft enough lass.”

“Mayhap. But I practiced dancing more tae discourage suitors than tae keep up with them.” Niamh gave him a sideways look as they took their places on the floor.

The music started, and Alistair swept her into the first steps of the dance. “Left foot, step forward, step forward, back…”

She stepped on his foot, hard enough that Alistair barely managed to suppress a wince as they both stumbled. He steadied her. “’Tis well enough, dinnae fret... step tae the left, the right…”

She stepped on his foot again. Alistair kept his face straight with an effort.

By the time the first dance was over, Alistair had realized two things. The first was that Niamh had not been joking about her lack of prowess at dancing, especially with dances she didn’t know. The second was that the boots he was wearing were not up to the abuse of her continual missteps.

The second dance was of a different style, a closer couples dance, rather than a reel. The sound of the music gave Alistair an idea. He drew Niamh close to his chest. “Here. Let’s try somethin’ else. Stand on my feet.”

“What?” She blinked up at him.

“Ye’re dainty enough. Step back ontae me feet and put yer hands on me arms.” He pulled her close. “I ken ye find it difficult but trust me. At the very least, trust that ‘twillnae be worse than stumbling all over each other.”

“All right.” She leaned into his grip and stepped back.

Balancing with her in his arms like that was a little difficult, but as the opening notes began to play, he managed to get himself steadied enough to step forward with the rest of the men.

It was by no means his most graceful performance on the floor, but it was easier than having Niamh trip over his feet every few moments. As the music went on, he found his balance and his rhythm, and the dance became easier.

In his arms, Niamh relaxed as well. Her shoulders settled, and her body began to match his movements. Her actions became more confident, until she actually dared to step out of his arms to join the other lasses in a spin, before returning to his embrace with a bright smile.

The sight of that smile made Alistair’s heart skip a beat, and it was only with an effort that he kept moving. Niamh’s smile, bright and uninhibited, was like seeing the sunrise over a loch, bright and pure and blinding in its intensity.

The warmth of it set fire surging through his veins, but it also ignited a different sort of warmth in his belly. Alistair bit the inside of his cheek.

With a smile like that, Niamh, ye could surely enchant me and tak’ me heart... and I’d give it tae ye gladly. And yet, ‘tis exactly what I cannae dae, if I wish tae keep both o’ us safe from the curse I carry.

When she’d first stepped out on the dance floor with Alistair, she’d been beyond nervous. She knew nothing of Highland dances, and she’d been sure she was going to disgrace both of them.

Then Alistair had come up with the idea of holding her while they danced, his feet supporting hers as they went through the steps. When they separated for reels, he would be sure to exaggerate his movements to give her more room to move, so she could step freely where she wished.

From an embarrassing ordeal, the dances became interesting, then fun. No one laughed at her, even when she stumbled, and Niamh found herself surrounded by good cheer and smiling faces. When they went into a group reel, the women she danced with were only too willing to show her the basics of the movements. She wasn’t the most graceful or elegant dancer, but that didn’t matter.

Then Catriona joined them, with her husband, a tall, well-built clansman by the name of Diarmont, and her young son. With their inclusion and encouragement, the last of Niamh’s nerves melted away, and she allowed herself to get lost in the music and the dances of her new clan.

For the first time since that brief, sunlit interlude at the stream over a seven-day ago, she was having fun. And it was all thanks to Alistair.

Niamh danced until she was breathless, and then Alistair led her back to the table for a drink of sweet wine. Together, they watched the dancers until it was time for the main feast to begin.

The feast was impressive. Venison, which was hard to get so close to the lands hunted by English lairds, served as the main meat, along with chickens, fish, and other fowl. There was a wonderful soup, roast vegetables, then cheeses and different types of bread, and platters of meat swimming in gravy.

Everything was delicious, and Niamh ate until she was full nearly to bursting, before she excused herself to relieve herself and get a breath of fresh air.

She refreshed herself, then went back out to the main hall. She was just contemplating whether she wanted to dance, or sit back down to sample the sweets that were being laid out on each table, along with tea, honey mead and more wine, when there was a tug on her skirt.

She looked down to find a solemn-faced little girl, her dark hair braided back and a cloak over her clothing. She looked wide-eyed and nervous, and Niamh’s heart went out to her. “Are ye well? Did ye get separated from yer kinfolk?”

The little girl shook her head, then lifted her hand to show a treat that looked similar to the ones on the tables. “I was told tae give this tae the lady o’ the clan, with congratulations.” The child lisped and stumbled over the word, and Niamh’s heart melted further.

She took the sweet, and offered the little girl a smile. “Thank yae. Dae ye want tae introduce me tae yer family, so I can thank them?”

The little girl shook her head, then turned and darted away. Within seconds, she was lost in the crowd. Niamh frowned.

Treat in hand, she went to sit beside Alistair. “One o’ yer younglings gave me this. What is it?”