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“True. And I daresay he would have come tonight had I not insisted that he rest. Less than three hours ago, he was deathly ill.”

Ormod appeared suitably impressed. “An extraordinary healer indeed. Or else a young lady blessed with good fortune.”

“In this instance, I would wager it is the former,” Brecc said.

“If that is so, I wonder how she came by her skill. It is not common amongst the nobility.”

It was the very opening Mistress Edla had wished for, but before Brecc could enlighten Ormod further, the king rose to his feet, and a sudden, expectant hush fell over the room.

“My friends!” King Alfred’s voice carried across the large space. “We have enjoyed a fine meal together, but the queen informs me that the evening would be incomplete without some dancing. What say you?” A ripple of excitement traveled the room, and the king offered his wife a satisfied smile. “It appears that our guests are in agreement with you, my dear.” At the queen’s nod, the king clapped his hands. “Ladies and gentlemen, take your places for the carole.”

The scrape of benches being tucked beneath tables filled the room. Servants scattered, clearing the center of the floor as the lutist joined the psalterist in the corner and began to play a familiar tune. Brecc hesitated only until he saw a broad-shouldered gentleman lead Diera into the dance circle, and then he rose. Ormod’s surprised expression was understandable. Brecc could not remember the last time he had participated in a dance. But this evening seemed a good time to make a change.

Mindful that the dance would begin at any moment, Brecc crossed the floor in long, rapid strides. Already, the number of participants had grown to fill the space between the tables and the fireplace in the center of the room. They blocked his vision of the table where Aisley had been seated, and it suddenly struck him that he might not reach her before she was escorted onto the floor by another. Squaring his shoulders, he wove through a chattering group of expectant dancers. If she was no longer in her seat, he would simply have to ask another young lady to join him. At this point, he was committed.

A couple sidestepped him, and suddenly, he was standing before a table with Aisley gazing up at him.

“Brecc!” In an instant, her look of stunned disbelief turned to concern. “Has something happened to—” She caught herself. “Your associate. Has he taken a turn for the worse?”

Unsure as to whether he should admire her overarching concern for Rheged or be disheartened that she seemingly saw no other reason for him to be standing before her, Brecc shook his head slightly. “As far as I am aware, your patient is resting still.” He cleared his throat. “I came to see if you would like to join me in dancing the carole.”

Her eyes widened. “I had thought you did not dance.”

“I do not often participate,” he said, “but I am fully capable of performing the steps.”

Color tinged her cheeks, but she rose immediately. “I should be honored.”

The music rose in volume, and behind him, he sensed movement in the dance circle. “We shall have to cut in,” he said, reaching for her hand. It was small and warm and fit in his perfectly. Tightening his grip, he drew her toward the circle and tapped the shoulder of Ealdorman Lufian. The gentleman ascertained his need in a glance. With a grudging nod, he released the hand of the lady at his right and slid to the left. Brecc and Aisley slipped into the gap and were quickly absorbed by the dancers.

Aisley stepped to the right, her feet keeping time with the music as the body of dancers circled around the room. They moved slowly and smoothly, yet her heart raced. Brecc rarely danced, but he had left the head table and crossed the entire length of the great hall to dance with her. Why would he do such a thing? Was he simply wishing to please his king? Or had he felt sorry for her when another gentleman had so quickly claimed Diera? Her pulse slowed a fraction. She did not desire his pity.

The carole’s refrain began, and as was the custom, the dancers sang to the music. Brecc joined in, his voice deep and melodic. She glanced at him, and he raised an amused eyebrow.

“Does it surprise you so much that I can recall the steps and the words to the song?” he asked when the chorus ended.

Silently praying that he would attribute the warmth flooding her cheeks to the fire they were circling, she chose honesty over denial. “In truth, I am beginning to think that your dancing and singing are not nearly so impressive as your ability to read minds.”

He laughed. “I shall choose to take that as a compliment rather than as a reflection of how badly out of practice I am with the carole.”

His modesty extracted a smile from her. He had not placed a foot wrong during the entire dance, and he surely knew how well he carried a tune. Her brother, Wulfhere, would have drawn attention to his talents. She found that she much preferred Brecc’s understated confidence—a confidence that she guessed could withstand a little teasing.

“You may if you wish. Though that is undoubtedly why I am receiving such pitying looks from the other young ladies in the circle,” Aisley said. “They know that it is only a matter of time before you stand upon my feet.”

He shook his head. “More fool me. I had hoped you would pay those astute ladies no mind. At least, not until your throbbing toes were too painful to ignore.”

The carole’s refrain began again, and as they rounded the corner beside the musicians, Brecc took an extra step and slid his foot into hers. Aisley gasped, her eyes instinctively darting to his face. Mirth twinkled in his dark-brown eyes, and she smothered a smile.

“Nicely done, sire,” she said. “But I fear you will have to try that again.” She tossed him a saucy look. “It seems that you missed my toes.” Before he could respond, she turned away and began to sing.

She heard his chuckle above the music, and then he was singing too.

CHAPTER 9

BRECC PASSED THROUGH THE WIDE gate and exited the royal estate. The sun was slowly rising above the horizon, casting a pale-blue light over the mist hanging across the River Avon. Pulling his cloak more closely around his shoulders, he followed the path that ran along the estate walls until he reached the fork that led to the bridge and the entrance to town. A goose honked, and above Brecc’s head, a V formation of the large birds sailed southward, no doubt seeking warmer climes. If Brecc had wings, he’d be tempted to follow after them.

Moving away from the gravel path, he crossed the ice-crusted grass to the riverbank. The sound of his footsteps followed him, magnified by the imprisoning mist. He would be hard-pressed to see much of the river this morning. At least, not until the mist rose. It would have been wiser to wait, but after a fitful night, he’d been more than ready to quit his pallet and set his mind on something other than a petite young lady who had so fully captured his attention that he had deigned dance three caroles, and who had made him smile more in one evening than he had done in the previous six months.

He’d spent half the night attempting to reverse whatever charm Aisley had placed upon him. Less than one day in her presence should not cause his thoughts to deviate so fully from their normal course. Mayhap she’d actually placed her spell upon him in her youth and it had been lying dormant during the intervening years. Now that he thought on it, his memories of her observant nature, her burning desire to aid her father, and her expressive green eyes were more firmly seated than most recollections from so long ago. But those memories did not stir the same feelings in him that he’d experienced while holding her hand last night.