Page 64 of Highlander's Captive Bride
“Is it yer feet that are the problem? Well, I can take care of that for ye.”
With that, Bellamy seized her and lifted her over his shoulder. To her shame, all she could do was giggle helplessly as he carried her back to the castle green, drawing many ribald comments on the way. Once they reached the area near the spitted boar, he sat her down on a bale of hay provided for that purpose and called for them to be served.
Generous slices were soon provided by the servers, along with copious amounts of thickly buttered bread. Bellamy called for more ale and wine to be brought for them, to wash down the scrumptious meat.
“Are ye enjoying yerself?” he asked her between bites of food. “I want ye to have a nice time after all the hard work ye’ve been doing.”
Daisy swallowed her mouthful, nodding emphatically. How could she tell him she was having the time of her life? That all she really wanted was to stay there with him, to keep on dancing and laughing with him all night long? That she could not get enough of him… because the next day, she would be gone.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, they went to check on Elodie.
The child was wreathed in smiles, surrounded by her friends, but she still appeared excited to see them. She held up the half-finished flower crown for Daisy to see.
“Och, it’s very pretty,” Daisy praised. “I cannae wait to wear it.”
“Ye’re very pretty too, Daisy, so it will suit ye perfectly!” Elodie told her.
“How about a wee dance with yer Da?” Bellamy suddenly asked her, his eyes twinkling.
Elodie screamed with joy as he picked her up and carried her off in his arms to join in the dancing, which seemed to be reaching new heights of fervor.
Daisy followed and watched them, not knowing whether to laugh at Elodie’s joy or cry at the prospect of leaving the two people she knew she was going to miss so much.
She chose to laugh and clapped along as Bellamy capered up the middle of the rows of dancers with his precious daughter in his arms, spinning her around in time with the music and making her shriek with delight. Daisy felt her face beginning to ache because she was smiling so hard at them.
The hours passed in more merriment. The three of them watched the fire eaters and acrobats and sword dancers perform to great acclaim. And as more ale and wine and whisky was drunk, the party became even wilder.
Daisy had never seen Bellamy cutting loose like this, dancing, drinking, even serenading Daisy and Elodie in a fine baritone voice. She could not recall laughing so much in ages.
He was the life of the party, spreading laughter and joy, and she could not help marveling once again at how many sides to him there were. As she watched him, she thought she would never discover all the depths of this complicated, ruthless, devilishly handsome man whom she knew she was head over heels in love with.
Finally, Elodie grew tired and asked to be taken up to her chambers to go to bed.
“I want Da to carry me up,” she insisted, yawning. “And I want Daisy to come as well.”
“Very well, me bonny lassie,” Bellamy told her, scooping her up from her chair. “Yer wish is me command. Daisy, ye have yer orders. Come along now,” he intoned.
Daisy happily fell into step beside them as they headed back to the keep.
“I’m so glad ye let me come to the party, Da. I’ve had such a wonderful time. I cannae wait until tomorrow,” Elodie said sleepily as they entered her chambers.
Poppy was there, knitting, her feet up on the fender in front of the fire. She greeted them cheerfully, explaining that she had not long returned from the celebrations herself and had decided she’d had quite enough for one night.
“I’m saving meself for the big party tomorrow,” she told them. She helped Elodie get ready for bed.
The pair went over to the washstand so that Elodie could wash her face and hands. Daisy was left alone with Bellamy for several minutes.
It seemed to Daisy that the room suddenly became much warmer, and she felt strangely hot. Especially when she caught Bellamy looking at her, his face slightly flushed. When she looked into his eyes, the wolfish hunger she saw in them both excited and alarmed her.
Fighting back the urge to hurl herself at him and feel his strong arms around her again, she instead cleared her throat and put the bed between them, half afraid he would grab her again. The other half was afraid of what she might do if he did.
In truth, she feared that if he made the slightest move towards her, she would simply abandon all restraint and devour him alive with her kisses.
Thankfully, at that moment, Poppy and Elodie came back in. Daisy breathed a sigh of relief. Trying to be sensible, she waited until Elodie was settled in bed, then gave her a goodnight kiss and announced that she, too, was retiring for the night.
“Me feet are aching, and I need to conserve me energy for tomorrow,” she said, not failing to notice Bellamy’s faint look of disappointment behind his good-natured smile. “Thank ye for a wonderful evening,” she told him, hardly daring to look at him. “Good night to ye all.”
She walked to the door and exited, but once she was in the hallway, she picked up her skirts and ran, worried he might come after her. Once inside her room, she shut the door and went to turn the key. But she hesitated. After a few moments, during which she wrestled with her almost overwhelming desire for Bellamy and the knowledge that giving in to it would only spell pain, she at last turned the key with a sigh. Then, she prepared for bed.
