Page 63 of The Highlander's Auctioned Hellion
It was good to move fluidly again, as clumsy as he felt doing it. And to have Lydia as his partner was a happy surprise all its own.
He had never seen her dance, and she had an elegance and grace that he had never seen before. He found himself mesmerized by her movements.
Not only did she move her body smoothly, standing on tiptoe and gliding around the circle, but she also included the girls and corrected their steps kindly and patiently.
For the first time, Callum saw what kind of mother she would be to the twins.
Moira had never shown them any such attention, and it was a pleasant feeling to know he had brought someone into their lives who would help and not hinder their future.
By the time the dance came to an end, and they had practiced both a few times, Callum was sweating harder than when he galloped through the glens on Seamus’s back.
He caught the Duchess watching him as she stood beside her daughter and averted his gaze, not sure if he wanted to know what the lady was thinking.
“I forgot ye can move without bein’ a lumberin’ oaf,” Alexander muttered as he came level with his shoulder.
“I can dance better than ye,” Callum grumbled. “Ye are best in the corner where ye cannae go the wrong direction.”
Alexander laughed. “Aye, that is probably true.”
Callum looked at him, remembering why he had once called this man his closest friend. He walked away before the feeling of friendship growing in his chest took root.
“We should have some food,” he said as he reached Lydia, who turned to him with a shy smile.
“Yes, it is thirsty work teaching abeastto dance.”
Lydia was unsure whether the Laird would find her teasing amusing, but a reluctant smile flitted over his lips as he tugged on his jacket.
“Will I nae disgrace ye now, then?” he asked coolly.
His fingers fluttered awkwardly at his sleeve, and it was endearing to see him uncertain.
“I suppose you will do well enough. I shall make sure you get extra lessons from Tommy.”
“I can teach you!” Tommy cried, stepping forward, with his chest stuck out proudly before him.
Whatever fear her brother had felt in Callum’s presence appeared to have dissipated now that they had all danced together, and Lydia was happy to see it.
“We should eat,” Callum grunted, and Lydia gave her brother a reassuring smile as she led him through to the dining hall.
The rain, which had been battering against the windows since late morning, had lessened as the afternoon turned into evening.
As they entered the room, Lydia observed the group with interest. Her mother watched Callum warily but seemed more impressed with him since he had taught them all the dance.
Tommy and the twins were already firm friends, and Tommy had Raven on his shoulder as he sat down at the table.
“We shall never hear the end of it now,” Lydia’s mother said wearily as she joined Lydia on the bench.
“What is that, Mama?”
“Tommy will want a cat as soon as we return to London, you mark my words.”
“I am sure Father will thank me for that,” Lydia murmured, and her mother snorted into her wine as Callum came to sit beside them. His heavy body lowered into his chair with surprising ease as Lydia fidgeted at his proximity.
The man seemed to emit more heat than anyone she had ever known, and as his scent wrapped around her, she could not help her mind from returning to the library.
He had kissed her so deeply at the end, as if he had wanted to fuse them together.
Perhaps he intends to bed me as an afterthought—maybe he was not being truthful about an heir.
