Page 101 of Arrows and Gems
“I don’t claim to be good at it,” Cap said with a little smile. “But I could lead you in something that almost fits the Shoeburn if you’ll let me.”
“With a glowing recommendation like that, how can I refuse?” Stepping forward, she set her free hand on his shoulder.
He gazed into her eyes for a moment, then lifted his eyes over her shoulder. Nodding his head to the beat, he counted silently before pulling her into an energetic court dance. She laughed at the lighthearted feeling created by the music and the brisk movement. Then Cap tripped over a branch, and they barely avoided a fall.
“A bit different from a ballroom, is it?” Helena joked. “I think we run the risk of broken ankles no matter what dance we do.”
He chuckled. “You may be right. But perhaps something slower would be safe.”
Alanna joined her father at the end of the Shoeburn. Most of the others settled back on the logs to listen, but the boys lucky enough to snag one of the girls stayed on the “floor” for her song.
Helena looked up at Cap. “Shall we give this one a try? Or are you ready to be done with me?”
Instead of replying, he pulled her into a stately waltz. It was easier to keep their footing this time. Helena let her eyes settle on Cap’s as they danced. He didn’t look at her at first, instead staring past her with an intense look on his face. But when his eyes turned to her, they caught.
“You sell yourself short,” Helena said lightly. “You may not dance as well as Luther, but you are still quite good.”
He frowned. “Luther? Was he one of your suitors?”
Shrugging, she replied, “He was playing for my hand. But there’s a reason I left instead of choosing him.” She let her hand slide a little higher on his shoulder. “I don’t care if he is the better dancer; I would much rather dance with you.”
“Your options are rather slim at the moment,” he said with a little smile.
“I wouldn’t care if the entire Ralnoran court were here,” Helena retorted, lifting her chin. “I would pick you over any of those fools.”
His feet faltered, then stilled. They were past the campfire’s reach, but the gibbous moon lit his eyes as they searched her face.
“Margit,” he said in a hoarse whisper. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“Why not?” she asked, trailing her hand down to his chest. “It’s true.”
He swallowed. “Because you’ve dealt with enough. I promised myself I wouldn’t be like them, but you’re making it very difficult.”
“Cap.” Her exasperation leaked into her voice. “What is your outlaw honor requiring of you now?”
Releasing her hand, he brushed the backs of his gloved fingers across her cheek. His eyes didn’t leave her face, and Helena drank in the longing she saw there. Her other hand joined the one on his chest.
“Margit, I—” His hand moved toward her hair, but then he set his wrist on her shoulder and looked away for a moment. As if a moth to a flame, though, his gaze skittered across her lips before returning to her eyes. “I really want to—” He cleared his throat. “To kiss you. But I can’t—I won’t force my wishes on you.”
Noble fool.
“Sehe ich unwillig aus, Dummkopf?” she sighed.
His lips twitched as his fingers slid into her hair.“Nein,” he whispered, leaning down, “aber veilleicht habe ich es falsch verstehen.”
Helena’s eyes jolted open. She asked if she looked unwilling, and he replied that he could have been mistaken…inOld Ralnoran?
“Cap,” she stammered. “You mean—every time I, you—”
“Many of the old languages fascinate me,” he murmured with a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Not just Old Amitian.”
Heaven help her, he’d understood every insult she threw at him when they first met. And every embarrassing thing she’d muttered since.
“Darf ich dich noch küssen, Margit?” he breathed.
But she could worry about that later.
May I still kiss you, Margit?
