Page 83 of The Highlander's Virgin Widow
“What are ye talking about?” Evander asked.
Arthur didn’t respond. He only turned on his heel and braved the crowd.
“Arthur!” Evander called, his voice on the edge of a growl.
His friend didn’t respond.
“Arthur!” Evander called louder.
Still no response.
Keira’s eyes continued to scan the Great Hall. The maids had to work overtime to get this place cleaned and ready for the cèilidh,and she made a mental note to express her appreciation later when this was all over.
It still did not trump the fact that she felt lost as she continued to walk around the room, acknowledging people who walked past her and greeted her. Most of the people in here were strangers to her, so it made sense they wouldn’t recognize her.
“Ye look quite breathtaking, Lady Blythe,” a voice had called behind her, halting her in her tracks.
It wasn’t Evander. It was a completely different voice, one filled with ruggedness and playfulness at the same time.
She gently spun on her heel and came face to face with a tall man who had his hands folded behind his back. The second thing she noticed was the eye patch covering his eye.
“Arthur Ross, at yer service,” he announced, offering a short bow.
“Keira,” she responded, the shyness in her voice evident. She felt uncomfortable thinking that Evander might be seeing her talking to this man. Damn him, why would she care?
Arthur moved closer to her just as the music started, his unwaveringly calm gaze fixed on hers. Keira noticed the green flecks in his eye and how full of life it seemed to be.
He reached out his hand. “Do ye mind if I have this dance?”
Keira smiled, a deep flush creeping up her cheeks, and gently took his hand.
They began to sway to the music, their feet moving in sync on the floor, like water.
“Ye must have been a great lady,” Arthur murmured. “The people in here and the village have nothing but good things to say about ye.”
“I try me best,” Keira offered.
Arthur spun her, and as she turned around, her eyes caught Evander staring back at her. Her eyes also caught the pure danger in his look.
She changed positions with Arthur, and now she could see Evander perfectly. Through the crowd and amongst the oblivious people, she could see him clenching his jaw, his grip tightening on the glass in his hand. She could see his other hand curling into a fist.
“Sometimes, yer best is all ye need,” Arthur commented.
Keira laughed in response, her hands securely placed around his neck.
She looked up at the crowd, at where Evander once stood, but he was gone. In his place were random people who continued to sway to the music. She furrowed her brow. Where had he gone?
“I am afraid I must interrupt this dance,” his voice suddenly called from the other side.
Keira turned around and found him standing before her, his jaw still clenched in anger.
“Evander,” she murmured, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“Come with me,” he grunted.
Arthur still had the same calm smile on his face.
“I dinnae?—”
