Page 49 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
“You’re the male partner, Grant, so hold your lady just so,” she said, taking Graeme’s hand and placing it on his brother’s shoulder.
“Why does he get to be the man?” Graeme protested.
“Because he’s nicer than you are,” Victoria replied. “And for the purpose of this exercise, you are a frivolous young lady with a reputation for breaking hearts. All the mothers are talking about you, and not with approval.”
“They are not,” he said indignantly.
“That’s not what I heard,” she said, neatly making her point.
Graemewasdeveloping a reputation among the local families, and not one that pleased Nick.
The lad grumbled a bit longer, which Victoria ignored. With light touches on their arms and precise instructions, she began to steer them through the steps. Unfortunately, the twins, who were normally athletic and quite graceful, kept stumbling over each other’s feet.
“Ouch,” Grant yelped when Graeme trod heavily on his toes.
“Let me show you, Grant,” she said in a patient tone. “And you watch carefully, Graeme.”
When she partnered with Grant, the lad flashed his twin a taunting grin. Nick couldn’t blame him. Any man in his right mind would be happy to hold the graceful Victoria Knight in his arms.
She jabbed Grant in the shoulder. “Pay attention,” she said sternly.
“Yes, miss,” Grant replied in a meek voice.
Slowly and carefully, she moved him through the steps, explaining and counting out as she went along.
“Do you see now?” she asked, bringing him to a halt.
He nodded.
“All right,” she said. “I’m going to add in the music, and I want you and Graeme to try it on your own. Just take it slowly and focus on the tempo.”
She hurried to the piano bench, where Kade slid over to make room. She flashed the twins an encouraging smile. “Ready?”
The lads, holding on to each other tightly, looked as serious as if they were about to charge into battle. “Yes, miss,” said Grant.
She began to play a familiar waltz, one Nick had heard countless times. The lads began to shuffle through the steps with Victoria coaching them over the music. After a few minutes watching them cautiously twirl about the cleared space, she increased the tempo.
“That’s it,” she called out. “Keep up the pace.”
Grim-faced, the lads stomped through the dance.
“Good God,” Angus muttered. “That’s bloody awful.”
“They are rather butchering it,” Kade said, wincing when Graeme almost tripped through a turn. It was a miracle they both hadn’t ended up on their arses.
“Ignore the critics,” Victoria called to the twins. “You’re doing fine. Just keep counting your steps.”
By this time, Royal was all but apoplectic with laughter, and Nick had to work to keep a straight face.
“I think I’ve got it,” Grant crowed as he flung his brother through a wide turn.
Too wide, as it turned out. They clipped one of the armchairs and Graeme’s stocking feet slipped on the polished floor. As he fell, Grant made a valiant attempt to grab him, but one of the terriers dashed forward, dove between Grant’s legs, and tripped him. Both twins went down with a crash so thundering that the teacups rattled and the floor shook.
Everyone froze, including the dogs. Then the twins started yelling.
“Get off me, you clod,” Graeme shouted, pushing at his brother.
“I’m trying,” Grant yelped. “My bloody shirt is caught in your belt.”
