Page 50 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
“Stop struggling,” Nick ordered, striding over. He managed to untangle them with a minimum of damage and hauled them to their feet.
“You’re not hurt, are you?” Victoria asked. She’d rushed over, fluttering around them like an agitated butterfly.
Graeme winced and rubbed his arse. “I think I broke my—”
“Careful,” Nick growled.
“They’re fine,” said Royal, who’d limped over to inspect them. “It takes more than a little fall to damage their thick skulls.”
Grant gave Victoria a mortified grimace. “I thought we had the hang of it, but I guess not.”
“We were doing fine until those confounded mutts charged over,” Graeme said with a glare at his grandfather.
The dogs, obviously aware they’d disgraced themselves, slunk back to take refuge under Angus’s chair.
“Sorry, lads,” their grandfather said. “But even the wee doggies could have made a better job of the dance than ye did.”
The twins cast an imploring look at their teacher. “Was it so very awful?” Graeme asked.
“Ah . . .” Victoria left it at that, clearly not wanting to hurt their feelings.
“Perhaps they need to see it done correctly,” Nick said. “By dancers who know the steps.”
She frowned. “I don’t think—”
“That’s the ticket,” Grant enthused. “Miss Knight, if we could see you and Nick do it properly, I’m sure we could figure it out in no time.”
“Nick’s quite the accomplished dancer, as I recall,” Royal drawled. “Lord Arnprior in his dress kilt has caused many a female to flutter and swoon at the regimental balls.”
“Really?” Graeme peered at Nick as if he saw him in a new light. “Women used to swoon over you?”
“Of course not,” Nick said, glaring at Royal.
His brother shrugged. “But you do like to dance.”
Nick couldn’t deny it. He found few things more enjoyable than taking a pretty woman into his arms for a waltz, or even an old-fashioned country dance. Besides, it was all in a good cause, wasn’t it? It was about helping the lads to polish their manners, not about indulging in the desire to hold his pretty governess in his arms.
“What say you, Miss Knight? Shall we give it a whirl?” He extended his hand.
She rolled her lips into a prim line. It gave Nick the distinct impression she would like to dance with him but didn’t think it was proper.
Proper? It’s bloody dangerous.
Still, how much trouble could he get into with a roomful of brothers, and a disapproving grandfather, standing watch?
Oddly enough, Angus didn’t look all that disapproving. In fact, he was studying Nick with an expression that seemed more perplexed than anything else.
“But I’m the only one who can play the waltz,” Victoria said, taking another stab at refusing.
“I can do it,” Kade said. “I recognized the Sussex Waltz, and I just found the music in your folder. It looks easy as anything.”
Nick almost laughed when she muttered under her breath.
“Oh, very well,” she finally said. “But I’m only doing it to help the twins.”
“Of course,” he said, adopting a puzzled expression. “What other possible reason could there be?”
When she blushed, he rubbed a hand over his mouth to conceal his amusement. She was a sweet lass and he truly couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed himself as much. Of course, that was a sad reflection on life at Kinglas these days. If teasing a wee Sassenach governess had become the highlight of his week—perhaps his year—he’d come to a sorry pass, indeed.
