by Fiona Faris
To Lady Bella’s surprise, she had been seated near her father. She had thought she would be invited to sit at the Laird’s table. Her gaze focused on Gretchen as she saw her seated beside Callum.
“Who’s the lady by the way?” she whispered into her father’s ear, tapping him gently on his coat. He had noticed, too, since they came inside, and he didn’t have any convincing answer to provide to her, but he would calm her down anyway.
“Perhaps she could be one of his sisters who just arrived from a far place fer the gatherin’, like us,” he whispered and emptied the ale in his cup into his mouth.
Lifting a glass of iced ale to her lips, Lady Bella glanced around the dining hall. Her gaze caught Sir Gregory’s figure in a brilliant jacket with his sword resting by his waist. He sat at the other end of the dining table, lifting his glass of wine and toasting with other men who looked hefty and handsome and must have been veteran soldiers of the keep. She fastened her eyes on him and found him even more attractive than Callum, not that she liked Callum anyway, she was just doing the bidding of her father, and maybe not anymore. Perhaps when the dinner was over, she would go over to his seat and walk with him. Perhaps they could have a few discussions, and she would know what he was like. As she maintained her gaze on him, a big smile covered her mouth. She was starting to like the gathering and enjoy herself already.
Callum was having a hard time focusing on the event. He had been happy ever since the moment he and Gretchen had had wild sex. Gretchen was sitting close to him and was not helping matters as he would stare at her for some time and avert his glance again. He had barely noticed that Lady Bella’s eyes were all over them, but did he care?
His attention was later diverted by the long line of servicemen bringing in the first course: tureens filled with soup and silver platters bearing turbot dressed in lobster sauce, herbed trout, and stewed lettuce. It was the first of the list of at least six courses. Facing the prospect of another lengthy sweet dinner, Callum repressed a sigh and looked at Gretchen who was also glancing s at him. She said nothing; however, Callum found himself breaking the silence.
“My lady, were ye able tae give directives tae the maids on the tart preparations? I daenae want tae fail my promises that I will provide the best tart they could have ever tasted tonight.” Callum asked, arching his eyes brows and nodding in a thankful gesture to a serviceman who had just placed trays of food on their table.
“Yes, my laird, I have had a taste of the tart myself, and it seemed the maids of the keep are well learned in the service of cooking,” Gretchen answered readily flashing him a reassuring smile.
“Then, I shall order that it should be brought as a second on the meal list,” Callum said and signaled to a serviceman who hurriedly came toward him. He whispered some words into his ear, and he nodded in acquiescence, dashing away quickly to the kitchen.
Callum, Merriam, Ava, and Gretchen leaned back in their chairs as a serviceman served a portion of trout onto their plates. The flickering torches at each corner of the room played over the perfectly coiffed layers of Gretchen’s brown hair. Callum couldn’t help but remember the feel of the heavy locks beneath his fingers.
“Have ye noticed the look on the Laird’s face? I mean, Laird Hamilton? He must have been surprised tae have seen a maiden more beautiful than his lousy daughter.”
“Really, I could see the unfriendly gaze on his face too. But I think his daughter has little tae worry about,” Gretchen said, making no effort to conceal her excitement.
“Maybe she wasn’t sae fond of me after all, perhaps she was just trying tae dae her father’s bidding,” Callum said. “Yes, I think the look on her face now justifies my assertion. See how she looks at Sir Gregory?” Callum said, his glance darting to where Lady Bella was seated, her lustful gaze flashing at Sir Gregory, who in turn had blown her a kiss and laughed.
“He must have had a lot tae drink already. Sir Gregory is nae sae fond of ladies,” Callum admitted. “I would prefer him to get fonder of her; in fact, it would be saving me lots of pleas and explanations.” Callum laughed, and Gretchen laughed, too, as they eased themselves forward to eat.
After a few minutes, Callum shook his head in connection to the slow music being played by the clan’s minstrels, the gleam in his eyes grew brighter as he drank some ale from his wineglass and watched Gretchen over the light-tricked crystal rim.
The music halted, and Callum cleared his throat as he made to speak. He noticed there were four people per table, more than twenty, in all, seated conveniently around the hall.
“I welcome ye all tae the gathering, and I verily dae hope ye all are having a fine time. I want tae especially appreciate the Lairds seated here: The Laird of the MacKenzie clan, the MacGregor, and their envoys. The motive behind this harvest gathering is tae gather everyone. Both far and near. tae feast. This feasting will create a bond between the clanspeople and the neighboring villages. It is tae bridge the gap between the rich and the poor also, hence the rich can house the poor, and the poor can accommodate the rich in trying times.
“I verily appreciate my Council elders, the warriors of the keep, and the lovely and kindly people of the clan. Tonight, and in the forthcoming days, there will be enough wine and meat fer everyone. Enjoy yer night tae utmost satisfaction. A toast tae the sweet tidings of this gathering!” Callum said, raising his cup into the air and tapping it lightly against6 Gretchen and his mother’s glasses.
The gesture was greeted with loud shouts of cheer and camaraderie from the people of the clan as the sound of clinking glasses filled the room. The music continued, and soon it would be time for the dance, for which Callum could not wait. His eyebrows furrowed at Lady Bella, who had risen from her seat and was now standing beside Sir Gregory. She whispered some words in his ears, and he stood up, following her sheepishly.
The next course of the meal followed and was greeted with much fanfare. Callum’s mouth watered as his eyes landed on the steaming, well-baked tarts set on the tray before him.
“What is this?” Laird Hamilton asked, indicating the hot confection the service men were dishing out.
“A tart, my laird,” one of the servicemen replied in a tone laden with condescending amusement, struggling to keep his face expressionless. Laird Hamilton shook his head wordlessly and flinched as one of the servicemen sliced open the tart and cut a piece from it. “This is one of the most delicious foods firstly baked by my Lady Gretchen,” the man continued, looking up to smile at the lady in question.
“Aye,” agreed Callum, “Upon her directives and her exceptional cooking skills, this gorgeous tart was prepared.” He raised a corner of his napkin to his mouth, glancing around as he heard the industrious clink of knives and forks being employed and the appreciative nods and murmurings of the diners. His glance fell back on Gretchen and murmured few appreciative words to her. She grinned widely and covered her mouth as soft giggles escaped her.
Callum grinned at her and looked away, a pair of small creases appearing between his brows. After a pause that seemed a little long, his attention returned to Gretchen.
“My lady.”
“Yes?” she replied
“Will ye dae me the honor of dancing with me?” he said, searching her gaze for an answer.
Gretchen’s breathing halted. To her knowledge, Callum had never asked a lady to dance before, despite the number of times women had thrown themselves at him, hoping to dance with him. Considering it was an honor to dance with the Laird of Clan Glenbogle, it would seem rude to refuse his offer, even though her heart pounded with nervousness. She had never expected to have this chance, and now that it was here, her words left her.
“Is this a test tae see if I remember my dancing lessons,” she stammered out, trying for an air of nonchalance, but failing miserably. Callum chuckled, and the smoldering look in his beautiful blue eyes was enough to steal her breath away all over again.
“Nae at all, my lady, it’s just a humble request tae dance with the most
graceful lady here tonight,” he said softly, a smile tugging on the corners of his lips. “I will —" Before he could utter another statement, Merriam cut in.
“Gretchen, I could bet my expensive gowns and treasures that ye will need tae take the lead in this dance tonight,” the older woman said with a teasing grin, “Gretchen, dae dance with th’lad as nothing will bring more cheers than seeing ye both dance. Just the once.”
Gretchen looked from Merriam’s faded blue eyes to the still-brilliant hue of her son’s, and dizziness momentarily overcame her when she saw the naked longing in them. Still, she wasn’t sure…
“Thank ye, my laird, but…”
“But ye will dance with me in front of everyone, and we would see how ye would guide me in the steps,” Callum interrupted with a wink, reaching out to take her soft hand in his much larger, calloused one. Deftly she pressed her hand to his arm and led her to the center of the room where couples were performing a lively reel.
Just as they got there, the music stopped, and the couples took up the positions for the Strathspey, a slow, elegant dance.
“Now, let’s see,” Callum said, leading them to take their places in the group.
“I’m afraid, my laird, that I would be defeating ye in a dance in front of everyone, the strangers, the invited guests, and even the maids of the keep.”
“I doubt it. I might have grown tae learn the act of dancing over the years which ye are keenly not aware of. Ye might have never seen me dance in front of anyone, but I promise ye, I am a good dancer,” he said and laughed.
Feeling more at ease with their friendly bickering, Gretchen grinned back at him. Her smile died, and as the soft strains of the fiddle filled the room, and he extended his hand to her. She looked down at it, afraid to take his hand and of what her face might reveal. Then she heard his low voice.
“Take my hand,”
Dazed a bit, she found herself obeying, her trembling fingers reaching for his.
“Now just have yer eyes on me,” he whispered into her ear as he drew her close, then whirled her away in perfect rhythm with the music. Her eyes lifted on to his face, and her heart galloped in her chest like a runaway horse as she stared into his blue eyes which were filled with exquisite warmth. Holding her gaze, Callum gave them both into the swelling music, using the pace of the first turn to bring her closer to him. Soon, they were lost among the other couples circling with the lazy grace of a swallow’s flight.
It was a perfect scene to watch, as their bodies moved in perfect harmony as if they had danced together a thousand times before.
Breathlessly, she followed his lead as he guided her into steps that she had never tried, sideway turns, cross-steps and reverse turns. She felt weightless, gliding smoothly across the dance floor, an exhilarating presence filling her chest. Her skirts brushed his legs, wrapping and falling away in rhythmic succession.
The crowded room fell away, and it was just the two of them, dancing alone, far away, in some private place. Intensely aware of his body and the occasional touch of his warm breath on her cheek, Gretchen fell into a curious waking dream, a fantasy in which Callum would sweep her away after the dance, and God forgive her thoughts, undress her and lay her gently across his bed. He would kiss her everywhere and make love to her again, then hold her while she slept.
“I could wish this dance would never end. ‘Tis the most beautiful dance I have ever had before in my years of dancing with maidens,” Callum whispered softly into her ear, gently guiding her movements.
“I have never heard of ye dancing with a maiden. No one in the keep had never mentioned it one time tae me. Nae even in rumors and gossips,” Gretchen said, struggling to hide her astonishment.
“Well couldn’t say more,” he said dryly
To Callum’s dismay, the music ended with one last extended note of a single, stringed instrument. Amid the ensuing chattering of dancers moving off the floor, with some others coming to replace them, Callum halted the dance in an abrupt motion. He was still holding her firmly, she realized with a touch of confusion, and she took a step backward. In an unexplainable gesture, his hands tightened around her waist, and his fingers tightened in an instinctive attempt to keep her with him for the rest of the night with their gazes locked on each other.
As long as time moved, Callum would be forced to release her. Still, she felt his desire for her. And it was a mortifying thought that his feeling for her was genuine. She was starting to feel much like herself again. The dances, the romance, and the laughter they had both shared together reminded her what it was like to be alive.
“I guess I didnae need to lead after all; ye were such a fine dancer,” Gretchen said and smiled.
“Ye are such a beautiful dancer too. I told ye that I’m skillful in the act of dancing too, but ye have more credits of graceful steps and perfect spinning. We will dance one more time again if we are such graced.” Callum replied, his eyebrows arching.
“My laird! Thank ye fer the dance, but it’s late, and Mother should be in bed by now. I will have tae escort her in,” Gretchen said and moved toward Merriam who was grinning widely and clapping.
“Gretchen! I will walk with ye and help Mother tae her bed. My strong hands could be of greater help. Ye know?”
“Ah! My laird, ye have guests ye have invited who would be sae cross with ye if ye leave them unattended and ye are seen in the company of another lady.”
“Oh! Ye have rightly spoken, I really dae have a nice night with ye. Tomorrow is another day; we shall see how tidings unfold,” Callum said and drew nearer to her. Dipping his head, he planted a soft, gentle kiss on her forehead. Immediately, Gretchen jerked in surprise and blushed from head to toe.
“Goodnight, my laird,” she managed to say and turned away from him. She walked toward Ava and Merriam with a brittle smile, while goosebumps rose on the exposed skin of her neck and back. She saw the smile on Merriam’s face as she drew near to her. She knew what it meant, but she wouldn’t want to ask.
As he walked with Merriam and Ava to the room, she couldn’t stop thinking about the turns of events from day to night. She had felt Callum had found another lady and was starting to drift away from her, and how he had shown up, admitting how much he had wanted her to be close, instead, how he had complimented her about her gown. She smiled to herself, absorbing the pleasant mixture of fragrances that clung to her, the touch of expensive cologne, the hint of shaving soap, and the clean clove-like essence of his skin. She could not do anything but smile and blush. She had at last found love.
Chapter Fourteen
The second day was busy as morning sunlight streamed through high glass windows and danced off polished wood and stone. The warmth of the castle seeped through Callum as he rolled from his bed and called for water for his bath, which he spent reflecting strongly on what happened the previous day. He was becoming a man with strong emotions, and he was ecstatic about what happened. The lady he had loved so much had given him a mental balancing between emotions and feelings. She was the lady he had loved so much and sojourning with her was something that he would be most willing to continue.
As the morning sun rose from the eastern horizon to the center of the town, Callum left his room after slipping into a black coat with well-sewn trousers and glossy boots to match. He walked into the main hall, where he would be receiving people today to hear their concerns. As he entered the vast room, his eyes searched for Gretchen's figure, but unfortunately, he couldn't see her.
As Laird Callum entered the hall, the council members and the clan members rose to welcome him. As he sat in his large chair, he beckoned to others to sit as well, and the clan scribe gathered his sheets of vellum, inkpot, and quill and prepared to take notes of the day’s hearings.
“My laird, shall we proceed with the meeting? The people of Glenbogle have been here since the daybreak tae table their requests tae ye. Some things that have been a burden tae their minds and souls. And they are much glad that ye are willing tae hear th
em," the keep scribe said and took a bow.
"Yes, dae proceed, I will hear each and every one till there is nae one to hear again," Callum said and eased himself forward in his chair.
As the day progressed, Callum heard from crofter and villager alike, and in conference with the elders, he rendered decisions and offered solutions. He leaned back in his chair, satisfied with the progress he had made in discharging his duties as laird. Dissolving the meeting, he realized that he was a bit tired and decided to retire to his rooms for a short nap. Tonight, there would be another feast, though more somber in remembrance of the fallen warriors. However mournful it would be, he would still need his energy, so he found his bed and lay down, falling asleep with dreams of dancing again with Gretchen playing in his mind.
* * *
The mid-afternoon slipped into a beautiful evening. The stars were glittering in the sky, and the trees bowed their branches to the passing of the chill breeze. It was cold and damp that evening, the weather turning frosty, a reminder that the warm days of the past weeks had only been temporary respite as autumn slipped into winter. Torches and candles burned brightly lending the keep a warm glow that beckoned the guests and keep residents to come in from the cold.