‘I didn’t pack anything fancy, not that I have anything that would have done anyway. It’s a while since we’ve dressed up.’
‘That’s OK, I could arrange a shopping trip for you both? Get a taxi to take you to the Highland outfitters in Lochalsh and Lochcarron. They sell kilts, as well as hiring them, and they’ve evening gowns too and Scottish country-dancing dresses.’
‘With the tartan sashes?’
‘That’s the ones! I can arrange that for tomorrow, if you’d like? You could skip a lesson?’
‘Well, all right then. I’ll take two tickets for the party.’
Ruth’s cheeks were flushed. Beatrice saw it, but pushed on. ‘You’ll have to learn some of the dances first. Kitty can show you the basics.’
‘I thought a Burns Night was all poetry and sitting around eating haggis.’ Ruth was uneasy. ‘Mark and I haven’t danced together since, well, I can’t even remember.’
‘It’s a dinner dance, quite formal, nothing like the relaxed ceilidhs we have here at the inn, or so Atholl tells me.’ Beatrice’s eyes misted remembering Atholl at the Harvest Home ceilidh in August when he’d held her close and spun her, lifting her clean off the ground and moving her round the floor, helpless to the feeling of his strong arms and the wild music. ‘It’s very romantic,’ she added. ‘The way the men take your hand and lead you to the dance floor, and they bow to you at the end of every dance and kiss your hand. It’s like some Regency romance book adapted for the telly, all the lovely manners and handsome men in their kilts.’ Beatrice sighed, making Ruth laugh.
‘Someone’s lovestruck for their Scotsman.’
‘Oh,’ Beatrice shook herself awake. ‘I suppose I am. But you and Mark could show us a thing or two, I reckon. Silver wedding anniversary coming up and everything. It’ll be a lovely way to celebrate.’
‘I’ve no idea how to even begin dancing like that.’
‘It all starts with just taking someone’s hand in yours,’ Beatrice said. Ruth looked like she was thinking very hard. ‘It’s easier than you think,’ she reassured her.
With that, Beatrice smiled, wished Ruth a good cooking lesson, and scarpered with her avocado on toast.
She took a big bite as she went, heading for her spot by the reception desk where she’d spend the morning. When she got there she opened her jotter and looked at the list she’d compiled after reading all those online articles about reigniting cooling romances.
She’d outlined six steps to intimacy that seemed to come up in most of the experts’ advice.
Holding hands again
Making an effort to dress well and compliment each other
Non-sexual intimacy (dancing, for instance)
Kissing, and only kissing. (The experts are very firm on this point, advising kissing for kissing’s sake and with no expectation of anything else.)
Showing appreciation and making romantic gestures
