Now it was Arthur’s turn to turn and glance at Marissa.
Just as he’d imagined, she was watching him. Her eyes were glimmering with interest, and he grinned.
“Enjoyin’ the show, lass?”
Marissa snorted a laugh. “Ye’re handlin’ yerself well, that’s for sure.”
Before he could say anything else, a young man’s voice filled the space, halting all conversation at the head table.
“Maither, who is that?”
Arthur glanced down the table, finding the young man pointing a thumb in his direction.
The young man was staring in his direction with open curiosity and something that Arthur could have sworn was hostility.
“Cody,” Freya admonished, seeming shocked that the young man had spoken so loudly and so abruptly. “It isnae polite to point. And that’s yer auntie Marissa’s betrothed. I told ye we were celebratin’ them tonight.”
“Ye dinnae seem to be dressed for a celebration,” Cody mused, a cruel smirk dancing on his face as he eyed Arthur’s dirty clothes.
Beside him, Marissa sputtered as she choked on her drink. Michael and Freya looked horrified. But Arthur didn’t so muchas flinch as he faced Cody and gave him his best, most confident grin.
“It’s because I just got back from the war, lad,” he said, imbuing each syllable with confidence and a challenge.
The young man bristled at the use of the word ‘lad.’ Based on his still round cheeks and the hubris with which he’d approached the conversation, Arthur estimated he couldn’t be more than eighteen. So a lad, indeed.
“War?” Cody echoed as he cocked his head to the side.
“Aye,” Arthur said. “A brutal one, it was. But me clan won it in the end. And then I kenned I couldnae wait to see yer aunt, to finally see me betrothed. So I rode straight here. I didnae bring me things, as I didnae think yer maither and faither would be so kind as to invite a stranger to stay and dine with them. That’s why I’m still dirty.”
Cody nodded, his jaw ticking as he chewed on his lip.
Arthur had been like him once. The son of a laird. Cocksure but without the life experience to back it up. He knew the young man was likely used to pressing buttons. Lord knows that Arthur had been at that age.
“Enough of all this,” Freya called out, clapping her hands together to get the attention of one of the men at a nearby table. “I think it’s time for music!”
The man nodded, immediately getting up and rallying some of the other men around the hall. Various instruments were plucked from where they’d been stowed in one of the corners, and soon music filled the air.
Bagpipes and fiddles lilted, and slowly tables were moved to create a small dance floor. It filled quickly with couples, and Arthur couldn’t help but grin.
“It’s been a while since I last saw somethin’ like this,” he said, gesturing toward the revelry.
He’d said the words to himself, but it didn’t stop Marissa from chiming in.
“Nae a lot of time to enjoy yerself when ye’re at war, I suppose.”
Turning to glance at her, Arthur found her still watching him with an open, interested expression. “Ye suppose right.”
Silence fell between them as they both turned to watch the crowd. They watched the people move, their feet a blur as couples danced to and fro.
The music filled Arthur’s chest, making him feel alive in a way he hadn’t since the start of the war.
This is what I was fightin’ for. So me clan could continue on and do things like this.
The fact that he wasn’t home with them chafed him. He had been away from them for long enough. But he would be leaving in the morning, and he would be bringing Marissa along with him.
As if the thought alone had conjured her, Marissa swayed into his field of vision.
Arthur had been so distracted by his thoughts that he hadn’t noticed as Cody moved from his chair, nor when he pulled his betrothed onto the dance floor.
