Edith frowned slightly. “Terrible?”
“Aye.” He could not tell if the comment had irritated her.
She stepped on his boot a third time, and he released a long breath toward the ceiling. “Ye are doin’ it on purpose.”
“I am nae.”
“Surely, ye lie.”
She looked away, her cheeks reddening slightly. “I am only learning.”
“Yer learnin’ seems solely focused on destroyin’ me boots.”
Edith did not laugh then. She rolled her eyes, though the stiffness in her shoulders began to ease. Aaron could feel it beneath his palms.
He slowly slid his hand down her back as he settled into a more comfortable position for the dance, and she stiffened at once, stepping on his boot one more time.
“Apologies,” she murmured.
Aaron released a heavy breath. “Ye only need to relax,” he said quietly as they restarted the steps. “Follow me lead.”
Edith looked up at him, her gaze sharpening slightly. “Perhaps I cannae relax because ye are a dreadful teacher.”
Aaron’s brow furrowed. “Dreadful?” The word might have annoyed him if there hadn’t been a small smile on her face. “Ye ken ’tis nae true.”
Edith huffed quietly. “How so?”
“I taught me sister to dance.”
She let out a small laugh, disbelief written plainly all over her face. “’Tis nae possible. Scarlett learned to dance while ye were away, me Laird. Fighting wars, I presume.”
Aaron slowed slightly then. They had finally danced a complete cycle without any stomping, but he was not about to tell her that.
He nodded as she leaned closer, her body moving more easily beneath his hold. His hand slid around her waist, lingering there longer than necessary, and her fingers tightened on his shoulder.
It was time for her to twirl.
Aaron released his grip reluctantly, stepping back one foot as she twirled in the space before him.
The movement carried her long, auburn hair, filling the air with the smell of wild lavender that was so intoxicating that his eyes closed briefly as she spun back into his arms.
His pulse quickened.
She felt as though she were made to fit in his arms. The curve of her waist fit perfectly beneath his palm, and her head came to rest right against his chest.
Aaron looked down at her as the music came to a wrap, meeting her soft hazel eyes. For a moment, he remained still, not daring to move lest the moment be broken.
Edith’s chin lifted, and her red lips parted slightly. He leaned in closer without knowing it. Her breath brushed against the stubble on his chin as her eyes fluttered shut, and?—
“’Tis the Laird!”
The small shout shattered the moment.
Aaron blinked. The source of the disturbance was a little boy standing beside him, tugging at his kilt with a wide grin. Behind him, his mother looked absolutely horrified.
“Me apologies, me Laird?—”
Edith stepped back so quickly it was as if she had been burned. She dropped her gaze to hide her flushed face a second too late.
