Noticing everyone staring at him, he shrugged. Lest they all think he was frightened of a silly little country reel, he turned to Elspeth. "Would you care to dance?" Besides, it would be good practice while Lily wasn't watching.
Elspeth hesitated, unsure whether Cyrus truly wished to dance with her. She glanced at Rose who appeared hopeful in getting the fun started again. Well, in truth, Elspeth did enjoy dancing, no matter who it was with. Fraser had certainly been an enjoyable dance partner. Would his brother be? She could not imagine it, given his scowl. Surely she could survive one dance with the fearsome man.
"Very well," she said.
Cyrus held out his ungloved hand to her—a large, strong-looking hand—sending a rush of heat over her skin. Good heavens, why did she feel almost fevered when she was near him? She placed her much smaller gloved hand in his and he led her toward the formation. His hilt-roughened skin snagged against the fine fabric. Suddenly, she wished she wasn't wearing gloves. What would his bare skin feel like?
All the dancers formed two long rows, men on one side and women on the other. When the lively music started, she watched the dancers close to the musicians begin first, moving around in intricate circles and formations, sometimes clasping hands or elbows with various people, not just their partner. Avoiding eye contact with Cyrus, she waited in anticipation until it was their turn.
Following the prescribed steps, Cyrus swung her around a few times, then letting go, they each clasped hands with other dancers during the various turns. When next she glimpsed his face, he was grinning. Good heavens, he was stunningly handsome when he smiled. His face was transformed and so captivating she could hardly take her eyes off him. 'Haps he was finally relaxing. She was certain bride hunting must be a stressful endeavor.
A reel was a community dance that didn't require constant handholding, but she found herself looking forward to touching him again each time after she spun away from him and circled among the other dancers. He was a few inches taller than Fraser and near twice as brawny. Not that Fraser was small by any means, but that Cyrus towered over every other man there, except for Dirk. She had never been around such imposing Highlanders. She was only now growing used to their belted plaids and the way the material flicked this way and that during the dance.
At the end of the set when the group disbanded, he gave a dramatic bow, reminding her of his younger brother. "I thank you for the dance, m'lady."
She curtsied for effect. "'Twas my pleasure, my laird."
He shook his head as if bemused with himself. "I'd forgotten how entertaining dancing could be. I've had very little time for amusements the past several years."
"I'll be sure to tell Lady Lily you're an excellent dancer."
Nodding, he studied her intently, his dark eyes spellbinding. "I would appreciate it."
Dermott bypassed him. "They're starting a card game in the library."
Cyrus lifted a brow. "I'll see you on the morrow." He bowed to Elspeth.
"Goodnight." She curtsied once more and proceeded up the stairs. Why did she sense Cyrus's attention lingering on her? She glanced back to find him just turning away to follow his brother.
A heated awareness still consumed her. Good heavens! What was happening? She was not drawn to Lady Lily's intended. Nay, she wanted naught to do with any man. Her life would be far more secure if she remained an independent widow in charge of her own financial affairs. She did not need a man complicating things.
∞∞∞
'Twas after midnight when Cyrus stumbled from the library with the other men, annoyed that he'd lost near every hand. Apparently, he had gotten Elspeth's maddening perfume on his hands while they'd been dancing, and as a result, he hadn't been able to concentrate on the cards. He knew that many fancy ladies wore perfumed gloves.
Trying to erase his unreasonable reaction to her, he'd imbibed a generous amount of Rebbie's expensive whisky.
"We'll get up bright and early in the morn and ride out hunting." Rebbie's tone was too eager by far.
Cyrus leaned a hand against the carved wooden column to keep himself steady. "Wish you would've told me that earlier."
"Getting too old for this, are you?" Rebbie teased.
Cyrus forced a laugh. "Hardly. I look forward to it." 'Twas a lie. He'd much rather sleep off the drink in the morn, but he'd have no chance of that. At least, he could catch a few winks between now and then. He was only a couple of years older than Rebbie. He would keep up or die trying.
The men disbanded, heading to their guest chambers in various wings of the castle. After visiting the garderobe, Cyrus climbed to the top of the stairs and headed for his door, the third one on the right. He turned the knob, entered and closed the door back. Though the fire had burned down low, the dim room had a comfortable warmth that made him realize how sleepy he'd become.
Turning toward the bed, he yawned and was unpinning the sash of hisplaidewhen a scream rent his ear.
He muttered a curse and leapt back. "What the devil?"
"What are you doing in my chamber?" a female demanded.
Was that Elspeth's voice? Or was Cyrus imagining things? "God's teeth!"
Finally, his eyes adjusted to the darkness enough to see Elspeth's slender form where she knelt on the bed, the covers drawn to her chin, a most tantalizing sight.
"'Tis my chamber," he said defensively. Wasn't it? Oh hell! Was he lost? He glanced around the room but 'twas too dark to see much of anything.
