Chapter Fifteen
This was nota waltz. Mairi had danced the waltz before, moving in a three-step tempo about the ballroom. Her partners had been acceptable dancers, some led better than others, one had stepped on her toes, and another had pulled her too close so that she purposely stepped on his toes. In every case, she had smiled where was appropriate and done what was needed to make the event a pleasant activity.
Connall was not dancing a waltz. Despite the beat of the music, in defiance of the other people on the floor, Connall was doing something completely his own. He gripped one hand around her waist and the other raised her arm up high. Then he lifted and spun her around as if he were dancing with a doll. At first, she was shocked. Did he know that people were watching them? That they’d be shocked and appalled by the ridiculous Scots?
Then she was impressed. How strong was he that he could lift her off the floor like this? He swung her up so high that the air lifted her gown to a shocking degree. Then she would touch down enough to steady herself before he swung her around again. Whatever this was had her spending more time in the air than on the ground.
It was like being a child again, twirling around in her father’s arms. Nothing could hurt her, and everything was new. How she laughed—then and now. The giggles burst from her, especially when she finally understood Connall’s rhythm. Instead of being flung around like before, she timed her few steps with a jump that helped launch her into the air. What started as a startling display of strength became a delightful jump and soar dance.
How wonderful to feel the unrestrained joy of movement. She’d lost that, she realized. As she’d grown, every moment of her life had a purpose. All she did was work of one kind or another, even the work to find a husband. Especially the finding of a husband. When had she last run down a field because it was fun? Or spun in a circle until she was so dizzy she dropped to the ground?
Not since she was a child. Not until now when Connall helped her jump almost to the ceiling and then caught her as she came back down. And when he began to spin her around, she clutched him with both hands and grinned with him as the world became nothing but a blur.
All she saw was him. The way his eyes were alight with happiness. The way he grinned at her because she was grinning at him. And the way his neck and shoulders flexed with power as he lifted her. His arms were rock solid, and his balance was perfect.
And when he set her back on the earth, her world settled into a manageable place. She took a joyous breath perhaps for the first time in London.
“There she is,” he said, his brogue thick. “Welcome to London, Mairi MacAdaidh. I’ve been waiting fer ye.”
So had she. How had she lost that confidence for which she was so well known? The solid knowledge that whatever came, she would find a way through. Hard work didn’t bother her. Disapproving stares never touched her. She did what was needed and beware to anyone who tried to stop her.
“You are a crazy Scotsman,” she said, “to swing me like that at a London ball.” Her tone was full of admiration. What man dared to do such a thing except Connall Aberbeag?
“I grew tired of waiting for your laugh.”
She laughed then, the sound starting as a chuckle but growing to a guffaw that had tears streaming from her eyes. She tried to cover her mouth. Good lord, the English were staring at them as if they were crazy. And perhaps they were. At leastshefelt completely undone.
Then he gently pulled her hand away from her mouth and raised it up to his face. He kissed the back of her hand while his merry eyes stayed steady on her face. And when he straightened up, she dropped into the most proper curtsey a woman could ever do. She would give the king himself no more than what she gave to Connall.
And when she straightened, she smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” he returned.
They held like that for a long moment. He didn’t seem to want to break the connection of their gazes, and she couldn’t have done it if she tried. He mesmerized her. But then, he blinked and turned to the ballroom at large.
“My apologies,” he said. “It seems I was overcome with madness.” He turned to the orchestra. “Please may we begin that waltz again? I shall try to keep my…um…”
“Scottishness?” Mairi offered in an undertone.
“Er, yes.” He winked at her. “I shall keep my Scottishness under control this time.”
A few people chuckled at that. Others merely scowled. But in the end, the orchestra began again. A proper waltz which they danced properly. In truth, they danced it beautifully.
Mairi trusted his strength and his balance, and with every step she allowed herself to relax a measure more. Soon they were whirling about the ballroom in a way that was every bit as much flight as her jumping, spinning experience from before. But this time she was less a child laughing in delight, and more a woman who matched her body to a man. Their steps were measured to one another, and they grew faster and more daring together.
She could not have done this with any other man. And when she looked in his eyes, she saw the same thought reflected there. He could not do this with any other woman.
There were more thoughts spinning at the edge of her awareness. Questions about what that might mean and what she should do next. But she didn’t want to think about anything right then. She was too wrapped up in the experience of him holding her as they moved through the world. It was just a ballroom, and yet she felt it as if it were more. Perhaps if they stepped just right, if the fairies blessed them, and the weather held kind, then they could be like this forever. Completely in sync, completely at ease, no matter what else happened in the world.
Maybe.
Then the music ended. They slowed to a stop, but he didn’t let her go and she couldn’t look away.
“Mairi,” he said, the word half plea, half groan.
She nodded. “Yes.”
She wasn’t sure what she meant by that. The word held acknowledgment and surrender. To what, she had no conscious idea. But she couldn’t take back the promise once uttered. Time would show her what they’d just done. And she had faith that Connall would see her safely through it.