Cassian (The Immortal Highland Centurions #2) - Jayne Castel Page 0,17

the wall. Lord, how she wished she could melt into it. Like a hunted hind, she glanced left and right, looking for a place to hide. Yet there was no escape. Horrified, she watched Lady Gavina stop before Captain Gaius and exchange a few words with him.

And then, his gaze shifted across the floor to where Aila stood.

Aila’s pulse thundered in her ears, and queasiness rose in her throat. God’s teeth, I can’t believe she’s done this.

When Cassian glanced back at Lady De Keith and nodded, Aila’s heart began to pound erratically against her ribs.

A moment passed, and then he pushed himself off the wall, handed his goblet to Draco, and headed across the floor—toward Aila.

Mortification pulsed through her. Aye, she wanted this man’s attention, but now that she had it, she realized how one-sided her passion had been. Till this moment, she’d longed for him from afar, safe in the knowledge that he didn’t feel the same way.

It had been agony, but oddly reassuring.

But now he was walking toward her.

His face was unreadable, his gaze shuttered. That wasn’t a good sign.

Nervously, Aila wiped her damp palms upon her surcoat. She couldn’t let him see just how on edge she was. A woman worthy of courting should be poised and cool—should behave as if she had men vying to dance with her.

Of course, Cassian knew it wasn’t true—or at least he would, if he’d been paying her any attention.

“Aila De Keith,” Cassian greeted her with a warm smile. “I hate to see a lass so lovely without a dance partner … would you join me?”

His words made her already racing heart leap in her chest.

Does he think I’m lovely?

Not trusting herself to speak, lest she trip over her own tongue and make a fool of herself, Aila nodded. He then offered his arm to her, and she took it. A moment later, the pair of them walked out onto the dance floor.

Lady Gavina watched Captain Gaius and Aila join the dancers, and as she did so, a little of the tension within her unraveled.

The music had slowed now as the dancers began the basse danse, a slow, dignified dance that contrasted with the lively Scottish circle dance that preceded it.

A smile curved Gavina’s lips.

They made a lovely couple: Cassian tall and muscular, Aila willowy and clad in scarlet, her walnut-colored hair piled atop her crown. Gavina was particularly happy with the job she’d done with her maid. Aila was a pretty lass, yet she didn’t make the most of herself.

In Gavina’s opinion, Aila outshone every other woman in the hall tonight, herself included. The blush upon her cheeks was charming, as was the rapt way she watched Cassian as they danced.

“You shouldn’t meddle in the affairs of others, My Lady.” A gruff voice intruded then. Gavina tore her attention from the dancing couple, her gaze meeting Draco Vulcan’s. The warrior, who’d been talking to William Wallace and the captain when she approached, was scowling at her.

He wore a look of disdain upon his proud features, an expression that immediately made her hackles rise. She received enough such looks from her husband; she wouldn’t suffer one of their guests glaring at her in such a manner.

“I’m not meddling,” she replied, her tone wintry. “What harm is there in ensuring a woman has a dance partner?”

“You’re match-making,” he drawled. “Cassian’s no fool … we all saw what you did.”

Gavina stiffened. He was making it sound as if she’d done something venal.

Next to him, Wallace snorted into his cup of ale. “Leave it be, Draco. What does it matter if the captain enjoys himself? I wouldn’t mind a dance with that pretty lass myself.”

Gavina cast the Wallace a grateful smile. She appreciated his words. She then cast a cold eye upon Draco once more, taking in his lean, hard-muscled form, haughty face, and penetrating night-dark eyes. The Moor was a good friend of Captain Gaius, but right now she found nothing redeeming about him.

This man was no ally of hers.

“Perhaps ye should enjoy the Beltaine dancing as the captain is,” Gavina replied after a long pause. “I’m sure ye can find a woman here who’d take pity on ye.”

Aila smiled so widely that her face started to hurt. She’d never enjoyed herself so much. She never wanted this moment to end. Cassian was an excellent dancer. He knew all the steps to the slow dance the harpist was now playing, and the pair of them glided around the floor, moving back and forth