Highlander's Beautiful Liar A Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance Historical Novel - Adamina Young Page 0,36
was amazing for Cora to watch how the rest of the clan interacted with her now. Those that had previously scorned her were now acting as though they were old friends, and her previous friends were keeping their distance. It broke her heart, and she vowed that she would find a way to make it right. She had lied to all of them to protect those she loved, but she had come to love her friends as well, and now they were baffled and hurting.
Despite how some felt about Alec, everyone acted as though any marriage should be celebrated, and they did it with great gusto. There was dancing, singing, laughter, and drinking. When was the last time Cora had seen such joy anywhere? And it was all for her.
At the center of attention, she sat in her chair at the end of the table and tried to look relaxed. It hadn’t escaped her notice that King Edward’s attention was trained on her or that Alec was also watching her like a hawk.
She didn’t know what it was like to be in love, and now she had to act the part.
“Come dance with me!” Jamie declared heartily and pulled her out of her seat before she could say no. Before he could get her too far across the floor, a hand grabbed her around the waist and pulled her up against a hard body.
Alec. His warmth spread through her, and she flushed at the knowledge that she could already recognize him without turning around. “I believe the first dance belongs to me,” he said a little too possessively. “Off with ye.”
Shooing Jamie away, he tugged her with the other dancers before he effortlessly picked her up and spun her.
“Oh!” Breathless, she gripped his large shoulders as they danced. Her heart fluttered as she tried to keep up with him, but this type of dancing was so different from what she was used to. In England, it was proper with contained emotions, but here, the steps and laughter were large and expressive. Joy spread through her even as she tried to focus and concentrate. She’d always loved music and dancing.
“Smile,” he murmured in her ear. “Ye are dancing with the man that ye love.”
Immediately, the euphoria slipped away with the reminder that every smile he gave her, every touch of her body, was all for an act. Whatever chance she and Alec had of having a real relationship, or even having a friendship, had slipped away at the knowledge of her lies, and that hurt her more than she wanted to admit.
Finally, at the end of the song, the crowd cheered, and Alec slipped his hand around her waist. Afraid he was going to ask her for another dance when the instruments started up again, she forced a smile. “I think I need a moment to breathe.”
With a frown, he released her, and she made her way out of the great hall and to the great entrance of the keep. Sounds from the doors told her that the village was celebrating just as enthusiastically outside as they were inside.
Was there nowhere she could hide?
“Lady Cora,” the King said behind her.
Swearing inwardly in a way that her family would not approve of, she turned and dipped into a curtsy. “Your Majesty.”
“Will ye come walk with me in the courtyard? I could use a little sunshine.”
Grateful for at least some air, she took his arm and led him to the small courtyard. “I appreciate you accepting my hasty marriage to Alec,” she began softly. “I had not realized—”
“Careful,” Edward interrupted. “Lying to me is an offense that I will not be able to forgive.”
Immediately, she clamped her mouth shut. She walked a thin line. He expected them to display the face of true lovers in public, but he also knew the truth even if he wasn’t allowed to admit it. “What can you tell me of my father?”
At that, he smiled softly. “Duncan was a good man. Even with the mistakes he made, he was a good husband—despite his indiscretion—a good father, and a good laird. I respected him a great deal.”
“A good father?” she echoed with just a hint of disdain. A father who had ignored her and raised a man who would be a monster.
Edward sighed heavily. “Ye are thinking of Seth. I know ye witnessed and experienced horrors at his hand. How a man could grow up to be so different from his father, I will never know.”