Page 90 of A Wife for the Highland Villain
Before Conall could press, a villager approached, his hat in his hands and his smile shy. He held out a small clay jar.
“This is for the lady,” he said. “She healed me braither when the fever nearly took him. I have little to give, but I made sure this was the best honey from me hives.”
Alasdair accepted the jar with a nod and passed it to a guard. “She will appreciate it. Thank ye. Now, go, eat, drink, and make merry. Tonight is for celebration.”
The man beamed and melted back into the crowd.
Conall tilted his head. “Does that ever grow old?”
Alasdair huffed a laugh. “Ye have nay idea.”
Conall gave him a brief nod.
Alasdair wanted to say more, but a sound at the far end of the hall, for some reason, turned everyone’s head. The doors opened, and for a full minute, the music seemed to stop. Alasdair swallowed, noting the way silence pressed through the crowd.
He turned, and his chest tightened.
Lily stood at the other end of the hall, her hands clasped before her. She was dressed in blue.
Blue.
His favorite of the dresses he’d bought her. The one he was certain she wasn’t going to wear.
His heart sped up at the sight, and he almost didn’t know what to do with himself. It was like he completely lost control of his mind. Like he had died and gone to heaven. Her skin shone in the light, and the silky blue brought out the color of her eyes even more. He didn’t even know that was possible.
For what must have been the first time that evening, he felt relaxed. Without hesitation, he dropped the cup and crossed over to where she stood, his eyes glinting with nothing but pride.
“Ye wore the dress,” he said, his voice calm, even though everything in his head screamed.
She wore the dress.
She lifted her chin. “Daenae make a fuss over it. I had nothing else to wear.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Aye. I am sure that is the only reason.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What other reason could there be?”
A smile tugged at his mouth. “For what it is worth, ye look… breathtaking.”
Her lips parted, but she did not respond.
He offered his hand. “Dance with me.”
Lily gave a soft laugh. “We never got to the dancing part at our?—”
“Our wedding,” he cut in.
“Handfasting ceremony,” she countered smoothly.
“Right,” he said with a grin. “As if that makes much difference.”
She said nothing more, but she placed her hand in his, and they both stepped to the center of the hall, along with other couples. The music grew gentler, and they began to sway to it.
“So,” Alasdair said, keeping his eyes on hers, “which of the angels must I thank? For ye arenae ignoring me tonight.”
“Nay one,” Lily replied. “It’s just that me sister said something, and it made me realize perhaps I have been too harsh on ye.”
“Oh, did she now?” Alasdair teased. “Then maybe I should be the one ignoring ye.”
