Page 44 of Deception and Desire
Colin took a deep breath and filled the bags; the first haunting tones enveloped the room. He played a woeful Scottish tune of a soldier leaving his home for war. Lachlan leaned against the mantel, his eyes closed as he listened. While there were no words, Fenella found herself blinking back tears at the keening strains of the instrument. They all clapped enthusiastically when he finished.
“Do ye ken the works of Robbie Burns?” Colin asked Rose.
She nodded.
“Ae Fond Kiss?”
She nodded again with a smile and went to stand by the pianoforte. “Mrs. Douglas, do you know it?”
“By heart,” she said with a smile. “It’s a poignant ballad.”
Fenella felt the cushion of the settee dip as Lachlan resumed his seat next to her. “I’ve heard this one,” she said softly as her grandmother began the first notes. “It’s a song to his unrequited love, Nancy.”
Colin picked up the penny whistle, which true to its name, had a whistling wind-like thread that added a sweetness to the song. He moved to stand close to the women, his eyes never leaving Rose. Her husky voice seemed to blend with the chords, and Fenella found herself closing her eyes and letting the lyrics take over.
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae farewell and then forever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.
Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leaves him?
His warm breath tickled her ear, and she sucked in her own. “Ye’re enjoying this ballad. Are ye a romantic, then?”
She nodded. “Aren’t we all in one way or another?”
A shiver went through her as he lent his low timbre to part of the verse.
I’ll ne’er blame my partial Fancy:
Naething could resist my Nancy!
But to see her was to love her
Love but her and love forever.
The song ended but Fenella only heard the pounding of her heart, her eyes locked with the turbulent blue gaze beside her. Something passed between them; some invisible bond attached them in that moment. If they’d been alone, he’d have kissed her. She was sure of it.
“Fenella? Did ye hear me?” asked her grandmother.
She jerked her gaze across the room. “What? No, I beg your pardon.”
“Rose’s voice is a perfect accompaniment to Colin on the whistle, do ye agree?”
Her companion wore an amused look on her face. “I think Fenella was elsewhere during the song.”
The afternoon passed quickly. More tea, more conversation, more covert looks between both couples, and too soon they were back in the entry hall.
“Mrs. Douglas,” Lachlan said with a bow, the chains on his sporran lightly chinking as he bent over her hand, “may I thank ye for a delightful dinner and afternoon?”
“Weel, I dinna mean to speak for my charges, but I believe we should do this again.” An impish smile curved her grandmother’s lips. “Perhaps next Sunday?”
The group moved outside but Lachlan laid a hand on Fenella’s arm and held her back. Pulling her into the parlor, his hungry eyes burned a trail from her eyes to her neck, then settled on her mouth.
