Page 50 of Some Like It Scot
“Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Lane Craig, who has come from Tobermory to teach us our first dance. I thought that since we are in Scotland, we should learn one of the classic Scottish dances for our first lesson. Mr. Craig?”
They were dancing a cèilidh? Perhaps I didn’t want to watch them mutilate a dance from my heritage, even if Katie would be worth watching.
The round middle-aged man, Mr. Craig, boasted a brown mustache as manicured as his matching hair. The impeccable suit he wore somehow made him more compact. For a wee man, his smile took up a surprising portion of his face. In fact, with a mop of hair, his mustache, and that smile, he barely had any other recognizable facial features at all.
“Today I plan to teach you one of the simplest and oldest Scottish dances we have. The Gay Gordons. It’s a cèilidh dance, which means it’s a wee bit more relaxed, works wonderfully with pairs, and can encourage some simple flirting betwixt the couples.” He wiggled his brows. “If such romanticizing is to your liking, of course.”
I rolled my eyes.Latherin’ it on, aren’t you, Craig?
Lennox’s daughter, Ana, released a teeth-grating giggle, which only encouraged Mr. Craig’s smile to expand so wide, his eyes disappeared.
Ah! A performer, he was.
“Now The Gay Gordons works well for any number of couples, but its simple steps are a good way to start your education on cèilidh and country dances.”
I glanced around the room. And a good set of pairs to start too. Small number. Four men. Four women. I’d give Craig a point for his planning on that score.
“So let’s see the couples.”
I crossed my arms and leaned back against the wall as Mr. and Mrs. Lennox stepped forward, followed by Wake and Ana, then the other couple I’d seen enter the room. And there stood Katie, still near the threshold as if she wanted to make a quick escape.
“Oh look!” She waved toward the couples, her smile too bright. “I get to watch and learn. I like this plan.”
“No, no, Miss Campbell.” Lennox stepped forward. “It’s unfortunate Mr. Page sprained his ankle on the way back from the village, or the two of you could have stepped out together.”
Mr. Page? My frown deepened. The eejit.
Katie’s expression complied with my thoughts too. Smart lass.
“He shouldn’t have attempted to scale the rocks when you clearly told him not to, my dear.” This from Mr. Lennox. “He seemed determined to engage in some nonsense.”
“I videoed the whole thing,” Ana said, raising her hand with another giggle. “He wanted something funny to add to his reels, or so he said. Something daring. But I don’t think he intended on it leaving him nursing a wound for the evening.”
“Not to worry.” Mr. Craig offered his hand. “A substitute is quite ready and willing to join you, Miss Campbell.”
I stifled my chuckle. Katie would stand a whole head and shoulders above the man. Watching him spin her should be humorous indeed.
Katie reluctantly stepped forward and took Craig’s outstretched hand, her lips pinched as if she were holding her own laugh in check. My grin stretched a little wider.
Until... Mr. Craig started moving in my direction with Katie at his side.
Recognition dawned on her face, and her eyes grew as wide as mine must have been.
“Mr. MacKerrow has not only agreed to take on the temporary part of butler but also as dance partner when needed.”
I looked over at Craig as if he spoke a different language. Wait. I had! But I didn’t actually expect to have to follow through, and certainly not with Katie Campbell.
“The two of you will fit best with height.”
As if that made everything tidy!
Heat rose beneath my too-tight collar, underneath my beard, and into my cheeks, as my rebel eyes took another gander at Katie’s full height. I didn’t need to hold her again to know just how well her stature complemented mine.
And the acknowledgment raised the heat in my face to scorching.
My mum would die of delight at this moment. Calum would die of laughter.
I wanted to die. Plain and simple. And perhaps I would if the heat in my face kept rising into dangerous territory.
