Free Fated Hearts 02 - Highland Echoes by Ceci Giltenan Page B

there.”
    Damn . Ian was right. Bram hadn’t even thought about that. When they had great feasts, there wasn’t enough room in the hall for all of the clan members who attended. There was always food and drink set up on tables outside and after the meal there was music and dancing there as well. Maybe Grace was there. Bram drained his tankard, stood, and began winding his way through the revelers in the hall.
    “Ye’re welcome,” called Ian.
    Once outside, Bram stood on the top of the steps, looking over the crowd. Every flash of coppery hair caught his eye, but none of it belonged to the woman he sought. He wandered through the crowd, nodding as people called greetings to him, but avoiding being pulled into conversations. After searching for what felt like ages, he resigned himself to the fact that Grace had stayed in the kitchen all evening, despite his request.
    That was it. If she wasn’t at the party, maybe she was in the kitchen. Again, he worked his way out of the throng of people and around to the back of the castle. He stopped in the open doorway. She had her back to him, sweeping the last bit of dirt into the hearth.
    “Are ye still considering whether to join in the festivities?” he asked.
    She spun around. “Oh. I—I—ye startled me.”
    “I’m sorry. I was hoping I could convince ye to come enjoy what’s left of the celebration.”
    She met his gaze. The vulnerability he saw there for a moment shook him to his core.
    She sucked in a quick breath and looked away. “I told my grandmother I would finish tidying the kitchen for her.”
    He glanced around. “It looks like ye have.” He crossed the room, took the broom from her, and stood it in the corner where Innes kept it. He turned back to her and held out his hand. “Come with me.”
    Her hand flew nervously to her throat. “But Kristen—”
    “Is evidently tucked in bed and safe with Innes.”
    At her continued hesitation, he said, “Grace, please. Are ye always this stubborn?”
    Her brow furrowed and she gave a small shrug. “I’ve already told ye, ye bring out the worst in me.”
    There it was again, that glimpse of vulnerability that he didn’t understand. It stirred a distinct desire to protect her from whatever caused her distress. “If ye don’t want to join the revelers, I will walk ye home. But I would very much like for ye to return to the party with me.”
    *
    Grace stared at the beautiful man who held his hand out to her, enticing her to go with him. Why was she resisting this so diligently anyway? He was just being kind to her, perhaps to make amends for the way they had doubted her the day before. What harm was there in accepting his kindness and enjoying the festivities?
    “I’ll go for a little while.”
    The smile that spread across his face was heart-stopping. “Good.”
    She turned away for a moment to snuff the candles before walking past him to the door. He followed, taking her elbow and guiding her to the front of the keep.
    Grace had never seen anything like it. It looked as if everyone in the village had attended from the very young to the very old. The front courtyard was filled with people, the very center of it left a bit more open to give the dancers room. Una was dancing with a fierce looking warrior who must be her husband. Senga and Nell were there too, families in tow. The doors to the great hall were open and it too was teeming. Peggy waved merrily at her from across the courtyard.
    The atmosphere was more festive than anything she had ever experienced in her little village but perhaps the best part was the music. Melodies from flute, lute, and recorder all intertwined and were carried forward on the driving beat of a hand-held drum, stirring the feet of the people dancing. She was simply enthralled.
    She felt Bram tug at her elbow. “Shall we go into the hall?”
    “Oh, but this is wonderful,” she said. “Can we just stay here?”
    He grinned. “Anything ye wish, Grace.” As one song ended,