Part 18 (1/2)

Nora wanted more out of her husband than that. She dreamed of a man who could talk to her about science. One who could keep up his side of the conversation and not get irritable because she was asking too many questions.

There was nothing wrong with questions. But her endless inquisitiveness oft made her father lose his patience and order her from the hall.

I love you, Nora child, but one more word from you, la.s.s, and I swear my humble brain will boil over until I'm as empty-fated as old Seamus. Now get to your room and give me peace afore I lock you in therefor the rest of eternity.

Nora winced at the words she had heard countless times.

Ewan was her father all over, she was sure of it. The only difference was their appearance. Her father was short and blond, not gargantuan and dark.

But inside, they might as well be the same man.

Yet as she watched Ewan play, she noted something odd about him. His eyes were brighter than they had been before. The corners of his lips turned up, almost as if to smile.

He loved music as much as her father despised it.

That was a little common ground between them. Something the two of them shared.

Och, la.s.s, what are you thinking?

You tie yourself to a man such as he, andyou'llbe gone forever .

Marriage was good only for the man. The woman lost all sense of herself. She became lady to his lords.h.i.+p. Forever docile to him. Forever deferring to him.

She would become her mother.

She didn't want that. She wanted her own life, just like her Aunt Eleanor.

Eleanor answered to no man. She did as she pleased and lived her life to the fullest. She alone made Henry, king of England, bend to her will.

Aunt Eleanor was her ideal.

Aye, Nora not only wanted to be named for her aunt, she wanted to be her. Powerful. Decisive.

A woman in charge of her own destiny.

Catarina twirled around the fire, then held her hand out to Nora. ”Care to dance?”

Nora hesitated for only an instant. ”Show me how?”

Catarina pulled her to her feet, then raised her skirt up so that Nora could watch her feet.

Nora followed her carefully while the men played.

”You look as if you have French blood in you, little Nora,” Viktor said as he smiled at her attempts to duplicate Catarina's movements.

Nora returned his smile, pleased by his praise.

But she knew she was no match for Catarina, who moved as if she were one with the music.

Catarina led her around in a twirling bit of dance.

Nora glanced to Ewan, then swallowed. He wasn't looking at Catarina anymore, he was staring ather .

With searing heat.

With hunger.

With need.

It made her burn. Imagine him looking at her like that. She wouldn't have thought it possible.

Yet he did.

And that look...

It made her feel womanly and beautiful. For the first time in her life, she understood pa.s.sion and desire.

Ewan was magnetic and powerful, and his need for her was so intense that it was virtually tangible.

Unaware of why Nora had stopped moving, Catarina grabbed her hands and whirled her around again.

And even though she danced, Nora's gaze continually went back to Ewan and the heat of his celestial eyes that burned through her.

After they had finished the dance and music, Catarina and Nora cleaned up the mess from supper. The men packed away the instruments and made pallets for everyone.

Catarina was putting away the pot when she met Nora's bemused stare.

”For a woman not interested in Ewan, my lady, you certainly looked ready to kill me over the fact he was paying attention to my dance earlier.”

Nora's face flushed but she wasn't willing to let anyone know just how much she really did desire Ewan MacAllister. ”I most certainly did not.”

Catarina laughed. ”You can't hide the truth from me, Nora. I saw your heart. It was plainly written in your eyes.”

She wrinkled her nose at the woman. ”I think you just like to play matchmaker, don't you?”

”Only when I see two people who belong together.”

Nora scoffed. ”I do not belong with Ewan MacAllister. Believe me.”

”Whatever you say.” But her tone carried the full weight of Catarina's doubt.

Nora left her to return to the others. Bavel, Viktor, Pagan and Lysander had withdrawn to bed. Only Ewan remained. He sat alone before the fire, staring idly into the flames and drinking from a large goblet.

Ewan didn't appear drunk, but a cloud of sadness engulfed him.

Nora dropped her gaze to the lute at his feet. ”Are you all right, my lord?”

He grunted.