Chapter 17 #2
Olivia joined in the laughter, albeit hers was a little strained, and even Eden’s lips twitched at his grandmother’s jest.
“Ladies and gentlemen, me wife and I welcome ye all to our home, and thank ye for comin’ to help us celebrate the Feast of Saint Patrick.
We’re very glad to see ye all gathered here in yer finery.
Now, we want ye all to enjoy yerselves. There’s plenty of food and drink, we’ll have some rousin’ tunes, and, of course, I want to see ye all on the floor dancin’. ”
There was applause and some cheers and hoots. Edan laughed, every inch the jovial, welcoming host.
When the noise died down, he continued, “I can tell ye’re all keen for me to stop talkin’ so ye can get on with the proper business of the evening. So, without further ado, I declare this party open!”
There was more clapping, and a huge cheer went up as the group of musicians stationed at one end of the dais struck up a merry tune with fiddles and drums. The buzz of conversation and laughter quickly became a roar.
An army of servers moved among the guests with jugs of ale and flagons of wine.
Tables laden with a panoply of dishes were arranged along the edges of the room, making room for a large dance floor in the center.
Olivia saw and heard it all as she stood motionless next to her husband, her arm linked with his, the warm, wide smile of a welcoming hostess fixed on her face as he made his speech.
She looked out over the hall, its walls and columns lavishly adorned with the brightly colored decorations she had helped make for the occasion.
The scene was everything she had hoped and planned for, a kaleidoscope of color and gaiety and music, all illuminated by the glow of the giant chandeliers overhead and the fires blazing in the two massive fireplaces on either side of the enormous room.
The hall was filled with a warm, inviting ambiance conducive to celebration.
Yet, the convivial atmosphere and her enjoyment were tainted by Edan’s coldness towards her.
How funny it is that nae a single one of them would guess from lookin’ at us that me husband has hardly looked at me nor spoken a word to me since I got here.
But as hurtful as his aloofness was on such a night, she was determined to enjoy the party she had worked so hard to help organize.
She slipped her arm from Edan’s and turned to her sister, who was standing next to her, and took her arm instead. “Come, Sister, let’s have some wine and get into the spirit of the occasion,” she said brightly, steering Eileen towards the Laird’s table.
Greta was already comfortably seated there and was beaming benevolently at the partygoers below.
“Aye, that would be nice. I’m feelin’ a wee bit shy with all these strangers, and a sip or two of wine will help me feel more at ease. I’m determined to enjoy meself,” Eileen declared as she sat next to Greta.
“Well, wine is the perfect cure for shyness, eh?” Olivia replied, laughing approvingly. “Greta, dear, what would ye like to drink?” she asked the old lady.
“I’ll have a wee tipple of ale, lass, thank ye. The wine doesnae agree with me so much these days. Ale is better for me stomach. But nae too much, mind.”
“I’ll nae bring ye a tankard then,” Olivia told her, pouring wine for herself and Eileen and filling a crystal glass with ale for the old lady.
They sat with their drinks, admiring the decorations as well as the guests. Having already partaken of quite a lot of drink, they were growing more exuberant by the minute.
But then Greta remarked, “Ye ken, ’tis traditional for the Laird and his lady wife to be the first on the dance floor, Olivia. Me grandson’s bein’ remiss in nae askin’ ye to dance.”
Olivia blushed as she glanced over to where Edan was talking with Zander and a couple of other gentlemen.
“I think he’s just busy at the moment, Greta.
’Tis a hard job bein’ the host. Why, the party’s hardly started.
I’m sure he’ll get round to askin’ me soon,” she replied, forcing a smile as she turned back to Greta.
She hid her blush behind her wine goblet, wondering if Edan would come and ask her to dance or if he intended to virtually ignore her all evening. It upset her to think Greta might have noticed that something was wrong between them.
“Do ye think any of the gentlemen will ask me to dance, Olivia?” Eileen asked eagerly, growing more animated now that she had drunk some wine. “Och, ye ken I love dancin’.”
“I think ye can be certain of it, darling,” Olivia replied, glad to have her sister there to distract her from her worries about Edan.
Greta chuckled. “Just give it a little time, and they’ll be fallin’ over each other to dance with a beautiful lassie like ye, Eileen. I wager there are eyes on ye right now—ye just dinnae ken it.”
Olivia laughed. “Aye, I have a feeling ye’re goin’ to be very busy this evenin’, and that ye’ll have very sore feet in the mornin’,” she told her sister.
Eileen smiled beatifically, tapping her toes in time to the music as she said, “Then I hope for very sore feet, indeed!”
After an hour or so, the party was in full swing.
The dance floor was packed already, and Greta’s assurance to Eileen proved to be prophetic.
It had not been long until a good-looking young man had come and invited her to dance.
Clearly thrilled, Eileen had accepted, and they had not seen her since, except to catch glimpses of her, rosy-cheeked, hair and skirts flying as she was spun around the dance floor by a succession of partners.
Though she too would have loved to dance, Olivia remained seated with Greta, watching Edan’s back as he conversed with a stream of guests and some of his advisors. Even Zander was dancing.
“’Tis so nice to see me sister havin’ a good time,” she remarked to Greta to mask how fed up she was.
Greta nodded, but she gave her a look of concern. “Aye, it is, lass, but ye should be doin’ the same.”
“Well, I will if somebody asks me to dance,” Olivia replied.
At that moment, Greta looked over Olivia’s shoulder and smiled. Olivia did not need to look to see who had come to stand behind her chair. She sensed it was Edan immediately.
“Are ye all right, ladies? Have ye got everythin’ ye need?” he asked.
“Aye, lad. Olivia here has been lookin’ after me very well,” Greta replied. “But I ken she’d like to dance,” she added pointedly.
Olivia blushed furiously. The last thing she wanted was for him to be forced to dance with her.
“’Tis quite all right, Greta. I’m happy stayin’ here with ye,” she said hurriedly, hoping Edan would ask her to dance anyway.
But all he said was, “That’s all right, then. I’ll come back and check on ye a bit later,” and then he walked off.
Is this how ’tis always goin’ to be? A lifetime of bein’ shut out in the cold by a man who will never love me?
Olivia was mortified, and although Greta did not say anything, she pursed her lips, looking worried.
“Have ye two had a fallin’ out?” she asked.
Olivia was taken aback and scrambled for an answer that would not upset the old lady. She could hardly tell her the truth.
“Nay, nae at all,” she lied.
“Then why is he nae payin’ ye any attention?”
“Och, he’s just busy with his hostin’ duties,” Olivia replied awkwardly, knowing Greta would see right through her paper-thin excuse. “I’m sure he will later on.”
“I hope so, lass,” Greta said, but she sounded doubtful.
“Would ye like some more ale?” Olivia asked, anxious to find a distraction.
She went to fetch fresh drinks for her and Greta when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
“Me Lady, I’d be honored if ye’d have the next dance with me.”
Olivia turned to see Zander smiling at her. “Och, hello, Zander,” she greeted, a little flustered.
She hesitated for a moment, holding the drinks in both hands as she glanced over to where Edan was deep in conversation with Findlay Pearson. At that moment, he looked over at her, and their eyes met. Hope flared in her heart for a moment, then died in the face of his stony look.
She turned her attention back to Zander, returning his smile. “Aye, I’d love to, Zander. Let me just give Greta her drink, and I’ll be with ye.”
Zander accompanied her while she delivered the drinks, quickly reducing the old lady to giggles with his usual playful teasing.
His warmth and good humor acted like a tonic on Olivia.
Her spirits rose as he led her to the dance floor, where two columns of dancers were rapidly forming for a reel.
She saw Eileen further along, with another young man.
Red-faced but radiant with excitement, she waved at Olivia, who smiled and waved back, glad to see her sister having so much fun.
She and Zander joined one of the columns, facing each other.
As per tradition, Zander bowed gallantly to her, while she bobbed her most elegant curtsey.
A bass fiddle struck up a lively tune, and the dance began.
Having not danced for a while, she was soon breathless as Zander spun her around, keeping perfect time to the music.
When it was their turn, he grabbed her by the waist and danced her up the center of the column, while the other dancers clapped and cheered them on their way to the top.
Elated by the sense of freedom the movement and music gave her, Olivia forgot her worries for a while and threw herself into having fun.
Zander was a good dancer, and he seemed to be enjoying himself as well. So, it was a big shock when halfway through the dance, they reached the top of the column to find Edan standing there. Zander brought them to a sudden halt, both of them short of breath.
“Are ye all right, Edan?” he asked, apparently unconcerned by the interruption.
“That’s me wife ye’re dancin’ with,” Edan replied, staring at Olivia so intently that she started to feel uncomfortable.
“Aye, well spotted, man,” Zander countered, studying Edan’s face curiously.
“Well, ye can take yer hands off her. She should be dancin’ with me,” Edan said.
Olivia could not help noticing he was slightly slurring his words, and his eyes seemed a little dazed.
She put it down to drink. It was a party after all, and he was entitled to get a little tipsy if he wished.
Yet, there was something off about his behavior apart from the fact that he had ignored her up until then.
The reel continued without her and Zander, and the noise around them was almost deafening as they moved slightly out of the way of the dancers.
“Are ye askin’ her to dance, then?”
“I dinnae have to ask her. She’s me wife. Of course, she wants to dance with me. Eh, Olivia?” His smile made her heart flutter madly, even if his behavior was odd.
Of course, I want to dance with ye. I’ve been waitin’ half the night for ye to ask me!
To her utter astonishment, Edan grabbed her arm and pulled her away from Zander, wrapping his arms around her protectively.
“Are ye all right, Edan? What have ye been drinkin’?” Zander asked, his voice laced with concern.
“Ale. But I’ve only had two tankards, and I havenae finished me second one yet, but ’tis potent stuff all right. Me tankard’s over here somewhere.” Edan gestured loosely towards the tables, not taking his eyes off Olivia as he spoke.
“He can usually hold his ale better than this,” Zander told Olivia quietly. “Edan, ye sure ye havenae had more than two drinks?”
“’Tis a party. Of course, I’ve had a drink or two. But I’m nae drunk,” Edan said, his voice rising and attracting curious looks from some guests. He looked down at Olivia fondly. “I just want to dance with me beautiful wife. Look at her, Zander. Is she nae the most beautiful lass ye’ve ever seen?”
“Aye, she is. Ye’re a lucky man. Ye should pay more attention to her,” Zander told him.
It was clear to Olivia that he had noticed something out of the ordinary in Edan’s behavior.
“I’m goin’ to pay her all the attention she deserves, and I dinnae need ye to tell me,” Edan told him. “I’ll be the one to take care of her.” He smiled down at a stunned Olivia, his face relaxed and happy. “Would ye like to dance, Olivia?”
She hesitated for a moment. “I’d love to if Zander willnae think it rude of me.”