A Journey Out of Time (10 page)

*

"Duncan, first yer da helps Scotland negotiate peace with England & now ye have brought us a long lost relative. Where is she from again? Ye will have to tell me some time how she ended up here."

"Of course, Your Majesty. She is from the New World; America."

"Ah," Angus sighed. "I wish your ma & da were here. They would be so excited about all of this!"

"Aye," Duncan smiled.

Duncan looked up & saw Sonya looking out of the window & returned her gaze. It was like a magnet. Angus smiled a crooked smile at Duncan which Duncan ignored as they continued on down the path.

*

Sonya was nervous about the evening. She didn't dance. She didn't know how to
do
anything but curtsy! Duncan may think of Angus as a Highlander, but he was still king; the ruler of Scotia. She was terrified of doing something wrong. After taking off her riding pants & padding, she gratefully washed up & lay on the bed thinking maybe she could sleep, but she was too restless. What was she doing here? All she wanted to do was to go back to Duncan's. All she wanted was to
be
with Duncan. She wanted to see Ewan & Sarah, Kerry & the girls, Cami & John.
Oh, I wish the others had come. I feel alone.
Then there was a soft knock at the door & Anne came in.

"Can'na ye rest my dear?" She smiled knowingly.

"No."

"I didn't think ye would be able to. I could'na sleep for a week after coming here!" Sonya smiled. "I have brought ye a few things ye may like to wear tonight. " Sonya must have looked terrified as Anne laughed. "Doona worry. It is'na that bad, just a lot of people at dinner."

"I don't think I am cut out for all this excitement."

"Few of us are really. It just happens that Angus likes Duncan a lot. Their father's were friends & Angus & Duncan have known each other their whole lives."

"I didn't realize that."

"Aye. Sometimes I think Angus has taken over as Duncan's father, despite how close in age they are.
And
he can never pass up a reason for a gathering!" Both ladies laughed. "Here we are."

Anne lay out several things on the bed. There was a beautiful dress in a pale green & one overdress in a deep red. Sonya also recognized both the MacPherson & the MacLeod plaid. "I have never had a MacPherson tartan. What do you suggest I wear?"

"Well, deary, I think ye will have to choose for yourself. No one can choose for you."

Sonya searched her eyes for a moment & looked back at the choices. She got the distinct feeling Anne was telling her something other than what clothes to wear.

"Thank you, Milady."

Anne smiled. "Do try to rest. Angus has a bad habit of staying up late!" She turned & shut the door behind her.

*

A knock on the door shook Sonya from being exasperated with her reflection in the mirror. Why was it when you had somewhere to go your hair never cooperated? She blew the offending tendril with an annoyed huff & pulled open the door.

"Hello, lass. Are ye ready?"

There he stood. All 6 foot 6 inches of Duncan MacLeod. A bright shirt & plaid wrapped around him. A thin braid running down each side of his face & waves of dark hair flowing behind them.

"Well?" he asked.

"Well what?"

"Am I acceptable then?"

Oh, Aye!
Sonya smiled. "Aye, My Lord, most acceptable." Duncan chuckled & took her arm, wrapping it around his.

"And ye are most acceptable, lass. I like your choice in dress."

She smiled. "Thank you. You don't think the outfit is too much?" Sonya looked down at her clothes. She doubted anyone else would have chosen to wear the MacPherson kilt & MacLeod kilt together. It was amazing what some safety pins & brooches could do! Sonya took the two kilts, twisted them on one side, which made her white chemise show on the side.

"Nay, I think it looks perfect."

Sonya beamed. As they began to walk she frowned a moment, but he saw it.

"What is it lass?"

"It is just unusual, the tartans."

"The Scots doona wear the tartan where ye are from?" He sounded most aggrieved.

"Oh, no, they do, but they did not have clan plaids in this time. How unusual that the plaid you have would be the same tartan that I am familiar with."

"Aye, most uncanny."

She smiled, but it faded as she heard the celebratory noises as they descended the last of the stone steps. Imagine, her going to a celebration because she was a MacPherson! Not only that, but somehow related to a king! Her mother would have loved this. She smiled at the thought.
I wish you were here mum
. The laughing & music got louder & louder. As they stepped into the room, a silence suddenly fell as the King stood. Angus greeted them & Sonya looked to Duncan who was smiling at her. Angus kissed her on each cheek & held her hand as he turned towards the crowded room. Although she knew Duncan was watching, that didn't help the nerves at all, but catching Anne's eye & assuring nod, did.

In a loud voice Angus announced, "This is Sonya who is welcome in our Clan as a MacPherson. She is welcome to my kingdom as a Scotsman & a Highlander. She is also of the MacLeod," he added winking at her.

She was shaking so badly, she was sure he felt it because he squeezed her hand. She smiled proudly. Who else could have put it so well, but a statesman & king? And how honored could you be than to have it announced by the king that you are part of his clan & country. Sonya felt a pride she had never felt before.

"As you can see by her dress, she represents two of our clans. This shows that not only are we made up of several clans, but we are also of one clan."

Sonya looked at Angus proudly. Her mum would have loved this man. He winked at her & she smiled. The room broke out in cheers & clapping as the King led her to the high table. Anne was seated next to Angus with Duncan to her other side. Sonya was to sit on the other side of the king. Imagine that! Duncan watched her as she sat down. She wondered if he knew how badly she was still shaking. She wonder what they use as Valium here; Whiskey? Probably.
Could I order some of that? Me, who had rarely had a drink other than my grandfather's Schnapps!

The dinner was great & Sonya ate way too much. She felt like Angus suspected she was starving. He kept shoving this & that at her. She tried everything including the famous haggis. Although she would get the taste of liver now & then, she liked the rest just fine. And there was nothing she loved more than watching the dancing around the swords. It was wonderful & who doesn't love bagpipes? She always had. Perhaps those were just more reasons why she was destined to be here. After dinner Angus encouraged her to dance, but she refused as politely as she could. Were you supposed to refuse a king? Ah, well, this was Sonya. Duncan just chuckled.

"I promise to learn & will dance the next time."

"Aye. I will hold ye to that." He glanced at the pendant she wore & said, "That stone looks familiar." He turned towards Duncan, his eyes dancing. "Wasn't that the stone yer father gave to yer mother?"

Sonya felt her breath catch & she looked at Duncan who took a moment to answer. His mouth opened, but nothing came out. Did he just turn another shade? He looked straight at Angus & Sonya wasn't sure what to make of it all.

In a husky voice he said, "Aye, aye. She put it into the pendant herself," he pointed. Was that pride she heard in his voice?

"How lovely it looks, too," Anne commented & smiled.

"Thank you."

"Come, Duncan," said the King's mother. "I wish to dance." Duncan rose without hesitation, took her hand & led her down the dais. Sonya watched & smiled.

Sonya said, "My mother loved to dance as well."

"Ah, but ye do not?"

"I never really learned too much. My generation of dancing was simply moving around." She certainly wasn't going to show him the polka that she learned as a little girl or a two step where you held someone close. But wait, she did know something. One, two, three, & one, two, three; that she knew!
God bless The King & I & my mother for loving musicals!
"I do know one dance," she exclaimed a little too enthusiastically.

"Wonderful! Let us go." Sonya took his arm & he led her down to the floor. Everyone moved to the side like a wave on the beach. She about lost her nerve again, being the center of attention. "Just look at me, lass. Forget they're here. I try to most of the time."

Sonya smiled trying to put them out of her head & only looked at Angus' jovial face. She explained the beat & Angus directed the musicians. "We count one, two, three, & one, two, three, and..." Angus seemed to like it because she didn't lead for more than 30 seconds! He spun her around the room. It was such a lot of fun. Couples watched for a bit & quickly joined them. Some added their own kicks as they went. The one dance she knew she just taught a king! How funny to know she learned it from a movie where an English woman taught it to the King of Siam!

Sonya laughed & was happy. At the close of the first dance she was out of breath, but the king seemed to be having a great time. He wasn't even winded! He whispered in her ear & she smiled. As they turned he handed her off to Duncan in a swirl & she hit his body just a bit too hard. Angus in turn took the hand of a lovely woman. There wasn't even a pause in the dancing. Now she was in Duncan's arms spinning around the room. The one place she wanted to be.

The shock that went through her at his first touch seemed to settle into a thrumming. One hand closed around her hand & one around her back, she couldn't help but wish they were alone & he could pull her even closer, then it was as if they were alone. When the song ended & a slow tempo played, Duncan slowly pulled her close, not letting her go. She still wasn't able to slow her breathing even at the slower pace. She felt his warm breath on her neck & her hand seemed to inch up his neck under his hair. It was so soft. She heard his intake of breath & his hand seemed to instinctively pull her even tighter into him. Her body quivered at the touch of his body.
Oh what I wouldn't do to feel his naked body against mine. Oh my! What a thought! What am I thinking?
Laying her head on his shoulder with her face towards his, she inhaled the smell of him & it was wonderful. She could just curl up in the smell of him & stay there forever with his arms tightly around her. Her fingers curled in his hair & she could swear she felt a bulge in between them & heat soared through her, an aching want in between her thighs. How long could she handle this? Whoa! That was quite a bulge!

Suddenly, Duncan pushed her away from him. She untangled her fingers, embarrassed that she had allowed herself to do such things & in an open fashion.
What on earth is my problem? This man & his very manly body is my problem! Okay, so it wasn't really a problem, my not having sex for ages was!
Duncan grinned at her & they continued to look at each other as they continued around the room. Why did he move her away? Perhaps it was that it was just a woman's touch, not her touch. Flirting didn't necessarily equal more than flirting, or curiosity in someone that came from somewhere else. Or for that matter a man's on switch. Sometimes they just flicked on! She wanted to tell him she was sorry, for how she acted at Ronin, but this wasn't the time. Besides, even if he didn't feel the same, she just wanted to stay there looking at him. To look at the tightly woven braids that went down each side of his face, framing it. The waves that went over his broad shoulders. She must be nuts. What would a man this gorgeous see in a woman like her? She had nothing to offer, especially in this time. She hated to cook & although she could sew, it wasn't that good. Great.

At one point they literally ran into the king & they all laughed & started again.

"She is very lovely."

"Aye."

"Does she come to court often?"

"Nay. She is from very far north, but I think maybe Angus can persuade her."

"Ah, I see," Sonya smiled. "Do you think maybe we could rest?"

"Aye, of course, lass." Duncan took Sonya back to her seat & sat down himself. She couldn't help but wish she had worn her tennis shoes! Imagine the questions that could pose! She smiled & clapped to the music. It was a wonderful time with Duncan sitting next to her. When he looked at her she could feel it & it would set her heart to racing. As if it really slowed, sitting this close to him. She finally turned in her seat to face him more. "Duncan, I am sorry for the way I acted before. At Ronin."