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“Would m’lady care to dance?”
Mick’s blond hair fell across his forehead and she wanted to brush it back. His lips pursed and she wanted to kiss him again. She glanced back at the dancers. She wanted to say yes, but would it be seemly for the Countess Fitzsimmons to dance with the overseer? Who else was there with whom she could dance? George? A shiver ran down her spine at the thought.
She nodded. “Yes, I’d love to dance.”
He took her arm and they joined the couples who moved to the lively music. By the end of the song, Ciara was breathless and she leaned against Mick’s broad chest. She liked the feeling of having her face against his shirt. She liked being near him.
She gave him a small curtsy. “Thank you, sir.”
He bowed. “Thank you, m’lady. Would you care to dance another?”
“I need to catch my breath. It has been such a long time.” She flashed him a grin. “Edith pulled my stays a bit tight.”
Mick laughed, a loud, happy laugh that enveloped her. “Then would m’lady like some ale?”
“I would love some.” As Mick disappeared into the crowd, Ciara watched the dancers doing a jig.
Egan McNulty appeared in front of her, his hat clutched in his hand. “M’lady.”
“Egan. I am so pleased to see you. Are you enjoying yourself? And your family?”
“’Tis a wondrous festival, m’lady. My family is havin’ a grand time.”
“I am so glad.” To know that the families enjoyed themselves made the work and expense worthwhile. That was all she had wanted. That, and to see the friends she hadn’t in so long.
“I was wonderin’, m’lady?” He stared at his boots.
“Yes?”
“Would I be too brazen to ask if you would join me in this dance? I mean...well...you bein’ a fine lady and all and me bein’...but it is your party and you should be on the dance floor...I would be so honored.”
She graced him with a smile. He’d probably never strung so many words together in one day, let alone one moment in his life. “I would be honored to dance with you, Egan.” She took his arm.
He shoved his hat back on his head, a large smile creasing his weather-worn face.
When she returned from her dance with Egan, she found Mick holding her glass of ale and a line of men, hats in hand, all wanting to beg a dance from the countess. She sipped her ale, gave Mick a shrug and took the arm of the next man. Mick’s laugh followed her onto the green.