Chapter Eleven
"Non! Wait!" Camille yelled to Lachlan across the moor, praying he wouldn't attack Dugald and his smaller garrison. "I'll go talk to Lachlan to tell him of the situation."
"I'll go with you," Dugald said.
"Non, let me." She did not want the two warriors going at each other.
"Are you certain he won't harm you?"
"Of course. I live in his home. He is a good man."
Dugald narrowed his eyes, glaring across the meadow at the Drummagans, but remained in place.
Camille urged her mare forward, while Lachlan rode out to meet her a short distance from his men. Although he was a good-natured chief who smiled often, Lachlan now wore his fearsome warrior frown.
"What the devil is going on, Camille?" he asked, his glower at Dugald just as caustic and cutting as Dugald's had been.
"It is a long story, m'laird." And she did not want him to know the whole of it.
"Did that man kidnap you?"
Camille hesitated, but found she could not lie to him. "Oui, but he is not a bad man."
Lachlan's scowl grew more ominous. "Don't expect me to believe that. What is his name?"
Sighing, she wished Angelique were here to calm Lachlan down. "Dugald MacKerrick. He is a chief. Promise me you will not harm him."
"Why should I not? He took you hostage."
"It was a mistake. He thought I was someone else, and he's bringing me home. That's where we're headed."
Lachlan's jaw hardened, his glare sharpening on Dugald in the distance. "He sounds like an outlaw and a brigand to me."
"Truly, he is not. We've become… friends." Heat rushed over Camille for she would hate for Lachlan to know of their true association.
He eyed her as if she were mad. "Did he take advantage of you? Did he force you?"
"Of course not. He treated me with respect."
Lachlan considered her for a long moment, his amber-colored eyes searching her face for the truth.
"Very well, then. I'll let them live. And I'm taking you home.
I brought a horse for you to ride. Angelique is mad with worry for you, as was I.
You're like a sister to me. Angelique does not need to fash now that the bairn is almost due. "
"Oui, I agree." Sudden concern for her cousin struck Camille. "I'm ready to go back to Draughon. But I must tell Dugald good-bye."
Lachlan gave a brief nod and rejoined his men. Camille rode back to Dugald. His scowl said his mood had gone from bad to worse.
"'Tis as I suspected," she told him. "Lachlan and his men were searching for me. He wishes to take me back to Draughon. My cousin is sick with fear for me and almost ready to deliver her babe. I must be with her."
Frowning, Dugald nodded. "'Tis understandable."
She searched his troubled eyes, wishing she could read his thoughts. Wishing he would say more.
Horse's hooves thumped behind her. She turned to see one of the Drummagan clansmen leading a saddled white horse toward her, one of Angelique's prized mares that Lachlan had given her as a wedding gift.
"I'll help you." Dugald slid to the ground and reached up for her. She loved the feel of his strong hands framing her waist. The lush memory of their bedtime antics sent heat burning over her skin. He took her hand and kissed the back. "I hope you can forgive me for abducting you."
"Of course, Dugald." She sent him a small grin. "I enjoyed it," she whispered. And that was an understatement. It had been the most exciting few days of her life.
His lashes lowered as he considered her. He glanced around and she did the same, noticing they were mostly hidden behind some of the horses and his mounted men, all of whom quickly faced the opposite direction once they were caught watching.
Abruptly, Dugald drew her close and kissed her. It was a swift but potent kiss that took away her common sense. A kiss she wished could go on forever.
Pulling back, he made a barely discernable growling sound and muttered, "Damnation." Frowning, he led her to the white mare and lifted her into the saddle.
"I'll miss you," she said, only loud enough for him to hear.
He gave a quick nod, looking lost and alone of a sudden, like a forlorn lad, an expression she had never seen on his face before. "Have a safe journey home," he said.
"You, too. And I hope you find your dagger."
"I thank you."
"Well, I suppose this is goodbye," she said. "Au revoir." Her throat tightened and her voice caught. How she wished she could stay with him forever, but none of his words said he wanted her to be a permanent part of his life.
He gave a stiff, uncomfortable nod. "I bid you goodbye and farewell."
No, he would not take her for his wife. She had known this all along, so why was she so pained by it now?
She dropped her gaze so he wouldn't see the tears stinging her eyes and rode away from him, back to Lachlan and his garrison. Her throat constricted and she wanted to burst into hysterical tears but she forced herself not to.
∞∞∞
Dugald watched Camille ride away, feeling as if a battering ram had smashed into his chest. Hell, he could not breathe.
She had looked as if she were about to cry.
She didn't want to go, but… he hadn't asked her to stay with him.
How could he? She was a respectable woman under the protection of an earl.
He could not simply keep her as his paramour.
Besides, she had to be with her cousin, who would soon give birth.
"We follow them at a distance," Dugald said, mounting. They were going in the same direction anyway. He had to return to Perth, bail out Mason and find the dagger.
Soon, the Draughon garrison disappeared from sight. Dugald and his men could not push their horses any harder. Having traveled for a long while, they were overdue water and rest. Dugald drew up near a loch, dismounted and led his horse to the water.
'Slud, he did not ken how he felt about letting Camille go. His stomach ached. Was it hunger or something else? He looked south, feeling as if he wanted to ride in her direction as fast as he could. But that would be madness. He had to let her go.
He wished he could marry her, but his clan would never agree with it.
Marriages were supposed to be arranged by parents, but since his were no longer in the land of the living, the clan elders felt it their responsibility to select his bride.
She must be carefully considered based on who her parents and clan were.
Whether or not he was attracted to his bride was of little import to them.
They oft debated which chief's daughter would be best for him.
To take a bride unapproved by the clan could put his position as chief in jeopardy.
They might wish to replace him with Tòmas.
For now, Dugald had to focus on getting Mason free of the jail in Perth, regaining his dagger… and try to forget about Camille.
∞∞∞
Upon arriving at Draughon Castle that evening at dusk, Camille rushed upstairs to Angelique's bedchamber.
"Oh, mon amie, I'm so happy to see you!" Angelique, her belly round and swollen with child, arose slowly from her chair by the hearth. Firelight glimmered off her red hair.
Camille rushed to her and gently embraced her. "I am so sorry I worried you. How are you feeling?"
"Not too bad, just concerned for you. Where were you?"
Camille smiled. "I was abducted from the inn where I was staying in Perth."
"Mère de Dieu!" Angelique paled. "How can you smile about this? Were you not terrified? Who was the knave?"
"Calm yourself, Ange." Camille helped her sit in her chair again, then took the one opposite, enjoying the warmth from the fireplace.
"Oui, at first I was terrified. I didn't know what was happening or why I was being secreted away, except that they thought I was some chief's wife.
When we stopped the first time, and Dugald removed the gag from my mouth, I tried to tell him who I am but he wouldn't listen. "
Angelique's eyes remained wide. "Your abductor's name is Dugald? Who is he? How did you escape him?"
Camille grinned at the rapid fire questions. "Dugald is chief of the MacKerrick clan."
Once she'd filled Angelique in on everything she'd experienced while with Dugald, her cousin sighed wistfully. "Oh, Camille, what a romantic adventure! I don't see how he could've let you go."
Camille gave a sad smile, because her cousin had changed her tune drastically, but she would likely never see Dugald again.
"You love him, do you not?" Angelique asked softly.
Camille shrugged, her throat aching. "I only knew him a short time."
"It does not always take a long time to fall in love."
"Oui, but he is gone. And he will have to marry a chief's daughter to forge an alliance.
Just because he decided not to marry Lady Sarah, means nothing.
There will be lots of chiefs' daughters for him to choose from, and he will be much sought after, being such a handsome and powerful chief.
I am illegitimate and his clan would never approve of me, even if Dugald did choose me… which he has not."
"Oh, mon amie. If I could see him, I would talk some sense into him!" She pounded her small fist upon the chair arm.
The door opened and Lachlan entered. Such a tall and imposing warrior made the room seem smaller. After laying something on a table just inside the door, he strode to Angelique, knelt and pulled her into a sweet embrace. "I missed you, mo chridhe." He kissed her lips, then her swollen belly.
Their interaction was so heartfelt, Camille had to look away. It only reminded her she would never share such an experience with Dugald. He would soon forget her and marry some dull and proper young lady.
After a few moments, Lachlan stood.
"What is that?" Angelique pointed to the tartan wrapped object he had placed on the table.
"Oh, that is a ruby-hilted dagger I bought in Perth."
What? A shock went through Camille. It could not possibly be Dugald's dagger, could it?
"Well, let us see it," Angelique said eagerly. It was a well-known fact both she and Camille loved weapons and knew how to use them.