Epilogue
A fortnight later, Camille and Dugald sat holding hands at their wedding feast in the great hall of Draughon Castle.
Camille could not take her eyes off her gorgeous husband.
She was thrilled to have wedded him in the same small chapel where Angelique and Lachlan had held their second wedding ceremony the year before.
And she'd worn Angelique's blue, French wedding gown, handed down from her mother.
Their ceremony had been simple and brief but filled with love.
Dugald's handsome twin, Tòmas, approached and stopped by her chair.
Though they were mirror images of each other, much about them was different.
She would never get them mixed up. He took her hand in his.
"M'lady, welcome to the MacKerrick clan, although I regret that you have chosen the wrong brother. "
She snickered.
"Don't even think to steal my bride away, you rogue," Dugald muttered, sliding his arm possessively around Camille.
"That's the pot calling the kettle black." She smiled up at her husband, so close. She wished she could kiss him now.
"Aye, well, we're much alike in that way." He winked at her, then turned his attention to his brother. "I've generously left Lady Sarah for you, Tòmas."
"Ha. Do you think me desperate?" He moved farther along and took a seat at the high table.
"I don't think he wishes to marry," Camille whispered.
"Nay. He is a skirt-chaser of the first order."
"But you are not, oui?" She squeezed his thigh.
"Your skirt is the only one I will chase from this day forward. Well… in truth, from the day I met you, I wanted no other woman."
Her heart melted and she wished she could stroke his dear face and kiss him all over. Tears burned her eyes.
"What is wrong?" he asked.
"Naught. I love you," she whispered.
"And I love you, my wee Frenchie." He kissed her forehead.
Lachlan tapped his knife against a silver goblet, stood and smiled. "'Tis time for a toast or two, aye?"
While Camille listened to the toasts, her mind drifted back over the past two weeks.
Half of Dugald's men, who had been staying in the village, had joined them at Draughon, while the other half returned to Rornoch Castle to tell Tòmas of the news.
He had shown up a few days later with twenty MacKerrick clansmen.
Angelique and Lachlan's new bairn had been born just over a week ago.
'Twas a healthy girl with flaming red hair.
Camille and everyone thought Hannah a wee version of Angelique.
Lachlan was the proud da, carrying the tiny babe around and showing everyone how beautiful she was.
The babe's older half-brothers, Orin and Kean, as well as her wee Uncle Timmy, eyed her with wonder.
After they'd eaten supper, the dancing began.
Camille danced with Dugald four times, then she was ready to retire to their chamber.
She had a surprise for him and could hardly wait to give it to him.
While most everyone was distracted by the lively music of the cèilidh, the two of them slipped up the stairs.
When she opened the door to her chamber, she could hardly believe how lavishly the room had been decorated.
The maid in attendance bobbed a curtsy, hurried out the door and closed it behind her.
A cozy fire burned brightly in the hearth.
A dozen or more candles had been lit and placed on every surface.
The scents from the rose and heather garlands filled her senses.
"Oh heavens," she whispered in awe. "Angelique must have had the servants do this as a surprise for us."
Dugald placed his hands on her shoulders and caressed. "Aye, 'tis lovely, but not as lovely as you." He kissed her ear.
She turned to him. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Aye, and I hope 'tis a scandalous request." He winked.
"Non, you rogue." She grinned. "I but wondered… are you certain your clan will accept me as your wife and their lady since I'm not a chief's daughter?"
"To be honest, at first I thought they might be angry with me for making such an important decision without consulting them and…
that they might relieve me of my position and make Tòmas chief.
But since Lachlan has so generously offered us an alliance with the Drummagan clan, I think they will be overjoyed with the arrangements.
Even my father, God rest his soul, would have approved of our marriage, even if begrudgingly and at the eleventh hour.
" Dugald grinned. "I want you to know, though, I would've married you even without the alliance. And without my clan's approval."
Wonder filled her. She was incredibly fortunate to have met such an amazing man. "You were willing to give up the chieftainship in order to marry me?"
"Aye, of course. Didn't I tell you that already?"
She shook her head. "Dugald, you are a treasure." She reached up and kissed him.
"I told you the clan will love you. Half my men already do. I'm going to have to keep an eye on old Owen, the rascal."
Camille blushed. "Nonsense. We are friends."
"Hmph. Not sure how I feel about that. My wife and my guard friends?" He grimaced.
She gave his arm a playful slap. "You know what I mean! Never mind that. I have a wedding surprise for you."
"Indeed?"
Dugald had already given her a wedding gift, a lovely sapphire necklace, in addition to her jeweled wedding ring. Now it was her turn. She hoped this surprise would knock his kilt off.
Grinning and near shaking with anticipation, she opened a chest and took out the flat wooden box she'd had specially carved with an image of his clan's castle just for this occasion.
She motioned toward the bed, and they sat.
She hesitated for a moment, taking in his expectant look, then handed him the box.
"'Tis beautiful," he said. "A perfect likeness of Rornoch." When he removed the lid and drew the blue velvet back, she watched his face as his gaze landed on the ruby-hilted dagger. Such shock and surprise she had never seen on anyone's face.
"What the…" His mouth dropped open and his gaze fastened on hers. "How did you get this?"
She grinned, enjoying his wonder and amazement.
He picked up the sheathed dagger and examined it. "Camille, this is the dagger that was stolen from me. The King Richard dagger."
"I know."
"Where did you find it? When? How?" The excitement in his voice thrilled her.
She chuckled. "Lachlan bought it from the shop owner in Perth before we met him out on the moor.
Once I saw the dagger and knew it must be yours, I asked to buy it from him.
He refused and gave it to me instead. And so…
now I am giving it to you." She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Though it was difficult to keep the secret, I wanted it to be your wedding gift.
That's why I didn't give it to you sooner.
But even if you hadn't asked me to marry you, I would have returned it to you, the rightful owner. "
"Och. Camille. I thank you."
"Do you know it has an inscription on the blade?"
"Aye."
"Can you read it? 'Tis in the old French language."
"I cannot read it word for word, but when I was a lad, our da encouraged us to memorize the translation, for it relates to a very important event that happened over four hundred years ago.
It says: True kings pay in money. All others pay in blood.
Jerusalem's throne was purchased in Conrad's blood… by England's Coeur de Lion."
"Oui, that is exactly what it says."
"You translated it?"
"Indeed. Does this mean King Richard of England hired someone to assassinate Conrad, King of Jerusalem?"
"'Tis what many believe, and that this is the very dagger used to kill him.
Legend says the ruby once belonged to Richard.
" Dugald stroked his thumb over the large gem.
"And 'tis what he used to pay the assassins for the deed.
But they turned the tables on him by making it obvious who had hired them. "
"Heavens," Camille breathed.
"At least that's the way the story goes. Who knows what really happened?"
"How did it come to be in your family?"
"Someone Richard trusted completely secreted it back to England, though the details are lost to the mists of time. It is said King Robert the Bruce owned it and then somehow the Munro clan came to be in possession of it. And from them, through marriage and alliance, it came to the MacKerrick clan."
"It is fascinating," she said. "When I was able to make out all the words, I was so excited to be able to read and translate it. And I so badly wanted to ask you if you knew what it said, but you were not here then and… I didn't know if I would ever see you again." Tears filled her eyes.
After placing the dagger and box on the bedside table, he kissed her and laid her back on the bed, sending a surge of emotion through her.
"Mo chridhe, you are my treasure," he said, his dark green eyes most serious.
"Because of you, I would've been happy even if I'd never seen the dagger again, but 'tis a most incredible gift, not only to me but to the entire MacKerrick clan.
One day, our children and grandchildren will inherit this piece of history and treasure it…
as well as our descendants for hundreds of years. I thank you."
"You're most welcome, husband," she whispered, her throat tight.
"Hmm. I never thought I would enjoy being called husband, but I find I like it very much coming from your beautiful lips, wife."
She pressed her lips to his, unable to believe how much she loved this man. And to know that incredible love was returned was the most precious gift on earth.
∞∞∞