Dugald scrutinized her face, unable toremember what Lady Lindsay had looked like when she was here. Blondand beautiful, that much he knew. Petite and French. Aye. "Are youLady Lindsay's twin?" he asked, though he felt silly doing so.
"Non! Of course not. Just because youhave a twin does not mean everyone does."
Tòmas chuckled. "I like her. She is far morecharming than the real Lady Lindsay."
Dugald scowled at them both. "The owner ofthe White Ram Inn told me the Lindsay party took up everyroom."
She shook her head. "I was already there whenthey arrived."
"The maid in the corridor called you LadyLindsay."
She frowned. "I saw a maid, but shedisappeared into a room. She was notmymaid."
Dugald cursed, searching her face. Could sheand Tòmas be correct? "What is your name?"
"I told you. Camille Bouchard."
For all he knew, Lady Lindsay's name could beCamille Bouchard. No one had told him her given name. "Where do youlive?"
"Draughon Castle, near Perth, with my cousin.She is married to the Earl of Draughon."
"Saints! An earl?" Tòmas said, turning tohim. "Do you realize what you've done?"
Ignoring his brother, Dugald asked, "And whoare you married to?"
"No one. I already told you this, but youwould not listen!" Her French accent thickened and her blue eyeslit with sparks of anger.
"He does not like to listen," Tòmas said. "Helikes to speak while everyone else listens."
"Enough," Dugald muttered. "'Slud!" NowLindsay would think him daft for certain. And the thief wouldescape to Castle Lindsay with his dagger. It was lost to him. Hefelt sick of a sudden.
The housekeeper approached and curtsied. "I'mhaving the maids bring up supper for you, m'laird, and for yourmen."
"I thank you. Take the lady to a chamber onthe third floor and have someone bring her a tray of food." At thatlevel, she would not be tempted to crawl out a window. "And a bathif she wishes."
"Aye, m'laird."
When the two walked away, Tòmas whispered,"Are you mad, Dugald? She's the cousin of a countess. You'll haveto take her back." His gaze was most serious, all humorforgotten.
"Hell, I ken it." Dugald slumped into hischair at the high table and released a disgusted breath. "I've lostthe dagger. If the Lindsays get home with it, I'll never see itagain." He had never felt so disappointed in himself. How could helose possession of something which had been in their clan forgenerations?
Not only that, he'd kidnapped an innocentwoman who had no ties at all to Lindsay. He'd terrified her for noreason. She'd almost been killed by highwaymen… and nearly drownedin the river. Damn his own hide. He was not in the habit of scaringwomen and certainly not mistreating them. He hadn't been too hardon her at least, but he shouldn't have made her wear the gag solong or tied her up, but he'd had little choice. He couldn't haveher screaming or kicking him in the face again. He rubbed the sorespot on the bridge of his nose, then snorted and shook his head.The more he thought about it, the more he realized Camille hadn'tbeen frightened of him, at least not much. No matter how often hethreatened, she had either ignored him or snapped back.
And… she wasn't married.
As that thought sank in, a jolt of awarenessshot through his body. Damnation! She was unattached. Still, heshould not try to seduce his hostage. What kind of man would thatmake him?
"Mayhap Mairiana can find the dagger foryou," Tòmas suggested, drawing Dugald out of his disturbingthoughts.
"I already asked for her help. She claimedshe couldn’t find it. Alec acted suspicious the entire time,refusing to meet with me, trying to flee Perth at dawn."
Dugald's supper was served but he was tooannoyed to eat. He should've made sure Camille was Lady Lindsaybefore he'd snatched her up. Since he hadn't, he realized he'd donethe same thing he always did, leaping before he looked. The samereckless and hasty actions Da had derided him for years ago.
Now, he'd lost the dagger Da had entrustedhim with—the most valuable thing his clan possessed, aside from thelands and castle. Had Da been right? Was he an unsuitable leaderfor the clan?
His stomach ached with hunger and he forcedhimself to eat.
After swallowing a mouthful of ale, he said,"My original plan was to bring Mairiana back home instead. That waswhy I went into the inn. Alec is smitten with her. I knew he wouldreturn the dagger to me in exchange for her. But when I saw theblond woman in the corridor, I thought… Chief Lindsay's wife! Evenbetter. He will not want to give her up." He shook his head."Damnation, I'm daft."
