"Come. I will help you dress."
She did as he bid and was surprised at howdeftly he helped her into her clothing. And he was gentle about it.What a ladies' man!
With her back to him, he drew her close andmurmured in her ear, "I enjoyed the hell out of that."
A shiver of delight coursed down her spine."Moi, aussi."
He growled. "Don't speak French to me. I'malready aroused enough." He placed kisses along the side of herneck. Delicious chills covered her, making her want to beg formore.
"Why did we get dressed?" she asked, buryingher hand in his thick hair.
"I want to rip off our clothes again, but Ihave important business to attend to."
"The dagger?" she asked.
"Aye."
She turned to face him. "Why is this weaponso important to you?"
"'Twas my father's and his father's beforehim. It is known as the King Richard dagger and it has been in myfamily for over two hundred years. 'Tis a very special and valuabledagger with a large ruby in the hilt. It came to the MacKerricksthrough marriage and alliance with the Munro clan. Originally, theruby belonged to the English king, Richard the Lionheart, and 'twasbrought from the Holy Land during the crusades."
"Oh, I see. Such a weapon must indeed bepriceless."
He nodded. "And I'm the one who has lost it."He frowned as if mentally castigating himself.
"But you said someone stole it, so you arenot to blame."
He shrugged. "'Tis the same. I did not guardit well enough. And now Chief Lindsay, his son and the whole clanwill think me daft."
"Because you stole me instead of hiswife?"
"Aye."
"The consequences could have been terrible ifyou had truly stolen her, though."
He shook his head. "Nay. Then I would've hadleverage to get the dagger back."
"But it could've caused a war between yourtwo clans. Lives could've been lost." Could he not see theseriousness of it?
"Mayhap," he said thoughtfully.
"Lives are worth more than a dagger, nomatter how valuable it is."
He observed her for a long moment, then gavea slight nod and a wee sheepish grin. "You are wise for a Frenchielass."
Warmed by his warped compliment, shesmiled.
A sudden pounding on the door startled her.She jumped, then hid behind the screen in the corner. No one mustfind her here in the laird's chamber. Upon touching her hair, shefound it in complete disarray. She would have to take it down andhave the maid braid it again. The woman was sure to besuspicious.
Dugald yelled, "What is it?"
"'Tis Braden, m'laird," someone said outsidethe closed door. "He's returned from Perth."
"And Mason?"
"Nay. He is in jail."
Chapter Eight
