"Do you have a spare chamber for the lady?"Dugald asked.
"Of course." MacVay motioned to a middle-agedwoman in a plaidarisaidwho appeared to be the housekeeper."Take the lady to a room and see she is well cared for."
"Aye, m'laird."
As she was led away, Camille glanced back athim. He could not interpret her expression. Longing? Annoyance? Ofcourse, he wished he could spend the night with her but that wasimpossible.
MacVay motioned him closer to the fireplaceand poured him a small glass of whisky.
"I thank you." The heat from the fire feltgood against his wet skin and the whisky warmed his veins.
"My daughter will be glad you've dropped infor a visit," MacVay said.
"Ah. Well, 'twas completely unexpected."Dugald did not wish to see Lady Sarah but he knew he could notavoid it at this point. He sipped the fiery whisky, hoping it wouldmake their second meeting less tedious than their first hadbeen.
"Have you given any more thought to thearrangements we discussed a few months ago?"
Dugald hesitated, knowing full well the manmeant the marriage arrangements. "Aye, but I've not yetdecided."
MacVay lifted a brow. "Another laird with alovely daughter has contacted you, then?" he inquired.
"To be honest… aye. I am weighing all myoptions."
"Well, you are a lucky man, indeed," MacVaysaid dryly, irritation coloring his tone. "Sarah is a beautifulyoung lady, nearing twenty summers. If you are truly notinterested, then I need to be searching elsewhere for a husband forher."
Did the man expect him to make a decision,spur of the moment? He did not like to be challenged or put on thespot. The MacVay clan was smaller than his own, but the lasspossessed a rich dowry, including valuable crofting land. He wasstill undecided whether the land he would gain would be worth alifetime commitment to a lass who did not truly hold his attention.He thought of Camille and how one simple glance or touch from hersent excitement storming through his veins. She stirred his lustsand his passion as no other woman ever had. Of a certainty, he'dhad trysts before, but never with a woman who captured his interestso profoundly.
"MacKerrick?" MacVay prompted, and Dugaldrealized he'd been wool-gathering.
"Do what you must." Dugald sipped thewhisky.
MacVay narrowed his eyes, but before he couldsay anything more, Lady Sarah approached, wearing a fancy greensilken gown, the latest fashion from France, without doubt. Shemust have donned her best when she heard he'd arrived. She wasindeed lovely with dark hair and dark brown eyes, but strangely,she appealed to Dugald even less than the last time he'd seen her.Damnation, he was a lost cause.
"Laird MacKerrick." She curtsied.
"Lady Sarah." Taking her hand, he bowed andkissed the back.
A sudden blush bloomed over her pale skin."I'm so glad to see you again," she said in a soft voice.
Saints, he did not like the way herinterested gaze lingered on him. She had been meeker the last timehe'd seen her. A shy violet. Although he liked bold ladies, he didnot want Sarah to be too boldly interested in him. He didn't wishto break her heart or turn her father into an enemy.
"I was but traveling through when theunrelenting rains drove us to beg shelter from your generousfather."
MacVay gave a tight smile. "You're alwaysmost welcome here. I'll let you two get reacquainted." He steppedaway.
Dugald did not want to get reacquainted. Hebut wanted to chase Camille's skirts up the stairs, bar the door ofwhichever room she was in and ravish her.
"Is something amiss, m'laird?" Sarah asked,fluttering her dark lashes.
The coquettish move only annoyed him. Why, hecould not say, except that when Camille gave him such obvious andflirtatious glances, she did it intentionally to rile him, and toget a rise out of him… which always worked.
"Nay. I'm a bit distracted. One of myclansmen has been arrested in Perth and I must go bail him out assoon as possible."
Her mouth dropped open. "Arrested? What onearth for?"
"'Tis a long story, not fit for a lady'sears." Glancing around, he noticed everyone gathering for the meal."Ah, it appears supper is about to be served."
She nodded. He had no choice but to offer hisarm and escort her to the high table. Once there, he helped her getseated. When he turned, he almost collided with Camille.
