"Ah, Lady Camille," he murmured, heat andawareness rushing over him.
"Lady Bouchard," she corrected in a whisper,her sensual lips unmoving.
"Indeed."
She must have decided to play the role of amarried woman or a widow. A good idea.
As he helped her into a chair, he noticed shehad changed into dry clothing. His had only dried a bit by thefire. Taking the chair beside hers, he discovered himself in ahellish spot, seated between Camille and Sarah.
While they ate the meal, Lady Sarah was notvery talkative. She sent him shy glances from time to time and herblushes were frequent. Most men would be charmed by her, for shewas lovely, young and obviously naïve. But most of Dugald'sattention was on Camille. He knew not why, but simply sittingbeside her aroused him. He recalled vividly how she'd felt on hislap as they were riding the day before, and he wished she could sitthere now.
Partway through the meal, Camille placed herhand on his bare knee below his plaid and stroked it, making acircle on the inside of his knee with her silken fingertips. Hisalready simmering lust heated to boiling so quickly, he near chokedon his food. He coughed.
Sarah gasped. "Are you well, m'laird?"
He cleared his throat and took a sip of aleto wash down the bite. "Aye."
Thankfully, Camille removed her hand. Hecould not have tolerated one more instant of the torture. After afew moments, he covertly sent her a quick glare, but she serenelyate her food. The vixen. Hell, he was stiff as a pike and there wasnaught he could do about it. The castle was so crowded he would notlikely get her alone this night.
***
Camille was surprised Dugald had introducedher as a lady when they'd first arrived, but she wasn't going toargue the point. She well knew such a title would cause everyone totreat her better, and she believed that was his intention.
She was thankful to be wearing the dryclothing the housekeeper had loaned her, some of Laird MacVay'swife's clothes. Camille had also taken a quick sponge bath, washingaway some of the mud and grime from the trail. Now, she foundherself fantasizing about whether Dugald might slip up to her tinyprivate chamber where a maid had lit a cozy fire. She didn't thinkshe would have to share the room with any other women.
She glanced aside at Dugald and immediatelyhis dark green eyes met hers. Heavens, he looked hot andpassionate. He was the most exciting man she had ever met. She'denjoyed touching his knee earlier, though she regretted she'dcaused him to almost choke on his food.
Forcing herself to look away, she directedher attention to the strawberry tart a young maid had just placedin front of her.
"Merci." Camille broke off a bit ofthe flaky crust and popped it into her mouth. No matter howdelicious, the tart could not hold her interest for long. She hadthe wicked urge to tease Dugald again. He had not started eatinghis tart yet, nor did he have a mouthful of food. Making certain noone was watching, she slipped her hand beneath the tablecloth andgave his hard-muscled thigh a light squeeze.
A sound burst from his mouth, somethingbetween a growl and a cough.
"Is something amiss?" Lady Sarah asked on hisother side.
"Nay," he blurted, flicking Camille a darkglower. She knew it wasn't anger which inspired such an expression,but frustration and desire.
Biting her lip, she hid her smile and pickedat the hot strawberry tart.
Mistress Graham, the housekeeper, hadintroduced Camille to Lady Sarah, the laird's daughter, earlier.The girl had eyed her with a bit of jealousy, which Camille had notunderstood at the time. Now she believed the young lady was smittenwith Dugald. Who wouldn't be? He was a delicious specimen of a man,tall with broad shoulders and well-honed muscles. Thick hair awoman could sink her fingers into.
Camille was glad when the music began. Sheloved music and dancing. She was surprised when the laird's son,Ewan, asked her to dance. She could not refuse or she would be seenas rude. When she rose from her seat, her gaze connected withDugald's for a moment and he looked beyond vexed. She thought sheknew why and smiled. He wanted her, and she wanted him. 'Twas assimple as that.
While dancing, she noticed Dugald dancingwith Lady Sarah, though keeping her at arms' length. When the songended, everyone switched partners and she suddenly found herselfface to face with Dugald. What good fortune! She smiled up athim.
"Would you give me the honor of this dance,Lady Bouchard?" he asked formally.
"Of course, Laird MacKerrick. I would beflattered."
He drew her closer than he should have,causing their bodies to brush together. He watched her and hislowered lashes could not hide the sensuous hunger burning in hiseyes.
Mère de Dieu, she wished he would pickher up and kiss the breath from her. Her body felt overheated andshivery at the same time.
"You will pay dearly for what you did at thetable," he murmured quietly, his breath warming her ear.
Tingles trickled down her neck to herbreasts, peaking her nipples. "I can hardly wait, my laird."
His dark look was between a glower andburning passion.
