He chuckled. After observing her for a longmoment, he grew serious. "We'll be leaving right after we eat. Willyou be ready?"
"Of course. I don't hear any rain. 'Haps wewill have good travels."
"Aye."
"Let me check the corridor for you." Gettingup, she found her shift on the floor. As she shook out the garment,Dugald grabbed her and she landed in his warm embrace.
"I swear you are the most luscious woman Ihave ever seen," he whispered fiercely into her ear.
"And you are the most gorgeous and sweetestof men."
He drew back in mock affront. "Sweetest?"
"Oui."
"I think you mistranslated."
"Non. You are a rogue, but alsosweet."
He chuckled, set her away from him, thenplayfully smacked her derriere. "Do you need help with that?"
"Oui." She tossed the garment to him,then watched him struggle with it in the dim light which filteredthrough the narrow window.
Once he had it right, he slipped it over herhead and let it fall into place. "Such a shame to cover all thisbeauty."
"Mayhap I will let you undress me againsometime."
He growled and dragged her flush against hishard body. "Aye, you will." He kissed her neck and releasedher.
She cautiously opened the door and stuck herhead into the corridor. Not seeing anyone, she motioned himforward. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips then slipped out andtoward the back servants' stair.
After closing the door, Camille missed him sobadly tears pricked her eyes. What on earth was she going to doonce he took her back to Draughon and left? She slumped onto thebed, feeling dismal and defeated of a sudden. How could she havefallen for Dugald so quickly? It made no sense. Maybe it was onlyinfatuation.
Exhausted, she crawled beneath the covers andinhaled his heady masculine scent still lingering on the sheets.She craved his arms around her, his lips on hers. More tears filledher eyes. How could she live without him?
She must have cried herself to sleep, for aknock on the door startled her.
"Oui?"
"'Tis time to break your fast, m'lady. LairdMacKerrick mentioned your party would be leaving and sent me foryou."
Camille dragged herself from the bed. "I amup," she grumbled. Though she didn't want to be. She wanted to besleeping in Dugald's arms. Besides, leaving here meant she wascloser to going home and never seeing Dugald again.
The maid opened the door and carried in apitcher of water. "I will help you dress, m'lady."
"Très bien. Merci."
After Camille washed her face in the warmwater, then took a quick sponge bath, the maid helped her into herclothing, which had been drying in front of the fireplace allnight. The maid then styled her hair into a single, thick braid andtwisted it up. Within minutes, Camille headed down tobreakfast.
Thank the saints the meal hadn't yet begun.She was seated far away from Dugald this time, next to LairdMacVay. He asked her so many questions during the meal, he wasstarting to annoy her. She answered as briefly as possible eachtime, wishing he would leave off.
"Dugald and Sarah will make a fine couple,will they not?" he asked.
Chapter Ten
"What?" Certainly, Camille knew Sarah wasinterested in Dugald, but she didn't know they were going to be acouple.
"MacKerrick and my daughter," Chief MacVaysaid. "We are negotiating a marriage contract."
