Once she'd filled Angelique in on everythingshe'd experienced while with Dugald, her cousin sighed wistfully."Oh, Camille, what a romantic adventure! I don't see how hecould've let you go."
Camille gave a sad smile, because her cousinhad changed her tune drastically, but she would likely never seeDugald again.
"You love him, do you not?" Angelique askedsoftly.
Camille shrugged, her throat aching. "I onlyknew him a short time."
"It does not always take a long time to fallin love."
"Oui, but he is gone. And he will haveto marry a chief's daughter to forge an alliance. Just because hedecided not to marry Lady Sarah, means nothing. There will be lotsof chiefs' daughters for him to choose from, and he will be muchsought after, being such a handsome and powerful chief. I amillegitimate and his clan would never approve of me, even if Dugalddid choose me… which he has not."
"Oh,mon amie. If I could see him, Iwould talk some sense into him!" She pounded her small fist uponthe chair arm.
The door opened and Lachlan entered. Such atall and imposing warrior made the room seem smaller. After layingsomething on a table just inside the door, he strode to Angelique,knelt and pulled her into a sweet embrace. "I missed you,mochridhe." He kissed her lips, then her swollen belly.
Their interaction was so heartfelt, Camillehad to look away. It only reminded her she would never share suchan experience with Dugald. He would soon forget her and marry somedull and proper young lady.
After a few moments, Lachlan stood.
"What is that?" Angelique pointed to thetartan wrapped object he had placed on the table.
"Oh, that is a ruby-hilted dagger I bought inPerth."
What?A shock went through Camille. Itcould not possibly be Dugald's dagger, could it?
"Well, let us see it," Angelique saideagerly. It was a well-known fact both she and Camille lovedweapons and knew how to use them.
Lachlan retrieved the cloth parcel andunwrapped it. The large ruby embedded in the hilt of the daggergleamed blood-red in the firelight and, when he pulled it from thesheath, the blade was wickedly curved. It looked deadly indeed.Staring at it, Camille could scarcely breathe, both because theweapon was so dangerously beautiful and because that was the reasonshe'd been kidnapped. The reason she'd met Dugald. She could easilysee why he wanted it back so desperately.
"It is exquisite," Angelique sighed. "It isnot a Highland dirk."
"Nay," Lachlan said. "The shop owner said'twas very old, mayhap brought from the Holy Land during thecrusades."
"How much did you pay for it?" Camilleasked.
"Why?" Lachlan sent her a suspiciousgrin.
"Because mayhap I wish to buy it fromyou."
"Aha."
"Well… both you and Angelique already havejeweled daggers," Camille said. "I crave one for myself."
"I see."
"Mèrede Dieu!" Angeliqueblurted. "Is that the—"
"Non!" Camille cut her off. She didn'twant Lachlan to know the dagger had belonged to Dugald, for he wasstill angry with her abductor.
"What?" Frowning, Lachlan glanced back andforth between them.
"Just tell him," Angelique urged. "He willunderstand."
Camille remained silent, embarrassmentflaming over her.
"Tell me what?" Lachlan asked.
"Camille is in love," Angelique announced ina happy, songbird tone.
