"Aye, m'laird. Take the road northwest." Hepointed in the general direction. "You'll ride through the villageof Draughon first, then across the river. The earl was here justyesterday morn asking about the woman who'd disappeared. Do youknow him?"
Dugald nodded. "I've met him. I thank you."'Met' was probably stretching it, but close enough. The man hadshouted threats at him across a moor.
He strode back to the common room, annoyedwith himself. Why the devil was he obsessed with Camille? How couldhe want to find her more than his dagger? He'd gone bloodydaft.
"Saddle the horses. We ride northwest," hetold his clansmen.
"Did you get a tip about the dagger,m'laird?" Mason asked.
"Nay." Dugald strode out of the inn andtoward the stables, his men rushing to catch up.
Soon, they were headed northwest through therolling green countryside. How dimwitted was he, chasing afterCamille? What would he say to her? He had no inkling. He did nothave an eloquent way with words. He only knew he had to see heragain… one last time.
Saints! The thought of only seeing her onemore time gutted him.
They stopped in the village and learned itwas indeed Draughon and the castle was just a couple of milesfarther along the road after they crossed over the bridge.
Before mounting, he hesitated. What would theEarl of Draughon do when Dugald showed up at his gates? Rain downfiery arrows? Send his men out with swords to finish off Camille'sabductor? The MacKerricks would be outnumbered, that was acertainty. He couldn't put his clansmen's lives in danger. This wasa risk he would have to take alone.
"You men, stay here in the village," Dugaldsaid. "Have a meal at the inn. If I don't show up by noon tomorrow,go tell Tòmas I am dead and he is the new chief."
"What?" Owen shouted, his eyes wide withoutrage. "What are you going to do, m'laird?"
"I'm going to see if Lady Camille made ithome safely." He well knew she held no title, but to him she was alady, through and through.
His lady?
Nay, it could never be.
"I'll be at the mercy of the Earl ofDraughon. As you well ken, he was not too happy with me when we metout on the moor."
"Surely you cannot mean to go there alone,m'laird," Mason said. "We will all go with you and protectyou."
"Aye," several of the other men chorused.
"Nay. I will not endanger all of your lives.We're outnumbered."
"With all due respect, m'laird, allow us todo our jobs. 'Tis our sworn duty to have your back and protectyou," Owen said. "Tòmas will have our heads if we allow someone tokill you."
"Nonsense."
Owen narrowed his eyes. "At least allow Rufusand me to go with you. A chief riding out alone is madness. Surelythe earl will not fault you having a couple of bodyguards."
"Very well, then, if it will ease your mind.The two of you only. Let's go."
***
A knock sounded at Camille's door. When sheopened it, the maid said, "Lady Angelique requests your presence inher room."
"Très bien." Camille closed her doorand rushed to see what Angelique wanted. Was the babe coming? Sheprayed her cousin would have an easy delivery.
Angelique's sitting room door was open andCamille entered. "Oui?"
Her cousin beamed a smile at her. "You willnot guess who is here!"
"Who? I thought you were ready to givebirth."
"Non, not yet. Dugald is here!"
