Her eyes widened, welling with tears, and shecovered her mouth with both hands.
His pulse pounded in his ears but he felt nohesitation. "Camille… I want you by my side always. Will you marryme?"
She stared at him in shocked wonder for a fewmoments then blurted, "Oui!" She threw her arms around hisneck and her petite body slammed against him with such force, helost his balance and toppled to the floor. She sprawled on top ofhim, inspiring a bout of mirth which he had not experienced inyears. They both laughed like rambunctious children for severalmoments, until he grabbed her and kissed her again.
He had never been truly happy until thismoment, though he had not been aware of this lack before. How couldsuch emotions as she stirred in him be possible?
"I love you, lass," he whispered.
"And I love you, my Highland rogue." Sheplanted her lips against his in a fearsome kiss, then teased hislips with her tongue. He growled, tugging her tightly againsthim.
The door burst open and Lachlan appeared,though Dugald was looking at him upside down.
"What the devil?" Lachlan asked.
Camille scrambled off Dugald and they bothrose to their feet. He could not tell by the earl's expression whathe was thinking as he scrutinized them.
"He's asked me to marry him," Camille said,her face red. "And I've accepted."
"Ah." Lachlan lifted his brows, a slow grinappearing. "I'm glad you decided to do the honorable thing,MacKerrick. Congratulations to you both." He came forward, his handextended to Dugald.
A bit surprised at Lachlan's change indemeanor from wary to friendly, Dugald shook it. "I thank you."
"Camille is like a wee sister to me," Lachlansaid, then lifted her hand and kissed it. "You must promise toalways treat her like a princess."
"Indeed, I will," Dugald said, only too happyto agree.
"And I hope this will form an alliancebetween our clans," Lachlan went on.
"An alliance?" A moment of surprise joltedDugald. An alliance with an earl? Saints! Couldn't get much betterthan that. Surely his clan would gladly accept Camille.
"Aye, if you think it would be beneficial,"Lachlan said.
"Of course, it would. I would be most honoredif our clans could form an alliance."
"I'll have my clerk draw up the documents."Lachlan shook his hand again and left the room.
As soon as the door closed, Dugald drewCamille into his arms and kissed her. "I cannot wait to take youback to Rornoch as my bride."
Joy lit her eyes, but then she frowned. "Itwill have to be after Angelique has the babe."
"Aye, of course. In the meantime, 'haps wecould wed here at Draughon."
Epilogue
A fortnight later, Camille and Dugald satholding hands at their wedding feast in the great hall of DraughonCastle. Camille could not take her eyes off her gorgeous husband.She was thrilled to have wedded him in the same small chapel whereAngelique and Lachlan had held their second wedding ceremony theyear before. And she'd worn Angelique's blue, French wedding gown,handed down from her mother. Their ceremony had been simple andbrief but filled with love.
Dugald's handsome twin, Tòmas, approached andstopped by her chair. Though they were mirror images of each other,much about them was different. She would never get them mixed up.He took her hand in his. "M'lady, welcome to the MacKerrick clan,although I regret that you have chosen the wrong brother."
She snickered.
"Don't even think to steal my bride away, yourogue," Dugald muttered, sliding his arm possessively aroundCamille.
"That's the pot calling the kettle black."She smiled up at her husband, so close. She wished she could kisshim now.
"Aye, well, we're much alike in that way." Hewinked at her, then turned his attention to his brother. "I'vegenerously left Lady Sarah for you, Tòmas."
"Ha. Do you think me desperate?" He movedfarther along and took a seat at the high table.
