by Carmen Caine
Curious, she craned out of the window.
The men moved across the courtyard, pausing under the flickering light of a torch, and her heart leapt into her throat.
There was no mistaking him.
It was Cameron!
He stood in the dim light, speaking with the fair-haired man from the Brass Unicorn. The man he had called Julian.
She watched in horror.
Surely, he was not half-witted enough to steal from nobles?
They would hang him straightway!
Praying that Lady Elsa still slept, Kate flew down the stairwell and out into the courtyard, arriving to see both men entering a side door to the royal apartments.
She hesitated for only a moment.
Angrily cursing Cameron under her breath, she darted past the guards, expecting them to stop her. She was astonished when they didn’t, but she had little time to ponder the matter as she entered the royal apartments.
Torches flickered in their wall sconces lining the narrow corridor, shedding a soft light on the tapestries covering the cold stones. She could barely make out the dim forms of Cameron and his companion moving slowly ahead of her, heads bowed and murmuring in quiet voices.
Ach, Cameron was a fool! Did he not care one whit about keeping his head? He wasn’t even looking around to see if he had been followed! Angrily, she wondered if he even cared one whit about her and how she felt!
Aye, she was going to take him to task!
From somewhere behind her, a door slammed, and at the sound of approaching feet, she panicked.
Ach, she couldn’t see the man get caught, no matter how angry she was at him.
Picking up her skirts, she flew down the passageway. Catching up to them, she threw open the nearest door, grabbed Cameron’s arm as he whirled in surprise, and yanked him through it.
As an afterthought, she reached back and pulled his companion in for good measure.
She slammed the door shut, leaning against it and breathing heavily as she quickly glanced about the dimly lit chamber. She was relieved to find it empty.
“Kate! What—” Cameron began but she cut him short with an angry frown.
“Hush!” She nodded her chin at the sound of footsteps outside the door. Lifting a finger to her lips, she glared at them both to remain silent.
Cameron towered over her with an expression she could not interpret as his companion, Julian, slouched against the wall, folded his arms, and slowly began to grin.
When the passageway was quiet once more, she placed her hands on her hips and hissed, “What are ye doing, ye fools? Can ye not know ‘tis dangerous here for the likes of ye?”
Cameron’s lips thinned.
Julian’s grin widened.
At that, Cameron graced the man with a dark glare of disapproval.
“’Tis not a jest!” Kate snapped at the fair-haired man. “Ye could both lose your heads, ye lout!”
“Lout?” Julian snorted in outright amusement. “Are ye naming me a lout?”
“Aye, but ‘tis plainly too fine a name for ye!” she retorted fiercely. This man was clearly a bad influence on Cameron. Cameron had said he was a friend, but what kind of friend would incite another to thieve at the castle? “Why canna ye leave Cameron be? Surely ye can find others to corrupt! Let him free from your band of outlaws, ye onion-eyed varlet!”
Julian blinked and then threw back his head and laughed.
“Enough, Julian,” Cameron warned grimly.
As Kate watched, the fair-haired man bent down and planted his face inches from hers. Ach, he was a wickedly handsome man. She’d never really looked at him before. His beautiful, long-lashed eyes locked on hers with an open gleam of interest.
“My wee, bonny Kate.” He grinned with a roguish lift of his brow. “I swear I’m half tempted to court ye myself!”
“’Tis enough, Julian!” Cameron warned again.
Kate lifted her chin and answered truthfully, “I’ve no interest in ye, man!” Aye, he was a braw man, but nothing compared to the seductively dark Cameron standing at his side.
“Ach, but Cameron’s a possessive lover—” Julian began in a light, mocking tone.
“Julian, be gone,” Cameron interrupted sternly.
With a shrug, Julian lazily dropped an arm about her shoulders and bent his fair head to kiss her on the cheek. It was a brotherly kiss. “Then as ye wished, sweet Kate, this onion-eyed varlet will take his leave.”
With a mischievous wink, he slipped through the door and shut it quietly.
“Will he be safe?” Kate whispered anxiously, suddenly torn with concern. “’Tis dangerous here, and though he is an unsavory character, I’d wish him no harm!”
“There is no cause to fret, Kate,” Cameron reassured in a strained tone.
He stood close, swathed in a dark, finely made cape with a silver brooch at his throat. She eyed it in consternation, and her anger returned full force. “I swear ye’ll drive me to an early grave, Cameron! Did ye come for the brooch? Put it back, man! I canna bear the thought of ye losing your head—”
He moved suddenly and his elegantly long fingers grasped her by the shoulders. “I’m not a thief, Kate!” he swore.
She frowned in confusion. “We canna speak here! If we’re caught—”
“We are safe in these apartments!” His strong jaw clenched and his dark brows furrowed into a line. “These rooms … are … not used. No one will look here. We’re safe, lass.” He seemed to have difficulty speaking.
Kate glanced around, taking a closer look this time. The room was dark, illuminated only by the dying fire, but she could see enough to discover it was a finely furnished one, so fine that she’d never seen the like.
Suddenly, she turned white. “Ach, ye fool! We must be in the king’s own rooms! Look at the tapestries on the wall, and there is even a rug on the floor! We’ll hang—”
“Kate, no one will come here this night. I swear upon my life’s blood that we are safe, lass!” There was something odd about his voice, and he almost looked ill.
But their safety was her most pressing concern. “Are ye sure no one will come?” she asked. “How could ye know?”
For a moment, it appeared as if he would not answer, but then he replied in a voice so soft she scarcely heard it, “These apartments belong to the Earl of Lennox, and he is not here … at least … not … now.”
Kate sucked in her breath in shock and shivered. “The Dreaded Earl of Death?”
He winced. “I thought ye claimed the man as a lover! How can ye name him such a thing?”
“I told ye that I lied.” She frowned sourly. “I’ve never seen the man.”
Inexplicably, his lips curved upwards and his voice deepened. “Are ye sure of that, my sweeting? ‘Tis a fine dress ye wear this night, Kate.”
“‘Tis a gift from my lady’s protector!” Kate replied with a puzzled look. “He’s a right generous man.”
His dark lashes lowered, roving over her figure in a way that made her heart skip.
“And what does he expect from ye in return?” he asked in a suggestive tone.
Astonished at the implication, Kate’s lips parted in surprise. “I’ve never met the man, Cameron!”
He moved closer, so close that she could feel his breathe on her neck.
“Are ye sure, lass?” he asked.
His behavior puzzled her a moment, and then the understanding dawned. He was jealous! Secretly pleased, she frowned outwardly. “Are ye calling me unfaithful?”
As soon as she said the words, she blushed. He had never promised himself to her. Why was she acting as if he had?
Cameron laughed. It was a deep, rich, rumbling sound.
“Ach, but ye are acting right strange, Cameron,” she retorted and averted her eyes. Once more, the room caught her attention. The earl must be decadently rich. She’d never seen such luxury. But then her momentary interest faded, and she glanced back up into Cameron’s eyes once more, insisting, “We’d best go. The e
arl might return straightway and find us here!”
“He’ll not return this night.” Cameron shook his head. “I swear upon my life, Kate. Trust me!”
“Ach, but ‘tis getting harder to trust ye, Cameron.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Ye’ve no reason to be here, and—”
“I’ve something for ye, lass.” He interrupted, moving across the shadowed chamber to return holding out a small earthen flask. “’Tis water from the Pilgrim’s Well.”
In that moment, Kate forgot everything else.
She stared at the flask in his hands, speechless.
“Take it, lass.” There was a warm smile in his voice.
Wondrously, Kate lifted her eyes to his face. “Is … this why ye came here, Cameron?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion.
He hesitated. His eyes seemed tortured. “I’ve other matters to attend to here, Kate, but this is the one I enjoy the most.” Gently, he placed the flask in her hands and cupped her fingers around it.
Heaving a deep sigh, she confessed, “I worry for ye so.”
“Kate, I … have words that must be said.” He frowned, clenching his jaw tightly once again. “I should have told ye long ago…” He struggled for words a moment, but then fell silent and lifted his hand to stroke her cheek softly with his thumb instead.
“I do trust ye, Cameron,” she whispered, overwhelmed with a flood of compassion. “Ye dinna have to tell me your true name. I trust your heart.” Throwing her arms about his neck, she meant only to give him a comforting hug, but he was so distractingly handsome.
Ach, no man should be that handsome.
She couldn’t resist pressing against his hard chest and as the desire flared in his dark eyes, she parted her lips for his kiss. He pulled her mouth to his, seizing it in a manner that all but took her breath completely away. For several splendid, intense moments, time stood still, and then he let out a ragged moan.
Tearing himself from her embrace, Cameron stepped back and struck the wall with his fist. “’Tis perilous for ye to stay here, lass,” he swore, swallowing hard.
Dazed, it took her a moment to collect her thoughts, but then panic returned and she gasped, “I thought ye said the earl was gone for the night?”
She whirled as if to flee, but he caught her arm and pulled her against his chest.
“Forget the earl, lass. I meant ‘tis dangerous to be here … with me,” he groaned against her throat. And then he was nuzzling her neck, his chiseled lips burning paths of fire.
Sliding her hands up his muscled arms, she ran her fingers through his raven hair and whispered, “Ach, ye aren’t dangerous, ye fool!”
“I’m cursed,” he said huskily, and then drew back grimacing, dropped his hands as if to push her away.
The man’s presence was overpowering, and she suddenly thought of nothing but the desire to feel the heat of his skin under hers. As he moved back, she locked her arms about his waist and swore fervently, “I’ll break your curse! I’m not letting ye go, Cameron.”
For a moment, she thought he would still push her away, but then he brought his lips to hers once more in a devastating, ravishing kiss, a kiss with a dark and rough edge to it. She gasped in surging desire and he stopped his exploration of her lips at once.
“I cannot indulge in these sweet imaginings!” He inhaled bitterly and cursed under his breath. “Ye’d best leave, lass, afore I go too far and make ye mine.”
“I already am yours, Cameron. We both know it,” she confessed. With a fingertip, she traced the dash in the middle of his chin and melded her body against his.
She felt him shiver against her, and then finally his chest heaved, as if he had laid down some great burden. With his dark eyes burning hers, his lips slowly descended, brushing against her cheek in a touch as soft as silk before capturing her lips in tender caresses.
Her breath quickened and his own matched it as the kiss deepened, and he plundered her lips with a raw, urgent hunger, and then crushing her against him, he lifted her in his strong arms and carried her to the adjoining chamber to lay her down on the magnificent, curtained bed.
Once again, he seemed to hesitate, appearing caught in some internal battle, but she would have none of it. Unleashing a wild passion that she had been aching to set free, she pulled him down and confessed, “I do believe I love ye, Cameron.”
With a hoarse cry, he caught her close, his lips once more claiming hers in a masterful way that swept all other thoughts aside.
Chapter Seven - What Have I Done?
Kate stretched languorously, reveling in the softness before slowly opening her eyes.
She squinted in the darkness of the dimly lit chamber and frowned, unable to place herself. Heavy velvet embroidered bed curtains blocked the view of the window, but she could see enough of the pale pink dawn to know she had overslept.
Suddenly, she became aware of an arm curled lightly over her hip. Drawing back, she caught a glimpse of Cameron sleeping peacefully at her side.
Jolting bolt upright, she half screeched, “What have I done?”
Cameron sprang to his feet, his raven hair falling to half cover his face. The hard angles of his fiercely muscled chest and the masculine perfection of his powerful thighs posed bare for her to see.
Quickly, she averted her gaze, gasping in shock. “Ach, ye haven’t a stitch of clothing on, Cameron!”
“Look to yourself, lass!” He swallowed visibly, turning pale.
Kate glanced down, and then the memories of the night flooded her all at once. Blushing furiously, she covered her blazing cheeks with her hands and gulped, “What have I done!”
Cameron’s eyes flickered with dismay. “What have I done?”
Gathering the coverlets about her, Kate scrambled from the bed, searching for her shift and gown on the chamber floor.
“And Lady Elsa! How could I be so foolish?” she wailed. “She’ll banish me for certain! What will become of my father now, and what if they catch us here, Cameron? We must leave at once! How could I have fallen asleep?” Close to tears, she wriggled into her shift. “My mother was right! I never stop to think! I’m such a careless, foolish—”
“We won’t be caught.” Cameron’s voice sounded oddly muffled.
Glancing over, she saw him shrugging into his shirt. Ach, but the man was a brawny one, and his clearly visible, well-defined muscles succeeded in making her pulse quicken once again.
“Ye’ve naught to fear, Kate,” he said in a restrained undertone, his head emerging through his fine, white shirt.
His dark hair stood on end and Kate smiled. And then nothing else mattered. In a slow, teasing manner, she approached him, walking her fingers up his arm and playfully tweaking his nose, before letting her finger trail down his cheek and along the dash in his chin. Suddenly, she pulled his head down and caught his lower lip between her teeth.
He responded at once, and the kiss was timeless, lingering, and sensual.
But then he pushed her firmly away and swore, “No more kisses! My touch is death!”
Astonished at his response, she frowned and stepped back. “Ach, ye fool, what has ye so worried? ’Tis not like ye are the Dreaded Earl of Death now, is it?”
She expected him to laugh, but he turned white. His expression was grim and his lips drawn into a thin line.
Confused, she slid into her wrinkled gown with a growing sense of dread but then spied the rumpled bed. “Ach, we’ve ruined the bed!” she gasped as her panic resurged. “We must tidy the chamber! And Lady Elsa—”
His strong hand caught her wrist and she looked up, startled.
“Ye’ve naught to fear, Kate,” he said tightly. “At least from Lady Elsa and the like … ye have every right to be here with me. ‘Tis your own doom ye must fear now…” His voice trailed off and he shuddered, closing his eyes.
Kate scowled at him, bewildered. “Ye make little sense, Cameron! And ye seem rightly displeased!”
“Aye, I am,” he grated. “Last night should �
� never have happened.”
At these words, a wave of shame and anger washed over her, and she found herself strangely silent.
As the silence between them lengthened, she tied her gown and slipped into her shoes. Glancing again at the bed, she repeated, “We canna leave the chamber so untidy—”
“I will see to it,” Cameron whispered, abruptly moving to peer out of the window.
She could see the tense line of his jaw outlined in the dim light, every muscle in his body was taut as a bowstring.
“Ye must forget me! Do ye hear?” His tone was commanding, aloof. “I’ll never wed ye, Kate.”
Kate gulped at the unexpected words.
“Forget last night. It never happened,” he continued. “I’ll never touch ye again. Aye, I’ll never see ye again, I swear it!” And then his voice broke.
Covering her ears, she whispered, “I canna understand ye now, Cameron.”
Not knowing what she should think, she fled the chamber, grabbing the small container of water from the Pilgrim’s Well on her way out.
Mercifully, the corridor was empty, and she quickly ran down the length of it, encountering the guards only upon exiting the royal apartments.
They scarcely looked her way.
Apparently, it was a common enough event to witness a maid scurrying away from the royal apartments in the light of the early morning. And, she thought bitterly, for precisely the same reasons she herself was flying across the courtyard.
The magic of the night now seemed only a dream. Cameron’s riveting dark eyes and his rich, deep voice that had warmed her very soul had already faded, replaced by memories of his cold anger. Now, she could only hear his words over and over again in her mind. I’ll never see ye again, I swear it!
The night had been a precious one, and she recalled Cameron’s lean, hard body and tender kisses with a pang. What ailed the man? And his kiss, just moments ago, belied the words he had uttered only a moment later, and oh how harsh his words had been!
Confused, she made her way to Lady Elsa’s chamber and stood staring at the latch, her courage failing her. The woman was probably furious. Most likely, she’d toss her out of the castle, or have her beaten for disobeying, or both.
