Cameron had been pushing his men too hard. Himself too hard. Yet how else was he to get any sleep at night if he wasn’t so exhausted that all he did was collapse into bed without even stripping off his clothes?
He didn’t want to think, to dream, to wish in futility, or to pray in vain that by some miracle, he and Aislinn might still be together.
He had spoken of her lies to Conall, but in his heart, he didn’t fault her for them. Who could say what had made her keep such a thing from Conall? From him!
Cameron had known her only a few days after all. Hardly enough time to share such intimate details of one’s life with each other… though he had asked her pointedly if she was wed or betrothed. How could so beautiful and rare a lass as Aislinn De Burgh not have been promised in marriage?
“Tae such a man as Aengus Butler,” Cameron muttered bitterly to himself as he stepped inside the keep.
Harsh, uncompromising, vulgar, and much older… the thought of him touching Aislinn disgusted Cameron, though he could not thrust the image out of his head.
From what she had said outside the MacGodfrey stronghold, she hadn’t even met the man, though she must have heard about him from her father.
Had his plan for her marriage caused her to stow away on his ship in a desperate attempt to show him that she had a mind of her own? That she was strong and courageous and could fight—though it had all gone so horribly wrong.
All I ask for is a say over my own life…
Aislinn’s words haunting him, it was suddenly so clear to Cameron that she hadn’t lied to him at all. Why speak of her betrothal when she clearly hadn’t accepted it? She had chosenhimfor her husband, not Lord Butler—och, why was he tormenting himself? The thing was done, never to be undone—
“Cameron, come and join me for a cup of ale!”
Cursing under his breath at his uncle’s shouted invitation, Cameron reluctantly turned back toward the great hall.
The massive room was dark except for a smoldering glow in the fireplace, though Uncle Torence wasn’t alone. A pretty serving maid stood nearby holding a pitcher, ready to fill his cup as soon as he emptied it, while he brandished one in his other hand as Cameron approached him.
“Aye, we’ve much tae celebrate! You have eight lasses vying for your attention now—and all of them bonny! Isna it grand?”
The man was drunk, that was plain, Cameron determined to drain the brimming cup in one swallow and retire to his bedchamber where he would attempt to sleep.
“Sit, nephew, sit!”
“I’ll stand, Uncle Torence.”
“What? You’ve no time tae visit with me when I’ve come all this way again with a message from our chieftain? He wasna happy that you sent those two poor lasses away and that you made a spectacle of yourself with that young Irishwoman!”
“A spectacle?” Bristling, Cameron took the cup from him, more so to keep his uncle from spilling the stuff all over himself as he leaned forward in his chair.
“Aye, I heard the whole thing… you swearing tae take her tae King Robert and embroiling yourself in her affairs. A good riddance tae her in her trousers and boots, no shame in that one at all. You, meanwhile, were staring at her like a besotted fool—aye, I saw it! Conall joined me for a cup himself while you were still training your men and told me Lady De Burgh is tae wed another, if she lives. A pity, her injury, I’ll grant you that… “
As his uncle paused to take a long draught of ale, Cameron, frowning, set his own cup down upon a trestle table.
He hadn’t seen Conall slip away, but his brother was as quick on his feet to steal away for some ale as he was with wooing women!
“You’re not going tae drink with me?” demanded Uncle Torence, beckoning for the serving maid to refill his cup. “You must know, Cameron, that our chieftain has spoken of petitioning King Robert and demanding that you wed one of these lasses straightaway tae strengthen your position—”
“You mean the clan’s position,” Cameron said tightly. “I would think the Campbells pleased enough tae have me as baron here instead of still bowing and scraping tae the likes of Earl Seoras MacDougall.”
“Aye, they’re pleased, nephew, but you must have sons!Sons! How else will you hold onto this fortress and your lands?”
“By my loyalty and service tae the king—andwhomeverI wed andwheneverI choose tae do so, I might very well have only daughters!”
Now his uncle did spill ale down the front of his tunic as he gasped in dismay, his broad face grown bright red. “Och, man, dinna say such a thing! Cross yourself now and say a prayer, you didna mean it!”
Cameron gave a grim laugh and not only didn’t cross himself, but left his uncle staring after him as he strode from the hall.
Their entire exchange not only infuriating him that his clan would pressure him to marry—but a wave of such poignant understanding gripping him as his thoughts jumped once again to Aislinn.
He had a choice as to whom he might wed, no matter what his uncle had said about their chieftain.
