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strength, what could be made into an humiliation into a source of pride. It was not going to be easy, especially when his every look or touch turned her mind to warm gruel.
    “But, first,” she murmured so that only Gillyanne could hear her, “I mean to make that mon ache, to make him want so badly that revenge is the last thing on his wee mind when I finally give in. I mean to drive him to the verra brink of madness.”
    Cameron’s steps faltered a little when both Murray lasses suddenly smiled brilliantly at him. They were tiny, dainty visions of beauty, their smiles warm and real. Their unusual eyes sparkled delightfully with laughter. A man should feel pleased and a little vain to receive such looks. As he took Avery by the arm and led her to his horse, Cameron wondered why those pretty smiles gave him the strong urge to don every piece of armor he could lay his hands on.

Chapter Four
    “We have become complacent, Gillyanne,” Avery said as she and her cousin strolled around the edges of the MacAlpin camp.
    “Have we?” Gillyanne paused briefly to study a little blue flower. “’Tis a fine time of the year to be complacent,” she said as she resumed her pace at Avery’s side.
    “True. Howbeit, I believe we have been lulled into forgetting we are prisoners—and Cameron’s plans for Payton.”
    “’Tis hard to recall such unpleasantness when spring warms the air. I am surprised ye can e’er forget it all when he binds you all the time.”
    “When ’tis done so lightly and with such care nay to harm me, I find I become accustomed, that my anger o’er the treatment fades. And that is what troubles me. I walk about in such a haze of lust I become oblivious to the reasons we ride with the MacAlpins.”
    “I thought your plan was to sink him into a haze of lust. ’Tis what ye said three days ago.”
    Avery sighed: “I believe I become too confused to ken if it is working. His temper is worsening, but is that because I torment him, or is he but an ill-tempered mon? Is it unrequited lust that sours his mood, or is it that his grand plan for vengeance isnae working with the ease he thought it would?”
    “I think ’tis unrequited lust. To be truthful, we should say unfulfilled lust, for ’tis nay unrequited, is it.”
    “Sadly, nay. In truth, I begin to fear it may run a great deal deeper than lust in me.”
    “Then ye can do what cousin Elspeth did.”
    “Chase him until he catches me?” Avery laughed with Gillyanne, then shook her head. “I dinnae have Elspeth’s skill. I cannae just ken with one kiss that he is my mate. I think he might be. ’Twould explain the mindless lust that besets me so quickly. ’Twould explain how I can feel anything at all for him, considering how he plots to use me against my own brother. Of course, it doesnae really matter, does it? What he plans makes any future with him impossible.”
    “Not necessarily.” Gillyanne shrugged. “The end to this adventure could be less dire than ye think. Ye must decide if ye wish to try and win all, to make him want ye above all things. Aye, no matter how I look at it, the path ye must tread isnae a smooth one, but every turn in it doesnae lead to failure and heartache.”
    “Mayhap not. Howbeit, I do think we are making things far too easy for our captors.”
    “I dinnae think we can escape, Avery.”
    “I hold out no great hope for that, either, but that doesnae mean we cannae try.” She met Gillyanne’s gaze for a moment, and then they both smiled.
    “Should we be clever or just bold for the first try?” asked Gillyanne, glancing back at their guards. “Wee Rob and Colin are a fair distance behind us and caught firm in an argument.”
    “Weel, then, let us just be bold this time. On the count of three?” Gillyanne nodded and grabbed the front of her skirts, ready to lift them. Avery did the same as she counted, “One. Two. Three!” She bolted, not at all surprised that Gillyanne did the same, keeping close by her