Maclean Curse - How To Abduct A Highland Lord Part 29

"Youlout !" Lucinda attempted to straighten herself, shooting dagger glances at everyone.

"Where's the other?" Alexander asked.

Gregor jerked his head toward the door. Moments later, Dougal entered, shoving a beaten and battered

Alan Campbell before him.

Jack's jaw hardened. "You b.l.o.o.d.y b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

"Yes," Lucinda said, smoothing her hair. "Heis a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. I heard what happened, but I am not a part of

it."

"Lucinda!" Campbell's face was red.

She ignored him. "I was just pa.s.sing through. Campbell had reserved a private room, and he invited me

to share it with him."

"Ha!" Fiona scoffed.

Jack had to suppress a grin. She had spirit, his lovely wife. He gestured to the chair beside Lucinda.

"Campbell, take a seat."

"I wish to sta-"

Gregor shoved Campbell into the chair with an audible thud.

Jack walked forward. "Which of you ordered Fiona shot, and why?"

Lucinda fluttered her hands, smiling appealingly. "Jack, I don't know what you're talking about."

Campbell said nothing, his jaw set.

"One of you shot my wife, or had her shot. Iwill know who."

"Ask Campbell," Lucinda said with a shrug. "He is at fault here, not me."

Campbell whirled on Lucinda. "Don't you dare lie!"

Fiona stood. "Lucinda, you know exactly what happened to me. Hamish saw your footman in the

woods. He also found this." She held out her hand. In it lay a golden hairpin.

Lucinda's hand flew to her hair. "How did-" She caught herself, then shook her head. "That proves nothing. Obviously, someone put that there to implicate me."

"Perhaps you would prefer to hear the words from your own man's lips." Fiona turned to the door.

"Hamis.h.!.+"

The door swung wide, and the huge Scotsman entered. A deep purple wound marked him from forehead to ear. He carried a large sack to the center of the room and dropped it with a thud and an audible"Oof!"

Lucinda had risen when Hamish entered. Now she backed away, her gaze wide. "What's in there?"

"A rat." Hamish lifted his huge foot and kicked the sack. A spate of cursing met this. Hamish reddened.

"Here, now, ye b.l.o.o.d.y fewl! Do not be talkin' such in front of the lady!"

The bag froze in place. "Lady?"

"Aye." Hamish turned his s.h.a.ggy red head toward Fiona. "What's to do now, mistress?"

"Open the bag, but do not let him escape. We must speak with him."

"Yes, question him," Lucinda said, breathless but composed, an odd gleam in her eyes. "Ask him whatever you want."

Jack frowned. What was she up to now?

Fiona gestured to Hamish, who untied the heavy cord that held the sack. Seconds later, a head popped out of the opening. The man tried to lift his arms through the narrow mouth of the bag, but Hamish quickly tightened the ties, creating a noose around the man's neck.

"Eck!"The man's face reddened, his eyes bulged.

"Easy 'ere, ye maggot," Hamish said calmly. "Ye can speak when ye're spoken to and not before."

Fiona swayed a bit, and Jack swooped her into his arms and carried her back to the settee.

"Jack, there is no need. I was just a little light-headed, and-"

"You've done too much already. You should be in bed."

"No! I must see this through."

He saw the determination in her eyes, and he nodded. "Very well.We will see this through." He ran the back of his hand over her cheek. "Just as we will see to the birth of our baby."

Lucinda's laugh tinkled like shards of gla.s.s. "Oh, stop it, Jack. Everyone knows you were forced into your marriage. That she abducted you and poured whiskey down your throat and made the priest accept your vows by pretending to be with child."

Alexander's hands fisted. "Watch what you say about our sister, witch!"

Fiona reached for Jack's hand and held it to her cheek. "She is right. We pretended I was already with child, so no one would demand an annulment. But now it is the truth."

"Good G.o.d," Campbell said, his face even more pale. "I didn't know."

Lucinda stood stiffly by, her jaw set, her eyes blazing.

"Aye," Jack said, his gaze fixed on the two with dark intent. "My wife is soon to be a mother. And whichever of you intended her harm should thank the lord above you didn't kill her." Lucinda drew herself together. "I would never harm anyone, especially not a woman with a child. Ask my man who gave him his orders. I am certain he has the information you seek."

Jack said, "Hamish, make the coachman sing for us."

Hamish obligingly tugged on the noose he'd made. The man in the bag choked, then blurted out, "What th' 'ell do ye want of me?"

"Did you shoot the lady?"

The man's gaze flickered to Fiona, then away. "I-I-I-"

Hamish gave the rope a sharp tug.

"Gawd!" wailed the man, choking. "I'll tell ye! I'll tell ye! I only did what I was tol' to do!"

"By whom?"

"By Campbell!"

Fiona's brothers boiled over toward Campbell as one.

Campbell stood, his chair toppling over. "I never told him to do anything! I swear it! Lucinda is the one who gave the orders!" "Halt!" Jack said, throwing up a hand, his gaze still on the coachman. "There is more to this.

Whatexactly did Campbell tell you?" he asked the coachman.

"H-he said to follow the carriage and shoot the lady from the brush when I could."

"And kill her?"

The man's weasely eyes flickered to Lucinda for a second, then away. "I do as I'm tol'."

"You lousy excuse for a human!" Gregor snapped. "I should-"

"Leave him," Jack said quietly. He walked up to the man and stooped so that his eyes were level with his. "You know that I could have you hung with the information you have already given me."

The man gaped. "Yes, but-I was tol' to do it! I was tol' to-"

"Aye. And see how the person who sent you to do this deed is now protecting you."

The man's gaze flickered behind Jack and then back. "I don't know what ye're talkin' about."

"You just admitted to shooting my wife. There is not a magistrate in the world who would not hang you.

Especially with such august witnesses." He stood. "Alexander, Hugh, Gregor, Dougal, would you testify against this blackguard?"

"If we did not kill him first," Alexander snapped.

Outside, thunder rumbled.

The coachman glanced at the stormy sky and paled.

Jack looked at Campbell. "And you? Would you testify against him?"

"Aye, though he lies about my giving him orders!"

"And you, Lucinda?" Jack asked, his voice softening. "Would you testify against this miserable excuse of a man?"

Her gaze dropped to the floor. "I do not know why you would need my testimony when so many others are available."