The Bachelor's Bride (The Thompsons of Locust Street #1) - Holly Bush Page 0,46

suspected foul play?” she asked.

“They were a wealthy family even without the business and took Plowman to court, but they abruptly dropped the case,” James said. “One of the man’s daughters was brutally assaulted. She was never right in the head after that and hanged herself from a beam in their carriage house stables.”

“Oh my God,” Elspeth said. “But how is he connected to us other than being half-sibling to our father?”

“Cameron Plowman claimed that he was the rightful heir to the earldom, that he was chief of the clan. An illegitimate heir can inherit in Scotland if the parents are eventually married,” Aunt Murdoch said. “He came back to Taviston rich and brutal with anyone who got in his way. He said he had documents that proved his mother was married to your grandfather.”

“Was there any chance he was right?” she asked.

“No. No, of course not. Right or wrong, the earl would marry a woman of his own class, prepared to be a countess. Plowman’s mother was an illiterate washer woman, and a prostitute when necessary to keep a roof over her head, although your grandfather provided well enough for them all to live on without her lifting her skirts ever again. She had six other children, two died in childbirth; one died when the man she was servicing took exception to the child’s cries and put a pillow over the infant’s face. Two sisters survived, although one had followed her mother into prostitution. Plowman was furious with her when he returned from his schooling and beat her near to death.”

“Didn’t the constable do anything? Were there no police?”

“Not that would challenge Plowman.”

“Why did Father not stay and fight? Certainly, an earl—and a wealthy one, as you’re saying—would be able to rid himself of this man,” Elspeth said.

“He tried,” Aunt Murdoch said wearily. “He tried very hard, but Plowman had an ear at the register where the marriage licenses were filed. Rory received a letter that there was evidence that a marriage to the Plowman woman did exist and was legitimate.”

“Father contacted the Court of the Lord Lyon, and the claim was rebuked there. He believed all was well. He believed it was over,” James said. “But that’s when strange things started to happen at Dunacres.”

“Strange things?” Kirsty asked.

“Yes. Strange things happened within the walls of Dunacres,” Aunt Murdoch said. “Broken dishes, staff hurt or sick, sheep and horses down. Your father knew it was Plowman but had no proof. He knew there were servants who were causing the accidents and illnesses, but he did not know which ones. So many of them had been in service to the MacTavishes for ages, but there was new staff too.”

“Then Mother fell down the steps,” Muireall said without emotion. She stared at Kirsty and then turned to Elspeth. “She lost a sister or a brother of ours that day and told me that she was certain she was pushed but did not see who had done the pushing.”

“I was away that day,” Elspeth whispered. “I was somewhere else, but I can’t remember where. When I came home, everyone told me that Mother was not feeling well and was keeping to her rooms.”

“She miscarried the afternoon she fell. She was only a few months along. It was a miracle she didn’t break her neck,” Aunt Murdoch said, her lip trembling. “It was such a terrible time.”

Elspeth couldn’t look away then. Aunt was a pillar of strength and common sense, with little tolerance for emotional outbursts of any sort. But here she was dabbing at her eyes with a lace hankie, her voice shaking and weak.

“And then they took Payden.”

“What?” Kirsty shrieked.

“Took Payden?” Elspeth whispered.

“They took him,” James said. “I was with Father when we went looking for him. We were lucky: a dairy woman out before dawn thought she saw someone run past an old shed near where the herd was grazing. I ran, following him and old Mackie, both carrying their long guns and dirks. I wasn’t very old, only eleven or so, but Father put a knife in my hands and told me to defend myself and Payden at all costs.”

“Where was he?”

“Behind the shed. He was laying there on his side, in the tall grass. It looked like they’d dropped him as they ran when they heard Father and Mackie’s battle cry, but Payden wasn’t fussing or crying. Father put him in my arms and sent me running back to the house while he and Mackie went looking for