The Bachelor's Bride (The Thompsons of Locust Street #1) - Holly Bush Page 0,59

watching for any unusual activity. We will check every entrance and window prior to any guest arrival and have a man stationed at all of the doors for the duration of the evening. We’ve interviewed all the staff who will be working here that evening, both in the house and those managing the carriages and horses.”

“It sounds as if you’ve been very thorough,” Alexander’s father said. “Let’s hope everything goes according to plan.”

“There will be a young man here who is the target of these violent attempts on the Thompson family. He is fourteen years old, and his name is Payden Thompson. It is imperative that he is kept safe,” Alexander said.

“Payden? The young brother your mother has been talking about?”

Alexander nodded and thanked Graham, waiting until he’d left he and his father alone. “Yes, Payden. I cannot reveal the particulars as it is not my story to tell, and they’ve told me very little anyway. I don’t want Miss Thompson or any of her family worried. You’ll have to trust me.”

“Absolutely. There won’t be any other guests here his age. Let me know if your mother or I can help keep him occupied.”

Elspeth was in her room, mending a petticoat and alternately staring out the window, wondering where Mr. Pendergast was and what he was doing. What if he was in another fight? She must stop, she told herself. She would only make herself worried over something she could not control.

“Come in,” she said to a tap at her door.

Muireall came in, closed the door, and wandered to the window carrying a metal box, staring out in concentration as if Elspeth were not even there.

“Muireall? Is there something you need?”

“What? Oh.” She crossed to the bed and sat down. “I have brought you something.”

“A gift?” Elspeth said with a laugh. “With that beautiful new dress, I am hardly in need of any more gifts.”

It seemed as though Muireall did not even hear her. She lifted the lid of the metal box and drew out a long strand of pearls. “These are part of the Taviston jewels. I think this necklace would look particularly lovely with your dress. There are ear bobs too.”

“The Taviston jewels?”

“Some were stolen when our ancestors raided a nearby keep two-hundred years ago, and some were gifted to us from the royal family for a deed done in more recent history. There is a significant collection. I’ll be wearing this brooch, and I thought Kirsty would like to wear this bracelet with the pink stones. I don’t know what they are, but—”

“Muireall, you’ve had this hidden somewhere in the house?”

She nodded. “I won’t tell you where. That way you would not know if you were asked.”

“Are we telling people that Payden is the earl?”

“No, but we are going to act as daughters and sisters to an earl, which we are. We will not flaunt, but we will not hide either,” Muireall said in a steady voice, staring at her with a calm and serious face.

Elspeth took the pearls in her hand and examined them. They were exquisite and probably worth a fortune. Good Lord, she’d be worried about them until they were back in Muireall’s strongbox.

“I have something else for you,” she said, and Elspeth looked at her outstretched hand. A long dagger lay across her palm. “Sew it into your dress so that you can get to it quickly if necessary.”

“You’re frightening me,” Elspeth whispered. “Do you think they will be there? At the Pendergasts’?”

“I don’t know. I do know that we are exposing ourselves for the first time in years, and we know they are actively in pursuit. I will not be caught off guard.” She looked steadily at Elspeth. “I will lay down my life to protect him, even if there is no rescue for me. Whatever the consequences.”

Elspeth took the knife in her hand and turned it over, watching the lamplight catch a reflection on the thin, shining blade. “I’m not sure I could kill someone, Muireall.”

“And I’m sure you could if you were fighting for your family or for yourself. Don’t underestimate your own intuition. The MacTavish women before us fought and killed alongside their menfolk, just like Mother was willing to do with her sword the day Payden was taken. She would have swung that long blade with deadly intent, if necessary,” Muireall said dispassionately and glanced up at Elspeth. “Always remember to go for the kill. The jugular or the heart, if the clothing is not too thick. Women