Devil of the Highlands Page 0,104

stopped him, then no woman had been safe from his unspeakable ways.

In that moment, Cullen might have assured his aunt she had done right and that they need never speak of the matter again… Except that Darach wasn't the only one dead. There were his father and little Maggie to consider, as well as the attempts on Evelinde's life.

Clearing his throat, he sat up a little straighter in the saddle, and asked, "And me father?"

"Liam?" Biddy glanced at him with confusion, then understanding crossed her face, and she shook her head. "I had nothing to do with that. I killed Darach, but I never would have harmed a hair on yer father's head. Liam was a good man. An honorable man. He loved yer mother. He never behaved as Darach did. Nay," she repeated firmly. "I did not kill him. I truly thought his death was an accident."

"Ye thought?" Cullen prompted.

"It was Maggie's death that made me wonder. She started asking questions about the deaths of yer father and Darach, and when she was found at the bottom of the cliffs, I wondered if Liam's death had been an accident after all," she admitted. "I wondered if perhaps it had been murder, and her questions made someone nervous. It seemed too much of a coincidence that they both died from plunging off the cliff where Jenny was laid to rest."

Cullen nodded silently. That was exactly what Evelinde had said that morning.

"And then," Biddy continued, "when the accidents began happening to Evelinde, I could not but worry. I have been trying to think who could have killed Liam and little Maggie."

"Did you come up with anyone?" Cullen asked, but she shook her head.

"Nay. I simply do no understand why anyone would have killed Liam. Ye're the only one who benefited from his death."

He was just stiffening at those words when she hurried to add, "But I ken ye loved yer father, Cullen. Ye would ne'er have killed him. Ye were fond of little Maggie, too, and wouldna have harmed her either. But even if I had doubted that, I ken beyond a shadow of a doubt that ye love yer Evelinde and most surely would not be trying to kill her."

Cullen relaxed, but asked, "How did ye ken I love Evelinde?"

Biddy smiled faintly. It was a small smile, but the first she'd worn since he'd encountered her in the hall. "Lad, yer love is plain to see in yer eyes every time ye look at the lass."

He smiled faintly now himself and nodded, his mind turning to the question of who could be behind his father's and Maggie's deaths as well as the attacks on Evelinde.

"Do ye believe me? "

Cullen glanced to his aunt in question.

"That I didna kill Liam or Maggie and am not responsible for Evelinde's accidents," she explained. "I know ye thought I was when ye brought me out here, but do ye believe me now that I—"

"I believe ye," he interrupted, and it was true. Cullen did believe her. Biddy was not the sort of woman who could kill in the normal course of events. He suspected that had she had a chance to think after reading her sister's letter, she would not have killed Darach then. But she had done so in a fit of passion. There wouldn't have been that same rage and passion with his father, and certainly not with little Maggie. Nay, she hadn't killed Liam or Maggie… which meant there was still a killer at Donnachaidh trying to make him a widower.

"Come," Cullen said, and turned his horse back the way they'd come. He suddenly wanted to get back and make sure Evelinde was safe. While he had solved a part of the puzzle that was the past and found one killer, there was another more dangerous one yet about.

"Nephew."

The firm tone of her voice made him rein in and glance back. Biddy was eyeing him solemnly, and asked, "What will ye do with me now?"

Cullen hesitated, a frown claiming his lips. He wanted to tell her that he would do nothing, that Darach had reaped what he'd sown, but he had a responsibility as laird to uphold justice and wasn't sure he could do that.

"I am no sure," he admitted finally. "I need to think on it."

Biddy peered at him silently for a moment, then nodded and urged her horse forward.

"Yer a good laird," Biddy told him quietly as she rode past him back toward the keep. "Ye'll sort it out,