The Making of a Highlander (Midnight in Scotland #1) - Elisa Braden Page 0,125
teacup from time to time. But ye ken very well who she’d choose, had she the choice to make.” Annie leaned closer until their noses nearly touched. “And it wouldnae be you.”
His breathing quickened. His hand formed a claw then a fist. “It was me.”
“Nah. ’Twas Broderick.”
His arm flexed near her ear as he gripped the settee harder. “No.”
“That’s why ye had Skene set him up to take the fall for an exciseman’s murder. That’s why ye made certain he would die in the Bridewell.”
His breaths roughened, his skin flushing. “He deserved his punishment.”
“Ye couldnae bear the comparison. Couldnae bear thinkin’ how she’d always want him more.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“A wee, empty man cannae hide his shortcomings when he’s standin’ next to a giant.”
“Bloody harridan.”
“His only hope is to bring the giant down.”
Rage exploded. He pounded the back of the settee, narrowly missing her shoulder. “And down he fell,” Lockhart snarled. “Like a great, bloody tower smashed into bloody ruins.”
Pretending to be intimidated, she glanced past his shoulder. “’Twas a clever plan,” she offered. “Very effective.”
Satisfaction gleamed. “Aye. It was.”
“Do ye wish to see those ruins, Lord Lockhart? Surely ye do.”
A strange, hungry murmur emerged from the man’s throat. “Aye.”
“Turn round.”
He straightened, the first inklings of the trap he’d landed in appearing on his face. He turned.
Behind him stood five MacPhersons and one bonnie Englishman. Broderick stood at the center. And to either side of him were two Lord Commissioners of the Justiciary, a Scottish duke, and a local magistrate for good measure. They’d heard everything.
Annie rose and moved to John’s side, where he tucked her close.
But Lockhart barely seemed to notice. He’d frozen in place, all but shivering with savage satisfaction as he examined Broderick from head to toe.
For his part, Broderick returned the favor. He looked positively lethal. “I’m goin’ to kill ye, Lockhart,” he promised, his graveled voice cold as steel. “One way or another, I’ll see it done.”
Lockhart grinned. “Perhaps. But I’ve already killed you, haven’t I? She’ll never want you like this. Never again.”
Angus gestured to two constables, who came to haul Lockhart away. The man didn’t bother struggling until he lost sight of Broderick. Then, he writhed and twisted to keep his gaze fixed upon him.
Upon the tower he’d felled into ruins.
She reached for Broderick’s hand, but he’d had enough. He spun away and stalked from the ballroom out into the night.
John cupped her waist and kissed her temple. “Let him go, love.”
Her heart ached. “He—he needs me.”
“He needs time. This is a battle you cannot wage for him.”
During her conversation, John and the MacPhersons had quietly cleared the ballroom of all but the men they’d brought to be witnesses. John had invited the two High Court judges. Angus had invited the magistrate. And shockingly, the wee tartan peacock had managed to lure the Lowland duke here after promises that the Gathering offered a “true Highland experience.” Apparently, such things had captured the aristocracy’s fancy of late.
It took some time after Lockhart was hauled away to explain everything to the witnesses, but once they understood what they’d overheard, there was little doubt Lockhart would be charged with conspiracy in the exciseman’s murder.
Meanwhile, Annie went outside to tell Sabella what had happened. Upon hearing what her brother had done, the woman turned white as the moon and shook her head in disbelief.
“It cannot be true,” Sabella whispered. “He—he wouldn’t …”
“He confessed,” Annie said gently. “There is no doubt. I’m sorry, Sabella.” She offered the young woman a place at Glendasheen Castle until her brother’s fate had been decided.
But Sabella stiffened until her face became a brittle shell. “No. I cannot … I shall conclude my visit here at the manor. Tomorrow, I shall return to Edinburgh.” Her eyes, dazed and darting, dropped to her delicate hands. “My brother will need a solicitor at once.”
Annie tried to comfort her, but Sabella pulled away. She couldn’t blame her, really. Annie was the reason for Lockhart’s detainment. And, as much as she regretted Sabella’s pain and wished to help her, Annie wasn’t the least bit sorry for exposing him. Lockhart had done this damage. He deserved all the humiliation that awaited him—and much worse.
When she returned to the ballroom, Angus and each of her remaining brothers came over to embrace her in turn.