Renton realized that the moment he blabbered the truth, he lost his ability to blackmail Helmswick?
“We already know how Mr. Renton’s sister died, and we know the part Lord Helmswick played in it,” Gage replied in an exasperated voice. “And we’re no more impressed than you are. Is that why you went into hiding?”
“No’ exactly.”
Gage arched an imperious eyebrow, telling him to hurry his tale along.
He blanched. “He said he needed to get into the castle wi’oot bein’ seen. That if he could speak wi’ the countess, then he could warn her.”
Warn her of what? That her husband was a lying bigamist, or that if she didn’t pay him what he wanted, he’d tell the world about it.
Colum’s chin sank to his chest. “So I told him aboot the crypt, and the tunnel leadin’ into the castle.”
“How did you know about it?” Gage demanded to know.
He scoffed. “We all ken aboot it. I dinna ken why their lordships think it’s so verra great a secret.”
Gage and I shared a look of reluctant acknowledgment. He had a point.
“But then I started to wonder if I’d done wrong.” Colum stared at the worn woven rug on the floor in front of him, his face tight with concern. “What if he meant her ladyship harm? So the next mornin’ I waited ootside the stables. I ken some o’ the duke’s sons like to ride at dawn. I see ’em gallopin’ across the fields when I’m on my way to the brewery.”
Gage widened his stance. “And did you speak with one of them?”
He nodded. “Aye. The fair one. Lord John. Said no’ to worry. He’d take care o’ it.”
My stomach dipped.
“But he didna seem to take the matter serious. And when I asked the other lads aboot it at the brewery, they said he was a bookish sort. No’ likely to lift his finger ’less he had to.”
“So you went to the abbey that night and followed Renton yourself?” I guessed as I fit the pieces together with what I’d already deduced. The full horror of Colum’s situation began to become clear.
He swallowed and nodded. “But no’ too close. I didna want him to ken I was there. ’Twasn’t hard wi’ his carryin’ a lantern.”
“What did you see?” Gage prodded.
His face turned pale, and his next words tumbled out in a jumble. “I-I didna see it happen, but I saw a man in a monk’s robe standin’ over Renton’s body. I started to back away, but then he turned. ’Twas Lord John, and his eyes were . . . were wild, and there was blood splattered across his cheek. He seemed to look straight at me.” He swallowed. “I . . . I thought he was gonna come for me next. So when he bent over the body, I turned and ran as fast as I could in all that darkness.” He leaned forward, pressing a hand to his forehead. “I suppose he thought I’d keep quiet, or else he could find me later. But I wasna gonna give him the chance.”
I thought it more likely that Lord John’s eyes had been blinded by the lantern Renton had carried, and unable to see far enough into the dark tunnel to spy Colum watching him. He’d probably never even known he was there.
“And that’s why you hid,” Gage finished, his voice stilted as he grappled with the same ramifications I did.
Lord John—the Duke of Bowmont’s son—had killed Renton. Perhaps Colum hadn’t seen the actual attack, but the implication was clear. The only question that remained was whether Lord John had gone down there intending to kill him, or whether there had been another purpose for the mace and the monk robe.
We had to find Lord John. With any luck, Trevor or Bree had already located him, but somehow I didn’t think it would be so simple.
“What are ye plannin’ to do wi’ me?” Colum asked, his chin arching upward in bravado, though his voice shook.
“Nothing for the moment,” Gage replied. “So long as you don’t flee Selkirkshire. I suggest you go home to your mother. Though you should probably steer clear of Lord Helmswick when he returns.”
“Nay. I saw his carriage pass by no’ more than half an hour ago, and I’m no’ takin’ the chance o’ runnin’ into him.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
I stiffened in shock, leaping to my feet as Gage rounded on Colum. “You saw Helmswick’s carriage go by on its way to the castle?!”
He shrank backward. “Aye.”
“Why didn’t you tell us this before?”
“I thought