The Wellspring (Kaitlyn and the Highlander #12) - Diana Knightley Page 0,22
Campbell Delapointe tae be placed under arrest for crimes of treason against the King and Queen.”
“Oh, um… are you sure, Your Highness?” He looked frozen.
“Dost ye hae a problem with it?”
“No, Your Highness, I mean yes… I um, I need you to know that I am in a relationship with…”
“Och, m’regent and m’general? Are ye conspiring against me?”
“No, Your Highness.”
“Then arrest her, tis a command.”
Hammond stepped forward and took her arm.
She shook him off. “Daena be ridiculous, Hammond. Ye will muss m’dress, tis antique McQueen, and worn by the Duchess tae—”
I stalked around tae her desk, and attempted tae open the top drawer but twas locked. I searched through the stacks of paper until I found a long letter opener and jammed it intae the lock.
She gasped. “Daena break m’desk, tis worth a great deal, tis nearly a thousand years—”
“Are ye goin’ tae give me the key?”
She shook her head. With our eyes locked I banged my palm ontae the handle of the knife sendin’ the metal lock and a chunk of wood off tae the carpet.
“I am furious, Magnus Archibald Caehlin Campbell, ye will hae tae bring an artisan from the court of Louis XIV tae repair it.”
I yanked open the drawer and rummaged through it, finding one of the gold bands.
I tossed it tae General Hammond.
She said, “What is it ye are trying tae accomplish here? Ye are behaving like a barbarian—”
Hammond bound her wrists with the gold band. “My apologies, Mairead.”
I said, “Och, tis true. I hae been tamping down my barbaric tendencies, but then I was left in the sixteenth century for a year and I hae relapsed intae poor behavior. Ye canna blame me for it, ye must blame the woman who left her king and queen there.”
Hammond strapped her wrists and then searched her for weapons, tossing them ontae the desk: two daggers and a pin, as well as a vial of liquid.
“Tis poison? Ye ken this is another crime?”
“Ye canna fault me for protecting my life, Magnus, as king ye ken tis dangerous—”
“Save it for yer trial.”
“Ye canna put me on trial, Magnus! I—”
My brow went up. “I can do whatever I want as king, but I haena fully decided yet if ye are tae stand trial or tae suffer horribly in the dungeon. I will confer with my advisers on it.”
“Who?”
“I think Queen Kaitlyn might hae an opinion daena ye think?”
She was led tae the door. “Of course she will, she is behind all of this.”
“Nae, she has argued leniency for ye, she has urged forgiveness. She has asked me tae agree with her, but I hae changed m’mind. Ye canna blame her for yer own actions.”
We left the office, she was led between two soldiers, Quentin and I just behind, more soldiers following. Hammond walked at the lead. Whenever I glanced at Quentin his eyes were wide with wonder at my actions.
I asked, “General Hammond what are your thoughts?”
“I have sworn duty to the king.”
She exclaimed, “Hammond! Ye forget our history!”
I chuckled. “Ye were recently speakin’ so poorly of General Hammond, but perhaps that was nae yer current self. Was it yer past self, or a future self? Ye hae muddied yer history, ye ken.”
She clamped her mouth shut, but then turned her attention on Quentin. “Colonel Quentin, ye might hae an opinion on this, dost ye see what Magnus is doing without provocation?”
“Um yes, I…” He grimaced.
“Ye daena owe me,” she said over her shoulder, “but I remind ye, I gave ye the letter.”
“Yes, of course, Lady Mairead, and I wanted to say thank you. That was really… it was amazing.” Our footprints echoed as we marched down the hallway, causing people passing tae cling to the walls. Some opened their office doors tae stare. A small crowd gathered near the top of the grand stairway all wanting to see Lady Mairead being arrested.
“I was glad tae do it for ye. She was a lovely woman.” She held her head high, dignified, nodding at people she knew.
We descended the staircase.
And then down through the magnificent entryway tae a poorly lit corridor and then after Hammond used a code tae open a door we descended a long dark stairway tae the prison floor. I pulled up tae the first room and pressed m’palm tae the entry pad. The door slid open. But I noticed on the screen — a list of names having access tae the rooms. “Kaitlyn’s name is nae listed, General Hammond, why has it been removed?”