Part 29 (1/2)
”Youlout !” Lucinda attempted to straighten herself, shooting dagger glances at everyone.
”Where's the other?” Alexander asked.
Gregor jerked his head toward the door. Moments later, Dougal entered, shoving a beaten and battered
Alan Campbell before him.
Jack's jaw hardened. ”You b.l.o.o.d.y b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
”Yes,” Lucinda said, smoothing her hair. ”Heis a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. I heard what happened, but I am not a part of
it.”
”Lucinda!” Campbell's face was red.
She ignored him. ”I was just pa.s.sing through. Campbell had reserved a private room, and he invited me
to share it with him.”
”Ha!” Fiona scoffed.
Jack had to suppress a grin. She had spirit, his lovely wife. He gestured to the chair beside Lucinda.
”Campbell, take a seat.”
”I wish to sta-”
Gregor shoved Campbell into the chair with an audible thud.
Jack walked forward. ”Which of you ordered Fiona shot, and why?”
Lucinda fluttered her hands, smiling appealingly. ”Jack, I don't know what you're talking about.”
Campbell said nothing, his jaw set.
”One of you shot my wife, or had her shot. Iwill know who.”
”Ask Campbell,” Lucinda said with a shrug. ”He is at fault here, not me.”
Campbell whirled on Lucinda. ”Don't you dare lie!”
Fiona stood. ”Lucinda, you know exactly what happened to me. Hamish saw your footman in the
woods. He also found this.” She held out her hand. In it lay a golden hairpin.
Lucinda's hand flew to her hair. ”How did-” She caught herself, then shook her head. ”That proves nothing. Obviously, someone put that there to implicate me.”
”Perhaps you would prefer to hear the words from your own man's lips.” Fiona turned to the door.
”Hamis.h.!.+”
The door swung wide, and the huge Scotsman entered. A deep purple wound marked him from forehead to ear. He carried a large sack to the center of the room and dropped it with a thud and an audible”Oof!”
Lucinda had risen when Hamish entered. Now she backed away, her gaze wide. ”What's in there?”
”A rat.” Hamish lifted his huge foot and kicked the sack. A spate of cursing met this. Hamish reddened.
”Here, now, ye b.l.o.o.d.y fewl! Do not be talkin' such in front of the lady!”
The bag froze in place. ”Lady?”
”Aye.” Hamish turned his s.h.a.ggy red head toward Fiona. ”What's to do now, mistress?”
”Open the bag, but do not let him escape. We must speak with him.”
”Yes, question him,” Lucinda said, breathless but composed, an odd gleam in her eyes. ”Ask him whatever you want.”
Jack frowned. What was she up to now?
Fiona gestured to Hamish, who untied the heavy cord that held the sack. Seconds later, a head popped out of the opening. The man tried to lift his arms through the narrow mouth of the bag, but Hamish quickly tightened the ties, creating a noose around the man's neck.
”Eck!”The man's face reddened, his eyes bulged.
”Easy 'ere, ye maggot,” Hamish said calmly. ”Ye can speak when ye're spoken to and not before.”
Fiona swayed a bit, and Jack swooped her into his arms and carried her back to the settee.