Part 29 (2/2)
”Jack, there is no need. I was just a little light-headed, and-”
”You've done too much already. You should be in bed.”
”No! I must see this through.”
He saw the determination in her eyes, and he nodded. ”Very well.We will see this through.” He ran the back of his hand over her cheek. ”Just as we will see to the birth of our baby.”
Lucinda's laugh tinkled like shards of gla.s.s. ”Oh, stop it, Jack. Everyone knows you were forced into your marriage. That she abducted you and poured whiskey down your throat and made the priest accept your vows by pretending to be with child.”
Alexander's hands fisted. ”Watch what you say about our sister, witch!”
Fiona reached for Jack's hand and held it to her cheek. ”She is right. We pretended I was already with child, so no one would demand an annulment. But now it is the truth.”
”Good G.o.d,” Campbell said, his face even more pale. ”I didn't know.”
Lucinda stood stiffly by, her jaw set, her eyes blazing.
”Aye,” Jack said, his gaze fixed on the two with dark intent. ”My wife is soon to be a mother. And whichever of you intended her harm should thank the lord above you didn't kill her.” Lucinda drew herself together. ”I would never harm anyone, especially not a woman with a child. Ask my man who gave him his orders. I am certain he has the information you seek.”
Jack said, ”Hamish, make the coachman sing for us.”
Hamish obligingly tugged on the noose he'd made. The man in the bag choked, then blurted out, ”What th' 'ell do ye want of me?”
”Did you shoot the lady?”
The man's gaze flickered to Fiona, then away. ”I-I-I-”
Hamish gave the rope a sharp tug.
”Gawd!” wailed the man, choking. ”I'll tell ye! I'll tell ye! I only did what I was tol' to do!”
”By whom?”
”By Campbell!”
Fiona's brothers boiled over toward Campbell as one.
Campbell stood, his chair toppling over. ”I never told him to do anything! I swear it! Lucinda is the one who gave the orders!” ”Halt!” Jack said, throwing up a hand, his gaze still on the coachman. ”There is more to this.
Whatexactly did Campbell tell you?” he asked the coachman.
”H-he said to follow the carriage and shoot the lady from the brush when I could.”
”And kill her?”
The man's weasely eyes flickered to Lucinda for a second, then away. ”I do as I'm tol'.”
”You lousy excuse for a human!” Gregor snapped. ”I should-”
”Leave him,” Jack said quietly. He walked up to the man and stooped so that his eyes were level with his. ”You know that I could have you hung with the information you have already given me.”
The man gaped. ”Yes, but-I was tol' to do it! I was tol' to-”
”Aye. And see how the person who sent you to do this deed is now protecting you.”
The man's gaze flickered behind Jack and then back. ”I don't know what ye're talkin' about.”
”You just admitted to shooting my wife. There is not a magistrate in the world who would not hang you.
Especially with such august witnesses.” He stood. ”Alexander, Hugh, Gregor, Dougal, would you testify against this blackguard?”
”If we did not kill him first,” Alexander snapped.
Outside, thunder rumbled.
The coachman glanced at the stormy sky and paled.
Jack looked at Campbell. ”And you? Would you testify against him?”
”Aye, though he lies about my giving him orders!”
”And you, Lucinda?” Jack asked, his voice softening. ”Would you testify against this miserable excuse of a man?”
Her gaze dropped to the floor. ”I do not know why you would need my testimony when so many others are available.”
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