Dominic’s free hand clenched, but his willpower was stronger than the temptation. If anyone beat Wallace anymore, he wouldn’t be able to think or speak. “Did ye shoot the arrow?”
“Nay. That was him.”
“He couldnae read the missive he carried. Who sent him?”
“Dinna ken. Same mon who gave the missive to the MacLaren, I figure. A Lowlander. Mayhap the mon isnae pleased ye’re buggering his woman now,” Wallace sneered.
“Ye are undoubtedly going to die. Decide how painful it will be. Tell me everything ye ken, and I will slit yer throat mercifully. Make me ask ye questions, and I will cut off yer fingers for each one. Pray I get what I want before I saw off yer twig and berries.”
Wallace looked at Dominic, then shifted his gaze to Brodie, who rocked back on his heels with his arms crossed. After the punishment Brodie rained down on him, he knew the laird wouldn’t suggest mercy. He was likely to give Dominic his own dirk. He knew he wasn’t long for this world, so he decided he preferred the less-agonizing option.
“Like I said already, he told me Lady Emelie was a blight on our clan for her whoring ways. He said everyone at court kens aboot it, and that she would dishonor the Campbells just like Lady Colina did. He said even the king bedded her often. He didna tell me who sent him, but they had paid him well enough to pay me. He kenned he couldnae get inside the walls, and Lady Emelie rarely leaves the keep these days. I think it’s the king. I think she’s bearing his royal bastard, and he doesnae want her telling anyone. She’s cuckolding ye, Dom.”
“The king has at least five bastards strewn across Scotland. Those are the ones he acknowledges,” Dominic pointed out.
“The mon said his employer’s married now, so it’s different if he had any more. Mayhap it’s the queen. Mayhap she’s put out that her husband was fucking her lady-in-waiting.”
Dominic's fist slammed into Wallace’s already-broken nose. “Watch how ye speak, or I will make yer death slow.”
“I’m going to die anyway,” Wallace taunted. “What does it matter how?”
“It’ll matter when I drag ye out to the bailey and make yer mother watch,” Dominic warned.
“Ye wouldnae dare,” Wallace challenged. Dominic whistled, and a guard appeared with a rattling set of rusty keys.
“Shall we test yer claim?” Dominic asked as he took the keys. He unlocked the manacles and caught Wallace as he slumped forward.
“Wait!” Wallace wheezed. “Dinna make her see. She’s auld, and her heart isnae vera strong. It’ll kill her.”
“And yer shame willna?” Brodie asked. “Ye should have considered that moons ago when yer uncle warned ye aboot being part of the plot against Lady Campbell.”
“When is the next attack?” Dominic demanded.
“I dinna ken. I was to tell Alec and Davey that ye assigned me to guard her. Now that ye have me and him, I dinna ken what comes next. King Robert or Queen Elizabeth willna be satisfied until she’s nay longer a Campbell. I dinna ken what happens after that.”
Dominic flipped a blade from his wrist bracer and ran it across Wallace’s throat. He and Brodie jumped away to avoid the splatter, and Wallace fell to the ground, already dead.
“I feel for his parents, but I dinna regret beating the maggot, and I wouldnae have stopped ye from doing worse,” Brodie said as he clapped Dominic on the back. He pulled Dominic close, so his voice wouldn’t echo in the cell. “We both ken he’s been told lies. I dinna think anyone he told would believe such aboot Emelie. The woman is utterly in love with ye, and everyone’s seen it for moons.”
“That’s now. What if they think she was different before she arrived here?”
“Then make sure nay one questions when ye handfasted and get to Father Lonergan sharpish. See if ye can convince him to marry ye without the banns.”
“He kens of the attacks, and he will bury Wallace. He’ll say this is enough proof someone is contesting our marriage already. He’ll say it’s as good as posting the banns and having someone speak up.”
“Nay.” Brodie shook his head. “He’s fond of Emelie. Mayhap he already kens. Mayhap she’s confessed to him.” He shrugged as Dominic wiped his blade on Wallace’s back. They left the dungeon without a backwards glance.
“I need to ask Emelie aboot Father Lonergan before I say aught to him.”
“Are ye going to take her to the cabin?”
“I dinna think there is any other choice now. This isnae over even with this Maxwell mon locked up and Wallace dead. What if there is someone else in the clan? The best I can hope for is the priest marrying us today, and we can be off tonight.” Dominic pushed hair that stuck to his brow away from his eyes.
“When ye tell Emelie what Wallace said, she’ll ken what I’m certain ye already guessed.”
“Aye. Pringle.”
“Most likely.”
