“Aye, m’lord. Her and Leckness.”
“She slit Leckness’s throat,” Gunn said. “But there is a matter ye should know of. The woman swears she is with child.” He squeezed Lorna’s hand again. “We dinna wish an innocent babe to suffer having such a mother. If a bairn is born to her, we would take it in and raise it as our own. Dinna send it to a place for foundlings.”
“The madam at Darley’s Place swore the woman was barren,” the constable said. “That one was in on the blackmailing too, and offered information to escape the noose. Lady Murdina forced Lord Sullivan into marriage by not only saying she carried his child but by also threatening to make his rather…” He gave Lorna an apologetic nod. “She threatened to make his unnatural preferences at the brothel common knowledge at court and among his peers. After the will was drawn up, signed, and witnessed, she murdered him with the help of MacGibbon and Leckness. A servant witnessed the scene and escaped afore they ended her as well.” He cleared his throat. “’Tis my understanding that MacGibbon and Lady Murdina are rather familiar with one another.”
“If they inherited the man’s wealth, why did they bother trying the same scheme on Chieftain Sinclair?” Lorna couldn’t remain silent any longer. She offered Gunn an apologetic wiggle of her nose, then turned back to Erskine. “She tried to force him into marriage before he married me.” With a pointed look to make sure the constable understood, she added, “Of course, my husband does not possess unsavory tendencies that she could use for blackmail along with claiming pregnancy.”
The constable shook his head. “Another Sullivan nephew stepped in and contested not only the will but the marriage. Stopped the estate and all the coin from going to anyone.”
“Ye might also wish to check into the affairs of Mr. Moray Macray in Inverness,” Jasper offered to the constable as he refilled all their glasses. “’Twas him who recommended Mr. MacGibbon’s services to us.”
Erskine replied with a wink and a smirk. “That man will share a cell with Mr. MacGibbon. The tolbooth became his new residence before my men and I left for Inverness.”
“Such a bloody mess,” Lorna said without thinking. She clapped her hand over her mouth as soon as the words slipped out.
“Indeed.” The constable chuckled.
“Ye and yer men will surely stay for our Yule feast and the celebration of my marriage to this fine woman, aye?” Gunn hugged her to his side. “After all, Lady Murdina is quite comfortable in the dungeon, and Leckness is already dead. Buried at sea, as a matter of fact. Frozen ground doesna yield to the shovel, and I refuse to keep grave fires burning to thaw it. I willna waste good wood on that bastard.”
The constable beamed a broad smile that plumped his full cheeks even more. “I would consider it an honor, m’lord.” He bowed several times, chuckling all the while. “Thank ye for such generous hospitality, m’lord.” He bobbed his head at Lorna. “And ye as well, m’lady. May God bless ye both with many happy years and a keep full of healthy bairns.”
“Thank ye, Constable Erskine.” Lorna smiled at the man, then noticed for the first time since they had entered the library that the muscles of Gunn’s arm no longer flexed hard and tense beneath her fingers as though warming up for battle. It made her breathe easier. Now that all the pieces had fallen into their proper places, they could relax and get on with enjoying their lives. “If ye will excuse me now, I need to check on the bairns.”
Erskine bowed, then swept his glass up from the table and held it for Edmond to refill.
“I feel the need to see my daughter as well,” Gunn said. “I nearly lost her today.”
“I understand completely, m’lord.” Erskine gave a solemn nod. “I’ve three wee daughters of my own. Precious blessings, they are.”
“That they are,” Gunn echoed.
After a dismissive tip of his head, he accompanied Lorna out into the hall. As soon as he closed the library door behind them, he took her into his arms and kissed her. Hard and thorough.
When he lifted his mouth from hers, a breathless laugh escaped her. “What was that for,mo ghráidh?”
“We are free to live our lives now. Nothing hanging over our heads.” With a tenderness that made her heart swell, he brushed his thumb across her cheek as he laced his fingers deeper into her hair. In a seductive whisper, he added, “We should go upstairs and see if we can lose yer hairpins so Ebby can fuss.”
She molded herself against him, aching to melt into him again. “They are changing the bedclothes and filling the water pitchers,” she whispered back. “I dinna ken if they are done or not.”
“They are done because I will order them out.” He kissed her again, then gently framed her face between his hands. “No one will ever keep me from ye, my precious one.”
“Good.” She smoothed her hands up his chest. “Because I need a great deal of loving.”
“And ye shall have it, my sweet mouse. Ye shall always have it.”
Epilogue
Meanwhile, back in the 21stcentury
December 31, 2022
Thurso, Scotland
Gracie held upthe wreath of red roses interspersed with holly and white silk ribbons. “Roses were her favorite. The darkest red ones. Never seen her so happy when I got her some on her birthday.” She cast a teary-eyed smile at Lonnie and his wife Cybil. “Thank ye for coming here with me today. I know it’s bitter cold.”
Lonnie sniffed, then swiped the back of his hand across his nose. “We loved her too, Gracie.”
“Aye,” Cybil quietly agreed.
