“I can promise you more than sufficient restitution for my brother’s bad judgment.”
“Nothing, absolutely nothing, could redeem your brother’s foolish actions.”
Burke remained calm. “True, foolishness can brand a man forever, but why let him rot in a jail cell when you can exchange him for a sizable amount of money and a guarantee that the man will never set foot in Scotland again.”
“Money cannot make right the horrendous wrong that this man did.”
Burke could have sworn the man hissed like a snake getting ready to attack, and he knew he had to tread very lightly. If he wasn’t able to secure Cullen’s release, what alternative was there?
Storm’s capture.
He didn’t want to give it thought. He had to make this work.
“Of course not,” Burke agreed. “But exiling him from his homeland is a death sentence in itself.”
“This man would never leave Scotland,” the earl argued.
“What choice would he have? He’d be tied and secured in a cabin and not released until far enough out at sea, where he could do nothing about it.” Burke knew this was the time to make the proposition too appealing to turn down. “Besides, I’m willing to offer you full ownership of a gold mine in America in exchange for my brother’s freedom.”
The earl couldn’t hide his surprise or pleasure. “A producing gold mine?”
“A powerfully producing gold mine,” Burke confirmed.
“That is an interesting proposition,” the earl said and eased back in his chair.
“I can have the papers drawn up immediately, and by the end of the week we can make the exchange.”
The earl gave it thought, and Burke waited anxiously for his answer. He didn’t believe he’d be turned down; few if any men could refuse a gold mine dropped in their lap. To Burke it was a small price to pay for his brother’s freedom.
“I think we could work this out,” the earl said. “See to the paperwork and we’ll meet at Weighton in two weeks to make the exchange. I have business that will take me away and I won’t be available until then.”
Burke wasn’t happy with the delay, but he had little choice but to agree. “Agreed, I will meet you at Weighton two weeks to the day to make the exchange.”
“Joseph will see you out,” he said, pointing to the door where the manservant stood.
The earl never even stood or shook hands with Burke. Burke did not trust a man who did not shake on an agreement, and he wasn’t pleased with being dismissed like a peasant who had annoyed the mighty lord.
He also wasn’t pleased with the two-week delay, but there was nothing he could do to change that. He had waited this long to find his brother, so another two weeks shouldn’t matter. He hoped.
Storm had been right that the earl couldn’t be trusted, but then Burke would sign no papers until his brother stood in front of him, a free man.
Storm and Tanin stepped out of the woods, signaling Burke to their position. Malcolm appeared when he brought the horse to a stop, and took the reins from him.
“He accepted,” Burke said, jumping down from the carriage.
Tanin and Malcolm smiled and nodded. Storm remained silent.
“I’ll see to the carriage with Malcolm,” Tanin said and walked off with the other man.
Storm walked into the forest and Burke followed. He knew she wanted to talk with him and he knew she would caution him. However, it was over and done. His brother would be free, and now all that was left for him to do was to convince her to go to America with him.
He reached out, took hold of her arm, spun her around, and hugged her close before kissing her as if he’d just returned from a long journey.
When he finished, he rested his forehead against hers. “I missed you.”
“You weren’t gone that long.” She sighed and brushed her lips over his.
“You missed me too.” He laughed knowingly, then kissed her again.
