“And I suppose I am tae have hid them nearby, since here I am wi’out them? Or perhaps sent them on tae the Highlands, where no one would take note of them on the road, common animals that they are?”
“Your sarcasm isn’t called for,” Devlin said. “There are any number of ways that you could have planned for their transport, including a covered wagon that would keep them hidden.”
“Och, so now this was a well-planned crime, was it? No’ just some spur o’ the moment plan that my drunken mind concocted? Yet I decide tae go through wi’ it, when I’m so drunk I can barely stand on me own feet?”
“Were you really foxed, MacGregor, or only pretending to be?”
“Well now, I believe you’ve a tavern nearby that can answer that for you, and in some detail, I’m sure. I vaguely recall they kicked me out o’ it at one time during the day, or was that night already? I’m no’ too clear about that. I had tae sleep off a bit o’ the drink ‘afore they’d let me back in, which I did in their stable—I think. I’m no’ tae sure about that either—except I did get back in, though they werena tae happy tae see me again.”
“That will, of course, be checked out, though it hardly matters. You were still overheard in the stable just moments before my groom was attacked.”
“And who was I supposed tae have been talking tae, that your groom overheard me? One of my two kinsmen here wi’ me? As it happens, neither of my cousins joined me yesterday in my folly, that being my drinking, mind you, not my supposed horse stealing. And knowing my cousins as I do, they each—begging your pardon, ladies—likely had company throughout the night, of the fair kind, which can be easily verified or no’ by asking them. But then—when am I supposed tae have committed this crime? In the day, when anyone could have seen me? Or late in the night?”
Devlin snorted. “An hour before dawn, as if you didn’t know.”
Lachlan’s eyes narrowed. “I was in my bed at that particular time.”
“So you say. Or perhaps, like your cousins, you weren’t alone and can prove it?”
Kimberly’s cheeks started to heat up. She imagined Lachlan’s eyes on her, though it was probably her guilty conscience that made her think so. All she had to do was speak up at that point and admit that she was with him all those late hours of the night—and ruin her reputation for good.
“Nay, there was no one lying ’aside me that I recall,” Lachlan finally stated. Kimberly’s cheeks still bloomed with color. He had worded his denial in an entirely truthful manner. She’d been sitting beside him all night, not lying beside him.
But glancing around the room, she saw that no one was noticing her hot cheeks; all eyes were still on Lachlan. The duke now said somewhat triumphantly, “Then as I thought, you can’t prove that you were in your bed.”
“I dinna have too many memories o’ last night, but getting tae my room a wee bit after midnight is one o’ them—among a few others. ’Twas no’ a pleasant night. I was sick a goodly part o’ it.”
“So now you’re going to say you simply don’trecallthe theft?”
“’Tis true I drank too much; however, I wouldna do something in that sotted condition that I wouldna do when sober, and I’m telling you, St. James, I wouldna steal your blasted horses.”
Devlin all but sneered. “If that’s the best you have to say in your defense, MacGregor, then I’m wasting my time here.”
“I’m telling you I didna do it, and you’ll be giving me a chance tae prove it.”
“You mean a chance to escape?”
“Escape tae where, St. James? You know where tae find me. Or do you think I’d be giving up my home for your horses, ne’er to return tae the Highlands?”
Even Devlin must have realized that wasn’t likely, because instead of addressing that point, he demanded, “Then how do you mean to prove it?”
“By finding your horses and the real thief,” Lachlan said simply.
“I’ll find my horses, and I’ve already got the thief. You.”
“Nay, you dinna. Or are you afraid you’ll have tae be apologizing tae me for being wrong?”
There was a long moment of silence before Devlin growled, “Very well, I’ll give you a week. And then you’ll be eating those words.”
Lachlan grinned slowly, or at least, what he thought passed for a grin. “Or you’ll be feeling my own fists—my way of accepting your apology.”
To that, Devlin merely snorted before he stalked out of the room. Kimberly, still standing in the doorway, quickly moved out of his way. But she didn’t realize Megan would leave so abruptly behind him, herding the burly servants with her. She was, in fact, suddenly alone with Lachlan again, and acutely aware of it.
Embarrassed again, she still felt compelled to tell Lachlan, “Thank you.”
His brow quirked up. It actually still worked correctly, when most of his other facial features refused to do his exact bidding.
“For what, darlin’?”
