Chapter Sixteen
The meeting with the king had been rescheduled to allow time for the removal of the cook’s body.
Jock had felt control of the clan slipping through his fingers but for the first time in days that feeling was gone.
There were still some things that did not make sense but the meeting would hopefully resolve some of them. Once everyone was settled in place, Robin was going to be brought out of the dungeon to answer their questions.
That was going to happen later. He had an hour or so to spare. He had no desire to watch what happened to the cook. She had confessed and that was enough to spare her soul despite what she’d done. The true villain was he who had paid her to poison his parents.
“Are you all right?” Daisy asked, reaching out for his hand. “You still look troubled.”
They were sitting together in the empty tavern, the only place not filled with the king’s people. Everyone else was inside the castle, no doubt gossiping about all that had gone on in the last few hours.
“I should have known what was happening,” Jock replied. “Their decline was so swift and it came just after the cook was hired. Recommended by Robin. I should have worked it all out.”
“Don’t beat yourself up about this. You couldn’t possibly have known.”
“I should have guessed.”
She squeezed his hand and he looked up at her, managing a smile.
“It’s all right,” she said. “It’s all going to be fine now.”
“Because of you,” he said, taking her other hand and staring into her eyes. “And I haven’t even thanked you.”
“No need.”
“What can I do to repay you?”
“Let me cook for you?”
“Done.”
“I was kidding,” she said, looking surprised.
“I need a new cook and who better to trust with my parents than you?”
“You’re serious?”
He nodded. “Aye.”
“Then I suppose I better say goodbye to Tabby.” She got to her feet and walked over to the door of the tavern, sliding the silver key into the lock. “Let’s hope it’s not been another week since I went back. Want to come with me?”
“Aye” he said again, crossing the room to stand by her side.
She unlocked the door and walked through, coming out into the hallway she knew so well. Tabby was again in the living room.
“What happened to you?” she asked, looking up and seeing Daisy covered in ashes from where she’d dug into the hearth. “You’ve only been gone a minute.”
“I’ll never get the hang of this time travel thing,” Daisy replied, scratching her head. “I’ve come back, like I promised.”
Jock sat on the edge of the couch, occasionally prodding it, wondering what it was made from. Daisy and Tabby talked. He listened.
Daisy told her friend about the treasure, about finding it under the flagstone. “You said the book changed,” she said. “Has that bit changed?”
“There’s nothing in it about treasure at all. Are you sure you’re talking about the same book?”
Daisy nodded and then shook her head. “Never mind.” She went on to explain about the king and about the cook.”
