"What do ye mean by the body?" Gawain stepped up. His voice was coarse. Davinia was shocked. Murder? "Where is Ida?"
"Ida is dead, Gawain," Scott spoke up, his grim tone. "Hansel, he works under ye?" Gawain nodded. "He said ye sent him to look fer her when her absence started to bother ye. They found her in the garden almost buried if nae fer her dress that stuck out. While pulling out of curiosity, the dress was torn which alerted the lad that there was something bigger at play. He only realized who it was when he had dug her up with the aid of some of yer other men.
Davinia looked back at Gawain, who was still looked stunned. Her guess was as good as his; Ida had been caught snooping and was killed to cover it up. Davinia let out a shaky breath. This was their fault. Ida was dead because of them.
"‘Tis me fault." Davinia never heard Gawain sound so small. "‘Tis all me fault. If I had only minded me business like I said I would, Ida would nae have fallen…"
"Can ye explain better, Gawain?" Caillen asked, stepping forward, but Erica ripped herself from Davinia and latched on to the laird's leg.
"Nae! Do nae go near him!" This earned her questioning stares from everyone in the hall, but she did not relent. " Me lord, he kens what he’s done. He killed Ida with his own hands, and I saw him!"
"What nonsense are ye saying?" It was Davinia's turn to raise her voice. Standing in front of Gawain, she pointed a warning finger at Erica, who gasped in fright. "If ye want to spout rubbish, then ye best have solid evidence!"
"Miss Davinia, I swear. I could nae sleep, and I was going in search of me brother when I saw him dragging her body. I did nae think he saw me until this afternoon when he left the dining hall, and I ran into him. He did this to me and told me he would kill me if I dared speak a word!"
"Ye lie!" Davinia spat, coming closer to the maid, who was immediately shielded by Caillen. "She’s lying. Gawain never killed Ida because he was with me the whole night!" Davinia knew what she had done when she admitted that, but she knew if she did not stand up for Gawain, hell was sure to break loose. "Aye, judge me all ye want, but I stayed in Gawain's chambers all through the night, and we did nae sleep until it was almost dawn, so there is nae way that who she saw was Gawain! He most certainly did nae touch ye either because when I got to the stables after I left me sister, I met Gawain readying a horse. He has been with me ever since."
"Davinia, Erica said she encountered Gawain immediately after his argument with me husband. Ye were with me fer a while as well. There is a time gap where nae one was with Gawain." Emer was hit with Davinia's angry glare as she backed into Gawain.
"I’m telling ye, she’s lying.”
I do nae ken why she’s lying but she is! Gawain and I sent Ida to investigate who might have stolen me key to the old store. Ida returned and told us it was Erica. The same Erica who approached Gawain to warm his bed and threatened him after he rejected her! Gawain, is she nae the same one?"
"Aye. I do nae think I’ve even run into her ever since that day. The next thing I heard about her was when Ida reported to me that she saw the missing key with Erica. Ida retrieved the key which she gave to me, and I returned it to Davinia last night." Gawain's voice was low but heard. Davinia could only imagine the guilt that must be eating him up. She turned to face Erica and the others again, a fiery gaze set upon them. This was a horrible situation for Gawain to be in. She could not think about why Erica would lie if she was taking out her threat against Gawain, then who beat her up?
"Miss Davinia, I ken ye doubt me, but I promise ye, I speak the truth. Hold on." Erica dug into the pocket of her apron and took out a handkerchief. "Here, during the scuffle, his handkerchief fell from his pocket. I knew if I had nae thing to show, I would be tagged a liar. I’m grateful that I’ve this to back me up. He killed someone and was ready to kill me to cover his secret, yet he feigns innocence and guilt." The servant ended with a shoulder wracking sob as she fell to her knees.
Davinia turned back to Gawain, who was already patting down his pockets in search of his handkerchief. He looked up when he found nothing staring straight at Davinia, who felt weak in the knees. "Where is yer handkerchief, brother?"
"I do nae ken. I had it. I ken I had it with me when I... perhaps it fell off at the stakes, but I assure ye, I did nae lose it with her. I’ve nae even seen her today. Ye must, believe me, I’m being framed." Caillen's brows furrowed into a frown, his lips were pulled into a straight line, his gaze soft and filled with concern.
"Gawain, I need to ken the truth. I want to believe ye, but ye’re nae giving me a reason to doubt her story." Caillen's words sent Davinia into a state of panic. The situation was getting more serious by the minute. She could feel the hair at the back of her head rise.
"If ye could permit us to go back to the stables and—" Davinia started but was interrupted by Hector violently coughing as he made his way down the stairs. "Sir Hector, perhaps ye should go back and rest a wee."
"Nae. Davinia, ye defend this man too much. I do nae understand why." Hector took a shaky breath before pointing straight at Gawain. "I’ve tolerated yer nonsense fer way too long. I’ve kept quiet in hopes of finding a way to silently drive ye out, but yer acts of violence have continued so much that ye’ve gone as far as to kill someone. This is where I draw the line."
At this, Gawain flared up, stepping in front of Davinia to face Hector himself. " What are ye saying? What acts of violence? What nonsense have I done?"
"Ye are quick to face me because ye think ye can intimidate me. No more, Gawain." Hector spat at him before turning to face Caillen." Me laird, ye asked fer the person who attacked me during the fires, and I beg yer forgiveness when I lied. I had me reasons fer lying as I thought I could deal with her brother's waywardness on me own but as it turns out, I cannae. The person who attacked me is yer brother.”
Everybody in the room froze except for their heads that turned to Gawain.
Hector struggled to talk, so he spoke silently, drawing everyone’s attention back to him, “After me group was done with our part, I set out to assist the other groups. I figured Gawain might be having trouble, and I was impressed even when I found out that he was finishing up quite nicely. I struck a conversation with him, and he let his plan slip. I was foolish to confront him immediately I figured out the truth. He struck me down, I could do so little to protect meself and I blacked out nae long after. I woke up dumped in the garden and tried to find me way back when the guards found me. As ashamed as I’m, part of the reason I did nae reveal his name was because I was scared he might hasten his plan to take over the clan. If I had spoken up before I lost consciousness again, I might have been able to save the life of that poor lass."
There was a moment of silence as every pair of eyes fell on Gawain. Davinia looked back and forth from the injured man to her lover, who looked just as stunned as she was. Gawain recovered quickly and reached past Davinia to grab at Hector's shirt. "That was an interesting story. How long did it take ye to think of it? I’m impressed, but if ye do nae tell them the truth, I’ll—"
"Gawain!" Caillen stepped between the two men, pulling Gawain off the injured man. "Do nae dig yerself deeper into this hole. Just keep yer hands and yer threats to yerself fer now." Gawain snarled at his brother, causing the Laird to flinch and step back before finally retreating behind Davinia himself.
Emer helped Erica get to her feet, the servant still in tears as Emer patted her back to console her but to no avail. "I knew this was a bad idea, Caillen, but ye never listened to me. I knew he would never change. He’s still the person he was."
"I’m obviously being set up, Emer!" Gawain rose to his defense, locking eyes with Davinia. "Ye believe me, do ye nae, Davinia?" Davinia looked down at her fidgeting fingers. She doubted Gawain would lay his hands on a woman. She knew for a fact that Erica was lying about Gawain murdering Ida. He couldn't have. He was with her the whole night. She doubted he would hit Erica for any reason, but Hector's confession was difficult to wrap her head around.
Hector claimed Gawain attacked him immediately after the fire, but Gawain worked with Hansel and a few other people, returning to the keep with them. If Hector had indeed approached Gawain at any time, it would have to be after the fires, but Gawain was with her after that. It was the night she had first given herself to him.
Caillen caught them, and Gawain left with his brother, coming to see her immediately after and by then, Hector had been found. Hector could have not been attacked during the fire as that would draw attention to both of them. Someone would have given Gawain away before all it even started, which meant there was no time for Hector to approach Gawain or Gawain to attack Hector.
She came to one conclusion; Gawain was being set-up.
